I'm at a loss right now. I don't know what to do. So far three of my films have been submited to SF.com and have recieved a total of 201 reviews even after a month of controversery surrounding my decency so I know I can get people to watch my stuff. However, my problem right now is if I really want to pursue a future in film. It was a big let down recently not getting a NFAA scholarship (I'm still convinced its because I submitted a film bashing god to a federally funded scholarship program) so I am just very insecure about what the future holds. I am going to apply to NYU Tisch, but even doing that, I question my motives...Do I really want to spend 4 years chained to film with nothing to fall back on, or am I applying just to see if I can get in? Either way, its a nasty decision. I'm honestly more passionate about music, and more accomplished in it, but I really don't see myself pursuing it as a career. What the hell should I do folks?

That was my attitude, would I rather spend four years chained to film with nothing to fall back on, and my answer ended up being no. I got in to the film schools that I applied to, but I ended up not going to either one. I decided to work towards dual majors in communication and law instead. If I end up making movies or my band gets signed, thats great, but if not I've got something to fall back on, cause lets face it... not everyone makes it in the industry.

It was a rough decision, but I don't regret it at all, since I'm still making movies all of the time anyway and taking a bunch of film classes for my communication degree anyway. Communication goes pretty much hand in hand with film, but leaves more doors open in terms of television, radio, and film.

I didn't win that scholarship either. I think we are all too good for them. Or maybe they just played our stuff with the sound off. All I know is that the stuff in my head now is trying to make its way into a finnished film and is much better than the stuff any of you have seen. I'm doing this PSA about drunk driving. It actually 2, 15 sec. pieces that are similar in construction. It's for a scholarchip, only I forget the name. There are also a few scholarchips offered by the colleges I am applying to. Advice to all: Don't give up unless it becomes unenjoyable. As director of Spider-Man II (S.R.) says in the doccumentary "I find my enjoyment in the making of the film." Ya, that's where its at!!!

Contrary to what people (some filmmakers) might say to you i.e. "If you have passion you can make it in the film business"...that's a bunch of bull, hey I have a passion to win 10 million dollars but that's probably not going to happen.

What I am trying to say is follow the good advice that paul gave you. And that's to get a degree in a field which you know you can fall back on. GET A COLLEGE DEGREE!!! I have been in the film business for many years and have friends in the industry. I've seen people spend $100,000 bucks going through film school and then graduate only to be waiting tables two years out of school. What else did they have to fall back on? Nothing, because particular business' won't hire them with their Film Degree.

Companies will no longer hire people without a college degree, it didn't used to be that way, but it is now. Companies are also looking for people with Bachelors and also masters degree's. The difference between an Associates Degree and a Bachelors Degree is about $20,000 dollars a year in a chosen career.

So in short, keep making films, go to film school if you'd like, but I recommend that you get a degree and then go to film school. Get a bachelors degree at a community college or a state college and then go for your Masters in film at a film school. While you are getting your Bachelors take film and video production courses, most colleges offer them. Hone your skills and then you’ll have much more to offer when you go to film school.

There is a lot more to say but I’m hungry and I gotta eat. Good Luck!!

Nate Fackrell

http://www.studentfilms.com/film/get.do?id=690

quote:

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Originally posted by suspectx:
"If you have passion you can make it in the film business"...that's a bunch of bull

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I think it's somewhat true. Becoming successful takes a great deal of determination and persistence. You need to be willing to fail many times before you're successful. Passion helps you do that.

I dunno, personally as someone who doesn't like your uppity, holier than though, full-of-****-or-not attitude and three films I would've been better off not having had watched, I say go crawl under a rock and die making any worry you have about pursuing a career in anything null and void. Objectively, if you feel fulfilled as a human being to spew crap from your mind onto the screen and try to pass it off as a masterpiece and at the same time promoting your product and yourself through controversy of being a complete ***hole, more power to you. Yet still, **** you. You're more passionate about music and don't know if you want to pursue it as a career, you're a f'n pansy. You're not a musician nor a film maker but just some schmuck who can play an instrument and press record on a camera. Honestly, most of the personal bashing aside, don't ask us. Ask yourself. Ask yourself if you're a ninny who doesn't want to take a chance at a career because you might find out how talent less you really are. Ask yourself if at the very least you'd be happier doing anything in the field from PA to second assistant director to sound engineer of a seriously indie film rather than going to school for the same amount of time but being nothing more than a toady to some cheesedick at an accounting firm. If that doesn't give you the guidance you need then you're helpless. But it's okay, I have a rock waiting especially for you.

-Elliott

MeGrimlock, you said the second half of what I was thinking. ::applause::

What the f**k is up with all the bashing. Why if I had a quarter for every third grade insult I heard I'd be a f***ing millionaire.

As far as I'm concerned, there are three types of filmmakers:
The ones that film crap so they can say they're film makers
The ones that film crap when they feel a story must be told
And the filmmakers who drag each other down in forums and other crap like that, who won't be sucsessful because instead of learning and net working information they decided to belittle a student films that don't represent a film maker's true vision because quality and technology isn't presented in front of them. Like the popular crowd in high school, these film makers with have there fifteen minutes, in forums instead of hallways, and then move on to do other nonsence.

