Done

I say quit. Walk away. Do something else. See how it feels. If you can't stand living with yourself, then you made the wrong decision. You can always take it up again.
 
If you going to do something there's really no need to mention it, just go ahead and do it. The problem you see, is after announcing you've quit, if you don't, then you must come to the realization that you can't even successfully accomplish quiting filmmaking. So just another thing you're not good at.

The one thing everybody has proven time and again we are all excellent at is growing old and dying. Nobody has messed up at that yet, that we're aware of. Hmmmm.... sounds like a movie plot to me... "The Screw Up" logline- A man born in ancient Rome is such a failure at everything he can't even manage to grow old and die like everyone else. A trait others would kill for!
 
When I hear stories like this I am reminded of an episode of "The Partridge Family" (strange - I know).

David Cassidy decides that he wants to give up rock and roll and become a classical composer, much to the shock of his family. They convince him to seek the advice of a professional composer. David decides that if the composer tells him he is no good, he will quit trying. The composer tells him, if another person's opinion is enough to have him quit, then he shouldn't bother trying at all.

All of the arts are like this; acting, writing, painting, directing, etc. It's never easy and there are always plenty of people to tell you why it won't work out. If those opinions are enough to dissuade you, then you might want to consider other options and community college might be the start of something new and exciting.
 
LMAO. 22 years old? Dude, chill out a little. Most directors hit their peak sometime in their 40's. But as others have said, if quitting is an option, then this may be the wrong business for you. I'm 19 right now. I know next to nothing about films, filmmaking, life, people, etc. Why? Because I'm 19. I'm still a teenager, for god's sake.

But to me, there is no option to quit, especially at this age. Maybe if I don't see any progress by the time I'm like 35 I'll consider it. But if you really are meant to work in film, quitting shouldn't exist in your vocabulary.

Do what you feel is right. Film is great, but if you feel it's not working and never will, do something else. Quitting isn't bad if that's the case.

I wish you luck in your endeavors, and I hope that you find your niche soon enough.
 
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I'm 17. I've already accepted the fact that i will end up making absolutely nothing until I can prove my worth to the world of filmmaking, whenever that is. Don't give up if its what you really love.
 
Imo it's not unheard of to get burned out after spending 7 years at something when it seems to be not going anywhere.
That nagging question that keeps coming up, "Why am I doing this?"

I think everyone's advice so far is pretty good. They all seem to be saying the same things. Spend some time in College.

It's good to be diverse in your knowledge anyways and not limit your knowledge to any one area.
Most if not all older people (30 and up) around here have multiple trades and talents.

When I quite music at 40 years old it was under the condition that I'd start playing again when the passion came back.
It never came back. Maybe a little now, after 10 or 12 years but I filled the time learning something else.
And coincidentally, when I left music, I went back to college for 3 years. At 40 years old.

You don't have to have all of your eggs in one basket. Diverse.
That'll give you a break from filmmaking anyways.
And maybe later you'll not only have your passion back but be in a better position intellectually to do something about it.
And if your passion doesn't come back, which is hard to believe, then you'll still be in a better position educational wise.

Pretty much what everyone else has been saying as I read it.
 
This is broken record talk at this point, but maybe if enough people tell you the truth you'll be more apt to accept it.

If you WANT to quit... then quit.

If you still want to make movies but are feeling pressured by your mother and community college, then DON'T QUIT.

Community College buys your two more years (apparently on your mother's dime) to make movies without worrying about insurance and various expenses. If you want to continue trying, go for it. Use this time to your advantage. No film classes, no problem. You have books and the internet to help you out. Have a film question? Bring it here. I'll bet it will be addressed with more time, care, and knowledge than most film professors have available.

But to me... it feels like you're looking for a reason to quit. And if that's the case... then quit. You seem to be taking the advice of those here (which you asked for in the first place) and finding an excuse for every suggestion they have. And that's fine... it just means that you don't really want a solution.

You need to decide for yourself if you want to continue. If you want to, I assure you, you can. I'm in Fargo, ND making a living off video work and by night, I DP for the projects I actually like doing. That's in North Dakota. Know how much pro work is done here in a year? Hell of a lot less than is done in New Jersey.

My thoughts :) Good luck on your decision.
 
I'm like you. Been doing it for 5 years. Did a few internships. Did a few movies, got into some film festivals. Right now I feel like I've hardly made a dent. I've had one or two breakdowns, thinking 'wtf am I doing!?'

But each time I got out of it. I know there's nothing else I'd rather be doing, and that i'll put all my heart and soul into this without giving up.

I'm working on an internship right now. I'm 24. I'm the youngest guy on set. Everyone always feels a need to mention that. They also mention that it took them a while to get where they are, and that I'm only 24 and have plenty of time... and you're 22.

But I agree with everyone else. If you're not willing to put a lifetime into this, then quit.
 
I'm fairly certain that once people achieve their greatest professional goals, their fondest memories are of the crazy struggles they went through to get there. Enjoy the struggling while you're still doing it.
 
Andrew, you've gotten really good advice from experienced people.

