I really want to be a director and make movies, what's a realistic path towards it?

I'm right there with ya, OP, not an easy path to take, you better be as determined as you are talented.
1. get access to some film making equipment: thanks to modern tech, you don't have to break the bank.
Your phone is probably enough for footage, but you definitely need audio equipment.
Good audio will make your shitty video watachable, and bad audio will make the greatest film unbearable
2. find friends that share your dream. Movies are one of the few art forms you really can't pursue alone.
luckily there are people all around you that want to make movies, you just gotta find them
3. learn every aspect, as a director, if you want to make good films you need to understand every step in how the sausage is made.
That means learn how to frame a scene, learn how to light a scene, learn how to record audio, learn the difference between good and bad acting, and most importantly learn how to edit.
Get Adobe Premiere and start playing around in it.

Obviously there's more to it, but that's somewhere to start.

As an addendum:
4. Start making shitty movies. They won't be good for a quite a while, but they will be yours.
You gotta put in the hours before you can see the results.
post them on youtube or something and once they transition form shitty to mediocre, start adding them to a "film reel" a short video cutting together your best moments that you can use to pitch yourself to interested parties eventually.

Start making your own movies. You don't need much:

> Camera

Could be a phone if you're strapped for cash. I'd recommend a cheap DSLR if you can get one so you can get a basic feel for the kind of choices you need to make when composing a shot (focal length, exposure, sensor size). Using these tools to maximize aesthetic control is way more important early on than having a fancy camera.

> Audio Equipment

Optional depending on the camera, but not really since good audio is WAY more important than you think it is.

> Computer w/ writing/editing software

Unless you're shooting 4K you don't need anything crazy hardwarewise, but good graphics capabilities help. Don't shell out money for fancy screenwriting software, there's plenty of free options (I use Celtx). I use premiere to edit, but the annual licence subscription is pretty steep. If you're a student you get a pretty sweet discount.

Other than those things, just people. Get on sets. Look into local filmmaking competitions like timed challenges, since the concentrated timespan and informal atmosphere make it ideal to cut your teeth doing a film from start to finish and having it screen. Local theater companies are a good source for actors. Also don't be an asshole. Filmmaking is stressful enough and if your an asshole and they can afford to dump you they will, and word gets around.

From there there's no set path. Make movies, get them seen either at local screenings or festivals, meet people, be visible. Once you've been doing it a while make an indie feature if you can scrounge up the cash, but be sure and make plenty of shorts. Unless it's a proof-of-concept for a feature, though, shorts are only really good for practice and networking.

Above all, initiative is key. Nobody gives a shit about you until you have something that proves you can already do a job well, and no one will make you that person other than you.

The rest is luck.

Also this. Very this. Don't be discouraged if you suck, because you will. Push through it. It took me five years of constant pushing and tough self-evaluation to make something that I'm not totally embarrassed by.

Go to film school and do networking while you're there
no amount of "talent will make up for having connections and just buying a camera and filming shit will get you nowhere

Film school will not guarantee it, but if you can afford it I think it can help. I don’t get this mindset a lot of people have about filmsxhool where they think that if you go there is absolutely no hope for you, despite the massive amount of directors who did attend some form of education. If you make the most of it, it can really help.

Gotta suck the right dicks.

You could visit your local mosque and film it, that will get some attention

You literally need an iphone class camera and you're set

oh and talent lol

It depends on your end goal. Anyone can be a director by doing what everyone else is already saying (shooting your own films), which is true as that gives you experience, but the odds of you going from no-one to being a big shot director is slim to none.

If you want to go beyond low budget indie films, you need to find yourself a way to start working on union projects (or a non union project that flips) and working up the ladder. Might have to start as a PA and work up as a 2nd 2nd AD, then 2nd AD, 1st AD, and eventually Director.

Ask questions, observe, make connections, make others aware of your future endeavours and they may give you opportunities to work your way up now and then.

Film school is tricky. I went to a four year state college for two years after a few years at community college and absolutely do not regret it. It didn't cost too much compared to other schools, and pretty much all my work I've gotten since has been from the connections there, but I was also lucky enough to go to a school whose alumni are in high level positions at production offices, arts non-profits, rental houses, and freelance crews (especially grip/electric and camera department) in my region. Basically if you do go, do your research.

Also, I was already making stuff for years before going. I've known too many people who get high off the energy of film school and make good stuff only to drop off once they leave and don't have the immediate support network at their fingertips. In other words, if you don't already have enough self-motivation to learn and make stuff without the apparatus of film school propping you up, film school won't help you. It's an aid, not a crutch.

In terms of grad school, though, I'm a bit murkier. I know some folks going to the AFI, but they're going into a LOT of debt for it, so time will tell if it pays off.

first start writing screenplays and getting reviews.
then make a Netflix original (they literally accept anybody). if it's a hit you're in.

Out of curiosity, what did your film school teach/courses like? What departments did they teach? Did they prepare you for actual entry level union positions such as being a digital loader, or were they preparing everyone on how to be a higher position such as a camera operator?

