You WILL NOT make IT.

Re: You WILL NOT make IT.

The fact is, if this is what you're meant to do, quitting will not be an option for you. You'll do it because you have to, you'll do it because you can't live without it. And if people don't like what you do, you'll simply know they're wrong.
If there's one thing I've learned as a writer/musician/actor/director, it's that the creative process is everything. It's the closest you'll ever get to flying. To start with nothing and end up with an actual something that excites you is gold, plain and simple. To see other people digging it is just the icing on the cake and there's nothing better on this earth.
So to answer your question, yes I'm afraid you should quit. Because you sound like you're talking about your day job and that saddens me.
To quote a great character: "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard everyone would do it. The "hard" is what makes it great."
 
Re: You WILL NOT make IT.

True Barry, the fire is not enough (unless all that concerns you is doing it, rather than making it.  Then you can carry on as long as you like)  But without the fire, you won't have much going for you in the end.  Talent is the tool, but it's not much good without the motivation.

In the end, you measure your own success, but to master something; to be truly great, requires an uncommon commitment.
 
Re: You WILL NOT make IT.

I like the fencing story...

I used to fence when I lived back east, and for all the time and energy I invested, I just really didn't have the aptitude (or the fire, since I recognized my own lack of aptitude and went looking for something else...)

Turned out my abilities lay more in the realm of sharpshooting. So I'm perfectly happy that I let go of fencing; otherwise I might never have discovered that I was capable of being a damn good rifleman.

Maybe there's a moral in there somewhere.

Good luck finding it.
 
Re: You WILL NOT make IT.

I think you have to be honest with yourself about whether you are good at something. If you aren't, you don't have to quit. My Mom is a mediocre painter, but she loves to do it, and that's fine. But she has no illusions about her talent and how far it will take her. The sooner you find where your gifts lie, the sooner you can pursue them with passion.
 
Re: You WILL NOT make IT.

Jim, after a while you can figure out if you are good or no good at something but it is true also that if you realize that NOW you are no good but you still got the FIRE or DESIRE to learn it ... I ve seen so many people who were not "talented" in this or that but they were so hard working that after a while they actually become GOOD and VERY GOOD. Hard work is very important whatever you wanna do. I know some guys who have an eye for cinematography but they do not do much and nothing happens. Dont you agree? Of course if you know you are no good and you lost your passion you better stop cos otherwise you can get frustrated and just pathetic guy. I agree with you on that. And as you said there are some people who are not masters in the field but still enjoy what they do and it is also ok.
 
Re: You WILL NOT make IT.

I firmly believe that you can master any craft with hard work and persistence. Artistry however, is another story.
 
Re: You WILL NOT make IT.

I have to agree with Jim and yes WOW to the fencing story. John Hudson WOW that has to be one of my all time fav quotes (you are an interesting fellow)
So ok here I go...
Ive seen this type of thread allot, maybe even started one myself during the black days. It hits a universal nerve amongst all artists because its happened/happening to everyone who cares about creating anything. Fame/success/whatever you want to call it (can only be a by-product of the product (not that I've achieved it yet :-X so that's your starting point ..make, learn, blah, blah, become better at making the products - "Ooo.. that's nice" - "Hey this guy is really talented lets give him some top corporate jobs ;D - while still maintaining your guerilla filmaking on the side - "Hey we could make some money out of this guy he's a freakin goldmine! Quick give him that series to keep him busy and then we can slowly leech his soul for ideas, give him that advert as well - tell him its on HD with Helicopter shots.."
Ok so your paying the bills 8)
I was made redundant/set-up on my own/directed first film 'The Tribe' (comedy cavemen, well aren't they always?)
I got a big corporate job ::) luckily did'nt squander all the money held fast with my girlfriend and bought DVX100 (Thanks god!!!) mic, light kit and a good tripod oh and editing computer (laptop take the internet strain......now.....) and she got her ring.
Guess what?
The dream of a constant flow of cash-cow-corporate jobs faded faster than a fake tour t-shirt - que me banging my head on the floor plus following montage of next three years being poorer than a dustbin - counting chips in the supermarket with a glazed zombie look on our faces (might submit that to DVX)
I still had my basic toolkit.
Approached a band at gig. Made first music vid.
Wrote a short.
Wrote a long.
Wrote a long-short (am thinking about a short-long but maybe too futuristic for todays palette)
Shot the short.
Wrote a very long :o
Shooting the long-short now.
Want to shoot the very long.
Shot someones something else (we wont talk about that)
Taught kids to shoot their shorts (films!)
Now.
Hopefully my short-long will lead to my long or even someone elses shorts as long as I get paid :P
Plus...
You do have to be honest about your own talent (My stuffs great :-*)
Try your best and if people are still starring blankly at your work in tens years post me a thread I would love to see it.
J.P.v :-X
P.s those kids shorts have come in handy for my short-long, even though I know that's sacrilege (I know!) (chanting to himself) Don't drop a frame...don't drop a frame....and yes I am that poor :D
 
Re: You WILL NOT make IT.

