4/26/2013

3 Important Lessons About Movies

By Ryan Fresquez


Becoming a film executive is one of the most difficult endeavors one can embark upon, but if you succeed, you will have the power to shape one of the biggest industries in the United States. Film executives are responsible for running production companies and film studios. The responsibilities of film executives can be daunting, and also include making sure movies are made at a low cost, acting as the representative for their company, and being held accountable for successes and failures of the company. The road to becoming a top film executive is already an arduous one and has been made even more difficult by recent changes in the film industry. It is important to know that most of today's successful executives worked their way up through the film industry, building contacts and proving their worth. If you are passionate about filmmaking and willing to work hard, you can still use some basic steps to work towards a film executive position.

A major in film is a great way to learn all the basics of the movie industry and can be an important stepping stone, allowing you to gain knowledge. A job as a production assistant is a good option if you're looking to get into the field, and should be pursued whether you attend college or not. On-set experience is invaluable and can definitely put you on the road to a career in the film industry. Production assistants may do a lot of grunt-work, but they also get the experience of witnessing how film-making works, and how sets operate, which is more knowledge than you would ever be able to acquire in the classroom.

As an aspiring film executive, one must know all about the film industry and how movies are created from top to bottom. Working within the development offices of a major production company will allow you to potentially become a script reader and gain immeasurable experience. As a script reader, you will work under the supervision of a producer and pore over tons of script, using a discerning eye to recommend pieces that are superbly written and display out-of-the-box ideas. Taking the time to read through scripts will allow you to develop sound judgment in choosing promising projects, and working together with producers will enable you to learn more about transforming good scripts into great films.

While you are gaining experience, it is important to tell people that your ultimate goal is to become an executive in the industry. Initially it may be uncomfortable to let people know that, but if you're a hard worker you may be surprised to find that there are plenty of people who will recommend you for other positions that may open the door to an executive position. Once you've worked your way up the development chain, you can prove to your superiors that you are more than skilled at choosing quality projects and getting things done.

You must be able to prove that you possess sound decision-making skills in choosing which projects you think will be successful. If you are talented enough to discover the next blockbuster or breakout indie film, you will be rewarded with more work and eventually begin overseeing your own projects.

An ideal film executive possesses knowledge of all areas of filmmaking, including legal concerns, film techniques and marketing campaigns, in addition to being innovative and forward-thinking. With preparation and diligence, it is possible to circumvent all of the radical changes that have taken place in Hollywood and realize your dream of being a film executive.




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