3 answers
John
Student
Roxbury Township, New Jersey
9
Questions
Asked
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How can I make good movies without them taking me years?
My interest in filmmaking started with Quentin Tarantino. He is a genius and I love his movies, but his career has also scared me in a way. He has only made 10 movies and he has been making films for decades. His movie reservoir dogs only took like three weeks to write and yet it took three years for the movie to be made start to finish. I guess what I'm saying is that I don't want to spend years on one project. I want to make lots of movies and the idea of spending years of my life for one movie just terrifies me. Any advice to sort of calm these nervous thoughts?
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3 answers
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1180
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, John, yes, it's me again ! Happy to help you with some advice !
All different filmmakers take all different paths after they graduate. I hope it makes you feel better that there are really now a large group of filmmakers that have gone independent. That means they have total control over their film, do their own promotions and distribution, etc. .There are so many ways your career could go. You will not have the same experience as Tarantino or anyone else.
A lot of it is based on networking and contacts. You do not go "big" fresh out of film school. Everyone's path is different. You will always have some type of work, though, in Hollywood or even if you move back to your town which is close to New York City. It's a business that requires heavy schmoozing, being in the right place at the right time. You can submit your films to many film festivals and all of this promotion and contact information will be available at your film school. So there's nothing to worry about as I've mentioned before in your other inquiry. Over analyzing, comparing yourself to others, projecting outcomes has no place in the beginning steps of studying for a film career. It can create the feeling that makes you forget going to film school all together.
To be emotionally and intellectually secure with your choice of career you have to take it a step at a time. I was someone who never thought about the future when I was a Theatre major studying acting in college. I had to focus on my learning, projects, other courses and be aware of opportunities in the moment - and there were opportunities. People can easily "think" themselves out of their dream career, so be careful of that. Yes, it does take years and years sometimes to make and/or sell a film to the studios. But there are options. See a list of films in the link below and how long they took. I have also left links to some cool articles that may be helpful to you.
I think that if you lessen your worry about any failure or struggles, you'll start with a clear slate and do well in film school. Read some books about the history of film and get an idea of what the business is really like. Know that any of the creative fields are competitive, unreliable, opinion based and unpredictable and if you can accept that, you'll do well in film school and it won't be something stressful or anxiety provoking. But you must be sure that you want to make the commitment. I think in time you will be comfortable with the unpredictable elements of being in film and see that you really didn't have anything to worry about. There will always be something for you if you make the commitment and put strong effort into all you need to do. That goes for any career.
Think of all the good things that come with having a career in film: the variety, it's fun and creative, the people, traveling, and you always learn new things.
I hope that this has been helpful and I wish you all the best !
FILMS THAT TOOK A LONG TIME https://fandomwire.com/15-movies-that-took-the-longest-time-to-make/
21 STABLE JOBS IN THE FILM INDUSTRY https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/stable-jobs-in-film-industry
TIPS ON A CAREER IN FILM AND TV https://www.theguardian.com/careers/careers-blog/expert-advice-how-get-film-tv-screenwriting-careers
MODERN INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING https://www.filmmakingstuff.com/independent-filmmaker/
All different filmmakers take all different paths after they graduate. I hope it makes you feel better that there are really now a large group of filmmakers that have gone independent. That means they have total control over their film, do their own promotions and distribution, etc. .There are so many ways your career could go. You will not have the same experience as Tarantino or anyone else.
A lot of it is based on networking and contacts. You do not go "big" fresh out of film school. Everyone's path is different. You will always have some type of work, though, in Hollywood or even if you move back to your town which is close to New York City. It's a business that requires heavy schmoozing, being in the right place at the right time. You can submit your films to many film festivals and all of this promotion and contact information will be available at your film school. So there's nothing to worry about as I've mentioned before in your other inquiry. Over analyzing, comparing yourself to others, projecting outcomes has no place in the beginning steps of studying for a film career. It can create the feeling that makes you forget going to film school all together.
To be emotionally and intellectually secure with your choice of career you have to take it a step at a time. I was someone who never thought about the future when I was a Theatre major studying acting in college. I had to focus on my learning, projects, other courses and be aware of opportunities in the moment - and there were opportunities. People can easily "think" themselves out of their dream career, so be careful of that. Yes, it does take years and years sometimes to make and/or sell a film to the studios. But there are options. See a list of films in the link below and how long they took. I have also left links to some cool articles that may be helpful to you.
I think that if you lessen your worry about any failure or struggles, you'll start with a clear slate and do well in film school. Read some books about the history of film and get an idea of what the business is really like. Know that any of the creative fields are competitive, unreliable, opinion based and unpredictable and if you can accept that, you'll do well in film school and it won't be something stressful or anxiety provoking. But you must be sure that you want to make the commitment. I think in time you will be comfortable with the unpredictable elements of being in film and see that you really didn't have anything to worry about. There will always be something for you if you make the commitment and put strong effort into all you need to do. That goes for any career.
