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El Barto
= Song DB Master =
USA
4020 Posts |
 Posted - 10/16/2003 : 21:31:39
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I know you have something or other to do with Hollywood, so I thought I'd ask: how much of a waste of time do you think it would be for me to major in film? I'm mostly interested in writing, and I would like to write...I'd LOVE to write screenplays and shit, but I know that's a very competitive/impossible thing to do, so I thought I'd ask. Am I SOL unless I move to NYC or LA or something? Is it at all possible to be a screenwriter and be anti-social and not a networked shmoozer? Am I wasting my time considering this path?
 "I joined the Cult of Clops / If I were you, I'd sleep with one eye open." |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2003 : 22:02:43
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el barto, thanks for the love..
i'll do my best to tell you everything i know..
first off, following what you want to do is NEVER a waste of time. if you want to do something, go after it. even if you fail, at least you won't look back and think "i should have tried to do that".. that's my philosophy in life.
as for majoring in film.. it's certainly not a bad idea. you don't need film school, but it doesn't hurt to learn as much as you can.. plus, film school, depending on where you go, can provide you with contacts, which are more important than anything else in terms of getting jobs.
i did an internship at Sony Pictures while i was in film school, and through contacts i made there, got my first job on a movie as a production assistant. if i hadn't done that internship and worked for free, i don't know if i'd be where i am now. i can't stress enough how great internships can be (depending on where they are), i think for any vocation..
screenwriting is VERY competitive. but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try if that's what you like. i know people with questionalbe talent who have done well to VERY well for themselves in writing careers. a lot of it does have to do with luck, and being in the right place at the right time.
which relates to your moving to LA or NY question.. i would say yes, absolutely.. if you're serious about it, you should move to LA. LA is the hub of the film industry in the US, and if you're anywhere else, you're just decreasing your chances that much more. not to say you can't do it elsewhere, but your possibilities are exponentially higher here. one of my professors in film school told us that the first thing we should do when we graduated is move to LA..
a good friend of mine from school is probalby the best writer i know.. very talented. but he moved back to Chicago and is just working a whatever job.. it pains me because i know if he was here, and put some effort into it, he could make it.
the one thing i know about being an aspiring screenwriter is that talent has little to do with it. sure, you better have talent.. but you also have to try and work it. no one's going to seek you out and discover your brilliance. one of the best routes to take is to try and become an assistant to a producer, or a director. or get a job in development at a production company. that way, as scripts come and go through your office.. if the time is right, and you develop a relationship with your employers, you can say "hey, i've got this script".. and that way, at least it will get read. just getting your script read is a feat in itself.
but i must admit, screenwriting is a whole different ballgame. i work in editing.. which is hard enough to find work in.. but it's more of a skilled trade. whereas screenwriting has so many variables.
but again, that doesn't mean you can't do it. just giving you my honest take of what i know.
a good friend of mine who's been living in Japan for 8 years (yes, he's crazy) just moved back here and is trying to break into screenwriting. he's got a very dynamic personality and is extremely determined.. so i think, even if he doesn't sell a million dollar screenplay, he'll wind up doing well doing something..
which brings me to your anti-social query. it's not like you have to be the life of the party or anyting.. but you definitely need to be able to communicate with people.
maybe once you sell your first hit screenplay you can go into hiding and become all weird and reclusive, but i think it's safe to say that it's better to be able to at least talk to people. just from a common sense standpoint, you ought to be able to communicate what you're trying to communicate in your script.
anyway, hope this isn't too long and shit. i'm flattered that you ask me.
may the force be with you.
mijn vriendin kan geen orgasme krijgen |
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El Barto
= Song DB Master =
USA
4020 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2003 : 10:40:25
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Thanks for the advice! Ahh, I was hoping you wouldn't say "move to LA," hehe. I don't think I'd be willing to do that. Maybe I should just stick to novels and short stories and hope someday someone makes a movie out of my book :) I hear Penn State has a really good film school, so I thought about going into that...it sounds like a lot of fun. I just don't think I would want to do the whole Hollywood thing. I'd just like to write the screenplay and that's it; I don't think I could handle the whole "being on the set around stars" thing. Ahh well, something to think about. Thanks again.
