What's the most efficient way into the movie & television industry for a filmmaker, Short film, pilot, feature

Question

I made a feature jimmyandjohnny.com but got to thinking when it didn't come out to my satisfaction that I should probably make shorts instead since they are less work, but Shorts aren't known for making money. I also have some great ideas for TV shows but I don't know anyone and feel if I follow that path I should just try and make a no budget pilot and use that to flaunt around, is this a waste of time. I really love writing directing and filming but so far no money. I not in it for money, but it takes money to pay the rent and electric bill that house and power the editing station.
Jimmyandjohnny have not really been shown to anyone because of my dissatisfaction. My second work, a short my first, won the audience award and several other at the only fest it was screened. I wasn't happy with it either. Currently I am working on a short all shooting is over, only my archilles hill is left, post. On no budget it is hard, especially with no experience.

Answer 1

No one wants you there. There's too much competition already. That's the first thing you need to realize. So what you have to do is prove not merely that you're competent.... there's tens of thousands of competent filmmakers littering the hollywood streets... but prove that your work is so good, unique, or in the absence of that, marketable... that they HAVE to have you on board in order to make more money. Anything short of that is just not good enough.

You want to know the shortest path? Start networking. All of your opportunities in this business come from friends with more power than you.

If you don't currently live in LA...forget it. Might as well save the effort. or move there... just be ready for the race.

Answer 2

Shorts aren't "known" for getting people into the business, but they have. That's how Vin Diesel got started. He made a short film called......Multi Facial, and another called Strays.

Multi Facial actually got him noticed by Spielberg, who wrote the part of Caparzo in Saving Private Ryan specifically for him. The rest, is as they say, history.

If you want to get your shorts noticed, get them into as many film festivals and competitions that you can. There are plenty of resources available to find some near you.

Something you may want to look into as well is called the 48HourFilmProject. You can find more info on it at http://48hourfilm.com/

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Short Documentaries would be the best way for you to actually get into making movies.