Chronicles of a Filmmaker: Laying a Strong Foundation, Part 1

If you have made the decision to pursue a career in filmmaking and have attempted to figure out how to make movies for a living, then this article is for you. The steps you take on this perilous journey must be taken with care. You must be prepared and preparation begins with good planning. The first and most important thing to do is to make sure you get started with a strong foundation. Try building something on sand and see how far it gets when a storm comes. Think about the three little pigs and just ask the wolf which one of these three little guys was wise: the one who built his house of straw, sticks, or brick? Learning this truth will keep you from sure disaster in the future. In layman filmmaker's terms this means you must make sure you have your priorities of life in order. If you don't have that foundation, then chaos will eventually come upon you. It's not just starting the journey with contacts, talent, and skills. It's about something that holds all those things and everything else together. I know this because I speak from the experience of someone who has been there.

I had made the decision 30 years ago that I wanted to be a filmmaker after seeing the movie Star Wars. I was 7 years old when Star Wars made its premiere in the movie theaters. This is a good time to mention this because this year Star Wars is celebrating its 30 Year Anniversary. Wow! 30 years ago seems like a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Star Wars to this day is still one of my favorite movies of all time.