You must keep trying. Quitting is the last thing you should ever do. I am slowly building up my DVX-100A rig and now that I finally have a light kit I am actually going to go looking for some work. Even if I screw it up royally, I was there and I gave it my best shot. I will learn from it either way and I will live to shoot another day. I love doing it so much that I will never stop.

Mike Harpe :)
 
Re: You WILL NOT make IT.

No, I don't fence. It was one of those many and storied diversions in my life. It did not amount to anything. But it was one of many object lessons I learned under various circumstances. It reinforced to me that success principles are universal. The basics always pay off. Hard work, persistence, vision, compassion, honesty, and the humility to listen to others and learn from your mistakes will serve you well no matter what you do.
 
Re: You WILL NOT make IT.

...and try to get at least 5 hours of sleep ;D

... i checked myslef, if it is below 5 hours you just crash like my laptop I use to edit my feature on ;D
 
Re: You WILL NOT make IT.

oh if it is only 5 hours a day, dont go for more than two weeks straight...cos you will crash too...
 
Re: You WILL NOT make IT.

Learn from your and everyone elses mistakes. PAY ATTENTION to everything. think about your audience and what you want to tell them. Utilize the tools necessary to do so.
If you are in it for fame, you will probably NOT be a great filmmaker.
 
Re: You WILL NOT make IT.

Hi, I just wanted to pitch in. When I was 12 years old I decided to quit my passion of making movies because I was frustrated that I couldn't make them as professional as the films I watched on the big screen. I had the ideas, but didn't know how to express them on film. Now, I'm 14 and I'm back into my hobby and at my age it can be pretty frustrating on getting a movie done and made. I don't have the resources and don't have any money and people generally look down at you like your a joke. But, the only reason I stick with it is because I love making movies to death! It's all about the persistence and never giving up how ever bad it seems to get. If you have the persistence to stick with it, you have the persistence to succeed.

I believe that all creativity flows from god, not ourselves. I'm not a religious person at all, but I believe if we open ourselves up to spirituality we open a channel for our most creative thoughts and ideas. Ourselves, our perception of self, our minds are not us. They are only forms of comprehension for ourselfs to feel like we are seperate, we are one individual self, living in this unknown and strange world. Therefore, we don't create our creativity, god creates it and flows it through us. But, many people build these egos, thinking because they have made this artwork, this creative expression, that they are superior to others some how, but usually that just opens doors to ignorance for them. If filmmaking is what was really meant to be for you then it will consume every part of your life. This is a egostical and a shark eats shark business, but if your humble and open yourself up to the world, the greatest creativity will flow out of you and into the moving picture your putting up on the screen.

This is what I've learned with the limited amount of experience I do have and try to put in practice when I create movies.
 
Re: You WILL NOT make IT.

I think it is about passion. I'm just getting started and I have a lot of doubts and fears. I beat myself up pretty hard for along time over spending the money on the camera without a clear vision of what it would yield. But then a friend reminded me of 15 years ago when I dropped everything and spent a ton of money on music gear. I had nearly zero confidence that the investment then would pay off either and had the whole buyer's guilt then too. But a year after that I released a CD and landed an indie contract for 5 years.

I look back at those years recording, playing and performing as some of the best in my life. I'm proud of those songs and proud of the performances. Not for their quality or popularity, but for the sense that I did something. Something I can hold and hear and reflect upon for the rest of my life. Something i created from nothing. And I realize that the fear and regret I had at the time couldn't stand in the way of the passion for music that I had not fully realized.

I hope every day that passes that my new passion for film will do the same. If not yielding the successes that music did, then I at least hope for the happiness and memories that doing something you love brings to life. And I know I'll get over the worries. Passion has a way of leading you where you need to go, sometimes maybe before you even realize it. All I can say is that if all you can think about is filming, then filming will be a part of your life one way or another until something else captures your heart and imagination.
 
Re: You WILL NOT make IT.

Why would anyone be worried about making it so long as you're able to get your hands on a dvx100a, and some good editing software? What more tools do you need?
 
Re: You WILL NOT make IT.

first question: what exactly is "making it" anyway?

second thought: you are not the job, any job - be it filmmaker of fileclerk.

three: remove your attachment to the outcome

four: three guys from salt lake city made the biggest buzz film of 2004 for $400k, it sold for $3m, then grossed $43m after 23 weeks in release after opening on only five screens.

five: it stops when you stop.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top