In order of importance:

1) Script. no one wants to sit through a boring script. this is literally all that matters. this is why you are making a film. have some purpose, too. why are you making a film? why do you want the audience to hear this story? what will it teach them, or reveal to them?

2) Audio. get wind filters and mix all the levels properly. record room tone for a while before you shoot. DO NOT use stock music. even silence is better.

3) Light. make sure everything is lit properly. make sure scenes can be seen, and understood. understand your camera, and how it works. f-stop, shutter speed, and so on.

4) Acting. make sure you get people who you can work with. make sure you can tell them what you want. they wont just present your story, they need to be told how. also, make sure they really understand the script. they need to know its purpose, message, themes, and most importantly, they need to know how they fit into it. also, practice the script before shooting. if you film on location, or even on set, time is limited. you CAN NOT let any actors waste time because they don't understand or forget the script.

5) The rest. what is most important is communication. can the audience see? can they hear? is it bearable? do they give a damn about the characters, or your message? if not, rework the previous steps. if so, focus on the rest. are you using color in a way that is meaningful? are you editing with purpose? do you convey information through blocking? is the pace okay? can a viewer understand the story even without sound? is costume or set design adding anything to the story? do you have a style? not just visual, but in all other elements?

This is quite a lot of work, but the hard part is starting. So many people put tings off and never even start. In truth, all you really need is a camera. The rest helps, but a camera is the only barrier to entry.

A little bit of everything. That's both good and bad. Bad because there's a lack of focus in terms of actual preparation for more specialized fields and for finding work due to under-funding/under-staffing. They did have some lessons on working with SAG and IATSE, but never more than a lesson or two in one of the upper level production classes. If you want to be a director, though, the broad class selection can be good since having at least a basic knowledge of all departments is pretty key. Plus you have enough classmates who aren't trying to be writer/directors that you can reliably find a crew with diverse skillsets. There's another school in my state that's generally well regarded locally for it's film program, but they focus more on theory so it's more a haven for wannabe writer/directors who then don't necessarily know the ins and outs of production.

Honestly, the classes were a bit hit and miss and largely depended on the teacher. History of Film I remember was trash, but Aesthetics was the absolute shit and everyone wanted in on it. The teacher for that class was great and actually cared about his students (even landed me a few job interviews after I graduated).

The real shit, though, was our schools production society which acted as a semi-formal professional networking apparatus. They hosted workshops, had social gatherings, and invited guests who worked locally. On top of that, the meetings and Facebook groups were a great way to find crew for your class projects and get feedback. Honestly, that more than the school's curriculum itself is what I attribute my relative success post-grad to.

I'm not OP, but I was curious about your experience in film school to compare to my current situation. I'm currently taking a 2 year film program (essentially like a trade school desu) that trains the students for a specific craft of their choice (camera, editing, set dressing/props, set painting, sound, grip, lighting) with a focus on the entry level union position for your chosen craft. The school is also in communication with the unions and different studios since we are in LA, so an entry level union job for your craft is almost handed to you upon completion.

We don't deal with film history or theory as this program is solely about training you for an actual job that one will be able to do once working on a union project.

Become an interesting person first, but judging by your stupid pathetic passive little advice thread, you absolutely don't have what it takes to put something out in the world that is at all worthy. Fuck you.

good post

>I choose to live in LA!
Die
>I'm going to film camp in LA!
Die
>I'm going to become a high payed union grip immediately!
ahahahahaha, ready to sell coke and suck dick, sonny?

I'm not OP, but I was curious about your experience in film school to compare to my current situation. I'm currently taking a 2 year film program (essentially like a trade school desu) that trains the students for a specific craft of their choice (camera, editing, set dressing/props, set painting, sound, grip, lighting) with a focus on the entry level union position for your chosen craft. The school is also in communication with the unions and different studios since we are in LA, so an entry level union job for your craft is almost handed to you upon completion.

We don't deal with film history or theory as this program is solely about training you for an actual job that one will be able to do once working on a union project.

26 replies and only one answer worth noting.

oops bro you deleted your gay comment let me help you

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I'm not OP, but I was curious about your experience in film school to compare to my current situation. I'm currently taking a 2 year film program (essentially like a trade school desu) that trains the students for a specific craft of their choice (camera, editing, set dressing/props, set painting, sound, grip, lighting) with a focus on the entry level union position for your chosen craft. The school is also in communication with the unions and different studios since we are in LA, so an entry level union job for your craft is almost handed to you upon completion.

We don't deal with film history or theory as this program is solely about training you for an actual job that one will be able to do once working on a union project.
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>tfw want to become a video game designer
>tfw also thinking about just going to film school so I can become involved in the movie making process
AHHH I HATE BEING INDECISIVE

I deleted it because 'desu' was changed to 'desu' for some reason upon posting. Happened again, so I'm not gonna bother trying for a 3rd time.

>expect memes
>actually some quality advice in this thread

>being this much of a redditor

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make super hero movies (capeshit) and then kickstart them
you prolly would make movies of very unknown super heroes like per example Image or other selfpublished Yea Forums

You can rent a red for a week for like $500, kinda dumb to use your phone when it's that cheap.

if you are a guy be either jewish or british

if you are a women get good at giving head