It seems more and more people are getting the entrepreneur bug. Perhaps it's the shaky economy or just the American way to want to be your own boss. Having several years experience as a freelance writer and creative artist I've picked up a few tricks of the trade with regard to being my own boss. I've often learned through tough lessons what works and what doesn't work as well. For instance, when I went back to film school in the mid 90s, it was an exciting time to be studying film. Studios like Miramax were busting out former video store clerk Quentin Tarantino's now legendary indie success Pulp Fiction. At the time we saw an emerging interest in unique and individual auteur film makers voices. What many kids my age at the time did was say “Forget the 9 to 5, I wanna make movies.” To appease our parentals and still qualify for federal grants and loans, many of us chose the film school route, as we could at the very least still have a bachelors degree to fall back on. Flash forward 15 years later and I'm a successful freelance writer for websites and print, working on my second novel and freelance video editing for corporations. What worked for me is the following: 1. Have a plan, but be flexible. Nothing in life is black and white, nor set in stone. If your dream is to be a Hollywood film maker/rock star, get in line, but also get out to the west coast, wait tables, and start making films. The technology of today has allowed anyone to be a YouTube filmmaking legend overnight, it's just a matter of hard work, persistence, and a little ol' thing called talent. If you love the techie side of filmmaking like I do, immerse yourself in film/video editing tutorials, invest in some good hardware and software, and do enough freelance pro bono work to build your portfolio. If you want to work as a video editor, be flexible. Be open to corporate clients, non profits, schools, and other avenues before trying to promote and market your film that you're sure is the next “Godfather.” 2. Partner with other artists, especially those who have money. Let's be honest, great films needs great funding and you're going to need either a big studio to back you up, or enough private investors and production artists willing to work for free at first to get your brilliant work off the ground and running. Private investors can be anyone from your wealthy aunt and uncle, to a venture capitalist who just happens to love movies. 3. Never, under any circumstances give up your dreams. Anything is possible, don't listen to people who try and cut you down with words like “Well you're one in a million” or “That's impossible, it's a pipedream.” Be willing to network with everyone and anyone, have integrity and believe in yourself. But don't get caught up in the rowdy crowds that the arts often involve. Partying until 7am is fun sure, but if you have a project to finish by 9am, it can be disastrous. Use the internet; it's an amazing resource for emerging filmmakers that has made going to college to study film like I did unneeded. Use YouTube tutorials, read trade publications, and save your money. Oh yeah, and as sad as it sounds, don't quit your day job. BM
