Posted by FroGPrintS at bm0b45nfb16xj.bc.hsia.telus.net on September 21, 2001 at 02:03:15:
Just some thoughts on Kevin's usual replies to people asking what the best route is to make movies...here goes folks, this ones from the heart and only meant to help any way that I can.... it’s a little long sorry.:)
Should I go to film school? Should I try to make my own film? Stuff like that is relative. Plain and simple. It relates to the individual and how they feel. Kevin strikes me as a man (though a rather large one, nooge) who is not one to let others persuade him. He will stick to his convictions, his beliefs. That is the best way a person can be if he plans on trying to make his own film from scratch (scratch being $40,000 for Clerks) It takes those attributes in order to have the cajones to do something like that. Especially if you have no training. When Kevin made Clerks he knew a lot more about filmmaking than I think most of the film virgins out their do. I mean, he did not dig film school and left early, but he made friends their. Friends he still has today, that believe in him and have the same goals/vision as him. That is important. So if you are a go-getter, an ambitious person, genuinely talented, or not easily one to give up maybe film school is not for you, maybe you have what it takes to do it the Kevin Smith route. It is ballsy and it takes creativity and, hell, even luck. It is possible though. You should have some sort of training before trying to invest your time in making an independent (take some workshops/part-time courses/fool around with a DV-Cam for example) all of these are suggestions that you have to choose from. Hell watch a lot of DVD's, read Books, read screenplays, sneak onto sets..All of this can help. On the other hand...
Maybe you are that 'other' type of person. The type of person who knows deep down there is something in him/her. You know you could do it. You know you could make great films. You have visions of camera movements, or you write dialogue that would make Mamet cream in his pants, or have any form of film related skill that is hidden somewhere. Somewhere that can't be reached unless you are in an environment that will bring it out of you. Film School could be that environment. Maybe it will awaken the beast that you always were afraid to face. Maybe it will evoke the confidence that you needed. After talking with many people, even getting a reply from Kev awhile back regarding many of the things I have touched on above, there is only one answer. You have to decide for yourself the path that you feel you should take. Right or Left, Up or Down. Either one is a step in the right direction; it means you actually have faith in yourself. And you love the art form of filmmaking. I for one am an apprehensive person. Many have told me that I have what it takes but somehow I have always held back. I was always afraid of something.
But I've learned something in the last little while that has helped me. On September 11 we all witnessed something that we thought we never would. A disaster of Earth shaking proportions. I'll steer clear of how I felt about that (cuz I could go on forever), but I will tell you what it made me decide. Life has no guarantees. It has no route that is laid out for you. Things can change for the better or worse tomorrow. That being said, it is no use worrying about risks and everyday trivial things. Just go out there everyday and be yourself and a little more. Be honest, passionate and respect others.
After all, we are trying to break into an industry that relies on people sharing their true feelings, their emotions and humanity. If you can do that, filmmaking will probably come easier to you. And the film you work on will be that much better because of it...
Your fellow filmmaking wannabe.... who is gonna be,
Steve