Hollywood is still the sought after filmmaking hub of the entire world. With Mark Wahlberg and others booting up Hollywood 2.0 in Vegas, the legendary name is sure to continue. My first taste of Hollywood came through the lens of film school. We were positioned in the heart of Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard, a stone’s throw from major studios. It was magical.
So did it work? What happened after film school?
First, who am I? I’m Kyler Boudreau. An independent filmmaker who has worked on studio and indie films in a wide range of positions. My first job in the film industry was an editorial PA on two films directed by Bob Odenkirk back in 2006/2007.
So now you know who I am, back to the topic at hand…
To put it bluntly, reality sets in. There’s an elephant in the room with traditional film school: They teach you a lot about the craft, but they know the likelihood of students landing a job is rare. And if you want to be a director? Get at the back of a very long line.
But what about Ben Affleck and Matt Damon? You know, the GOOD WILL HUNTING stories? Sure, those can happen. Astronauts can also be selected to walk on the moon.
When the dean of the film school I attended asked us all what we wanted to be back in March of 2005, hands went up all around the auditorium signifying those who wanted to direct. I realized right then and there that a directing major for me was futile. It wouldn’t pay the bills after film school.
I opted for a double major in editing and sound design. At least I could crew, right?
Right before graduation I began calling around. The goal was to land a job as an assistant editor. I’ll NEVER FORGET what the receptionist at Fox said to me after I relayed the purpose of my call:
“You know we only hire award winning editors right?” Nope, didn’t know that.
A few days after graduating from film school with $62K of school debt I was working at Banana Republic in Santa Monica just to make ends meet. I was sleeping on an air mattress in the living room of a 3 bedroom condo shared with two other guys. Even applied for an internship to work for free at Cheyenne Productions, but the competition was so fierce I couldn’t land that job.
The cost to make it in Hollywood is high. You must first learn the craft of filmmaking and then gain experience in the craft. You also need credits. You must network and grow an audience. All while paying rent and buying groceries at California prices.
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—if not more. Many give up entirely or settle for other industry jobs. Such jobs do not 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.
Write & Direct was designed to address the tough situation facing aspiring directors. We teach the craft of filmmaking from development through post production in granular detail. All for less than $2K. The money not spent on school can then be used to purchase equipment, pay rent and start making movies.
“But what about a degree?”
Great question. Hollywood does not care about the pedigree of your education. You can test this by calling up any number of studios. Tell them you graduated with honors from NAME OF SCHOOL and see if they hire you to direct anything. You’ll be lucky to get a job as a PA.
The reality is this: If you want to be a director, after graduating from school you have a single objective: To start making movies. But it’s on your dime.
You might wonder why we teach development through post production if we’re a school designed for people who want to direct. It’s another great question. To make it as a modern director, you must know how to do everything, or your career will stall BIG TIME.
Unless you have tens of thousands of dollars in the bank, you can’t hire crew. Their day rates are too high, because they have to pay rent too. I’m telling you from chiseled experience—the only way to control the pacing of your filmmaking career is to know how to do it all.
If you can’t afford a gaffer, you’d better know how to light. If your camera operator gets a paid gig, you’d better know how to get exposure and frame your shots.
Write & Direct is the answer to the challenges facing aspiring film directors. The school is self-paced with a private community to get your questions answered. Even if you have never done anything but watch movies, this school will work for you.
If you have questions 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.
And if you’re ready to start your journey as a filmmaker, enroll today. We hope to see you on the other side! Write & Direct can put you closer to your dreams.
P.S. The school has a 30-day money-back guarantee. There is zero risk. If you’re not blown away, we’ll give you your money back.
If your answer is yes, Write & Direct is your inciting incident. It's your catalyst in the journey to becoming a filmmaker. There's nothing else quite like it. Enroll today or find out more below:
