FilmmakerIQ.com

Will This Industry Eat You Up?

Submited by IQ forum Member Screenwriter Shep

***

The entertainment industry is known for obliterating self-esteem and destroying lives. And you want to be part of it. Admit it — if you didn’t, you wouldn’t be reading this. Every person who wants to work in the entertainment industry asks themselves a few questions before trying:

Can I make it? Am I good enough? Am I one of those people who think they’re good even though they suck? I’ve heard it’s all about who I know, is that true? Do I have to move to Los Angeles? New York? Will my family and friends laugh if I tell them (mine snickered)?

Unfortunately all of those answers depend on you and the situation you’re in. However, there are questions you can ask yourself to determine whether or not you have a chance at being successful.

Take a look at these questions. If you answer most of them correctly you do have a legitimate shot at making it in the entertainment industry.

1. Do you understand the realities of the business — that it will be 5-10 years of learning before you see any kind of success?
2. When you picture yourself as a success, what do you see?
3. If you knew you would never be rich or ridiculously successful, would you still do it?

Be honest.

Do you understand the realities of the business?

Correct answer: Yes (or No, but I’m willing to look into it). Most of the people who broke into the industry had spent somewhere between five and ten years of their life learning. Robert Rodriguez was making movies when he was eight, Tarantino spent a vast amount of time studying movies, Terry Rossio & Ted Elliot had been writing for five years before they saw any action.

If you’re starting today it is highly unlikely you’ll become successful in the next two years. Of course this all depends on the individual, but you need to understand that there is a learning curve. You have to learn your craft, whether it’s directing, writing or editing. Just because most jobs in film don’t require a degree doesn’t mean they don’t require you to learn (and some people with degrees have neglected the learning part anyway).

When you picture success, what do you see?

Here’s the wrong answer: You see yourself in a mansion surrounded by A-list actresses and slaves (see: interns) willing to do your bidding. You drive expensive cars and may have your own private jet. Not to mention that you’re constantly on the front page of Variety.

Here’s the right answer: You see yourself doing whatever it is you want to do. All that other stuff — the mansion, the A-list actress, the cars and the money — they’re secondary. If you want to be a director you should picture yourself shooting an amazing scene. If you’re an editor, you should picture success as having your own tricked out editing suite.

I’m a screenwriter. When I picture success I see a big, well-lit square room. The walls of this room are lined with shelves, full of books. To one wall is a desk, with a fairly nice laptop. I’m sitting in front of it, typing away. Occasionally I see myself pacing back and forth listening to music (if you’re a writer you understand).

When you picture success, you should picture something that involves the process, not the end result.

If you knew you would never be rich or ridiculously successful, would you still do it?

The answer better be yes. Most of us won’t make millions of dollars, most of us won’t be on the front of Variety, and most of us won’t be hanging out with A-list actresses. Reality T.V. stars — maybe.

To have a legitimate shot in the film industry you need to enjoy the process more than the result. The result is fleeting, it’s like winning the lottery — it feels fantastic for a few days, maybe even a few weeks. After that, the feeling disappears.

The process takes years. You shouldn’t spend years of your life focusing on a single moment of ecstasy; you should be spending your life doing something you enjoy. If you want to have a shot at making it in the film industry, you need to do something you enjoy.

It’s true in sports, and it’s true in film:

The best players aren’t the ones who love the victory; they’re the ones who love the game.

Or, in film terms:

The best filmmakers aren’t the ones who love the premiere; they’re the ones who love making the film.

***

Join the discussion on this article in our forums

Related Articles:

Tags | Filmmaking 360, General, Screenwriting, success