We are all here because we love movies.  Right?  We love the film industry, and maybe even the idea of doing something with our writing skills in the film industry.  Good so far?  Now, some folks, perhaps myself included, have always just loved the idea of doing something which would get them involved in the industry in any way, and writing may be the best, or only way.

Now, with all that being said, I was talking to my oldest son in the car the other day (he's 12), and I asked him if he has any special idea of what he would like to focus on in his studies in college, or maybe like to do for a living later on in life.  He says he would like to be a cinematographer, or maybe be involved in stunt-acting.  Hmm.  That's a ways apart in career choices, I think, so I started hunting around the internet tonight, trying to find information on cinematography or the industry in general for him, and I came upon this: What I Really Want to Do On Set in Hollywood: A Guide to Real Jobs in the Film Industry

This looks to be an awesome book for anyone even considering becoming involved in the industry.  Have any of you encountered this book?  Do you have any opinions as being one who has read the work, or what are your thoughts after following my link and taking a look?

I will probably buy this book for my son so he can take a look at the inner-workings of the film industry, once I have discussed it with my wife, but I am curious about your thoughts.

Not to say that reading isn't good, but what you want to do is not going to be decided by a book.  It's going to be decided by yourself.  It's just that simple.

Well, that's kind of what the book seems to be about, in a way.  It gives you an insight into the working of the industry so that you can play to your strengths or focus your drives in a direction you feel interests you.  The idea is that so many people just know, from their couch or local theater, that they just HAVE to be a part of that exciting business, then rush off with no idea of what's really in store for them, and fail.  It seems to be a life primer for interested folks.

Fuck Hollywood!  If I had what I wanted I would write a couple a feature scripts for independent studios that get made into a movie that picks up a bit of a cult audience then by pass movies altogehter, hire an artist and turn my scripts into graphic novels.

Graphic Novels is where's it at for me in the long run.  it's getting there that is the hard part.

Why would you start with films to move into graphic novels, when graphic novels usually aspire to be made into films?

Graphic novels are quite talky by the way.  The characters don't move. :)

Quoted from Shelton Why would you start with films to move into graphic novels, when graphic novels usually aspire to be made into films? Graphic novels are quite talky by the way.  The characters don't move. :)

At best they're a bit 'choppy'.

Quoted from tonkatough Fuck Hollywood!  If I had what I wanted I would write a couple a feature scripts for independent studios that get made into a movie that picks up a bit of a cult audience then by pass movies altogehter, hire an artist and turn my scripts into graphic novels. Graphic Novels is where's it at for me in the long run.  it's getting there that is the hard part.

Couldn't you find people to do it for you and sell it independently?

I had a friend who drew these wicked pictures for me based on ideas I had and if I ever find them I should post them somewhere because they were the type of artwork you'd charge money for.

We were thinking of animation as an end goal.

This is going back to late 90's. We lost touch for a long time and I think we both moved on.

I kind of agree with your first four letter word. For me, it's about the audience. If they are happy, my job is done.

That's all I wanna DO. Entertain people and go home with some self respect. Whether it's a script that 10 people read or a film 500 people see... the goal doesn't change for me.

I've never read the book in question, but I do know that my preference has always been to be a writer. Can I do other things? Sure. At the end of the day, do I really want to? No, not really. I'd rather write what I want to write and watch someone else bring it to life, primarily because I know there are people with different creative strengths than I have, and I know they could bring things to my ideas that I never considered.

Why do people have this fixation with Hollywood? It's not the only place in the world that movies or television is made.

I'd say, if you know you want to be in the film/television industry, do everything you can to get started and get your foot in the door. Start by working as an intern (if you can afford it). People working for free are always welcome. Doesn't really matter what the project or job is. Do a good job. Make sure people notice you doing a good job. Become known to be reliable and dependable. Learn as much as you can. Talk to as many people as you can. Network network network. If you do this, you will most likely be recommended to work on another job/project. Learn more, meet more people, network more.  Also be open minded. You never know where things might lead. If you want to be a cinematographer don't turn down a chance to learn just because you're being asked to work on a commercial. Never turn down a chance to learn. People with skills above the average will always be sought after.  

Just my $0.02  and I'm nobody. :-)

To me, Hollywood is not just the location in California where the big movie players tend to be. Hollywood is also a descriptive term for (at least) the American movie industry as a whole. Yes, there are a lot of independent moviemakers and they're not all in Hollywood (actually, a good deal of them aren't), but when a movie is released into general distribution, it's generally considered to be a "Hollywood" film, especially if it feels like little more than a summer popcorn flick. It's just the place that is synonymous with moviemaking and where movies made their first real home.

