Jia Cheng Tan

Okay this sounds kind of personal, but I'd like to know. What is the first film you shoot and direct after you just call yourself a director/filmmaker? Do you write your own script, if you do what aspects of drama did you include? Do you start out well? Who helped? Or were you a one-man crew? No right or wrong answers. Just curious. And if anyone nostalgic enough to tell me please do :] Much appreciated.

My teacher's advice for me in my aspiring dream to be a film-maker is "If you have a story to tell, be a filmmaker." I was passionate and frankly quite eager to get my hands on some basic filmmaking equipment (better lens and memory card etc.) and start filming stuff and feel the challenge and pressure during production period and have the satisfaction of moving people. But then I realized as a person that has no filming experience, I don't really have a story to tell. Not a story that can translate into a script or screenplay at least. I'm not a person full of film material stories waiting to burst out of me, like some gifted filmmakers do when they become one. It may be just beginner's doubt and stuff like that, but any advice on how to start off? I know the nice stories are in my mind somewhere but I can't really grasp them out and put them in a form of a script or visualize them on the TV screen in my head. I'm good at writing poems that focus more on the reading+hearing aspect, but coming to filmmaking which is mostly visual eye-candy, not so much. So maybe some advice to this ridiculously newbie question? Much appreciated.

I know this sounds crazy but are there any cases like that? Like people who go from homemade stuff and experience and fight their way up?

Wow damn, I'm from a third world country an I have NO IDEA how this is humanly possible. We just keep all our money haha

Hi guys, I guess we all know the film industry isn't as nice as it sounds. But I wanna ask you directors out there. What do you have with you the moment you step out of film-making college,is it nothing? And how would you guys start off your career on the way to a blast with what you have. Your advice is highly appreciated. I'm a total newbie looking at the future which I have totally I have no idea what am I dealing with. Just a high school student with one more year left before I crash my life or make good out of it.

But do you just produce your work, put it out there and see how it goes? That would be a little vague in the world who only cares about results, ain't it?

I'm a newbie, not even a newbie. Haven't finished high school yet. Haven't started anything in film-making, so yeah. But what I would like to know: Is being a creative and good film-maker/director easier than you think? Because everytime i see works of other masters like David Fincher, or even those underdog film-makers on Youtube with their amazing work which are showered with praises. That feeling in my heart going, "I should have thought of that." But I didn't. And more and more films coming out everyday. Each better than the other, and I always wonder if I can catch up to their standards or something. Is coming up with an idea for the film, and making it reality before your eyes that easy? Because one can easily have his/her mind stuffed with ideas of other's finished work, but none of his/her own. Relating other people ideas into your work would just be lack of originality. I dare say for now, I am one of those people that are kind of unable to have seemingly original ideas of my own. Do you have a hard time thinking of a story, a concept, or ideas that when people see the final work they recognize your very own idea instead of recognizing the concept being reminiscent to someone else? I see most recognized works out there big or small, Hollywood or Youtube, don't have much of a problem with that. So is coming up with original ideas as easy as it looks? Really appreciate your responses. Thank y'all in advance. :)

Hey guys, absolute newbie here. In fact, not even a newbie, I haven't started anything in cinematography yet! Just a year 11 student spending the last year of high school and having anxiety attacks about the future. I would like to know, if possible FROM SCRATCH, what is out there in cinematography for a boy who has dreams of being a director and also a little of an all rounder(being both good in cinematography and directing). What is out there to expect? Because I know for a fact the dream isn't enough if I have no idea at all what I will be dealing with in order to achieve it. So thanks a lot for your incoming advice. :)