Hello Everyone, I am looking for advice.  I have recently discoverd that I really want to be in the film industry.  Not in front of the cameras, but probably in post production, or film editing.  The problem is, I have no background in this industry - basically starting from scratch.  I wonder should I pursue this career goal given that I will soon be 34 years old?  Should I bother with going to film school?

Only HONEST, and CONSTRUCTIVE advice is welcome.
Thanks

Meke - I’m glad I saw your reply. I went to film school when I was 40 and got done a couple years ago. Going in, my interests were screenwriting and editing. Coming out, it’s primarily screenwriting. I point this out because film school did little to change my interests. It did give me a clear view of the other jobs available in the profession, and the realities of working within it. That said, you may want to ask yourself why you are interested in editing or other film jobs. Do you have any experience doing them? In my case, I knew because I cheated a little - years before I went to film school I had sampled some classes at a community college, which exposed me to a lot of what would await me in film school. You may want to do the same.

The best and most direct advice I can give is this: if you are a person with solid discipline who goes after what he wants in life, you probably don’t need film school. You can find a lot of answers about filmmaking in books or videos which will guide you when you make your movie. Yes, you need to make a movie - a short, or shortS to start, very small scale. If you don’t want to buy your own used camera (Check film community websites to get an idea of the best), and have a commmunity college that has a film production class (that doesn’t require a lot of prereq’s) then sign up and use their equipment. Whichever way you go, post ads for crew, or even better, ask film instructors if you can take five minutes and pitch it to his class for crew. Students work for free. Actors can be had the same way. You will have to pay to feed them during production. If you want to avoid crew and actors (they can be the most challenging element of film making), then do a stop action film with figures or inanimate objects that become characters - however, this won’t expose you to all the realities of filmmaking. Chances are, you will have to take a separate class to edit your film, or if you buy an editing program (I did my first on Imovie, then graduated to Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro) you can edit right away (you’ll want to). Whether you sample classes or go it solo, I do recommend doing an internship or doing something where you can get crew experience. You’ll be a gofer but learn a lot. When your film is done submit it to festivals. Get your stuff out there.

The last thing I can say is to consider your age in all of this. A lot of film production is a young man’s game. Long hours, picking up a job here and there, a willingness to remain unsettled - usually we lose our tolerance for these things the older we get. If you go into editing there will be a lot of long hours of solitary work. You will have to change stories based upon the footage you have. If you don’t need people around it’ll be alright. If you do you’ll never get anything done.

Hope this helps. Film school can help, but by no means is it necessary. Also, I’m still paying my student loans.

Grant

Thank you Grant for your reply, and for the advice which seems too be in tune with all that I’ve been reading. 
All my adult life I have struggled to find what I really want to do in life. Although I’ve had steady jobs, it bothered me that I still didn’t know what I wanted to be “when I grew up”.  Now that I’ve decided this is what I want to do, it really worried me that I was too late.  I did a little research and found out about The Training Plan through the Directors Guild of America web site.  It’s described as a very intensive, hands on training program where you receive unpaid seminar instruction, and paid trainee work on actual sets.  You ultimately need 400 hours of training in order to graduate, but it’s perfect if you want to be a 2nd Asst. Director, 1st Asst. Director, up to UPM.  I was already too late to apply for the program this year which is fine because it does give me a chance to take a class or two this summer. 
So, for the first time in my life I’m going for it, and my gut tells me I’ve made the right decision, that this is what I want to be when I grow up.

Thanks again, I am still open to any advice from anyone.
Tameca

Your response requires one from me. While I certainly don’t know it all, I do know this: the AD and UPM positions in major film and tv productions require a pay your dues mentality, long hours (little outside life during production), and an ass-kicking attitude. AD’s are there to kick ass and get everyone ready for the shot so the real director doesn’t have to sweat it and can do his creative job. UPM’s kick ass for the producers so the production holds to the bottom line. If you are an energetic 35 year old and don’t mind getting on people’s cases, you might work out for those professions. If not, don’t kid yourself and waste time and money: find something else in film that suits you - there’s a lot to do. And forget about the glamour - film work is long and arduous. It’s a lot more blue collar than people realize. That said, when the light’s dim and your stuff hits the screen, it’s a rush like no other. Good luck.

Again, great advice and much appreciated.  I have read a little, and watched a couple of clips about the physical and mental aspects of the job on the dga web site.  The video clips look like they were from the very early 90’s and these people admitted how tough it was, and how you get yelled at a lot and everything.  I think the part I am most attracted to about the AD job is being in charge of something, being out there making sure things get done, and admittedly the physical aspect of the job; because at the end of the day (if there is one) I think I would feel so good about all that I accomplished.  Then, like you say the rush you feel when your watching it on screen and know that you were a part of that.  I don’t know, maybe I won’t be able to deal with it for more than five years or so, but I am going to give it a try.  I can assure you it’s not the glamour aspect of it.  That’s the last thing I want.  I’m one of those people who prefer the attention not be on me which is another reason why I would enjoy that kind of job.  You never see the AD’s and that’s perfect for me.  It’s enough just to be a part of the process.

What is your take on moving up the ranks?  Do you think that happens quickly?  I’m not talking about being an actual director - you have to be creative to do that and that is certainly something I am not.  Do you think Producer or Executive Producer would be the highest level?
Tameca

Moving up the ranks is really not my area - perhaps someone more qualified out there knows more. What I have seen is that much of the business is getting your stuff out there. You probably will have to AD on some shorts for free to build up your resume. Plus, maybe even more so than getting experience, it’s also who you know.  Smoozers that are good get more jobs than regular folks who are good, but then I guess that’s true in any profession. Producers have to know people to assemble cast and crew. Again, you may have to work for free (or get paid on the back end) before you can build up the resume for paid gigs. I was once hired, with little film experience, as an associate producer for an independent feature production (probably hired for my age and experience supervising others). I was to work for free. Unfortunately, the financing fell short (happens a lot in indy’s) and the project died. Executive producers are the ones organizing the financing, so I imagine knowing alot about that (or being independently wealthy) comes in handy. The limit you put on it is up to you and how much you want to sacrifice.

Get advice from others in those areas. Also, and forgive me for bringing it up, but find out how successful female AD’s have been. From your name, I’m guessing that you are female or maybe not originally from the US. While I don’t doubt your competence, good AD’s have to be somewhat intimidating at times. I’ve seen a couple women do it, and more handle producing duties, but based on some of the crew I’ve worked with and what I know of life, I have my doubts about how others respond to women AD’s on a film set. Most of the crew has a real blue collar attitude, and those types are less inclined to follow a woman’s direction. Again though, just my experience. Look for others opinions.

Good luck
1

Yeah, I know about it being tough on women, and since I am a black woman it’s perceived to be even tougher.  I have been fortunate enough so far to not have had a negative experience because of my race or gender, and I hope it will not ever be an issue.  But, how often do we get what we hope for?  I’d like to say I’m prepared for it, it’s bound to happen at some point, and being in that line of work, or any line of work where you have a woman giving orders instead of taking them will be the makings for a little friction.  Anyway, like you said there’s a lot to do in the film industry; if while I’m still researching and getting advice from people I decide not to be an AD, I’ll find something else.  I just feel very passionate about wanting to be a part of what entertains people. 

I’m not “a-scared” ...yet.  :)

Tameca