Films Directors and Actors (rant!)

[RapidBreath]

Oh my! Ok, once upon a time I worked in the film industry as a script supervisor. I went to undergraduate school, earned my degree in digital video (broadcasting.) I served my post graduate internship at the Walt Disney Company in FL. Then, I went to Cinema Arts and Tech, paid my dues babysitting for writers and actors. I went on to study production and earned my certificate in script supervising. I have worked 18 films, have my own IMDB listing and even earned some Hollyweird enemies (proof that you actually were there.) I discovered that I preferred the freedom of working as an independent videographer in my home town. I like the hours and the pay and being close to my family. Oh, the hours were 5-6 day weeks and 16-20 hour days. No kidding.

Here is my problem: People are always talking about going to college (no point, college degrees are meaningless in Hollywood.) and becoming a director without wanting to do the work of paying their dues! They don't want to learn the technical side, they don't want to work for free (everybody does, get over it.) They don't want to keep their day jobs (everybody has them, most people temp.) They don't want to just do the work of making a film. They want the glory or the idea of being a director.

Well. For the most part, they can't handle it. oh one more thing, there is no money in it, thats a Hollywood myth.

So what is the deal? Why do people think they can work in this industry without knowing a darn thing about it? That would be like saying hey I like to eat so that means I'm Julia Child, right?

 

[Elle_p]

I think that this applies to work in general. People feel entitled. They expect to come out of school and start at the top rather than paying their dues and working their way up.

 

[Aquajock]

I think that this applies to work in general. People feel entitled. They expect to come out of school and start at the top rather than paying their dues and working their way up.

I agree with Elle. They wants what they wants and they wants it WHEN they wants it, which is RIGHT F*&^ING NOW.

A-Jock

 

[NY25]

Well said, Aquajock!!

 

[Stebby]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. They'll find out soon enough that there is no easy way to the top.

Stebby

 

[Sunshine1528]

So many feel that their "dues" are going to college !

Well well well . . . as great as an education is, it is not the real world when it comes to business/working.

The basics might be the same, but experience is what makes you good or not. Of course we always love hindsight - I envy those who ended up going to school while they were working. How cool to be experiencing what you are studying ! It is so different when you get hired on to a real job - hard knocks build character and wisdom. You have to think rather than memorize and take a test.

Concepts become real . . . what you studied starts to make sense and you see connections. You have to be cognitive . . .

I believe that I have benefitted from both education & experience. And after many years of working I am eager to continue learning to expand my knowledge. None of it would be as valuable, however, if I didn't have experience or the opportunities to put what I learn into practice.

Oh how I wish the word "entitlement" would drop out of the Webster !

 

[RapidBreath]

Great posts everybody! I especially appreciate A-Jock's sentiment. Sunshine, I also wish that dreaded word, entitlement would go away! You are right, I have so much more perspective after several years of experience than I did in college and in some ways I wish I had the experience first. I am much more capable of phrasing a real-world relevant question than I was at the age of 21. Now that I think back I realize how young I was at that age.