I say if you say you're going to be a film maker, your going to be a film maker, that's not being naive, or childish, or immature, thats the way things are. Either it be for a blockbuster or indie.

And another thing, Ben, try not to figure it out to much...make the films you want to make when you feel like making them, you'll figure it out sooner or later. Nobody needs anyone to make up their own damn minds. If that makes since.

actually, Ryan_Cole, Ben had it coming to him from at least one person. I wasn't going to be the one to say it, but someone else would've.

Upon coming here, he surrounded himself with tons of controversy and caused quite a stir (though it was more his friend, he still gave us all quite a headache.) He had a really bad attitude, and was basically what you yourself just described. You've only been here since November 28, and while I don't know how long you've been reading around here, there was quite a cluster f**k a few weeks back with things.

Welcome to the board.

Alright, alright...
And I've read around...
I guess I've come to learn to make a statement when you have to not when you want to.

dear Ben,
i understand what you are going through completely <--. I am a junior in highschool and have to start thinking about colleges now. I am an aspiring director/editor and screen play writer. I 've looked around, and talked around. and got some good advice. so heres what ive come up with.
best friend/aspiring producer says: "Look at other sucessful directors profiles, see what they did, where they went. "
My Mom: "you are not going to nyc straight out of highschool"
My dad: "don't end up a bum"

and more but to make a long debate short,

I have decided to go to a 4 year college close by to Nyc, probably within an hour an a half. [so i could acquire some connections], there are some nice schools in poughkeepsie, white plains, and newburgh. I am going to major in communications and minor in probably an english or writing course. Then for my masters i am going to go to NYU. This is my plan. Maybe it can help you in going about to finding yours. Good luck and keep rolling.


sincerely, martha

I feel that if you can't get the same enjoyment out of making films and putting them on the internet as you would making 100 million then you shouldn't be in film, and contrary to what people will say, I don't see it anything benefitial about all the money that goes into films, other than that it washes every shred of artistic vision and creativity.

To my antifans Paul and MeGrimlock,

MeGrimlock- You are from Texas, so I'm going to accept thats why you are so angry. I don't mind what you said, I get angry too. The difference between me and you though is that I have a full head of hair and you have a mohawk. Me Shmuck? No, you shmuck. Since when do ppl from Arlington use old Yiddish curses? (By the way Chris, I believe Elliott's entire post can be viewed as "flaming" so take I wouldn't mind if you took it off.)

Paul.....Paul, Paul, Paul. We were getting along just fine until you decided to excorcise the past for no real reason. So just shut your pie hole and let the real men do the work around here.

I think I appreciate what most of you said. I haven't had any real epiphanies from reading them, but you led me on what I think is the right track. BTW McGrimlock.....If you had any idea what an accomplished musician I was you would rethink your statements. Go ahead, insult the films you suffered through, but don't insult music which you haven't heard.

Well now, let's take a much needed second look at this whole thing. First, flaming. I gave you sound advice, pretty much point for point, and even bold printed the most important part of my post so that you wouldn't have to bother reading the rest if you didn't feel so inclined. Since you're dumb and can't understand simple points, I'll make them easier for you.

-"So far three of my films have been submited to SF.com and have recieved a total of 201 reviews even after a month of controversery surrounding my decency so I know I can get people to watch my stuff."
:Sucky films that got watched because of lame hype
-"Do I really want to spend 4 years chained to film with nothing to fall back on,"
:You're a puss with a weak will. You're saying you don't have the passion to try, future be damned.
:Settling for a degree in anything else only makes it easier to being a nothing at an accouting firm or WTF ever.
:Also, "chained to film?" WTF? That pretty much says it all and deserves a nice big FU.
-"I'm honestly more passionate about music... but I really don't see myself pursuing it as a career."
:You don't have enough passion for that either. If you did, you'd have already known all the roads your talent would've taken and been well on your way to one of them. You're not a musician, merely a SCHMUCK who knows how to play an instrument.

If you truly felt you belonged doing this you wouldn't be so doubtful of yourself. You'd strive to make it in to any school or production job, or whatever, available. And you'd be more confident in yourself as a film maker. Your doubts and lack of commitment(to film or music) are speaking for you. They're saying, "I suck at this, I shouldn't move on. I should just go work for Uncle Donny's firm and be a little *****." In ****ing conclusion, because this has already gone on for too damn long, there may be hope for you, but with this putrid s**t attitude you have, it's not really looking like you do.

-Elliott

And my 'hawk was ****ing rad, thank you.

your hawk was ****ing rad.

McGrimlock, I think this falls under the "no flaming" rule.

Please keep it civil.

I understand the "drama" of the past, that doesn't excuse this. No flaming. Serious questions deserve serious answers without flames. Drama from the past is still no excuse.

Please tone this down.

Best Regards,
Chris Wright
Studentfilms.com

Geez man, why are you so angry?

I'd like to specifically address you believing that I have a "puss weak will". I don't. If you can't accept any art form as some sort of a chain than you have misinterpreted the definition of art. If things don't go well at say, NYU Tisch or USC, wouldn't you feel chained if you were committed to a $40,000 a year tuition? I'm just thinking logically, I'm not giving up film or jazz, but I am trying to make sense out of the cross road.

I'm closing this one down.

Keep it civil guys.

-Chris
Studentfilms.com