hi Landon D. Parks
And hi to all the wonderful DPs out there. I'm not a DP but have something to say to Landon.
I personally know how you feel. I had a crazy obsession with film since i was like 12. Unfortunately people are very judgemental in out society and beying a 16 year old, your main obsticle is communication. Now i'm not saying that you dont know how to talk. actually, you seem very impressing, but when you are on set, you become the puppet master and actors will come up to you and ask you what you want. You need to be on top of it all and you neet to gain respect othervise you might face disaster. Find out what George Lucas faced while making star wars.
If you dont know how to put your foot down, convince people and hold respect while doing so, you will hate the whole production process. I understand your Ambition and am happy that you are so determined because you remind me of myself but I strongly advise you do take $1000 and make 2 10 min films the best way you possibly can. How can you efficiently spen that money and make the best film possible. Then you will learn what happens on set. All the disagreements, cheaos, and torture. After that you will know how to avoid Bull shi*. Only then can you proceed with your feature. But try not to spend your own money. if your screenplay is so good that you are willing to spend all that money then it should be good enough to obtain investors or get people interested. (do you have the screenplay done and analyzed yet?) Then you will impress people with your great talent of talking and convincing, show them the story, storyboards etc. and impress the hell out of them and then you will go out and shoot 2 scenes of your feature film and present it to them on a big screen. If everyone loves you after this and throws money at you than youre set. Go get your film made and dont stop. My best advice right now is for you to go out and find a working producer or director and flatter them with your ambition. Convince them to take you under their wing. You will learn so much, your head will spin.
This is the way I would have done it since i learned in tougher ways and spent thousands in film school.
Do you have this script yet? Because if you dont then i fear dissapointment comming from your way. I'm a working screenwriter and have ties with big time investors businessmen. THe people i know are friends with Steven Spielberg. and I get phone calls constantly asking when will the new script be finished. People came to me because I obtained the great talent of convincing talk and my scripts just about guarantee commercial profit.
So please Get the great script first, talent of convincing talking and dont worry about the money. if you got the other two, the money and everyone else will come to you. Then come to toe internet and tell people your plans. otherwise you are just dreaming like everyone else.
Dont go up the ladder. thats for people with no ambition and low self confidence
But use your talents well and tak wise risk not stupid risk
