Hi, I am new here to dvxuser and had some questions. I wanted to ask the guys who are in the industry these questions. I work for right now for as a security sale rep in California. I get great pay and have great benefits. I like my job, but don't love it. The thing I love is film. Here's my problem. I will someday own this company because my father owns it, so I will be set for the rest of my life. The issue is I don't know if I can do this the rest of my life. My parents think that film is a waste of time. They keep telling me that there is no money in film and that I will never make it in the industry. I have young family of 4. I would love to be in the industry, but everyone keeps telling me if you have a family keep your job and just make it your hobby, but I want it to be more than my hobbie. I would love to do as a full time job. The question I guess I am asking is can a support my family doing film. I have a chance to keep my job and go to San Francisco School of Digital Film at night. I just was wondering should I take the jump into film or should I keep my job and keep this as a hobby. Any suggestions would be great. It has always been my dream to do film, but I need to support my family and I have great security in the job that I am in. Please help!! Sorry if I am asking this in the wrong area. I love Cinematography so I didn't know where else to put it. Thanks All.
New To DVXUser And Had Questions
- Thread starter w10542968
- Start date
Whoo boy, w10542968 (can I call you "w"?), you asked a doozy.
I'll be bold (or foolish) enough to have a crack at it.
First off, my parents way back when, had exactly the same attitude. But in a practical sense they had definite grounds to steer me towards "computers".
Actually, there is great money in film. But the odds of getting a decent chunk aren't stacked in our favor. There's a ton of competition out there.
Have you been doing a lot of personal projects? Free-lancing. Film school. Do you have that need to create that you just can't shake? Essentially I'm saying that you should probably evaluate your own potential to make it in film.
Last year I DP'ed a feature with a first time director. His lifelong love had been the cinema. Watching movies, not making them. He'd had a career as a dance instructor and now in his late 30s he decided he wanted to make movies.
Long story short his direction was non-existant. He had a recent degree from one of the top filmschools in the world. If an actor asked for direction, his reply: "You're an actor! Act!" He has no business being anywhere near Circuit City much less a film set.
Each one of us has circumstances unique to ourselves. We each have our own varying talents, opportunities, connections, abilities, ambitions. Unfortunately they don't always add up to doing exactly what you wanted to do in life. We all adjust.
Please make real sure your heart and abilities are up for the challenge.
And you can certainly do side projects, take classes in that rare time off from work and family. If you decide that you must do this, you will find a way. Just take good care of what you do have now.
Very best of luck, w
Jim
I'll be bold (or foolish) enough to have a crack at it.
First off, my parents way back when, had exactly the same attitude. But in a practical sense they had definite grounds to steer me towards "computers".
Actually, there is great money in film. But the odds of getting a decent chunk aren't stacked in our favor. There's a ton of competition out there.
Have you been doing a lot of personal projects? Free-lancing. Film school. Do you have that need to create that you just can't shake? Essentially I'm saying that you should probably evaluate your own potential to make it in film.
Last year I DP'ed a feature with a first time director. His lifelong love had been the cinema. Watching movies, not making them. He'd had a career as a dance instructor and now in his late 30s he decided he wanted to make movies.
Long story short his direction was non-existant. He had a recent degree from one of the top filmschools in the world. If an actor asked for direction, his reply: "You're an actor! Act!" He has no business being anywhere near Circuit City much less a film set.
Each one of us has circumstances unique to ourselves. We each have our own varying talents, opportunities, connections, abilities, ambitions. Unfortunately they don't always add up to doing exactly what you wanted to do in life. We all adjust.
Please make real sure your heart and abilities are up for the challenge.
And you can certainly do side projects, take classes in that rare time off from work and family. If you decide that you must do this, you will find a way. Just take good care of what you do have now.
Very best of luck, w
Jim
Steve Laramie
Veteran
A friend of myne said he was going to school for engineering and then went to a completely different state and went to film school for 4 years without his parents knowing the whole time.
j1clark@ucsd.edu
Veteran
Unfortunately you have made a couple of decisions already which problably preclude you choosing 'film' as a career, unless the wife of your 'young family', is able to support you during your education and initial activities, often non-paying interships, in film.
You could of course dump the wife and kids, ignore the parents, live like a pauper, get a few film opportunities, and eventually maybe make it in film...
Mattykins
Cute Member
You could really just shoot like most of the people here do. Shoot on their free time. Have some fun. Really, I would keep the family. This is not a time economically to ditch a job. I myself was set up for an internship in NYC this summer. A month before I go, they tell me that they can't get me on staff on an economical standpoint.
