Do you write to direct yourself?

[Martay]

I've always written to direct...

But during these three years, I've managed to become producer on 2 more films not including my own spec... In addition, I've managed to pitch a couple more ideas and turn those ideas into projects.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I got involved for a couple of reasons... First, the MONEY. LOL. Too good to pass up. Second, credit as a producer of a few films that get theatrical release shouldn't hurt me... Third, I get to learn this entire process especially when it comes to financing and even more important -- develop my own contacts so that I will eventually be able to direct my own stuff because that's always been the goal.

Great post and smart move.

I originally only wrote to have the films bought and made by Hollywood...then I actually woke up to the cold harsh reality of how things really work. Well, in theory, because nothing goes according to Hoyle very often in this pursuit.

So, I realized that in order to get a credit as a writer I'd have to undertake the perils of production. I worked on many sets and assembled an interested group of amateurs and we collectively started making short films. We got credits, we screened at festivals, etc.

A funny thing happened...I got addicted to filmmaking. Whether I was a grip, sound man, Producer, AD...I was loving it.

I took my turn as a director as well...and all my ideas of staying back and just writing went out the window.

I started a phase of JUST writing to direct. So all the scripts I'd crank out were low-budget, things I thought I could handle.

Thankfully, I did get assignments during this time. I figured, hey, it's a credit and it's practice. So I got some features produced and I got paid. Nice.

Did my own feature as well as a director. And then looked at all the material I had amassed and realized that I wasn't writing anything for Hollywood any longer. I realized that I did want to do both. Write the scripts that had a chance to come to a Multiplex near me as well as write the smaller movies that I might be able to direct.

I did get a Hollywood re-write assignment and that's in Development Hell...so be it. Keep on moving. Sold a Spec that had kicked around LA for a while but never found it's home. Now an indie company is making it in '09. I got to do the re-writes for it. It was painful as this was one of those Hybrid pieces, I could see it a major film and yet could almost get my hands around it to direct myself so when the story changed, it was a little hard to take, but it's what happens when you're a writer.

The whole point is...be open to all the opportunities if you really want to make it.

I'd love to direct someone else's script if it was a great project. I do think I can muster the passion to do it justice. I definitely want to do that with a few of my friend's scripts some day when I'm big enough for it to mean something to them that I'm attached to their script as a director.

I have zero issue giving up my babies to other directors as well. There's a few that I'd love to hold onto for myself but if the right offer came my way...go for it McG Yeah, dude, sure you can have it Mr. Bay, by the way, loved the trailer for Pearl Harbor, did I tell you that?

I'm open to any possibility. I've got 3 produced features (2 hopefully on the way) and need a home for at least 6 of the 17 others I've written (some may never make it out of the drawer again) so that I can make 1 or 2 on my own.

-M