How do you become a writer and director?

Hi Abigail. Great question.

I think I was about your age when I got the movie bug too. It was a lot harder to get started back then but I still love to write and make movies (especially horror).

You become a writer and director by making movies, not by going to school. School will help eventually, but you should start making movies now if you really want to get great at it.

You're really lucky because now is one of the best times to start learning how to write and make movies. And you don't even have to wait for college to do it, though there are a ton of great colleges in Kentucky that have film programs. They will teach you how to write and direct (and much more).

Most of the best professional film makers starting making movies when they in middle school or high school. They wrote a script, found a camera, got their friends or family to be the actors, and just started making movies. They learned from their mistakes, and made another and another and another. Each one was better than the last.

There is a ton of free software on the internet that you can use to write and edit your own films. Why pay if you can get it for free? Obviously get permission and help from your parents before you download anything. Here is how to start:

1. Writing - My favorite free script writing software is called Celtyx. I use it for all my scripts. But you probably already have Microsoft Word on your computer which is all you need to start writing. There are a lot of great books and articles on screenwriting. It would help to read some of those so you know the basics of structure, format and storytelling, but you don't really need them. As long as your actors can read their lines, it doesn't matter what the format is. The first thing I remember writing was a TV show spoof in 8th grade. It was a talk show with monsters. I wrote it on an old manual typewriter. We performed it in front of the 7th and 8th graders. It had commercials and everything. It was called "The Freak Show". My script looked terrible, but all my actors could read their lines and that was all that mattered. We had a ball. Just start writing. I know you have a ton of stories in your head. I still keep a notebook where I write down all my story ideas so I don't forget. I get about one great idea every week or two.
2. Camera - You're also incredibly lucky because now every smart phone or iPad is a video camera in it you can use to make movies. Even an old phone that doesn't make calls will do. An old video camera would also work. You can also use a GoPro or one of those portable cameras. Just find a camera or phone and start filming. You'll learn how to frame shots and what lighting is best and how to work the sound. Watch tutorials on movie making on Youtube. Lots of good advice there.
3. Editing Software - My favorite part of the movie making process is editing the footage. You don't need to do this (you can just shoot the scenes in the correct order on your phone or iPad), but if you really want to feel like a movie maker, you should edit the scenes and sound together on a computer. There are a lot of free video editing software tools on the internet. If you have a Mac computer, you probably already have one on it called iMovie. Just use that. If not, here are three really easy ones that are free:

• Openshot - (PC) Great features, free and easy to use if your getting started
• Video Pad - (PC) Great features, more advanced than Openshot
• Quik - (Phone) Quik is made by GoPro and runs on your iPhone or Android.

There you have it. Just start writing and making movies. There are plenty of good film schools all over the country when you're ready. There are also lots of great tutorials on writing and film making on Youtube as well.

And when the time comes, you're in luck. Kentucky has some great film schools. Check out this link: Kentucky Film Schools.

Good luck. Having a career in the movies is hard. A lot of people want to get into that field. A lot of them give up before they succeed. If you really love it (or anything else, for that matter), don't ever give up. Keep working on your craft and get better and better. Believe in yourself. Find supportive friends and family and teachers and eventually you will succeed.