How to become a director
to become a director…this is the second part of the article on how to become a director. If you have not read the first part click here.
Third solution :
3) You’re all alone
Well…when I say ” you’re all alone “, it is that : you don’t have money for private school, attend college, very little for you, or the public schools you have kindly returned there from where you come because you missed the contest…or there is more room etc…but your desire to become a director is still there !
All is not lost ;o) I am the proof ! ;o)
Admittedly I’m not a filmmaker, even if I have done a few short-films and S16 and 35mm, it does not make me a film maker. But I made the choice.
So you’re single ! No school, no network, no dad, actor or producer…in short nothing, so what to do to achieve your dream of becoming a filmmaker ?
The good news is that you are going to get there if you give them the means. The bad news (though) is that you are going to have to work more than the others !
To become a film director you must show that you know how to do. For this to make short films. You have the chance to be in an age where access to cameras and editing are very simple.
So you can train yourself to make small films to test the different techniques : the connections, the axes, the focal lengths, camera movements etc…
You also need to make your network. For this, you have to leave the house and meet the world : either people like you who want to do their job, or technicians who may, in terms, help you turn.
The first thing to do is go in the pole of your area that greets the filming. They are in relationship with all the associations active in your area. Contact these association and offer your services : make coffee, go get the costumes, or the hardware. Even if you are not on the shelf, this is not serious, you are trying to learn. Be humble and available. As you will be given more severe stains and depending on your mood you approach the plateau. You will also meet people who are in construction of projects of short films, why not yours ?? this is a good way to become a director.
I’ll give you a trick that works rather well. Let’s say that you just have to have the tray, you want to be film director but your parents (or you) requires you to enroll in college. Please do ! Not only, in the event of failure in the cinema, you are not “naked” but in addition to the facs-can you make placements that allow you access to the film sets of tv films produced by France television, or on some feature films.
The conventions with France tv you can do part or all of the tv and you tap on an allowance (which is not huge but it is always that of taken). Most of all you do relationships ! The pros you see at work, see your motivation and will think of you for an upcoming film.
What I tell you is true because I do it myself. It is to me already happened several times to remind trainees that were good, to work on another project.
It is true that during this time you do not realize. Well this is wrong ! You learn on the job, you look at the filmmakers confirmed to work and this has no price.
In addition, with all of your contacts you will be able to climb a short film project more easily.
Your goal is to arrive at a professional result and to run the festivals in France and abroad. If you want to become a director, you have to get noticed by your talent or your technical mastery and your direction of the actors.
My grandmother told me that it is by forging that one becomes blacksmith. You, as a self-taught, more things to prove to get there. But once your professionalism and your ability to adapt will be recognised by all, then you will have won everything.
Becoming a filmmaker is not a simple thing. The path is long and a lot of people are going to you put sticks in the wheels or will try (sometimes without intending to) dissuade you. Focus on what you have to do and move on.
It is important in France to write screenplays , because the directors are very often the authors of their film. Learn the techniques of writing through this blog, ask me all the questions you want. Watch movies and television. Some of you say watch the Making-of, this can be a good idea, but few of them are really interesting.
Summarize, you can train you :
– On location shooting in your area
– Training
– Books, films, internet, here !
But if you want or/and can, do a school.
There are certainly some advantages to a school, or a BTS :
– The equipment put at your disposal
– The theory and the practice for some schools
– The network you can do you
– The meeting with some professionals
– Internships
I made you a list of film schools. They all have their strong points and weak points. I invite you to learn more about each of them. Sometimes you can find the links to the websites of the different institutions.This list is the same as on the first part of this article, I there put here to prevent you from having to click on it.
See the article on the bts in audio-visual, click here.
Don’t forget also one thing that is not controlled : the luck factor. To become a director it is also, at a given time, have the chance. The right meeting at the right time. I was talking two weeks ago with a director experienced. She made the ESRA, and then did internships in a company’s prod in paris. Volunteer at the beginning and then paid to the slingshot. Very quickly she earned the trust of the producer, she was always available and knew when to be heard and when the loop…Without revealing all of its history, it has gained its first achievement thanks to its commitment, thanks to the meeting with this producer, she was able to offer him one of his film projects. She made her first film in 23 years ;o)
The luck factor is crucial for this job. I’m not a particularly ” lucky “ , and yet I live my passion. I believe that the chance “chance”, it must also be the cause. For this it is necessary to work hard and not remain cloistered at home, do its network and show what we’re capable of.
One last word, to become a director , it is especially to be ” the locomotive “, to be the strong link, behind which the whole team agrees. Without the project, it is nothing. As I said above, in France, developers are often authors, they stand up and ask the producers to exist, especially in the cinema.
For Television this is a little something else. A lot of them are called by productions to create a scenario that they have not written. They are committed to the visions and their know-how.
Several of them have an agent that allows them to avoid the financial transactions and be able to find projects.
That’s it for this second part of the article on how to become a director. I hope this will enlighten you on the opportunities that you have. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to post them at the bottom of this article.
You can also read other articles by returning to the site map.
Soon,
Tom Weil.