Of course that isn't my real name, although I wish it was.
It's a pretty cool name.
I'm blunt, a little abrasive perhaps, at times, but as is human nature, we always seem to come down a little harder on those we consider our friends.
If you have a passion for filmmaking, making movies, acting, producing, directing, composing, entertaining...you are my friend.
But being in the business for 22 years as an actor/director/producer/composer/instructor, I've had lot of experience and education both formal and the kind that only comes from experience.
With my heart in filmmaking since I was a boy, I struggled, as do many, to learn the secret to movie making success.
I met and talked to a lot of local filmmakers and writers who were producing no budget short films and putting them into local film festivals. They were very proud of their efforts and their work, but it just didn't seem right to me.
They came off too cocky for the work they actually produced. I saw local and regional activist groups and associations, even members of our state's Film Commissioner's Office pat these so-called filmmakers on the back for basically vomiting on celluloid and calling it a movie.
"Encouraging them to produce more crap? How does this help anyone?"
I've personally known 4 year film school graduates, even grads with Masters Degrees in film production, struggle to get movies made and end up consigning themselves to a different career path.
What a waste! The time, the debt...all for what?
Why would I want to take that chance?
If you can't learn how to make a movie after graduating from 4 - 6 years of film school, then there is seriously something wrong the film school format.
I began looking into 1 - 2 year film schools, but even those cost anywhere from $20K to $60K and didn't boast any big name graduates. I eventually settled on NYFA and with the blessing of my wife and two young kids I was about to ask my grandfather for a sizeable loan.
But then I found a film school program that changed my life!
One that boasted a huge success rate. One that dropped big names who were no names when they attended but transformed the film industry once they graduated. I couldn't believe it. One I could pay for myself and that wouldn't take me away from my family. It put all the pieces of everything I'd ever learned and instinctively known over the past years together.
I was taught "street reality" not film school theory.
Now I have a production company. Three projects in development. Not short films, feature films. If I would have gone to film school...I'd be about to graduate instead of doing what I love to do.
My brothers and sisters in filmmaking, you who are now where I was. I know your plight. (Yes, that sound a bit dramatic, but it's true.) I created FilmSchoolSavings.com, this blog and my exclusive Newsletter, "The Industry," for filmmakers hungry to create the vision locked inside their own heads, but don't know how to do it. Who need someone to spell it all out for them, in black and white, no fluff, no theory - just reality. Real numbers, real statistics, real patterns and formulas.
Filmmaking is a BUSINESS. Once the artist and filmmaker gets that through their skull, if they have talent and drive, the sky's the limit!
For reasons dear to my heart, our FilmSchoolSavings.com pre-launch promotion involves the largest tuition discount on the very film school program that changed my life. I want it to change yours, too. Because there's no better feeling than living your dream!
Once the site officially launches, you'll be provided with discounted educational seminars, training and events as well as recommended books, software and other production materials either discounted or with rebates attached. We will then begin to add discounts on equipment and other filmmaking tools and even part time business ideas to bring you even more money for future projects or your just your savings account...whatever it takes to get you on your feet.
We discount everything because I'm not trying to rake in big bucks off a demographic who's pockets aren't that deep to begin with, I want to give you the hand that I wish had been offered to me years ago.
Subscribe to "The Industry" Filmmaking Newsletter and get all of my articles before they go public at JRLegend.com and on my podcast (coming soon - stay tuned). The newsletter will also contain anything I think would be important for you in any aspect of your filmmaking career and personal life along with articles by industry professionals who will be writing exclusively for "The Industry" Filmmaking Newsletter.
Upcoming articles and podcasts are:
- The 4 Classes of Filmmakers. Where Do You Fall?
- Why the Academy Awards (And every other award show we don't care about)?
- 2 and 3 Day Film Schools. Are These Legit?
- How I Finance My Films
- Formula to Box Office Millions
- How Many Takes to Really Shoot a Scene
- Why Movie Tickets Are so High
- Theatrical Releases of Artsy Films and Chick Flicks (Why Bother?)
- To Write or Not to Write
- Guerrilla Filmmaking. Sexy or Stupid?
- Why Won't People Give Me Money??
- How and Where to Premier
- Do You Hear What I Hear (The Elements of Good Sound)
- And more...
Get your subscription by submitting to us via the Filmmaking Newsletter submission form at the top of the page or at FilmSchoolSavings.com and tell us your biggest challenge as a filmmaker, and we will produce more articles based on your input.
Your inbox will not be bombarded with emails from me. I'm sure you get enough crap already. I don't have that kind of time anyway. You should receive something from me, at the most, once a week and I don't share your info with anyone!
Do the Independent Film Industry a favor and email this blog to everyone you know in the business. Talk about the articles in your own blogs and forums because they will be controversial. Link to this blog in your online signatures and encourage others to at least get the free newsletter.
Because you never know that somewhere, in the vast sea of Indie film wannabes, there's another Tarantino, Spike Lee, Robert Rodriguez or Chris Nolan.
Who knows, it just might be you.
Your friend in filmmaking,
J.R. Legend
