So does the above describe you? Have you always wanted to make movies, or just now realizing it’s the one thing you want to do? This page is for you.
When the idea to be a filmmaker hits, everything changes. It’s a big deal. You either need to be single, or have a very understanding partner. I was 27 years old and working in information technology when it happened to me. Now, looking back, there are two things I’d tell people about to embark on the life-changing path to become a movie director:
To be a movie director you must learn the craft and learn it well. There’s literally no way around it. The competition is fierce. You better have some filmmaking chops. But at the same time, spending over $30K for a year of film school (like I did) may not be your best move unless you have unlimited financial resources. Why?
Answer: The film industry does NOT care about the pedigree of your education. Before you spend the big bucks I encourage you to test it out—call up any number of studios. Tell them you just graduated as a directing major from “INSERT SCHOOL NAME” and see where it gets you.
The results will be sobering.
So what does the film industry care about? Stuff like the films you’ve done. The size of your audience. Your filmmaking abilities…to name a few.
When any aspiring movie director graduates from any film school, they must start making movies. But it’s on their tab. Nobody is going to pay you to make a movie. And if you spent everything on school, you just delayed your dreams considerably.
The second thing you must wrap your head around is this: Aspiring directors must understand the craft from development through post production. You’ve gotta know it all. Why? To protect your career.
Imagine it’s day two of shooting your film. You’ve pulled some favors. Classmates and friends working for free (which is how it often happens). But then your sound guy gets a gig. And sure he’s a friend, but he’s also gotta pay rent. Your entire production just paused until you can find someone else.
If you’re dependent on crew to realize your filmmaking dreams, your career stalls. It stalls for a LONG TIME. I can’t tell you how important this is. One day you’ll wake up and discover a decade has vanished right before your eyes. And your filmmaking career? Pretty much the same place it was.
There’s no singular path to break into the film industry as a new director. You have the ultra rare examples of GOODWILL HUNTING where two unknowns find instant success. That’s one in a million.
A more reliable path is to learn the craft of filmmaking without zapping your finances and then start making movies. Start building your audience. Become what you want to be. And as stated above, you must learn everything to be unstoppable. Development through post production.
You might be thinking, “Where do I learn affordably, and how do I know what to learn? What film schools embrace this?” Great questions. First, a brief overview of what you’ll need to know:
Development is all about story. It’s where an idea or premise is turned into a screenplay. Development is actually one of the most complicated phases of filmmaking. Ever seen a star studded movie that was a let down? Chances are the problems began in development. Learn more about film development.
A lot happens in pre-production. To over-simplify it, everything that needs to fall in place in order for a director, cast and crew to show up on day one of filming, happens during pre-production. This means location scouts, shot lists, storyboards, hiring crew, renting equipment, casting, wardrobe, production design… and the list goes on. Read more about film pre-production!
Production is obviously shooting all the scenes in your film. The director has his or her shot list. The assistant director has a broken down script and a shooting schedule. Cast and crew are present and ready to go. Or in the case of a beginning filmmaker, sometimes it’s just the director and actor(s) ready to go! There’s a whole lot more to production, but this is the high-level view.
Post production typically begins during production. The editor and sound designers are working in pace with production. Then, after principal shooting wraps, post production continues and involves additional aspects like color grading, VFX, scoring and more. Test screenings and sometimes even reshoots happen during post production as well. Learn more about post production.
If you’re thinking a knowledge of the craft from development through post production is overkill, trust me, it isn’t. UNLESS you have a unlimited supply of cash to pay crew members to do it all for you. For most aspiring movie directors, skill sets must encompass everything listed above, and the many things that fall into each of the four phases of making a movie.
Even though this sounds like a lot—and it is—it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. This is where the Write & Direct film school can save you. Our school is a self-paced, hands on film school that will truly teach you the craft. Even if you’ve never done anything related to film before. Our training is structured in a way that makes sense. Plus you have access to a private community where you can get questions answered!
You will start making your first film instantly. And with the money you didn’t spend on traditional film school, you can purchase the gear you’ll use for years to come. Companies like Blackmagic Design, Ronin and Aputure have made the craft of filmmaking truly affordable with mind blowing products that used to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars just 20 years ago.
Take the next step. Take control of your future. Become a movie director today!
