ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXDirector looking for work
9 years ago - Christopher Green
Hi all
Invariably when looking through SP bulletins it's rare that I come across anyone looking for a Director. I'm a writer/director who has written for and directed some well known and very talented actors, including Bafta winners. But in spite of this, I can't seem to get any paid work. Are there any other directors and writers out there finding it difficult to find producers who will take them on?
I have a showreel of my recent work if there any producers who would like to see it.
Moan over
Chris
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9 years ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin
Hi Chris,
I suspect the issue you're facing is that the world and dog want to direct, it seems so glamorous, which is why a lot of aspiring directors self-produce, and so few jobs come up. Especially for shorts!
You may get more offers if you can show there's a commercial advantage to someone employing you - for instance if you bring part of the money, or your name has some features value as a director. Perhaps 'Strangeways' (a feature?) will give you more of a features presence and increase your value. I see you're in postproduction (so probably have a busy time ahead with the edit, music and grade!) but once released it'll give people something beyond a showreel to view, but they can look at the audience responses! If you make a feature that makes proper money, you'll get work easily enough!
Any help?
9 years ago - Christopher Green
Cheers Paddy. Yes, hopefully Strangeways will be the key to more work. The frustrating thing for me is that we shot it over a year ago and it's not due to be released until next summer. And the wife keeps glaring at me and telling me to get a proper job....I just need something to tide me over until the release and then hopefully I'll start getting some more opportunities.
9 years ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin
@Christopher Green Ha! Yep, we've all been there ;-) Back to the corporates in the meantime, maybe?
9 years ago - Christopher Green
If I had corporates to fall back on I'd be laughing Paddy. Its the lack of work in general that I'm struggling with. At least I'd be earning if I had corporate jobs to do. :)
9 years ago - Bessie Ashley Shambare
Hi Chris
We are looking for a Director please get in touch email me at shambarebessie@yahoo.co.uk so we can discuss the rest
9 years ago - Christopher Green
Hi Bessie. I've sent you an e-mail as suggested. :)
9 years ago - Dan Selakovich
Have your films won any awards? Even no-name awards?
Years ago, a producer optioned one of my scripts. She was looking for a director for a different project she was doing, and asked me to look at this director's short films (he'd never made a feature). They were terrible! I asked the producer why she was even considering him. She handed me his credit sheet, and said, "but he won all of these awards for these shorts." None of them were from festivals I'd even heard of.
The moral of the story: those in Hollywood need somebody they can sell. It doesn't matter if they are any good. They just need validation from outside sources. But if you are good, which I suspect you are, your value goes up even farther if you've got some awards. Think of development execs at studios. Even if a film bombs, they can say, "but the book was a best seller. It's not my fault it bombed. I did my job." They need outside validation to be able to put their faith in you. It's ridiculous, but there it is.