<p>When I watch a Film or TV show I'm always the type of person to critique it. I've always got a correction to make, or a problem to state, or things I feel could be improved on. I have aspirations on becoming a Film Director/Screenwriter, and while viewing Films and TV shows, I've become eager and yet uncertain on the competition I will be up against once I'm out of graduate school (I hear the Film Industry has become incredibly difficult to break into). I'm eager because I feel like I have what it takes to really make it into the industry but worried that talent and drive are not what it takes to stay afloat in such an unpredictable career. Of course Hollywood has its inspirational, awe-strucking, and breathtaking films but these are only needles in a haystack against all the not-so-notable films (many of which are box office hits). I read somewhere around this forum that "artistic mastery and cinematic success don't always cross the same path" (or something like that), and I'm hoping that isn't true. I really hope that people with the talent, intuition, and perseverance are the ones who come out in the end as successful directors, producers, screen writers, etc, and not individuals who happened to have a rich uncle in the business or parents who had the connections to pull a few strings to make it happen. Maybe I'm just being slightly paranoid ( it wouldn't be the first time :)), but something tells me I'm not.</p>
<p>And onto another point. Watching interviews of the most reputable and noteworthy directors, I've noticed that many of them, for lack of a better word, are rather "old". Most are in there 40s and 50s. Due potential directors and producers suffer for that long out of college. Does it really take 15-20 years just to get from point A to point B.</p>
<p>I apoligize if I may have come off as a pompous "elitist". After rereading my post I'm starting to get that vibe.</p>
<p>So what do you guys think of the current condition of the Cinema and Television Industry?</p>
<p>What exactly are we getting ourselves into?</p>
<p>I think you’ll find this a lot, not only with directors but screenwriters and actors too. It can take a really long time to break into Hollywood. Think about it: if you’re a director or writer you have to build up the talent to convince these people to give you, sometimes, millions of dollars to produce a film. They don’t give that opportunity to just anybody. But every now and then you do see that one young person who has made it at a young age. Otherwise, it does seem like it’s a long climb up the Hollywood ladder to reach that dream job. Once you’re there though, it’s worth it!</p>
<p>This is why I’m always confused about why people take out sometimes up to $100K for film school. You don’t want to be paying back these loans for the rest of your life, and it very well might take a good 10 years to break into the field. Or it might never happen. If you’re a writer you might get very, VERY lucky and get to be an assistant or staff writer with a TV show at a young age. Even then though, it’s not like you’re going to automatically become rich. The bad thing about Hollywood is that sometimes your fame really does only last 15 minutes, and then in the next couple of years you’re struggling again.</p>
<p>I think it’s not just that it’s an incredibly difficult industry to break into talent-wise. I mean, every day we see promos for shows that look terrible and movies that just go no where at the box office. There are just SO many people fighting for these jobs all at once, and I think this is what makes it most difficult. If a producer receives 100 scripts every week from new talent, what’s going to set yours apart from everyone else in that stack of scripts?</p>
<p>But I still think it’s okay to pursue your dreams. You just have to do it in a smart way. Don’t get yourself in $100K worth of debt when you know your job for the next few years is going to be as a production assistant. Have other ways that you can break into the field if Hollywood doesn’t work for you, or if it’s going to take awhile to get there. Be willing work on local projects, like at cable stations, news stations, local production companies, etc. Don’t just assume that you’re going to graduate from [insert great film school here] and be welcomed with amazing opportunities. That might happen once in awhile, but that’s an incredibly huge risk to take when you look at the costs of tuition. Follow your dreams, but be realistic.</p>
<p>The media industry is not just ONE industry. The traditional Hollywood films are done with studio backing, and in that industry, it can take a very long time to become known and trusted. Who you know may count for as much or more than what you know in getting those first few breaks. </p>
<p>However… there are more an more independent films, and digital is so much less expensive than film to use, develop, print, edit etc… Many of the films that have made it in the last few years were done outside of the Hollywood community. So… if you have talent and drive, you might have a great film that makes it outside of the traditional industry route. Takes guts, talent and some money. But it is possible. But no, most won’t make it big. I totally agree with October: don’t mortgage your future by taking out huge amounts of loans to finance your dream, but don’t give up either. Just know you may need to “pay your dues” for many years to get where you want to go. </p>
<p>This is however not different from almost ANY profession. You don’t graduate law school and get appointed to the supreme court, or business school and run a fortune 500 company. Most people take the first 10 plus years of a career to “make a name” for themselves in ANY profession. You can’t expect to graduate and be at the top of your profession. You have to earn that spot.</p>
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