HAPPY HOLIDAYS FRIENDS! Yes that's right in just 2 days is Christmas, personally I view this holiday not only as a great time to spend with loved ones and being thankful, but also I celebrate the birth of my Lord Jesus Christ....even though dec. isn't his REAL day of birth....we shall save that for another blog lol. Recently I had an audition for Men's clothing line commercial, not sure if I got the part or not. Nevertheless I do enjoy film and the performing arts as a whole...Entertainment just has always been in my bones so to speak. I have had my fair share of acting, voice over works, On screen stills, extra rolls, and also making some Films. Actually in the process of directing and producing a short film that i will discuss when I am able. Being in this "business" since age 14, I have seen Many many actors,models,singers,artists, and Filmmakers come and go. Now with the directors/filmmakers I have come to the conclusion there are 4 types of filmmakers....this also applies to ANY and ALL persons in the entertainment industry and the ones who THINK they have what it takes.....Now I am not claiming to be any sort of A list celeb, but I think I have seen enough and worked enough to know the business to a decent extent...now back to filmmakers...
Like I mentioned above I've seen filmmakers come and go, and they always seem to fit into 4 categories.
CATEGORIES
#1. I've seen talented folks& filmmakers succeed with their first or second film and not know why. Many get arrogant fast. They get stupid. They're the one hit wonders.
#2. Then there are filmmakers who have the talent to create the art and the maturity to understand that making movies/films, entertainment is a business. They stay on top. They learn their crafts. They change what is needed within. They improve. They succeed. These folks are usually the film making legends and giants.
#3. Next are the filmmakers who have 100% talent but zero work ethic. They are the lazy. They expect opportunity to fall in their lap as if they are entitled. Most, not all keep hanging with the same group of loser filmmakers, making worthless short films to be discovered on YouTube or at film festivals that no one's ever heard of and no distributor's acquisition executives will ever attend or get the chance to see.
This kind of "talent" usually" rejects any form of constructive criticism. You'll find them huddled together in online forums where they can pat each other on the back..basically the blind leading the blind - and snicker at any producer/director who has the nerve to ask them create a movie that must work within detailed parameters. (I've been on the producer end of that stick,and on the talent side and believe me, these people can get horribly vicious.
They want education for nothing and at seminars,acting classes,film workshops, etc. they're the ones who fold their arms and look down their arrogant little noses at professionals who try and teach them how to succeed. But they won't succeed.
Why?
Because these filmmaking/Talent, wannabes espouse the attitude of,
"They just don't understand my art."
"My films mean something."
"They're not realizing my skills."
"Look at me."
"I can't compromise the artistic integrity of my creation."
"Now why won't anyone give me money to make my movies?"
They reject professional criticism and instruction because then they would have to admit they have invested time and money in their own failure, admit they were wrong, and to proceed from that point would require change, and change would require...you got it...work.....HARD WORK!
It's laziness disguised as arrogance, or confidence without a cause. Converting raw filmmaking talent to pure filmmaking talent requires honing, focus, discipline, practice, balance, and education from both books and experience.
These filmmaking/so called talented wannabes, who assumed from the birth that it would be easy because the director's commentary on the DVD perhaps made it seem so, then return unmoved to their local circle of losers, trying to be the big fish in a tiny pond, hoping to become Independent Filmmaking's next "Success" story, all the while living their own "Emperor's New Clothes."
#4. Finally, you have the filmmaking wannabes who want no part of the typical loser's circle. This is good. They may have attended a 2 or 4 year film school hoping to gain the upper-hand, but graduate with a head full of theory and a pocket full of debt isn't the best start....
They hear the success stories of other filmmakers and become frustrated as they still wander in the darkness of ignorance. "What do they know that I don't?" "Was it just luck? It has to be."
They spend their days working for peanuts on film crews, waiting for a break. Or they start different careers altogether, keeping the dream flickering in the back of their mind, all the while saving money and searching for books, videos, something, someone, anything in the endless maze of online and offline resources that will finally put the puzzle together so it all makes sense and they can begin living their dream.
It is this filmmaker who is ready to learn. It is this filmmaker who is teachable. They are the next generation of filmmaking giants and legends...once the are finally able to put 2 and 2 together.
Are you a Filmmaker class 1, 2, 3, or 4? If you're a 2, then you're probably not reading this. Good for you!
If you're a 1 or a 3, I pray you graduate to a 4.
IMPORTANT: If you're a #4, please study, work hard and take advantage of legitimate online and offline resources. The Internet is flooded with #1's and #3's so be careful when searching filmmaking forums for answers. 1's and 3's question any information outside their own experience and are unwilling to try anything unless someone else they know does it first. They are ripe with skepticism, bitterness and write and speak with whining overtones. They blame circumstances and other people for their inability to "break into the business" and fail to admit it's their own negative mindset that keeps them from breaking out of their box.
And they're the very filmmakers that will be infuriated with this article. (That's right. I called you out. Let hate mail roll...)
Once you identify these people, disregard their comments and try not to engage in any creative projects with them.
Being positive and humble is harder than being negative and cocky. Stay strong my fellow #4's. There are inexpensive educational opportunities out there and soooo much MORE that can launch your filmmaking/entertainment career.
For all you other filmmakers/entertainers out there, attitude is everything. Keep yourself in check and self-evaluate often. A willingness to learn from other's successes and mistakes will put you on the right path to success.
Well that is all I got to say about this topic lol.....I know it is a bit dry but I feel well needed. Next week is My last Radio Show broadcast of 2013! WOW! This year has flew by. Soon My friends I will be starting a fundraiser for the sole purpose of a non-profit entertainment company/agency, That is Designed to help and assist ALL talented people from every aspect of the arts, the plan to help the artist(s)/Talent is to assist them in achieving their personal artistic goals while doing this service at NO cost to the Talents/Artists. You see Years back before I became my OWN agent/talent manager, I had an agent located in St.Louis,Mo at an Agency called Willemena<<spelled wrong i think lol....ANYWAY I was locked into a contract for quite awhile actually. There was a lot of stipulations in the contract that I did not really understand or read at the time, being so young and naive...The agent got paid before I ever did, she got 20% of ALL my earnings, overbooked me to the point of near physical exhaustion and a lot more bullcrap that was NOT worth my time or the money I made. Most if not all agency's always want "fees" for just about anything you can think of...photo, filing fees, all kinds of "fees" and still losing 20% to the agent for each gig I got. Anywhoot...A lot of this is the REASON why I am forming this non-profit entertainment agency is to help the "struggling artist" during their struggles and to assist the actors with auditions or help a band get gigs and so much more. SO my fundraiser will be called " Dollar" WHY that name you ask? Because the fundraiser will ask for each person to donate $1.00. I strongly believe this WILL happen and will benefit many and possibly leave a positive fingerprint on the world of entertainmnet. Thank you ALL for taking the time to read my blog, i appreciate you ALL! Much Love, Blessings and Peace to you ALL....
Truly, Dennis Kelly
