Tyler
Can i pursue two careers?
All of my life i have been extremely passionate about movies. Ever since i was little i would always talk about them. Usually little kids would talk about sports or little kid stuff, i would always talk about stanley Kubrick, or Spielberg. I have always been very mature for my age. My dream every since i was little i wanted to direct and write movies. But again ever since i was little i wanted to also be a forensic pathologist/coroner. I always watch tv shows like Bones, and Rizzoli and isles. I would be my dream to be a forensic pathologist. I buy anatomy books and study all things forensics and it slowly but surely fell in love with it. But i cant choose between directing movies and becoming a forensic pathologist. I know somebody will say choose one and be happy. But i feel like if i chose one of those careers I will be depressed about the other. I would feel like i wouldnt succeed in life. Can i have two careers? #doctor #film #forensic #director #anatomy #screenplay
2 answers
Scott David Reeves
Scott David’s Answer
The first rule in writing is "write what you know." Follow your interest in science and it may inform your writing. Micheal Crichton was a physician before he wrote Jurassic Park. There are no limits if you are willing to do the work.
Alice Kaanta
Alice’s Answer
Yes and no. There are a few practical things to consider, including what you're good at, what makes money, what the professional qualifications are, and how many hours you have in a day. Here are some options I've seen:
1) Have a career, and a hobby that you're passionate about.
2) Have a job in one field, which makes you money, while building a career in another field, possibly switching after the second one starts to take off.
3) Find a way to blend the two into one career. (Learning about pathology and how to write crime procedurals is definitely a possibility.)
The important thing to consider is that some jobs/careers require a lot more training than others, and a lot more concrete commitment. Becoming a pathologist means going to college, medical school, and probably a residency. Forensic anthropology, as shown in Bones, means college, and a PhD. This is not something that you can do on weekends, and neither is film, if your path means going to Hollywood and learning how to film/write there.
It's not out of the question for you to be a pathologist by day, and a filmmaker by night, but I think what you might want to do is see the reality of what people really do in these jobs; TV is really bad at showing you the boring bits of a job. :D See if you can find a doctor, and ask if they know a pathologist you can talk to. E-mail a nearby college's film department, and see if they have anyone who can talk to you about what it takes.
And good luck! It's a great thing to be passionate about stuff. Even if it makes your decisions more difficult, at least you'll always be interesting to talk with. :)