An education is never a waste of time, imo-even if it seems like that at times. A business degree will do you well; if all else fails you'll have a backup. Also, a business degree will largely enhance your understanding, and approach to filmmaking (or any other business).

I'm not sure exactly what your goals are (writing, directing, or producing). Maybe you want to do a little of each.

you're young now, and i don't think a lot of well-rounded and reputable filmmakers 'made it' at such a young age. Whether it's life experience, or better organizational skills, it'll only get better with time.

if you want to be a writer, then i'd say you just need to live life. have some real experiences. know interesting people and live through extraordinary situations.

if you want to be a great writer, i think you should: get arrested, bribe yourself out of a foreign prison, live abroad for a few years, be roommates with shady individuals, take a road trip with an eccentric girl etc. etc*.

i.e. live life. just don't get into too much, or too serious trouble, and don't get yourself killed during it. i'm sure by the time you're 30 or older, you'll have something worth writing about (and make a movie about). i'm not talking biographical material here, but rather general life experience that will translate honestly to the screen for anything you're writing.


*your mileage may very. don't look for stuff. if you're living life, a good experience will come knocking on your door. you might find you didn't want to be a filmmaker after all.







edit: don't forget that patience is key.
 
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I think you should quit... quit denying yourself the delicious buttery taste of Land O Lakes spread!

(See I'm making this gig work for me through lucrative product placement posts)

OK honestly, when in doubt, do the responsible thing... it's not like you have to "officially" quit anyway. I play around with this stuff because I enjoy it OR it pays... and sometimes I enjoy it AND it pays. Seriously, go with your mom's advice for the time being. As others have said, at this level you can do both anyway... in hindsight you'll realize you were lucky to have a parent that cared about your success and you're probably MORE likely to end up doing what you love through more exposure to opportunity; people and situations you wouldn't have found on your current path. Definitely take your mom up on that offer.
 
and for the OP...lighten up on yourself. you're at an advantage, because you started trying film very young.

from the time i was 6 years old, i played drums. i learned on my own, and very quickly. i started my first band when i was 11, i was playing shows for friends at age 14, i was playing 18 and over bars when i was 16, i recorded albums, i toured, and i did it professionally until i was 30. i never made it big, but i got close. but i quit for the same reason...i felt beaten down, rejected, underappreciated. but it was the best decision i have ever made. i got married, i have a daughter, and another daughter due any minute now, and i turned to making films in that time.

but one big difference? should be obvious. i quit music (my 1st love) at age 30. not 22. if i quit aT 22, I would have never toured around the country, i wouldn't have played with the bands i played with, or recorded albums, or met David Bowie(for example)...dude...sky's the limit. i quit when i had my fill, not because i didn't keep trying. but it's different for me. at 34, film is my new love, and i'm trying just as hard as i always did with music. so whatever decision you make, make it 100%.
 
I had barely shot any shorts by the time I was 22... and only one "long film" which was about 45 minutes. The key is to know your strength's and weakness's. Don't try to do too much, get talented people around you to make you better.

If it's apparent this isn't for you, then by all means, get out, but if you love it, and still want it, don't quit now.
 
I do this not because I want to make a lot of money or to become famous.

I do this because I love doing it.

I just happen to get paid occasionally for doing it. And that's awesome.


Dillon
 
I have to agree with the others here. If you're wanting to quit, you don't want it bad enough. First, go make more shorts, but don't spend any money! Use what you have, or can beg, borrow and steal. Most of us here have done way more than five shorts before attempting a feature. My personal story: I did forty shorts between age 17 and 22. Some where good, some sucked, but I learned a lot. When I finally did try for a feature, I decided to treat it like a big short and use it as a big learning experience. My budget would be whatever I could afford to spend out of pocket, which ended up being $600. I wrote a movie that I knew I could make for no money and we did it. I was 22. The movie ended up being total crap, but I learned TONS on it that I was able to apply to my second feature which I shot for just $200 when I was 24. We actually made $2000 off of that one, and the quality had improved dramatically over my first because I had learned. Now I'm 25 and in production on my third. We've spent quite a bit more money this time, but the point is that I've learned from each movie and now I'm finally working on something that I think I'll be able to shop around. I don't have a lot of money. I've suffered through being a literal starving artist because it's what I LOVE to do. There is NO reason not to make a movie, if that's truly what you want to do. Money isn't an issue. Refuse to spend. Write within your means. Time isn't an issue. Some people like Faith shoot their films in spare time on the weekends. Others use vacation time from work (that's how I shot my first). The only issue here is desire.
 
And i remember that it isn't mandatory to start in the filmmaking industry as a director or producer making your own films. I know that it is pretty difficult to work in other ropes but PA but I suggest trying to find something more department specific, if you like any special department as camera or sound or light or art or special effects or make up or wardrobe or vfx or.... There are tons of departments out there. Sometimes is better to focus on one that you may like than to wander around. Try to look for workshops where you can meet people, learn etc...

Anyway, if you feel that this isn't your field go look for something that fullfils you.
 
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