How to start...
bonegarden said:
Hello, I was just wondering if I could get some advice in starting to learn more about filmmaking. I want to focus in becoming a director or screenwriter. I am 15 years old, but I really don't know how to start or where to go from here. What would be the best University to go to, here in California, to study filmmaking, and what would be the best thing to major in? I also wanted to know what websites are good in teaching filmmaking and learning more about different jobs. Can you please break down filmmaking into subcategories for me? Like, other than director, screenwriter, editor, producer, and stuff like that, what other types is there? See, I am a little bit confused, but I really want to be a filmmaker when I grow up. I've been wanting to be this since I was in 8th grade. I just don't know anyone that can help me. Please help me!! I only have two more years to decide what I should be majoring in, and I just want to get started and hopefully do what I love to do....please, help!
bonegarden,
The best way to start is by doing it... See if making a short film is what you envision it to be. Lots of people think filmmaking and or becoming a filmmaker is a great occupation... And it is. But by the same token, lots of people go get a camera or camcorder, give it a try and realize they simply aren't cut out for it.
In addition to making some short films with your friends, get magazines... FILMMAKER, MOVIEMAKER, AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER, INDIE SLATE, etc... If you can't buy 'em, go to the bookstore and read through them every month... Take notes. Maybe your library can subscribe to them. Along with the magazines and making short films, start reading.
There are a lot of great books out there... Too many to recommend but almost certainly, something can be learned from each one so start reading them. If you can't find a lot of books at your local bookstores, a great way to find out about good books is to simply go to Amazon.com and do a search for:
FILMMAKING
SCREENWRITING
You'll find a lots of names of books out there... Get your library to order them if you can't buy them yourself.
When you have questions, come back here and ask away... We will do our best to steer you in the right direction.
California has some outstanding colleges with film programs... USC, UCLA, CHAPMAN, among others... Through all the reading of books and magazines, you should be able to figure out what capacity of filmmaking turns you on the most... Unfortunately, college is geared more toward screenwriting, acting, directing, cinematography, etc... If you decide you simply want to be an electrician, that's a different story altogether. It's best to try and get trained and then get into a union.
If money's a problem, one of the best ways to break in is to learn screenwriting through and through... I only mention this because I'm a filmmaker/screenwriter but it has been my screenwriting that has done the most for me as for getting a foot in the door and you mention it in your post.
You don't have to go to college to learn screenwriting... There are a ton of books out there... I should know... LOL. I have them all. After you read through all of them two or three times and write a couple of screenplays, you just start getting the hang of it. From there, you'll realize that STRUCTURE is where it's at and then you'll do all you can to learn it as best you can.
Even as young as you are, you could be writing professional level screenplays within 3 years if you simply DIVE in and learn it...
Hope this gives you a few ideas on where to start... Good luck!
filmy