...SO YOU WANT A CAREER IN THE MOVIE BUSINESS?
A cautionary.
A cautionary.
1. FILM SCHOOL
is the best preparation for a talented young person hoping to enter the film industry. It is also the worst disservice to an untalented person who should have gone into the family cleaning business.
is the best preparation for a talented young person hoping to enter the film industry. It is also the worst disservice to an untalented person who should have gone into the family cleaning business.
2. IF AT FIRST...
It is often said if you work hard, you will succeed. Yet many people work hard and don't succeed. When you look at your work, ask yourself 'Am I getting better?' That's all that matters.
It is often said if you work hard, you will succeed. Yet many people work hard and don't succeed. When you look at your work, ask yourself 'Am I getting better?' That's all that matters.
3. IMITATION
If you can describe your work in terms of someone else’s work, rethink it. Your mistakes might as well be your own: it may be shit, but at least it’s your shit.
If you can describe your work in terms of someone else’s work, rethink it. Your mistakes might as well be your own: it may be shit, but at least it’s your shit.
4. AMATEURS
do the things they love because they love them. Professionals do many things, some of them they don’t love, or even like. But they do them as if they love them.
do the things they love because they love them. Professionals do many things, some of them they don’t love, or even like. But they do them as if they love them.
5. AGENTS
work for you and not the other way around, though some might give that impression. This isn’t to say they’re not good people. They’re extremely charming and often helpful. Especially when they return your calls.
work for you and not the other way around, though some might give that impression. This isn’t to say they’re not good people. They’re extremely charming and often helpful. Especially when they return your calls.
6. FAILURE
Nothing is learned from success except maybe a greater fear of failure. The best definition of success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
Nothing is learned from success except maybe a greater fear of failure. The best definition of success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
7. SUCCESS
It is axiomatic among filmmakers that we are all fundamentally opposed to awards. We are not, however, opposed to winning them.
It is axiomatic among filmmakers that we are all fundamentally opposed to awards. We are not, however, opposed to winning them.
8. EXECUTIVES
think of us as irresponsible children; we think of them as venal philistines. Yet we all we love each other. Or say we do. Oddly, executives like to talk about art while artists usually want to talk about money.
think of us as irresponsible children; we think of them as venal philistines. Yet we all we love each other. Or say we do. Oddly, executives like to talk about art while artists usually want to talk about money.
9. IN DEVELOPMENT
Each year, creative executives invent helpful new phrases: “edge it up” “backload it” “frontload it” “unpack it” “lean into it” etc. ...Just give us the goddamn notes.
Each year, creative executives invent helpful new phrases: “edge it up” “backload it” “frontload it” “unpack it” “lean into it” etc. ...Just give us the goddamn notes.
10. ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
The best advice I ever got was to think of Hollywood as a series of small humiliations interrupted by bigger ones.
The best advice I ever got was to think of Hollywood as a series of small humiliations interrupted by bigger ones.
P.S. William Goldman said it best. “Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says different is selling something.”
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