The Hollywood Grind

Break into the film industry. The phrase at the mental forefront of every aspiring filmmaker who makes the decision to dedicate their life to the mastery of film.

My first taste of Hollywood came through the lens of film school. We were positioned in the heart of Hollywood, a stone’s throw from major studios. And it was magical — How can it not be? Film school taught me a lot. It was an insane amount of hard work and fun. It was also insanely expensive.

So did it work? What happened after graduation?

First, before you spend your valuable time listening to me, who am I? Kyler Boudreau. An independent filmmaker who has worked on studio and indie films in a wide range of positions. My first position in the film industry was an editorial PA on two films directed by Bob Odenkirk.

So now you know who I am, back to the topic at hand — What happens after film school?

Reality sets in.

You see, there’s this elephant in the room with traditional film school. What is it? They teach you a lot about the craft, but not how to get a job after graduating. Why? Because the likelihood of landing a job is extremely slim. And if you want to write and direct? Get at the back of a very long line.

But what about the Ben Affleck and Matt Damon GOOD WILL HUNTING stories?

Sure, those can happen. Astronauts can also be selected to walk on the moon.

Allow me to present an analogy that applies to a very high percentage of aspiring filmmakers. Let’s compare it to a residential home contractor:

You pay thousands of dollars to learn the craft of building a home. After graduation you begin applying for jobs with photos of your thesis home build. The answer you receive shocks you: “We only hire award winning builders.” Your next step after school is to begin building homes — on your dime. Home after home until you finally build and audience and land a sale.

Sound crazy?

Welcome to the reality of Hollywood.

The cost to make it in Hollywood is high. You must first learn and then pursue a mastery of the craft. You also need credits, networking and an audience. Aspiring directors who spend all their money on film school only to be hit with this reality post graduation are in a very tough spot. It can delay them by a decade or more. Many give up entirely or settle for other industry jobs.

And these jobs don’t turn into directing jobs. Few ladders go to the top.

To date, 19+ years after graduation, not one of my fellow classmates who went to school as directing majors are making money as a director of narrative film. Most aren’t directing anything at all. And this reality isn’t restricted to my class.

It’s a sad situation in the entertainment industry that Write & Direct is designed to address. It’s the first online film school of it’s kind, and we encourage you to take advantage of the training.

You must learn the craft and learn it well. But instead of costing tens of thousands of dollars, Write & Direct teaches the craft in granular detail from development through post production. The money not spent on school can be used to purchase equipment, pay rent and start making movies.

The clichés for this are endless: Game changer. Groundbreaking. Revolutionary. Cutting Edge.

They’re all true.

If you have questions about Write & Direct visit our frequently asked questions page.

If you’re a parent with a child interested in making movies, we have a page just for you. You can also schedule a free call to discuss details of this online film school further.

We hope to see you on the other side! Write & Direct can put you closer to your dreams.