My dad loved to say, “Shit or get off the pot.” And that is how I feel about being a good director.
Not long ago when I was in San Francisco judging the Californian Indie Film Fest I was blown away by the determination of the participating filmmakers. Their guerilla filmmaking techniques yielded award-winning movies on budgets as low as $500. Yes, they stole a location or two, and some had equipment donated, and yes, their mothers provided craft service . . . but it was their passion for telling their stories and getting their projects done that inspired me to come home and get off the pot.
I was recently asked by a showrunner whose TV series I want to direct if I have anything scary that they could see. Well, I don’t … but I will. Because after directing hundreds of hours of television, I’m now going to direct my own little film.
Look, I’ve co-written an entire book about directing and read others by great directors I admire, but no amount of reading or writing can replace DOING IT! Practice makes perfect . . . or at least allows you to make mistakes and learn from them.
So my advice, which I’m now taking myself, is to go direct.
- Do it on stage.
- Do it in your life.
- Do it with a camera.
- Do it without a camera but with one in mind.
- Do it with actors who want to practice their craft.
- Do it without actors.
- Do it for free.
- Do it for pay.
- Just do it.
