July 28, 2008

  •           

      What Do I Do After Film School? 

     
    I get this question a lot and have a serious opinion about it:
     
    The most important thing is to always keep your shingle hanging out, saying “I am a freelance director.”  Never say, “Ah I gave that up.”  Even if you have other jobs, never tear up your business card.
     
    Keep contact with all active filmmakers from college. Work on their films. It’s a business of showing up. Show up to shoots, in any capacity. Show up enough and do a good job, and be an ambassador of good will, and you have a good chance on being invited to work on other films. And remember, be courteous and respectful to everyone. The extra or stunt man of today’s shoot could be the producer of tomorrow’s shoot. It happened to me. One of my swords women fighters from Weapons of Death  hired me to direct a travelogue in Phuket, Thailand.  
           The island used in “Man with a Golden Gun”.
     
    And after hirering actress Barbara Leigh for a role in Rock Star Rising, she hired me to direct The King, McQueen, and the Love Machine.
     
    My life changed when I realized that I was not only in the feature film business, but in the COMUNICATION business. Just like the the USA train companys that thought they were only in the train business and didn’t invest in trucks and airplanes in the 40′s and ’50s. They were left behind.
     
    So be a sound man, an extra, an actor, a novelist, a speaker, a film teacher, (but don’t get stuck in a dead end job). Be those as a freelance. But not a stunt man. It’s too dangerous.
     
    Yes, you will direct, but be in the communication business.  Also you must start to develop your own projects that you feel passionate about. You never know when someone with money will ask you if you have a project. You should be able to instantly give him or her a script and budget and location plan and schedule.
     
    Keep watching you favorite films over on DVD.  Keep reading books by directors and watching DVD bonus programs and listening to commentary tracks. This is an incredible teaching device that will help program your subconscious to keep you on the right track.
     
    If you are truely in it for the long run, then join and activly maitain social web sites such as quarterlife.com for artists. They have a great artist ‘photo show’ application on your main page where you can display your writing, art photos, and films. It’s 100% for artists, filmmakers, and performers.

    As of this writing there’s about 4,000 mostly young artists showing their films, writing, graphics, and art, as well as connecting and sharing information. Start networking with them as the ones that continue, will be coming out strong.  

    Another important web site for your future and for possible quick results is linkedin.com That site is 100% business, with many serious clubs for script writers, directors, and movie finance. Use the drop down window to search for ‘groups’. Imput the words, ’movies, ‘financiing’, ‘screenplay’, and so on. It’s a free site, no need to upgrade.

     
    Most important, to repeat, work on everyone’s film. Yes, some will not appreciate your help, some will not pay you what they promised, but others will.
     
    You must have some kind of short film or video to show someone when you get an opportunity.
     
    I’ve directed six features  (and did post-production on many more) and still want to do more. That’s one of the reasons (besides creative expression) why I did Rock Star Rising  RockStar as an audio-book with famous actors.  Maybe a producer who is a fan of those actors will love the story and ask for a script, which I have waiting. But more than that, I’m talking action on it, by getting it to producers via my agent.  
     
    Beware, age 26. That’s when all my movie friends gave up. Four years after college. Their wives, girlfriends, or even parents said, “Well, you gave it a shot, now you have to get a real job.”  But mostly it’s because of a joke sign I saw that read, “I feel so good now that I’ve given up all hope”.  Yes, you will feel good for a time because you’ve buffered yourself against the constant disappointment that comes up. But after awhile you’ll regret giving up your dreams. I’ve seen filmmakers and actors return to it because of that. I’ve seen people grow negative because of that.  I’ve seen actors, martial artists, and filmmakers grow and expand in ways that they never knew would come, and get together every so often at an event and celebrate it.
     
    Yes, get freelance jobs. I always worked, and at night I screened my first feature to buyers and future investors. Always work, but work freelance to be available for other film jobs.
     
    Most of all , repeating, stay in touch with every active filmmaker, and make a contribution, whether it’s passing on your used dvds, helping to write a project, or whatever. You have to ask, ask the right people, have something to give, and keep asking other people. That kind of advice and more can be found on my “How to Live the James Bond Lifestyle” Newsletter. or on my James Bond Lifestyle site.
     
    If your interested in directing for the creative expression and lifestyle, or to do that one great story you have in your heart, you’ll stay in it. If you only have the dream of fame, fortune and money, it’s hard to stay motivated and you will seek other paths for that.
     
    And the best part is that you can’t even imagine the surprises that come when you follow your dreams.  I have too many personal examples to list here, but it’s amazing what comes and how it comes. And when you start earning all your living by doing what you love to do, you’ll know for sure that the perserverence was all worth it.                                                  
     
     
     
    Twitter James Bond Lifestyle Mission Control Center Tokyo

Comments (1)

Post a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *