Does anyone write, edit, or desire to work in TV/film?

[echorec]

I was just curious, as I know the board has a lot of people dabbling in art/drawing/other creative pursuits. I work on a lot of stories/concepts, but lately have been struggling to actually write page-to-page. I've been juggling some serials and some experimental, low-budget shorts.

If anyone's got any shorts online, going to school, or has thoughts to share, then jump in.

[neonblack]

I've had this idea for a short horror movie for a while. Sort of an ILF Shining. I know that sounds weird but hear me out.

Basically, guy buys a little cabin or something in the woods. Goes up to get away and work on music. He has his guitar and amp and stuff with him. Most of the scares are music related. I want there to be a main theme that gets brought back a lot. Like it's the song the guy is working on, and it's the main theme, and it is played in different styles and at key moments during the movie. Sorry, I'm rambling.

[neonblack]

Wow that wasn't helpful at all. I can keep going if anyone is interested at all.

[echorec]

Have you seen Berberian Sound Studio? An English man arrives in 1970s Italy to work on a film score, but falls into paranoia and anxiety attacks, as he struggles to stay on task. It was scored by Broadcast. It's something you might enjoy (for inspiration or entertainment).

teaser excerpt starring a Watkins Copicat---

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxhICVG7vdE[/youtube]

[neonblack]

Holy crap, I just watched that and another trailer and I am definitely watching that movie ASAP.

[tabcantab]

Related, kinda:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPcqetBDKbU[/youtube]

[snipelfritz]

I have lots of ideas, but no skills motivation or network of creative people.

So I got dreamz.

[Invisible Man]

Wow that wasn't helpful at all. I can keep going if anyone is interested at all.

[lordgalvar]

I had no desire to work in film but got wrangled into it a few times. I was in a funny or die skit thing but they cut me out because I am a terrible actor and I criticised the script (to be fair, that was what I was hired to do...the acting was just a fill in part...and I wasn't even getting paid!).

I wrote like 40 skits that were going to be produced (and two full length scripts)...everything was a go until funding fell through haha. People really liked the scripts but I converted them over to graphic novel/comic style and have lagged on that for 6 years now. My friend that set all this up was showing docs at the LA film fest and other worldwide film fests at the time and we've kinda lost touch.

I worked on a few sets for calarts films and I saved one with electrical and lighting troubleshooting. They said I had to pay my dues before getting my scripts produced haha (which, again I was volunteering just to help my friends). I didn't even want to write them; they were favors for friends so that they could direct/act.

I was hired to do animation for a rapper once...after he tried to pay me $200 for 6months to 1 year of work (which is what I told him...he wanted 3 minutes of 17 fps hand drawn in 6 weeks haha....right)...i was a POS after that because I failed/took too long (I even started learning vector animation which I think looks like shit).

I honestly can't stand that whole world.

One of my other acquaintances won an award for animation at Cannes or something ...some kind of famous artist now (went to risd).

A couple of my good friends are in PA hell right now..."write this assignment for this, after you get me coffee". Another dude from high school I keep in touch with worked at American dad, Cleveland show, and it's always sunny. One of my wife's friends works on the simpsons after she left king of the hill. One of my best friends works at MGM.

So...lots of experiences, nothing completed. Haha

[D.o.S.]

I honestly can't stand that whole world.

So...lots of experiences, nothing completed. Haha

I am in the same boat with these two. Lots of friends doing things in various wings of the industry (with and without a capital I) although I probably have fewer direct experiences than LG given our relative locations.

I am quite glad I'm not trying to do it to make money.

[aen]

I write and direct short films, usually advertisements for effects pedals.

Also I watch most of the superhero movies and talk about how they are well or poorly executed.

*edit* actually there was a short film in production a while back, but the DP took off with the footage, and half the money!

[lordgalvar]

I honestly can't stand that whole world.

So...lots of experiences, nothing completed. Haha

I am in the same boat with these two. Lots of friends doing things in various wings of the industry (with and without a capital I) although I probably have fewer direct experiences than LG given our relative locations.

I am quite glad I'm not trying to do it to make money.

Yup. Probably not much difference except everyone walking on the streets tries to bug league their friends with Industry stories here. Haha. And the money thing is terrible (as are the hours). I forgot about my friend that produces two shows for Nick....i never see her (except when production ends ... then no work for 6 months until production starts again). PAs make like $9 an hour on sitcoms and stuff...exploitation really and using people's dreams against them.

The things I have learned from talking to former and current people in the Industry:

• -age matters...if you are old, they will just hire somebody younger to write something like you wrote
  -networking/schools/fake reputation matters, if you go to Cal State Northridge or Pepperdine, you'll always loose to the USC grad...and appearances, back stories, etc (I'm a 34 year old white guy that talks with a twang and used to be a plumber...not marketable or desirable in that world)
  -budget, you might get a 40k payout every so many years as a working writer...but you've gotta eat in between...
  -flakes, don't get discouraged if nothing happens, take the money and think of it as a job...the end result isn't a reflection of you
  -be humble with your art/craft/skill (I only write gold, don't need editing mindset is no good)...they will buy your script just for an idea and pay 10 other people they like better as people to rewrite it 30 times...what you sent in will not be what you see (directors, producers, cameramen, actors, etc all view themselves as artists too)...be humble and take the check or diy it all Kevin Smith style (which can have awful results...the collaboration and differing viewpoints is often what makes film work well...when it is all in one person's head or control, it can be terrible...and also the other extreme can be just as bad if not worse)
  -agents are important...some people won't even look at you without one.
  -regional theatre, troops, and writing contests are important, not just for networking, but for jobs and practice
  -all criticism should be seen as valuable (and you should always consider a good writing group's opinions...gotta suck it up and join one).

And most important: you write/work 8 hours a day just like a job, because it is a job.

Like D.o.S. said,

I am quite glad I'm not trying to do it to make money.

Errors result from phone typing at the 7-11 sorry haha...sorry for the second person pov

[UglyCasanova]

I studied film and movie production for almost three years, but only then realized that I did not enjoy it as a profession. I was mostly into the writing process though, so me now studying literature is maybe not so strange.

[echoraven]

Tried the YouTube thing (More Gear than Talent), enjoyed the process, but do not have time to devote to it.

[D.o.S.]

And most important: you write/work 8 hours a day just like a job, because it is a job.

Yeah this doesn't get underscored enough ever in any creative industry, IMO.