How Do You Know Where To Start?

R

RawkThisFistRed

Member
Ok. I guess I'll preface this by saying, this is my first somewhat 'official' post on DVXuser.com, so I'm not sure what to say, but you guys seem like a straight up knowledgeable and friendly bunch of guys, even so to the point where I'd rather ask you this than any of my teachers at school.

I'm a film student at a local college in New York City (Ai, for anyone who's heard of it) and I'm down-right scared. I'm less than a year away from graduation and I realized how little about the industry that I know. Yeah, I'm a 'good editor' by school standards and according to everyone around me, my peers, I'm good at a lot of things, but I really don't think I can stack up against professionals.

Here's the thing though. I _know_ I want to Direct. I love it. Even through the hell of it, the questions, the stress, the insurmountable problems we have to get over, the hell, did I mention the hell? Yeah, I know I want to do this. Problem is, where do you start? I feel like I honestly want to start my own Production Company at some point, but I've gotten the slightest clue about what I'm doing, besides the fact that I want to do it.

Problem is, everyone respects me as an editor, because 90% of the work I've done, has been editing, basically in After Effects, Final Cut, Photoshop, etc. Everyone knows I'm a skilled (and I use that in reference to my peers, I don't really believe I'm that good at all).

I've already got a few dedicated friends, two who are in my school and one who just has always wanted to get into filmmaking, but just never went to school (he just recently attempted to shoot a Batman fan-film, which came out alright).

I guess I'll get straight to the point. I work at a job that I hate and I want out. I don't feel like selling coffee is going to help further my craft in any way shape or form.

My questions are plenty but pretty straight-forward.

1) How do you/did you know you what to do when you left school? Did you intern? Did you have a 'mentor' kind of person?

2) What would you recommend someone do, if they were in my position? How would you go about getting established as a director?

3) How do you know your reel will stack up against the competition? I see the ads on Craigslist and Mandy for Editors, but I'm afraid to apply for them because I don't want to get stuck in my life as an editor even though I can do it, but I want to work on film, not this part-time bull I'm doing now.

4) If you want to get started as a successful director (but still be able to eat) what kinda gigs should I be looking for?

I know I'm asking a lot, but I keep googling, looking at reels, resumes, ads and I have no clue where to start. I'm not even sure if I composited a reel right now, if it would even be worth anything.

Any clues, or even a point in the right direction would be much appreciated... Thanks.

- Kyle
 
Okay, I'll jump in.

First off, selling coffee can help you. You learn people skills, goal setting and how to close a deal. Those are important skills no matter what you do, but can be very instrumental as a filmmaker.

When I left school I wanted to be a rock star (insert chuckle here). I worked hard at it, and played some great (and horrible) places. I didn't figure out I wanted to make movies until I was about 37. My mentor was a little place you may have heard of called DVXuser. Then I found some local folks that I could chat with. Some I chose to listen to and some not, based on what I wanted, and what they were saying and had done. I also read about the craft constantly (I often tell people that I went to film school: GOYA G.T.L...Get Off Your Ass and Get To the Library)

As far as what to do and getting established, it depends on what you mean by being a "director". If you want to make films, go make a few shorts, learn from them and move on. This is a great forum to get your work dissected. Look for local groups of actors/screenwriters/filmmakers and go and listen for a while. If you want to make commercials, do some pro-bono work. I got started doing spots for non-profits and almost all of my paying gigs can be traced back to that.

Don't worry about the competition. You do the type and quality of work that you can do. The rest will come. It's good to show range, but getting a handle on different styles takes time. I'd sooner hire someone who has a strong grasp of a single style, then someone who is all over the place and does none of it very well.

In the beginning, I would at least consider whatever comes along. Do commercials, industrials, PSA's whatever. Come up with some concepts for spec spots and shorts and go do them yourself.

The important thing to remember is that you don't need anyone's permission to do this, except your own.

BTW, Editors can make exceptionally efficient and powerful directors because they shoot with the edit in mind. So keep editing. It can pay the bills and make you a better director in the long run.

Stick around. This place can be good for you.
 
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RawkThisFistRed said:
1) How do you/did you know you what to do when you left school? Did you intern? Did you have a 'mentor' kind of person?

