Life w/ movies

[sp00k]

Alright, so I got a few questions I wanted to ask in my short amount of free time, and the search bar isn't working out for me too well.

First off, I wanted to know how to get into Sundance.

Second, how to most film makers get their feet off the ground? I think I'm headed in a pretty solid direction right now, I've got a couple small ties to some medium sized names, but I figured so does a million other film makers. I really want to make films my career.

Third, has anyone gone to film school or acting school. I jsut wanted some feedback and opinions about that.

Fourth, money is REALLY tight for me right now, I just moved, sold my computer to pay for a trip that might be what I need to get started working with movies. And I was wondering about any CHEAP programs. (like, I have a budget of 300 dollars to spend on programs)

KTHNXBAI

[Matt Kieley]

First off, I wanted to know how to get into Sundance.

Probably with a decent film with name actors, and some connections to the selection committee. It's really easy.

[MitchellStafiej]

Alright, so I got a few questions I wanted to ask in my short amount of free time, and the search bar isn't working out for me too well.

First off, I wanted to know how to get into Sundance.

Second, how to most film makers get their feet off the ground? I think I'm headed in a pretty solid direction right now, I've got a couple small ties to some medium sized names, but I figured so does a million other film makers. I really want to make films my career.

Third, has anyone gone to film school or acting school. I jsut wanted some feedback and opinions about that.

Fourth, money is REALLY tight for me right now, I just moved, sold my computer to pay for a trip that might be what I need to get started working with movies. And I was wondering about any CHEAP programs. (like, I have a budget of 300 dollars to spend on programs)

KTHNXBAI
The only way to get into ANY film festival is to make a good film. If you have the chops to make films then you'll be noticed.

Also do build connections, go to festivals, talk to people. But in the end make great films. While I haven't gone to film school YET, I am applying in a few days. We'll see how that goes!

I don't know about the programs. I know there are student discounts out there.

Mitch

[WesScog]

First off, I wanted to know how to get into Sundance.

1. Make a good film.

2. Submit it (http://www.sundance.org/submissions/).

Second, how to most film makers get their feet off the ground? I think I'm headed in a pretty solid direction right now, I've got a couple small ties to some medium sized names, but I figured so does a million other film makers. I really want to make films my career.

They work hard. I mean there are a million different ways to get into the industry, but the best way is to network a lot, and be willing to work hard and be willing to start at the bottom.

If you know what you're doing, and you've got good people skills, you can work your way up pretty easily, it just takes time if you aren't trying to do a breakthrough thing.

If you make an excellent film, and it gets accepted into a Festival, that's a good way to start getting yourself noticed, especially Sundance.

Your film gets seen by Industry people, and if one of them likes it, (or wants to purchase it) that means you get to make some money off of the film when they distribute it, AND it allows you to get some contacts and network.

Also, networking is a great way to work your way up in the industry, if you make friends with people, and they know that you know what you're doing, they'll most likely pull you onto a project they are undertaking because they know your work and trust you, instead of getting a stranger.

So it is who you know to an extent, but it's more what you can do. You can be BFF's with Spielberg and Tarantino all day long, but if you don't know how to do your job, you're never going to get hired to do anything on one of their projects.

Third, has anyone gone to film school or acting school. I jsut wanted some feedback and opinions about that.

I am attending a film program, but it's unlike most film programs in the country, so I can't speak from a lot of external experience, but I personally really enjoy it.

Getting advice from people that worked in the industry, work with great equipment that would generally be out of my budget range, make friends with people that love making films as much as I do.

I think it's worth it, BUT it doesn't promise you work, and you don't have to do it. Rodriguez, Kevin Smith, Spielberg, and Tarantino all didn't go to Film School (technically Smith did, but dropped out of the program, while Spielberg tried but had a grade point average that was too low to get in) while Coppola, Scorsese and Lucas did.

Going to film school is by no means a necessity to become a filmmaker, but personally I have enjoyed my time in film school, but it's up to you. I advise visiting the program, asking if you can sit in on a class, and check out their facilities and stuff, and decide if it's right for you personally.

It's different for everybody, and having that official Diploma can make themselves feel like they are officially a filmmaker and it can have a beneficial effect on how they think of themselves. While others see it as a worthless piece of paper that they don't need.

What you think is up to you.

Fourth, money is REALLY tight for me right now, I just moved, sold my computer to pay for a trip that might be what I need to get started working with movies. And I was wondering about any CHEAP programs. (like, I have a budget of 300 dollars to spend on programs)

What kind of programs? Editing? What?

[sp00k]

Hey, thanks a lot all you guys. Especially Wes. Yeah, just making good films and getting connected with people of power was what I thought would be the way to "climb the ranks."

I guess I should have specialized a little more when I said programs.
I have a laptop right now, and I liked using it better than my computer (it never had any programs on it, except WMM and a couple cheap programs. I would mainly use it for uploading and sending).
I need some good base programs for editing video clips, and putting a movie together, editing sound clips, and I possibly might need a 3d generator. I have Windows Vista. I don't really need anything super substantial, I hardly ever need much in the ways of cgi.

[gryphern]

I get film-making jobs because I use YouTube to network with people who are in need of better quality work and I search out people who need help then provide it at a quality they did not expect. Like, me and Ben did a commercial a couple months ago, and it only took a day and the client was floored, she expected for animation and sound overs and a script it would take weeks, because she'd never done anything really professional before. I did a well financed DVD shoot by simply being the only person in a circle of hobbiests who had experience with filming.

[loosechange]

Getting into the industry isn't easy. So go out there and make your movies, learn from your mistakes, practice the craft, and progressively get better at filmmaking. There's a lot to learn about it and I still have millions of questions but I'm someone who learns hands on, so I know the only way I'm going to improve is by going out and shooting my own stuff, editing my own stuff and seeing what I can do and where I can improve. So really if you want to make working on movies the thing that puts a roof over your head, be the best filmmaker you can be.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_video_editing_software

I assume when you mentioned programs you were asking about what NLE (non-linear editing) to cut your movie in. You have a set of choices in that area. Save yourself some money toward this because they get pricey. Above all do your research and find what you'll be happy spending your $ on.

[mopman]

Hey, thanks a lot all you guys. Especially Wes. Yeah, just making good films and getting connected with people of power was what I thought would be the way to "climb the ranks."

I guess I should have specialized a little more when I said programs.
I have a laptop right now, and I liked using it better than my computer (it never had any programs on it, except WMM and a couple cheap programs. I would mainly use it for uploading and sending).
I need some good base programs for editing video clips, and putting a movie together, editing sound clips, and I possibly might need a 3d generator. I have Windows Vista. I don't really need anything super substantial, I hardly ever need much in the ways of cgi.


Check B&H photo/video. Search sony vegas pro. The DVD only version is under $300 and is one of the best editors (The one I use) It can do pretty much anything with some workarounds and is one of the easiest to learn, it is also much easier to run on a moderate powered comp. than the competition from adobe from my experience.