The Difficulties Awaiting a Novice Filmmaker - Personal Statement Example

Employment status report: film director Why film directing? It is a usual occurrence to hear people discussing and suggesting movies to each other for watching. The evolution of movies started from the initial black and white films to the colored productions that people enjoy today. The industry of film production continues to witness miles of changes, especially with the emerging trends in digital technology (Royster & Dennis 17). Nonetheless, the foundation process of movie production remains the same, combining images in motion and telling a story. The person concerned with the production of the movies is; thus, the director. Being a film director is the sole dream and career that I sought to achieve through my life. As children grow, they often establish attachment to various objects around themselves. I enjoyed watching cartoons, which grew my interest in drawing and creating pictures in motion. Later in my teenage, I engaged movies, a factor that grew my interest in the production industry significantly. Thus, today, I pursue my degree in film production, with the sole intention of being the best film director of my time. Professional qualifications Education is an essential factor in the daily lives and progress of every person both social and professionally. In this accord, I realize the essence and impact of having specialized skills, majoring in the field of choice by the person (Careers in Focus 21). As my interest in the subject of film directing grew, I sought to understand the requirements for a person to be eligible to make a successful film director. Thus, reading various material, reports and interviews, I saw the need of achieving the professional qualifications needed to be successful in the industry. Thus, it is for this reason that I chose to join the Academy of Art University and pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Motion Pictures and Television. This is the career certification required to become a recognized film director in the country. Personal qualities However, I also realize that, becoming a director is not a matter of professional qualification entirely. Film directing involves possession and application of personal effects, such including, talent, attitude, self-drive and personal commitment to the career (Careers in Focus, 21). A person without the acting talent cannot make a good director as he will not identify where the characters may need adjusting. Similarly, if a person has a negative attitude towards films, always criticizing works of film production negatively yet not presenting their own original interpretation of the film, then such an attitude will not make a film director successful. Moreover, as a film director, it is essential to have the drive and commitment to the career, as working with characters is not a simple task. Additionally, mot producers will more often than not get the script and attach the actors they can find, and then hire a director to get the cameras rolling. Thus, in this perspective, the most significant quality is charisma and leadership style, which is what I seek to bring in the industry. Leadership skill is a quality that as a film director will help me to navigate the industry with much ease as the director is a leading figure in any production work (Careers in Focus, 34). The work involved in film directing, as I realize today, can prove remarkably exhausting and wears the will of the person significantly. However, with the passion that I have for film directing, in addition to the professional skills, which I will gain in the Academy of Art University in the career, I am certain I will achieve all the expected qualification and grow the qualities further to become successful in my career. Envisioned goals Film directing is a behind-the-scenes job, and most directors do not get the public attention as they would wish or deserve to have. However, in the industry, the best of them all always comes to the limelight, such as Brad Pitt, Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorcese among others (Tasker 41). Thus, it is my sole and initial goal to become among the famous and most successful film directors of all time, as these icons. I intend to establish a film directing art that is unique and original to my style. I will create films with exquisite characters, telling stories to completion with a definite touch of entertainment, thrill and satisfaction for the pleasure of watching by the audience. I know that starting as an independent film director requires extra commitment and a lot of patience. It requires a person to put effort in establishing sizable and notable reel before the producers come knocking. Thus, it is my goal that, as a starting independent film director, I will seek to focus on building a platform for my work to achieve the breakthrough expected in the industry. Through commitment and hard work, and working in conjunction to other directors and receiving mentorship, I will seek to achieve film-directing experiences that will build me into a top-class film director. Additionally, I also intend to join with other established directors, and create a network that will define my working skills towards making me an excellent film director. This way, I will become a famous and successful career person in the entertainment industry, majoring in film directing. Belief and philosophy I believe in working hard, and pursuing my goals to completion when engaged in any given activity. Consequently, the film directing is a factor that interested me from my young age; thus, I intent to pursue the career until I achieve my success in the industry. The probable entry point into film directing work is though small works, such as directing short films, or music videos until one gets the breakthrough into the larger scenes. Thus, this is in line with my philosophy, that, indeed, to build Rome, it took time. Thus, I always seek to take time and pursue my goals patiently, which forms my philosophy. This will help in growing experience, in the film directing industry before I hit the breakthrough into the larger film directing platforms. Inspiration The single most effective inspiration for me in the industry is the joy of being famous. The resolve to achieve success drives me in my everyday decision towards accomplishing my goals in film directing as a profession. Additionally, the presence of the university, from which students learn the art of film directing and smarten their