_______

I started college as a broadcast journalism major but switched to art/design. I goofed off a lot in college though and didnt really start getting serious until I was a bit older. Finally I realized that I needed to really start learning and I went through a 2 year period of intense research and experimentation. I found this sight (late 2004-ish) and it really helped with the "techy" stuff... the 24p, the final cut pro questions, etc etc. It gave me the know how to make a really good short film in 2005, shot on the DVX100, total DIY. That film was a great piece to get my reel started and it landed me a lot of good gigs. It also got my name out there a bit more. So to answer your question.... I made a good short film, got it in festivals, never interned, started working any freelance I could... oh and I bought an HVX200 when they first hit the market... and yes I had many mentors. Tarkovsky, Herzog, Bob Russett, John Hathorn, Marcel Duchamp.... to me, a mentor is anyone you respect and you can learn from.

_______

2) What would you recommend someone do, if they were in my position? How would you go about getting established as a director?

_______

kind of a broad question and there are many different paths... I would say write/direct good short films that tell good stories and get them out there as much as possible. Start networking and hustling.... you have to have confidence and a strong work ethic. Build a solid reel/portfolio of work, more networking, more hustling. Be tenacious and be creative.

_______

3) How do you know your reel will stack up against the competition? I see the ads on Craigslist and Mandy for Editors, but I'm afraid to apply for them because I don't want to get stuck in my life as an editor even though I can do it, but I want to work on film, not this part-time bull I'm doing now.

_______

dont worry about how you will stack up against the competition, get away from the ego.... Only focus your attention to becoming a better storyteller. And sometimes its good for an aspiring director to learn things like editing and DPing, in fact (I would argue) it will make you a better director... so work as an editor, make money, build a solid reel of work... and keep writing, keep learning about that elusive word we here a lot.... "story"..... try to understand it on the deepest level and from every possible view point (I could go off into a philosophy tangent... but you get the idea)

_______

4) If you want to get started as a successful director (but still be able to eat) what kinda gigs should I be looking for?

_______

if you can make money editing, do that for awhile. Or do what Herzog says and go out into real life and work in factories.... work in slaughter houses.... work at nightclubs... work at hospitals.... go work where real life is happening... and take notes :-)

_______

I know I'm asking a lot, but I keep googling, looking at reels, resumes, ads and I have no clue where to start. I'm not even sure if I composited a reel right now, if it would even be worth anything.

_______

Dont get too caught up on all these what ifs... just keep focused, keep an open mind and keep learning about the art of visual storytelling, be a student of the game. For life. good luck man.


Any clues, or even a point in the right direction would be much appreciated... Thanks.

- Kyle
Click to expand...

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You need a cash flow. If directing isn't going to give it to you now, then you'll need to sell coffee or whatever. Do as many projects as you can when you're not working to build your portfolio. Your coffee money could fund your next short, no?
 
If you're good a editing, it's definitely the best way to find consistent, good paying work in the industry. However, it is very easy to get hired somewhere on a full time basis and get very comfortable. You sound very young. Spend all your time and effort shooting stuff -- shorts, commercials, music videos -- do it now before the demands of the real world (spouses, kids, etc.) squeeze you dry. If you can't find time to do it now, you sure as hell won't later.
 
Whenever I start a new project or enterprise or career or whatever, I always remember a story that I read someplace, from the second world war...an airborne unit lands many miles from its planned drop zone, completely out of their intended position and nowhere near their objective. The officer in command read his maps, summoned his subordinates and said, "Okay, we start the war from here."

And I think that's a useful way to look at it. Whatever your objective is, wherever you might be in relation to that objective, you can always choose to start the war from where you are, right now.
 
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Sad Max said:
Whenever I start a new project or enterprise or career or whatever, I always remember a story that I read someplace, from the second world war...an airborne unit lands many miles from its planned drop zone, completely out of their intended position and nowhere near their objective. The officer in command read his maps, summoned his subordinates and said, "Okay, we start the war from here."

And I think that's a useful way to look at it. Whatever your objective is, wherever you might be in relation to that objective, you can always choose to start the war from wherever you are, right now.
Click to expand...

Well said. I'll have to remember that. Take away the "what-ifs" and move forward. Of course, knowing where you want to go is the key....
 
Sad Max said:
Whenever I start a new project or enterprise or career or whatever, I always remember a story that I read someplace, from the second world war...an airborne unit lands many miles from its planned drop zone, completely out of their intended position and nowhere near their objective. The officer in command read his maps, summoned his subordinates and said, "Okay, we start the war from here."
Click to expand...
I think that is from 'The Longest Day'. John Wayne's character says it after they meetup on the road with the other troops.


As for the OP, if you are good at editting at least do that as opposed to selling coffee. You will get to meet other people in the industry. The main problem is whether you get stuck in that role but that is up to you. If you want to be a director then go and direct some shorts. After college though you will want a career and if you can't find it directing then editting will be the way to go.
 
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