If I still had the drive and creative energy to create when I starting in media, boy could I find away to succeed today. It’s right here in front of us. All we have to do is open our eyes and see.A few years ago I finished designing and having put together a multi TV home theater system for a friend. One of the TV’s had wifi, but there were only a few apps for online viewing. Last month I bought a Samsung wifi TV for my bedroom, hooked it up to the internet and found over 200 apps just for video viewing alone.
Late in the evening I like to see what I can find with my new toy. To my surprise I’ve found a whole new world of entertainment. Movies and TV shows of every kind and in almost every language, from every part of the world. Just push a button, wait for it to load and the world in mine. Many companies cost money to use, but many more are free with the old fashion break-in for advertising.
So, to my point, this is the future and there’s money to be made. Last week we had our yearly media curriculum meeting at LA Valley College, but what I wanted to say and didn’t have time to say was, media on the internet is the future.
Last year, 8 percent of features we made here in Hollywood. Virtually all the single camera pilots were not made in Hollywood, but we still have the opportunity to be the creators of the world. What, how you ask? By understanding the future, accepting the internet and making the changes that allow us to make this career our own.
When I started in the business, the majors owned everything. The unions had complete control of the below the line talent. If you wanted to work, you had to find a backdoor way to get into the game. Today, with the apps and the ability to create digitally, almost anyone with talent and perseverance has a chance to succeed.
If you aren’t working or known in the industry now, your chance of success is almost zero, unless you make your own productions. Start by finding young talented writers, above and below the line, hungry young talent who are willing to work for part of the profit and make your own short productions. With todays inexpensive Canon cameras and other less expensive equipment and computers to edit along with your new friends, it can be done. “Sunny In Philadelphia” is the template, but the internet is your opportunity.
Gather together, bang on doors, think out of the box and you can take the world as your own now!