I just got my bachelors degree in filmmaking, what steps do I have to take to?

Question

Direct a film? Because I wrote a screenplay and I want to pitch it to agents but if it's picked up, I'd like to direct it. How do I do that? Do I have to work as a producer on a big film first and then take that experience and show it to a film studio so they'll let me direct a film or what? How do I get to be a director of my own film?

Answer 1

You'll have to finance it yourself.

We all knew Billy Bob Thornton back before he got his SAG card and he was talking about this script he wrote that he had to star in and direct.

I, of course, got a chuckled out of that whole idea, and then of course he put out Sling Blade, but it was a small film with indy financing.

I knew a guy at Emerson who directed his own indy film and then moved to Hollywood.

I also met the director of another indy film, a horror film that got some notariety.

Someone I knew was in Claudia Weil's first feature and she had self and indy financing on the first half and far more financing on the second half. PRobably took the film around and showed it to studios or backers in incomplete form.

So that's probably the route you're going to have to go.

Understand your Director's guild card is up to something like $25,000 today, in one payment by certfied check.

Usually the only way you get to direct a studio picture is with studio connections or working your way up the ranks.

Answer 2

first off smack yourself in the head for getting a useless degree and wasting all that time and money. Then write a screenplay or network with others who have friends in the industry. School is not the right route for hollywood. It is all about who you know and who knows you. Start eating at the right places, hanging out at the right clubs, and reading variety. You are behind the eightball at this point, but if you work hard enough at meeting people and becoming known, things will happen for you.

Answer 3

That was a worthwile degree wasn't it? Didn't teach you anything you really needed to know.
What a rip off! Better warn others not to go there.