Pursuing a dream v's playing it safe

LegacyUser

Hi
Im at a crossroads in life were I have two options:

1. Pursue my dream(making films)
2. Doing something else that Im very interested in and that would be a safer bet in terms of job security.

Its basically a choice between following a dream and doing something that would be rock solid in terms of career and job security, but not soemthing that I dream about doing. The first option is the one I constantly fantasize about. The second is the one that comes into my head when I think about providing for myself. I dont know what to do really, have to make a decision soon because Im going crazy in my current job. Its a deadend gig thats going nowhere. Its pleasant enough, pay is good, but Im bored silly and the thoughts of doing this for the rest of my life fills me with dread. I just know I have a lot more in me than what im doing now.
If somebody else had this dilemma Id say follow your dream, its the romantic and exciting thing to do. But the fact is Im 33 yrs old and the film industry is a very dodgy business to get involved with. I dont know how many times Ive heard actors and the like recommend that people dont enter the business at all, get a regular safe secure job that you like instead. It makes sense but sometimes my heart doesnt see sense. Im single and have no dependants so there'd be no complications in that department. But I just cant get away from the worry that once I do graduate from film school(getting in would be a problem in itself)that I may not get a job. Or that I would be in and out of work for a good portion of my life.
Option 2 does hold a lot of interest for me and Id say I would be fairly content pursuing it as a career. Also, like I said, it would provide a lot of security, a lot compared to film making anyway. But Im worried about regrets and 10 or 20 yrs down the road wondering what if? Even now when I go see a movie at the cinema I'll come out thinking that I couldve done so much more with that myself or seeing something really great and feeling this drive to create a film of my own.
Anyway, I know Im the one who needs to answer this question ultimately, but Id just like to see what others think: Dream or security?

Angus Og

You know, there is such a thing as amateur movie making. Maybe you should start there, see if you really enjoy it, and then go on. I assume living the dream means some sort of film school?

LegacyUser

Angus Og wrote: »

You know, there is such a thing as amateur movie making. Maybe you should start there, see if you really enjoy it, and then go on. I assume living the dream means some sort of film school?

Yeah it would mean going the full whack, going back to full time education. Although dipping my toe a little does sound like a good idea.........

Lisa8786

Hey there,
I think deep down you know what to do. Your question shouldn't be what way your going to go it's how your going to go down the path that you already know you want. Sorry if I'm coming accross presumptious but you said yourself that you know you have more in you than what your doing now. you know you can do so much better when you see a film.

It might be scary following your dreams but what is more scary is waking up in 10 or 20 years feeling bitter and resentful about your life and feeling that it's too late. That is ten times scarier. I know it's cliche but you only get one life. Don't you owe it to yourself to at least try? You don't even have to put the pressure on yourself to make it big if you don't want to but start small today. Enrol on a night course even or just take some small step in the direction you want to go, just get the ball rolling so to speak.

You can justify the alternative till the cows come home but I think we all do that to some extent or the other even though we know the truth. I do anyway and I did it for a long time but now I've decided I can't just go by anyone else's standards anymore. I'd rather try than not at all. What's the point. At the end of the day no one really cares what you do with your life as much as you do and no one is going to live your life for you. On one level you know you can do it. You just have to start listening to that voice a little more and ignore your inner critic. As I said it's scary at first but the alternative is a lot scarier and at least in 10 years you could be majorly successful and truly happy rather than bitter and sorry.

LegacyUser

Lisa8786 wrote: »

Hey there,
I think deep down you know what to do. Your question shouldn't be what way your going to go it's how your going to go down the path that you already know you want. Sorry if I'm coming accross presumptious but you said yourself that you know you have more in you than what your doing now. you know you can do so much better when you see a film.

It might be scary following your dreams but what is more scary is waking up in 10 or 20 years feeling bitter and resentful about your life and feeling that it's too late. That is ten times scarier. I know it's cliche but you only get one life. Don't you owe it to yourself to at least try? You don't even have to put the pressure on yourself to make it big if you don't want to but start small today. Enrol on a night course even or just take some small step in the direction you want to go, just get the ball rolling so to speak.

You can justify the alternative till the cows come home but I think we all do that to some extent or the other even though we know the truth. I do anyway and I did it for a long time but now I've decided I can't just go by anyone else's standards anymore. I'd rather try than not at all. What's the point. At the end of the day no one really cares what you do with your life as much as you do and no one is going to live your life for you. On one level you know you can do it. You just have to start listening to that voice a little more and ignore your inner critic. As I said it's scary at first but the alternative is a lot scarier and at least in 10 years you could be majorly successful and truly happy rather than bitter and sorry.

Damn you lisa8786!! Damn you and your being 100% right. I guess pursuing my dream is the hard option where as the other way is easy and Im just giving into fear by comprimising. What happened to having an easy life?

theg81der

Just out of interest Op why have you not revealed your other option...is it because you don`t even want to say it or your embarrased? If getting into film school is so tough, which I`ve heard it is, why not let the experts decide if your talented and you should get in then decide from there, your preempting something which might not even happen?

LegacyUser

theg81der wrote: »

Just out of interest Op why have you not revealed your other option...is it because you don`t even want to say it or your embarrased? If getting into film school is so tough, which I`ve heard it is, why not let the experts decide if your talented and you should get in then decide from there, your preempting something which might not even happen?

I dont really want to get ino the other option theg81der. Its not that im embarressed by it or anything its just I dont think its relevant to the discussion. I mean it could be anything, just dont want the discussion to get sidetracked thats all.
Yes youre right, getting into film school is hard. What I was thinking of doing was doing a part-time course over a period of 12 weeks or so and hopefully using that as a platform.

wylo

nothing wrong with learning the basics in a part time school etc, but I dont think you will need to go into full time education for it. Just keep making films(presuming you are already messing around with that already) and keep getting advice and feedback from movie making forums like (http://www.indietalk.com/) etc, or actors or irish directors,keep trying to improve, and then you will know if you have talent and passion. If it excites you that much and you do have the talent and passion, you will not stop , and eventually you will become a great film maker. All this can be done as you are working in your safe job.

Nothing wrong with following a dream but you still must live, and have a fall back, its your passion, commitment and talent that will decide whether you will become a successful film maker, not a school.