How to get into the movie business?

[movieguy0]

This just come on my mind.
How to get on movie bussiness? I mean some of the well knew directors didn´t go on film school, didn´t go to Hollywood to make a movie ect.

[WesScog]

There is no set way, it's a combination of being able to work efficiently, having talent, being able to network well and make friends, and oftentimes shear luck.

There is absolutely no set way to work in the industry and no surefire way to make it. BUT there are things you can do to increase your chances.

Firstly, it's a good idea to work often, keep sharp. Make films that you enjoy, send them off to film festivals, and start going to them and even if you don't get accepted, watching films and talking to people. (They will be people who you may need to hire, or may want to hire you later on.)

You'll meet other filmmakers, and if people like your film it can be sent around, and if it's good enough and the right people see it, you could get a pitch deal or something. Of course that is a VERY far off chance, but it's one of the most direct routes.

Other ways are to go to LA and get some low-level jobs at some studios and just try to work your way up, meet people and hope for the best.

Another is instead of shooting short films, is to try to save up enough for a feature, then send that off to some film festivals, and hope someone is interested in distributing it. If you're lucky someone might be interested in paying you for the rights, and your movie will end up in a Direct-to-DVD release at Blockbuster.

If you're REALLY lucky, then someone from a bigger distribution company will offer you the theater distribution rights.

And if you're unlucky, no one really notices it, or it gets rejected, BUT at least you'll know what people didn't like, and if you go at least you'll be able to network and talk to other filmmakers.

There is no formula, like you know, many filmmakers didn't go to filmschool and still made it, while others went to filmschool and made it, and then there are thousands of filmmakers who did and didn't go to filmschool who all didn't make it.

[michaelbak]

You could read From Reel to Deal which a guide to everything legal in film put in to a simple matter. But the basic thing is to just try to get it as any other job and just look for local production company's. If you want to go to "Hollywood" (i don't know why) then you need to work up the ladder in starting like earlier but you need to get some films under your belt to get in to a guild or union. There is a lot of guilds and unions out there but most require that you do a major job on a set for a minimum of about 90 hours. Note that i mean jobs like "production assistant" or "Key lighting grip" not just a simple grip or driver. Then you have to send in to join. Once part of a union or guild you will then be able to try to get a job on a film made by members to rank up your resume. Once you get some more Guild or Union films out then you have made it pretty far. Most Union and Guild films are screened through cinema's so the films you worked on will be seen. If you want to make your own film then you have to have a lot of money which you must raise. You can get investors but if you propose to make a film to get a crew you must prepare to pay for the union or guilds rules. For instance , most guild say you need to have your director work for eight weeks at a base salary of $25,000 per week. They also have rules to what you can have for your budget so say you want to make a low budget movie. Well , to most a low budget movie in a Union or Guild is a movie for $1,000,000 to $3,000,000 with two or three SAG actors and a 6 or 8 person crew. Of course there are about 800,000 SAG actors but about only 1000 are known so you will probably get one of the 799,000 other actors on you budget. How ever if you want to just make a film and sell it to a company instead of joining unions and guilds to work your way up to join that company then you can just do your own thing. The great thing is that you have no limits besides your country's laws and your budget and creativity. You can hire SAG actors since there is no part in their SAG membership that says they can't work for a non union or guild member. Also my friend who has made a lot of films and is my sisters acting coach told me not to worry about permits unless you are blocking off roads. Just get permission from your locations and don't worry about shops being in screen or people in crowds.

You could read more in From Reel to Deal and i hoped i helped.

[Razback]

We are more books about the argoument.I belive the best way is moved to LA and try first some FX work in movie studios a lot of filmakers start in this way....me too i have the same dream but im italian and i waiting to moved to America in the future

[gonzo_entertainment]

Make movies, get them shown, make connections, keep plugging away.