Rise Against Media - Non Habbo web station needs presenters/DJ's!

[Misawa]

Short films give people experience, but they don't take people anywhere. The only way forward is to aim big - features.

[partie2]

Thats not entiely true there quite a few directors and producers who have made it big through short films. Channel 4 do the 3 minute wonder films which would really give you the boost to launch you into the industry.

[peteyt]

Misawa sorry but short films do get you places. Most directors started small. We've had former students down who have been working on short films, many winning awards at film festivals. This can get them noticed, and get them contacts, and start to get you into the major films. As I mentioned earlier short films are kind of like a calling card, they get you noticed.

If you want to work in the film world you often have to start from the bottom and make your way up. Many producers and so on start as runners. A producer who lecturers at our university today said that a lot of really good potential directors haven't done anything since he left University for two main reasons - Either their lazy, they just don't have the ambition or their far to picky - the best way to make it is just to get yourself in everything, even if its doing a really small job, if you keep doing it and coming back showing you've got ambition hopefully someone will notice you.

But to just jump into a large film is extremley hard, short film not only shows the world what you can do it also gives you experince. Every short film i've worked on has its fair share of problems, but then its like that in the major films to. But the thing is, from each problem you learn something new which you can take away and apply.

[Misawa]

You realise that I work in the film industry producing feature films with budgets in the millions? You're preaching to the choir.

VERY few short films take anyone anywhere. Studios don't want short films, producers don't want short films. I already mentioned the experience they give. Hollywood doesn't come calling from seeing a short unless it generates such a buzz that they miraculously get into the Oscars. Shawn Acker, the guy who did the great short 9 won an Oscar back in '06, got the power to make a so-so feature. That happens to a handful of nominees once a year, 1000s of short films are made every day. It's the same with film festivals - they used to be great for getting deals, now only the main three generate any business.

As for film-makers starting off as a runner - yes, that is true, although more often than not it is as a production assistant. I worked as a runner and a production assistant on two major features before I worked full-time in the industry.

Partie, unfortunately no one takes any notice of those Channel 4 and BBC Blast entries, as interesting as they sometimes are.

[peteyt]

Yeah, although who said anything about Hollywood. I've a long way to go, I agree, but it is possible.

[Misawa]

Possible, but barely.

[peteyt]

Sorry but I think thats the problem with media at the moment - theres no support. Everyone has dreams, and I know that most people just end up doing a normal mundane job, but some people actually set their hearts on a dream and try and achieve it and its like people try to crush their dreams.

I know you have to be realistic, and I know everything could fail, but I'm going to give it a go, I've had problems with my station itself in the past, and we have issues at the moment, but I'm going to keep pushing and pushing because I do beleive in it. Anything is possible.

[Misawa]

If you have a dream to be a professional in the film game - chase it. If you want to make shorts, do it. I'm not swaying you away from making them, I'm just being realistic - giving you the view of a professional. I made shorts years ago for fun, but I got into the business by pursuing my dream, and thinking big, so here I am. Like I said, nothing can stop you from wanting something and making shorts, I'm just saying that the only truly realistic way of breaking into the industry in this day and age is to think big. Getting production assistant jobs and learning how real sets work is worth a lot more to you than making a short film, trust me.

I would support you all the way - which is why I've given you my industry-perspective response on breaking into the business. Aspiring film-makers and actors come to me every single day asking how to get into the industry. I always assist them as best I can.

[Swastika]

I like the site, would look better red though like your spin-off advertising site imo.
How has this thread went from a radio to talking about films lol, are you sticking to online radio on this site or are you posting your short films etc?

And Misawa, your in the film industry? Sounds great.

[Misawa]

Yes, Jayme.