If you were going to ditch a well paying job, I would do it when the market doesn't suck. I guess you have to think what is important to you. Family, economic stability (which means family), and most importantly, economic stability.
If you were going to ditch a well paying job, I would do it when the market doesn't suck. I guess you have to think what is important to you. Family, economic stability (which means family), and most importantly, economic stability.
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
Why do you have to quit your day job ?
Get a camera and start making films. See if it is really what you want.
Get a camera and start making films. See if it is really what you want.
GageFX
Carbonite Member
Hey W, I'll just tell you a couple stories.
First is my friend from high school. When he got his first car in 11th grade, he got a custom license plate that said "DP TO BE". That was his dream. We have friends in Hollywood and just before we graduated we got a call from a friend who is a moderately successful actor that wanted to direct. So we helped out on his first couple shorts. I learned that at the time, crewing wasnt my thing, so I stopped and my friend went from PA on the first, to loader on the second, then started working on bigger budget projects. He kept loading until he worked his way up the camera crew. He was 1st AC on several projects, operated on others, then he found himself at 1st AC on an Emmy winning TV drama. He was very close to his goal and it had only taken less than 15 years of hard work to get there.
About 5 years in, though, he and I had a talk about how he really needed to get out of the 16 hour/day, 6 day work weeks if he were ever to have a family. He kept on his career line, though. Fast forward 10 years and he was busting his butt on this TV show, he personally owned all the Panavision glass that show shot with and he rented them to the show, which nicely suplimented his income. But then his GF said she was ready to get married, and so was he. He quit cold turkey. He knew there was no way to sustain a marriage, let alone a family with those hours, so he quit and took over his father in law's HVAC business in the desert east of San Diego.
He's not necessarily happy to be out of the business, but he couldnt be happier with his family and they often bring him back on to "guest AC" (lol) when they need him. He also has enough money now that he has a 65' yacht and about 6 rental properties that greatly suppliment his income. He now has 2 beautiful kids that he has time to be with.
His dream was always to become a DP, but it was an easy choice to give that up for his dream of having a family and the ability to devote the time that they deserve.
Story two is shorter. It's a close friend that graduated USC film school and his first job was as a PA on Empire Strikes Back. He went on to be Spielberg's personal assistant through Goonies and The Color Purple. (I'm looking at his IMDB and there are ALOT of films that aren't listed.) He then went over to Dick Donner for the Lethal Weapon films and Tails from the Crypt where he started producing. He was Post Prod Supervisor on the first xxxxxxxxxx (edited for his privace. This first was a very big grossing film of one of the most popular films series ever.) and his last job was Post Prod Sup on xxxxxxxxx (again edited.... this was a much more embarrassing teen movie) . It was that last film that he decided he had enough. He moved back to his little town in Oklahoma and has been back only once.
Two years ago he was out and we drove over to Warner to see Donner. On our way out, Spielberg just happened to be driving by and he saw Mark, whom he hadnt seen in about 8 years. He slammed on his brakes and rolled down his window. "Mark! Where have you been? Are you back? Word is you are out of the business. If you're back, though, we need you." Mark said "Hey Steven, just in town visiting. I'm not back." Steven: "Well, when you do come back, and you will, call me. We'll get you back working."
After his visit he went back to OK and hasnt looked back.
The business eats you up.
While there are 1000s of people just starting that would sell their liver to have Steven Spielberg excitedly offer them a job, there are also those that finally got OUT of the business that drive right back to Oklahoma and dont look back.
Figure out what your priorities are. That's the best you can do.
First is my friend from high school. When he got his first car in 11th grade, he got a custom license plate that said "DP TO BE". That was his dream. We have friends in Hollywood and just before we graduated we got a call from a friend who is a moderately successful actor that wanted to direct. So we helped out on his first couple shorts. I learned that at the time, crewing wasnt my thing, so I stopped and my friend went from PA on the first, to loader on the second, then started working on bigger budget projects. He kept loading until he worked his way up the camera crew. He was 1st AC on several projects, operated on others, then he found himself at 1st AC on an Emmy winning TV drama. He was very close to his goal and it had only taken less than 15 years of hard work to get there.
About 5 years in, though, he and I had a talk about how he really needed to get out of the 16 hour/day, 6 day work weeks if he were ever to have a family. He kept on his career line, though. Fast forward 10 years and he was busting his butt on this TV show, he personally owned all the Panavision glass that show shot with and he rented them to the show, which nicely suplimented his income. But then his GF said she was ready to get married, and so was he. He quit cold turkey. He knew there was no way to sustain a marriage, let alone a family with those hours, so he quit and took over his father in law's HVAC business in the desert east of San Diego.