"I joined the Cult of Clops / If I were you, I'd sleep with one eye open." |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2003 : 10:48:54
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i wanted to add.. if you go to film school, you shouldn't go getting yourself into a shitload of debt like i did. i went to a private school which was pretty expensive.. but i wish i would have done more researsch and looked into some other programs because it would have been way less expensive for me to go to UCLA or Cal State Long Beach or one of those..
mijn vriendin kan geen orgasme krijgen |
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mereubu
= FB QuizMistress =
USA
2677 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2003 : 13:12:51
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Hey, ain't nothing wrong with playwriting either! A guy I went to high school with won the Pulitzer for drama a couple of years ago so how hard could it be?
Playwrights can be as antisocial & reclusive as they want.
 "I joined the Cult of Frank / And all I got was this lousy icon" |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2003 : 13:40:14
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playwriting is alright, if you like starving..
mijn vriendin kan geen orgasme krijgen |
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2003 : 09:16:26
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Alright! El Barto will have to move to LA. To be in The Industry, he'll end up working in Burbank. We'll form a Frank Black club based out of Ribs USA. Floop and El Barto will talk about their "projects" while I eat.
 "I phoned the Cult of Abe / for one score and fifteen cents " |
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interloper
= Cult of Ray =
440 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2003 : 12:10:56
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Hey floop, this thread reminded me of a great question to pose to someone like yourself. Thanks in advance for any answers. I quit my dorky little rock band recently with hopes of creating music intended for film of some kind. Do you have any advise whatsoever on what to do? I understand that it's wise to copyright and publish all your stuff before hand, but beyond that I don't know. Ive been looking on line, and actually finding a great number of people searching for music they can use without having to shell out eight million dollars per second for 'i cant get no satisfaction'..or whatever....
any ideas? |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2003 : 19:44:54
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quote:
Originally posted by BLT
Alright! El Barto will have to move to LA. To be in The Industry, he'll end up working in Burbank. We'll form a Frank Black club based out of Ribs USA. Floop and El Barto will talk about their "projects" while I eat.
"I phoned the Cult of Abe / for one score and fifteen cents "
funny you should mention that fine establishment. i was just there on Friday.. once step further towards triple heart bypass surgery..
it's such a tasty road though..
mijn vriendin kan geen orgasme krijgen |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2003 : 19:58:14
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quote:
Originally posted by interloper
Hey floop, this thread reminded me of a great question to pose to someone like yourself. Thanks in advance for any answers. I quit my dorky little rock band recently with hopes of creating music intended for film of some kind. Do you have any advise whatsoever on what to do? I understand that it's wise to copyright and publish all your stuff before hand, but beyond that I don't know. Ive been looking on line, and actually finding a great number of people searching for music they can use without having to shell out eight million dollars per second for 'i cant get no satisfaction'..or whatever....
any ideas?
most aspiring composers i've known went to music school and all that, but i don't think it's totally necessary.
it seems like the ideal position to be in (other than already getting work scoring stuff) is to be an assistant to a composer.. that way, through your contacts etc.. eventually you can rustle up some work.
but it's always good to get involved with any projects you can, even for free, if you're just starting out. offer your services to student films.. or low-budget production companies.. eventually, you want to have a "reel" which showcases your stuff. and then use that to try and get more work..
i don't know a whole lot about that pathway.. but i imagine it's like everything else. try to get contacts and get your stuff out there (even if for free).. and keep writing and plugging away. hope that helps..
i'm sure there are other people here who might know more about that aspect of it...
mijn vriendin kan geen orgasme krijgen |
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