I've just spent five very pleasant days at the Edinburgh Film Festival. Many interesting and insightful things have come out of this but one of the ones I have taken very much to heart is the fact that everyone - from Oscar winning producer down is in the same boat.
What do I mean by that? There are very few people who manage to have a sustainable and financially rewarding career in film. It is a lifestyle job. But you know what, that's OK.
It doesn't matter that you cannot support yourself 100% with writing or producing or industry "stuff". If you can find a way of doing what you love at the same time of doing something you have to to pay the bills then that's OK. It's the game everyone in town plays.
There are probably about 1000 people max that are able to sustain themselves to any reasonable degree within the industry. So temping at a bar, or as in my case doing interim communications contracts is OK. Whatever you need to do to make your lifestyle work for you is what you do.
Interestingly at almost every session I attended a question was asked which was along the lines of "how are you managing to live?". The implication being that there is a secret way of doing things that some of us aren't being told.
There is no secret. This shit is hard. Pay the rent with what you can and try to sustain the energy, and money, for being a filmmaker on the side. When you are in filmy company, like I was this weekend, then just play the "I'm a filmmaker|" routine like everyone else and STFU about your day job.
Similarly, where possible in your day job STFU about your film life, nothing breeds annoyance like an individual with a life outside work. Two worlds, never the two shall meet, as long as one of them pays then you can keep them in balance.
What do I mean by that? There are very few people who manage to have a sustainable and financially rewarding career in film. It is a lifestyle job. But you know what, that's OK.
It doesn't matter that you cannot support yourself 100% with writing or producing or industry "stuff". If you can find a way of doing what you love at the same time of doing something you have to to pay the bills then that's OK. It's the game everyone in town plays.
There are probably about 1000 people max that are able to sustain themselves to any reasonable degree within the industry. So temping at a bar, or as in my case doing interim communications contracts is OK. Whatever you need to do to make your lifestyle work for you is what you do.
Interestingly at almost every session I attended a question was asked which was along the lines of "how are you managing to live?". The implication being that there is a secret way of doing things that some of us aren't being told.
There is no secret. This shit is hard. Pay the rent with what you can and try to sustain the energy, and money, for being a filmmaker on the side. When you are in filmy company, like I was this weekend, then just play the "I'm a filmmaker|" routine like everyone else and STFU about your day job.
Similarly, where possible in your day job STFU about your film life, nothing breeds annoyance like an individual with a life outside work. Two worlds, never the two shall meet, as long as one of them pays then you can keep them in balance.
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