He's not necessarily happy to be out of the business, but he couldnt be happier with his family and they often bring him back on to "guest AC" (lol) when they need him. He also has enough money now that he has a 65' yacht and about 6 rental properties that greatly suppliment his income. He now has 2 beautiful kids that he has time to be with.
His dream was always to become a DP, but it was an easy choice to give that up for his dream of having a family and the ability to devote the time that they deserve.
Story two is shorter. It's a close friend that graduated USC film school and his first job was as a PA on Empire Strikes Back. He went on to be Spielberg's personal assistant through Goonies and The Color Purple. (I'm looking at his IMDB and there are ALOT of films that aren't listed.) He then went over to Dick Donner for the Lethal Weapon films and Tails from the Crypt where he started producing. He was Post Prod Supervisor on the first xxxxxxxxxx (edited for his privace. This first was a very big grossing film of one of the most popular films series ever.) and his last job was Post Prod Sup on xxxxxxxxx (again edited.... this was a much more embarrassing teen movie) . It was that last film that he decided he had enough. He moved back to his little town in Oklahoma and has been back only once.
Two years ago he was out and we drove over to Warner to see Donner. On our way out, Spielberg just happened to be driving by and he saw Mark, whom he hadnt seen in about 8 years. He slammed on his brakes and rolled down his window. "Mark! Where have you been? Are you back? Word is you are out of the business. If you're back, though, we need you." Mark said "Hey Steven, just in town visiting. I'm not back." Steven: "Well, when you do come back, and you will, call me. We'll get you back working."
After his visit he went back to OK and hasnt looked back.
The business eats you up.
While there are 1000s of people just starting that would sell their liver to have Steven Spielberg excitedly offer them a job, there are also those that finally got OUT of the business that drive right back to Oklahoma and dont look back.
Figure out what your priorities are. That's the best you can do.
Last edited:
Tom Marshall
Actor!!!!!!
The first story has a happy ending... the second... not so much...
Tom Marshall
Actor!!!!!!
Did he do "Howard the Duck?" That would definitely be an embarrassing movie.
I love film and that's why I more or less do it strictly as a hobby. I thought because I liked it that it made sense to work in the business. I did not like working on set, music videos and tv commercials, at all. The lifestyle's a killer. I learned that lesson. It's kind of like saying I love food so I suppose I'll go work in the restaurant industry. These are two totally different things. If you love film, as J.R. Hudson said, make films! Don't have industry aspirations unless you're willing to sacrifice a lot. If it's stricly your love of film you want to explore, do not go anywhere near a commercial set.
We all have great experiences to share and all we can do is give you our thoughts. In the end family is number one...when you're old (over 29 in the film biz) they will be there (hopefully)...the biz may not be unless you make it happen. There are so many talented people...from writers to cinematographers to directors, etc. but that is not what matters. I started out in this biz as a stand-up comic...I had very good material, but I knew a ton of people that also did and most of them I've never heard of since I turned to screenwriting and filmmaking. There are Oscar Worthy scripts sitting on shelves all over this town. There are Oscar worthy actors that will never get a part...the same with directors, editors, etc. Talent has little to do with success, because talent is everywhere. 90% of the award winning filmmakers at Sundance have never made another film 10 years after their first success. When I read that Clint Eastwood has trouble getting financing for some of his films then I know there are other powers working the strings. Are you still reading? If you are then you are still interested. I feel that you have to find a way to go for it...but not risk that goldmine you are sitting on (family and job). You will need to find a great script...not a good script...a great script...and finance it yourself if you have to...shoot it on weekends if you have to...edit it the same way...get it out there and let if fly. If you still love it then make another film. Keep making them until you can either make it financially or keep your day job and continue to make films. If it's in your blood you will never stop. I never stop writing stand-up and scripts. I will dive headfirst into another film in 2009 and keep going until they pile the dirt on top of me. You have to experience the story for yourself. Then you can answer your question.
GageFX
Carbonite Member
No. But we went to the cast/crew. lol.
Tom Marshall
Actor!!!!!!
That's awesome... :beer:
Thanks for all of your thoughts. I think I am going to do what I was thinking. I was thinking I will just keep filming on my week-ends and at night after the kids are in bed. This is how I have done it before. Family is the most important thing to me. Someone once told me if you take your hobby and make it your job it isn't as enjoyable. I will keep it a hobby and see where it takes me. Thanks again for helping me out.
GageFX
Carbonite Member
i dont think this is true. I took my love of hot chicks and became a fulltime fashion photographer 10 years ago and I was never happier.
I then had a flash of retardation and decided to shoot a feature and I've never been more miserable.