If something feels like a Hollywood movie, I would take it as a compliment since whoever is saying such a thing says that it feels like a movie made by professionals.

I want to slap Paris Hilton's face off her head in front of a crowd of paparazzi.  I'm hoping to make it as a screenwriter to get close enough to her to do it.

In regards to making a movie and having it adapted into a graphic novel:  that's just doing things ass backwards.  A graphic novel would be easier and cheaper to produce and distribute than a movie.


Phil

That's why I'm converting my Fempiror Chronicles series into a series of novels at this point. I figure it will not only show off the story line and give it a better chance at production, but it will also secure me the rights to the stories (so only the script is sold to a producer), and solidify the plot and characters as I have them, so some overzealous Hollywood hack can't rape them too badly.

If you can write a book, write it. Never have I found an easier thing to self-produce, and if it's actually good enough to make into a movie, it should be good enough to see in print.

I wouldn't recommend going to a vanity press, though.  Atleast not right away.  A publishing house can get you on a shelf at the Barnes and Noble a lot easier than a lone writer can.


Phil

Dear steven8,

Hollywood? Independent Movies? They seem too far for me. I don’t dream with them any more. Graphic Novels? I’ve tried it once. Desperately, I tried to hire a boy in the nursery school to draw my short scripts but he refused saying that he had more to do in his early life than draw my silly stories. To achieve the movie industries is so hard task, dude! The best way I’ve find to be reading and be known a little was writing for SimplyScripts and for my blog and my local books. I’m happy with this, that’s all!

For tonka http://www.dimestoreproductions.com/content287.html

So your son wants to do something in filmmaking, huh?  What school does he want to go to New York Film Academy, Full Sail, Universal?  I don't really think that reading a book matters, if he really wants to do something like be in the film industry he would want to have a good plan and know what he's gonna do, I doubt a book would do that, but it would be a neat thing to read.

A book would be a good start.  Beats paying for his tuition in the NYFA, only to have him drop out in two weeks because it's not what he wants.


Phil

Now, I fully understand the urge to say f*** Hollywood, because I tend to shy away from the big (monster machine) business side of everything, and I know full well that many many films are made elsewhere.  I don't live in a vacuum.  However, I'm looking at it just as Mr. Willson said:

Quoted Text To me, Hollywood is not just the location in California where the big movie players tend to be. Hollywood is also a descriptive term for (at least) the American movie industry as a whole.

What I want to illustrate to my son is basically what the industry has to offer as a whole, and what the jobs entail.  He is, after all, only 12 years old, and I don't expect he will be packing off next summer to make his way in the world.  However, I do feel he's old enough to start finding out what it's all about.  I don't know, so you need to find someone who does.  Not too many here in Barbertucky, OH.

What I would want to do in the film industry? Edit. First I would shoot stupid videos with friends, then I shot some videos with friends that had stories and threw them on a computer and played with some free editing software.

Basically, get him a video camera and let him decide what he likes to do best, be behind the camera, in front of it, of work before or after the camera. It might be an investment, but if you already own a camcorder for family plays, vacations, etc... let him play with it (supervised) ;)

I spent last night looking at camcorders.  :)  We have a couple of old video cameras, but they require tapes, so no editing.  I think an HDD camcorder is the way we want to go.  Probably for his birthday in the fall.

Pft, I had no fancy hdd camcorders. I used VHS :) But that's great. You really only need a DV camcorder with firewire, a computer with firewire and Windows Movie Maker.

Sorry for all the details. I work at a major video editing software company ;)

Quoted from theMADhatter Pft, I had no fancy hdd camcorders. I used VHS :) But that's great. You really only need a DV camcorder with firewire, a computer with firewire and Windows Movie Maker. Sorry for all the details. I work at a major video editing software company ;)

Shoot, when I was a kid I had to walk 20 miles to school. . .uphill both ways!!  :)  My computer does not have firewire, so that's out.  But we do have windows movie maker, so we got that going!

He has a little webcam-type-thing, and has shot some movies, and made a stop motion movie.  We've added sound track, etc., but not done any frame-by-frame video editing.

Back in 1984/85, I think it was, we talked my dad into getting a VCR.  He got the floor model, because it was the only one left, and when he got it home, we found that they had forgot to remove the copy of 48 Hrs that they were using to demo it.  That was cool.  Funny thing was, it came with a VHS tape telling us how to hook up and set up the machine!  Gotta love that logic.  :)  I think it cost like 400 bucks.  Amazing.

