It's official...I'm no longer in the film/tv production business.

After a long, long think about this, I've decided that I won't go back.

The reason is quite simple: I'm dissatisfied with the direction my life is going (if it's actually going in any direction), and working the kinds of hours expected, combined with the complete lack of stability in the industry, made my mind up**.

Once my postproduction studio is sold, that'll be the end of my corporate entity, and the last thread of my connection to the business.

So... I have no what idea I'm going to do for work, and I'm flat broke, but I know I'm done with film.

Okay, I'm off to hand-out resumes. Wish me luck.



**note: I will retain my right to claim a DU expert opinion on obscure foreign films, the sad state of mainstream Hollywood productions, and the inexplicable success of Russell Crowe, David Spade, and Julia Styles.

Hoping for the best for you, CA.

Damn!!!! I'm just coming into the biz and you're on your way out. :-(

Where are you? Vancouver?

What did you do?

when you are feeling so despondent. Perhaps you should start sending out the resumes and sell the studio once you land something. As for income, perhaps you could rent out studio time?

I know it's rough now, but things *do* get better. I'm living proof of that. :hug:

Fact is, I don't have any shows lined-up, so I'll have to work elsewhere, in any event.

The studio has to sell, one way or another. I'm too far in debt, and selling it will pay off my consumer debt, back property taxes, etc.

All I've done is made the decision to not get back int the cycle of working like a madman, having no control over when my next paycheque will come from, and so-forth.

Believe me, you know how I feel lately, and coming to this conclusion has made me feel (much) better. If I stay doing what I'm doing, nothing will change.

Clean slate, and all that.

:thumbsup: and salute you for doing what you made up your mind to do.

One door closes and another opens...

:hi:
Shine

:hi:

I have no idea who Julia Styles is. I suppose that's a good thing.

Personally, I would like to make a film. I have a great idea for one. It's a comedy about where I work. It would be rather hillarious and contain jokes that really work better on film than in a short story or novel. Of course if I actually made it, I probably would get sued even though half the stuff that would be in my film didn't actually happen and I'd change all the names.
I suppose that working in film is a lot of work though.

I've been making tv shows and movies foa a living, for over ten years.

In that time, I have volunteered on three (3) short independent films. Why? Because I was nesting (with my ex) and because I was too freaking tired after an 80 hour work-week to gat up on a saturday morning and help a buddy with his labour of love movie.

But now I can do that... I still have my friends and contacts in the industry, and if someone I know is making a short, or something, I'll be better-equipped to lend a hand.

I'm working as a freelance movie trailer editor right now -- as far to the periphery of the industry as you can get and still claim to be part of it.

In my 20s, I was convinced I was going to be the next Scoresese. I had the talent, it was just a matter of time.

Now, in my mid 30s, the studios haven't come knocking. I'm still putting in the exhausting hours your mention. Will my dreams ever come true? Will I ever actually be a filmmaker, or will I have a long, frustrating career as a cheerleader, on the sidelines of all the other hacks' careers? (You mean to tell me ELI fucking ROTH has a film career and I can't!?!)

At what point do you give up on your dreams? At what point do you accept that your life hasn't turned out the way you wanted -- and just stop fighting to make it something it'll probably never be? That's what I'm struggling with right now.

What will you do now? What industry will you go into? How will you express your creativity?

...creative bone in my body.

Who knows, though... maybe with more free time and some structure in my life, maybe I'll write.

If I could do anything, I'd own a performance engines machine shop. How's that for creative?!

This beauty used to be mine:

<a href="" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" /></a>

(Hope that works)

Couldn't afford to keep it in LA.