Think of all the good things that come with having a career in film: the variety, it's fun and creative, the people, traveling, and you always learn new things.
I hope that this has been helpful and I wish you all the best !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Syed Aariz Mehdi
Video Content Creator
1
Answer
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
Updated
Syed Aariz’s Answer
It's understandable to feel intimidated by the idea of spending years on a single project, especially when you have a passion for filmmaking and want to create multiple movies. Here are some tips to help you streamline your filmmaking process and avoid spending excessive time on each project:
Plan Efficiently: Before starting a project, spend time planning and outlining your story, characters, and key scenes. Having a clear roadmap will help you stay focused and minimize unnecessary delays during production.
Set Realistic Deadlines: Break down your filmmaking process into manageable tasks and set realistic deadlines for each stage, from pre-production to post-production. This will help you stay organized and on track to complete your projects in a timely manner.
Collaborate with a Team: Surround yourself with a dedicated team of filmmakers who share your vision and can help you bring your ideas to life more efficiently. Delegating tasks and working collaboratively can help streamline the filmmaking process and reduce the burden on individual filmmakers.
Embrace Shorter Formats: Consider experimenting with shorter formats such as short films, web series, or episodic content. These formats often require less time and resources to produce compared to feature-length films, allowing you to create more content within a shorter timeframe.
Learn from Each Project: Treat each filmmaking project as a learning experience and an opportunity to improve your skills. Take note of what works well and what doesn't in terms of efficiency and productivity, and use that knowledge to streamline your process for future projects.
Stay Flexible and Adapt: While it's important to have a plan, be prepared to adapt and make changes as needed during the filmmaking process. Sometimes unexpected challenges or creative opportunities may arise, and being flexible will help you navigate them more effectively.
Remember that filmmaking is a journey, and it's okay to take your time to develop your craft and create meaningful work. By planning efficiently, setting realistic goals, and staying open to learning and growth, you can make good movies without them taking years to complete.
Plan Efficiently: Before starting a project, spend time planning and outlining your story, characters, and key scenes. Having a clear roadmap will help you stay focused and minimize unnecessary delays during production.
Set Realistic Deadlines: Break down your filmmaking process into manageable tasks and set realistic deadlines for each stage, from pre-production to post-production. This will help you stay organized and on track to complete your projects in a timely manner.
Collaborate with a Team: Surround yourself with a dedicated team of filmmakers who share your vision and can help you bring your ideas to life more efficiently. Delegating tasks and working collaboratively can help streamline the filmmaking process and reduce the burden on individual filmmakers.
Embrace Shorter Formats: Consider experimenting with shorter formats such as short films, web series, or episodic content. These formats often require less time and resources to produce compared to feature-length films, allowing you to create more content within a shorter timeframe.
Learn from Each Project: Treat each filmmaking project as a learning experience and an opportunity to improve your skills. Take note of what works well and what doesn't in terms of efficiency and productivity, and use that knowledge to streamline your process for future projects.
Stay Flexible and Adapt: While it's important to have a plan, be prepared to adapt and make changes as needed during the filmmaking process. Sometimes unexpected challenges or creative opportunities may arise, and being flexible will help you navigate them more effectively.
Remember that filmmaking is a journey, and it's okay to take your time to develop your craft and create meaningful work. By planning efficiently, setting realistic goals, and staying open to learning and growth, you can make good movies without them taking years to complete.
Pavida Changkaew
Director, Storyboard artist, Illustrator
6
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Pavida’s Answer
Hi John!
I totally understand you. It can be nerve-wracking sometimes knowing that a film can take up to years to finish, however, I agree with Michelle. As a producer/director, you can control how much time you need for the project.
The scope of the film will affect the amount of time you need to make it happen within the quality that you want. The good news is many short films out there are capable of telling a compelling story with an impressive artistic direction. It is possible to make great movies within a shorter amount of time. The questions will come down to the quality of the film according to your vision, the budget you have, the strategy to make the pipeline efficient, and the work-life balance of people in the team. Those will help guide how much time you need and what are the things to be adapted/adjusted/reduced.
I totally understand you. It can be nerve-wracking sometimes knowing that a film can take up to years to finish, however, I agree with Michelle. As a producer/director, you can control how much time you need for the project.
The scope of the film will affect the amount of time you need to make it happen within the quality that you want. The good news is many short films out there are capable of telling a compelling story with an impressive artistic direction. It is possible to make great movies within a shorter amount of time. The questions will come down to the quality of the film according to your vision, the budget you have, the strategy to make the pipeline efficient, and the work-life balance of people in the team. Those will help guide how much time you need and what are the things to be adapted/adjusted/reduced.