Quoted from steven8 My computer does not have firewire, so that's out.

You can buy a PCI card to add firewire, assuming you have an open expansion slot.  Should be able to get one under $15, I'd think.

I can have an open slot, because I have an Ethernet card in the one slot, which I didn't end up using because I used the onboard Ethernet.

You've got options.

BTW, what's the HDD camcorder's interface to the computer, USB?

Quoted from theMADhatter You've got options. BTW, what's the HDD camcorder's interface to the computer, USB?

That's how mine works.  I have a JVC Everio.

Quoted from Shelton That's how mine works.  I have a JVC Everio.

What did that run you?  I see 'em from 250 to 350.

Quoted from steven8 What did that run you?  I see 'em from 250 to 350.

Sounds about right.  I think I paid three for mine at an after Thanksgiving sale.  List price was 450-500 at the time.

It comes with some editing software, but it's not all that great.

I'm looking at them at the JVC website.  That's what I want.  Now. . . I just have to talk to the Missus about it!

Good luck! Reading is good, doing is a whole lot better... Is there a media club at his school? Maybe they can help him get set up and used to running some of the equipment...

Just a note about the graphic novels; some of those pumpkin OWC's would be fun...Like to see Gordy drawn out...

Oh, also! I got involved in the Local Community tv station when I was in High School. That's something to consider - with a little training, he gets free access to editing and shooting equipment.

We don't have have a local TV station here in Barberton, but they do in Wadsworth, where my Dad lives.  He might be able to do that.  We will have to be the media club.  We home school.  :)

Oh, I just have to say that at no time did I think that he could just read a book and be able to walk out and do a job.  That's the trouble with MBOs.  I fully understand that nothing beats real life experience.  So, no more worrying about that.  :)

Well, I have equipped my son with an old Panasonic Palmcorder he can use to get the hang of filming things.  I printed the manual off a very cool website: http://www.retrevo.com/

Anyway, this will give him some hands on experience and allow him to get his feet wet and see how he likes it.

He's filming everybody right now. . . . :)

My husband is a broadcast engineer. When he was younger, he just walked into a local television station and told them about his love of broadcasting and asked if he could volunteer and help them so that he could learn.

He said his first job was helping to build a set. He had to lay out pallets and nail plywood to them. Then they carpeted everything. He worked his way up to operating a camera or running audio.

After one year of volunteering, he applied for a job as a master controller at an affiliate for the Home Shopping Network with a reference from people at the other station. He worked there for six years. He got his hands on every trade magazine he could, read manuals, and learned everything he could.

When he realized the HSN job was going to become obsolete because they were going to become completely automated, he went to a friend who worked at an emerging WB affiliate and got a job in maintenance. He worked both jobs for about five months and then got laid off from the HSN. Then he got a job working full time for the WB in engineering maintenance. Within three years he was the Assistant Chief Engineer.

His friend then quit and went to work for the state in Legislative Media Services. (That’s the people that film the house and senate hearings.) He and his friend eventually became business partners and filed for FCC licenses and building permits for their own stations. Today they own a local television station.

His advice is that your son get involved in any way he can. Remember that it’s not just about the camera. Lighting and sound knowledge and experience are crucial as well. A local theater is a good place to gain experience dealing with lighting. Theaters often don’t have the rights to record material due to copyright issues, but if it’s an original production and if the theater has the rights to record, you may inquire about making a video production.

Sound is important too. There are lots of differences between live event recording, sound reinforcement (PA systems), and studio production recording. A local church can help you get experience dealing with sound reinforcement.

Depending on the size of the school, some schools have Film Clubs. If you have a nearby school with good opportunities for your son, you may consider letting him enroll in a school. Nothing against home schooling but public schools, depending on their size, may have a great deal of opportunities regarding his particular interest.

Also if you live near the state capital (we live near Oregon’s state capital), you may go to the capitol building and see about volunteering for the media services there.

If your son is willing to volunteer, there are a lot of opportunities. Maybe just go to a local television station, tell them what you want to do and ask if they have any work for you. We had a local young man work for my husband and he wound up doing teen news stories for an affiliate for a major network. He’s an awesome kid with a bright future. But he was a real go getter and he started getting somewhere before he was even out of high school. Now he’s in college and I have no doubt he’ll succeed in whatever he does.

Best wishes to your son.


Breanne

Great advice, Breanne,  Thank you and thank your husband for us!