Crossing Roles

This is going to sound like a very lazy answer, but YouTube is a great resource for beginner-level technical information.

I attended NYU in the late eighties, before these resources were available. But I was educated in film production using film cameras. So when things moved into digital, I found myself self educating online.

But you have the right idea. Gather some equipment, make some short films, and learn from your mistakes. Sometimes you don't know what you don't know until you do it. Then you have specific areas to investigate. Your sound sucks? Learn about how to get the best sound. Images tend to be too dark? Learn about exposure. Etc.

Just be careful not to spend too much with whatever inheritance you receive. People are making great short films with a DSLR and a good mic.

Being so close to Manhattan is also a huge advantage. Volunteer on some student productions. You can go to NYU at 721 Broadway and post a flier offering your services for free. (Heck, there might even be a digital method of doing this that didn't exist in 1988!)

Thanks! Text resources would be helpful to though. I have multiple disabilities, including a learning one. Auditory learning isn't my strong suit unfortunately. 

And yeah. A film called Tangerine, about two trans women, was filmed on a freaking iPhone! I have an idea of what's out there and as poor as I am I def don't plan on spending all my inheritance money on this, but it is my dream. Even just having work I can be proud of on Youtube would be amazing. 

Very helpful you are. 

Two words: Jeff Goldblum 

Finish at least four to six screenplays, then go to film festivals with copies in your shoulder bag. When you are in tech seminars you need to make an input, and to listen to what others say, but do so while remembering that YOU are a writer, and without the screenplay nothing happens. Do not let it go to your head, but remember you have a real contribution to the project.

If things go well maybe three or four real life producers or directors will take the screenplay you have written that is most like what they feel they want, and they will read it.

And they all will hate it.

And if it is well done, it eats at their mind, and they show it to someone else, such as another producer, another director, some really good talent that is still in the unknown stage.

Somewhere, somebody gets hooked, and they pay you diddly squat for that screenplay, and about a week later somebody else calls to ask how cheaply you will let them option it or the next decade or so.

When you apologize because that screenplay is already sold they say thanks, and hang up before you can get another word out.

You feel bad, they are upset, and they voice that anger with missing buying this one screenplay-- and a dozen people will contact you to find out what else you have.

Sell a second one, also for almost nothing, and suddenly you have people wanting you to work for them, and they do not go away when you remind them that you need to be paid.

Summary? Write. Write at least a half dozen screenplays, then go back and read the first one again and rewrite it to your new standard. Do that with number two, go to the festivals, and be "solid" in your presentation.

Most wannabe writers do not write, they just talk about it. Make sure you are a writer, then sell your work to pay the bills.

That is the problem.

You have to actually work at it, and most wannabe writers want fame and money, not work.

Go for work.

It pays.


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I have written and do write - can't apply to contests without doing that - but thanks. 

Two words: Jeff Goldblum 

You are wanting to direct one of your movies to get noticed as a writer, is that right? What if you just show off your scripts to other directors, and have one of them, want to produce and direct the script instead?

Where on LI? There are a few places to choose from.





Dont tell me you're innocent. Because it insults my intelligence and makes me very angry.