skills, it inspires my commitment towards the career. Additionally, it is noticeable the effect that mentors and heroes can have on their admirers. Thus, the same factor inspires me significantly towards pursuing the profession. For instance, James Cameron and Steven Spielberg give endless advice to aspiring filmmakers, in which they always end repeating the same advice to the aspiring film directors, which appears too simple to believe. However, in keen evaluation of the advice, they always seek to inspire the aspiring filmmakers to embrace their humble beginning and work towards achieving their goals (LoBrutto 32). Thus, these two of the greatest filmmakers in the world inspire me most towards making my career in the film industry. Challenges The film making industry is not like most casual employment agencies, where the trainee or graduate gets from school and lands into a job immediately. The process of establishing a career in film directing for most successful directors, attest that, it started while they were young. It entails gathering miles of experience, sharpening the art and skill until it smartens into a natural practice for the person. Thus, most people, in this era of today, envision that after graduating from university, they will get directly into luxurious paying job (Careers in Focus, 13). However, the industry has a reputation of the need to establish a reel first before engaging into the work itself. Thus, this is the largest challenge that I encounter in the career development, to get the platform for exposure. The process of growing a platform is lengthy for some people, and spontaneous to those with inborn talent in production. To overcome this challenge, it requires a hoard of experience and exposure. The school will facilitate with the platform for me to gain exposure through external attachments opportunities. Additionally, I will seek to grow a network with my colleagues at school and those in the working field. Secondly, the pay for a starter is usually not encouraging as most people would expect. The industry has loads of income for the established film producers; however, the process of becoming established can demoralize an aspiring film director as they may not make much income from the starting production jobs, especially where the film director begins their work as an independent film director. They have to establish credible, quality and sizable reel for producers to start taking interest in them (LoBrutto 76). The charging best favors the directors who are within the union of directors, called the Director’s Guild of America (DGA). This union facilitates a guarantee pay of $16,000 on the minimum and guaranteed 10 weeks of employment. Thus, the fixed minimum charging fee starts at about $160,000 and will range depending on the context of the work. Therefore, most directors fail to make it when they have overwhelming expenditure behavior. To overcome this challenge in the industry, I will strive to work under constrained and streamlined budget; thus, managing the challenge. Additionally, I will strive to join this union to ensure my success in managing financially in the industry. Competition Comparing the market place today and about fifty years ago, the difference can scare the aspiring film director remarkably. The market presents a constant threat of mounting pressure to the directors to perform, due to flooding of self-proclaimed and others qualified film directors. Moreover, the graduates from the Art Universities with degrees in Motion Pictures and Television add to the competition in the market place. This competition propels the professionals towards establishing their networks firmly, to ensure they remain relevant and visible in the marketplace (LoBrutto 81). Thus, it is an industry for the best, and the best is what I will become to survive in it. Networking The process of establishing a network is a factor that most aspiring and some established directors misuse as they imagine it is a short-path to glory in the industry. However, although networking does have its advantages, such as landing on opportunities and getting recommendations from the known directors, it cannot sustain a career. There are several networking organizations and bodies that the film director can join. The main body is the Directors Guild of America, which guarantees certain privileges for the members. However, I realize that, the best path to take in establishing a career in film directing is hard work and independence, creating a reel of my own. Therefore, I will join these networks of film directors to partake of the privileges therein, but I will work towards establishing own platform and reel, in order to sustain my career as a film director. The future The film directing profession continues to evolve, and as an entrant in the industry, I will pursue my degree in Motion Pictures and Television, as well as, continue establishing my skills in shooting. I intend to establish a network with other professionals in the industry to grow my experience and gain exposure to become a successful film director. Self-image and presentation are essential in determining the success of a director in the industry; thus, the need to establish quality reel. The reel markets the director as is always the criteria for establishing the effectiveness of the director in making a film successful and amazing (LoBrutto 41). Thus, in this view, I will continue establishing my reel by combining and presenting all the shooting work that I have, in addition to shooting more, no matter how small, to ensure I capture the attention of the producers. It is through establishing a solid reel that I will manage to achieve my ambitions in the industry. Works cited Careers in Focus. New York: Ferguson, 2009. Internet resource. LoBrutto, Vincent. Becoming Film Literate: The Art and Craft of Motion Pictures. Westport, Conn: Prager, 2005. Disocery eBooks. Web. 22 Feb 2014. Royster, Sara, and Dennis Vilorio. “From Script to Screen: Careers in Film Production”. Occupational Outlook Quarterly 57.2 (1013): 16-29. Business source Complete. Web. 22 Feb 2014 Tasker, Yvonne. Fifty Contemporary Film Directors. London: Routledge, 2010. Discovery eBooks. Web. 22 Feb 2014. http://careerbear.com/film-director/article/what-does-a-film-director-do-and-what-skills-are-required http://www.lavideofilmmaker.com/filmmaking/how-to-become-a-film-director.html http://www.shmoop.com/careers/film-director/salary.html http://www.firstlightonline.co.uk/light-lounge/employerinterviews/ Read More