Expert: Phil Nemy - 7/2/2005

Question
Mr. Nemy

Since I was a child I have wanted to make movies.  I started shooting childish shorts with friends at about ten.  I graduated from the University of Texas in Austin, with a degree in Radio, TV, and Film.  Both my parents passed on while I was young and I grew up in fostercare, therefore I had to compete for many student film scholarship.

Now to the question...  I have been desperately trying to find a way to break into the film industry.  Understand, when I say I'm "desperately"- I mean clean toilets and kiss butts.  Recently I have inspired to write a screenplay, but the question I have for you...  Is writing a screenplay a good leg-in for the industry?  and/ How did you gain great success in the Entertainment Capital?

Denny

Answer
Denny,

Thanks for writing. Talk a small world. I'm currently doing some teaching here in Los Angeles for The University of Texas at Austin. They have established an RTF program called A Semester in LA where students currently enrolled can spend a semester in LA, participating in an internship by day and taking classes by night. Small world, no?

Now to your questions. There is no right or wrong way of breaking into the industry. The key is to look inside your heart and ask yourself two questions: what do I want to do as a career and what talent do I have to pursue as a career? You must be brutally honest with the latter question. If you have a gift for writing, then pursuing a career as a screenwriter may be for you. But recognize that just because you have a gift does not mean that you will ever be able to sell a screenplay that you have written.

The other thing you're up against is time. I don't know how old you are, but if you are over 30 and just beginning your career, you've got your work cut out for you. Once you are over 40, the industry tends to write you off. If you haven't had some success by 40, the chances of you ever having any success in film or TV is incredibly slim. If you're still in your early 20's, then keep trying. But recognize that you have to REALLY love this business in order to keep pursuing it, because the chances of you ever making a living solely from fillm or TV is slim to none. Sorry for the bad news, but I want you to truly know what you're up against.

As far as I am concerned, I was fortunate enough to know at a young age that I wanted a career in entertainment. I enrolled in a professional actor's training program at Carnegie Mellon University and received my BFA in acting and directing and began work on my MFA in directing when I was offered a job as a director in NYC. I spent a few years there and then moved to LA to pursue a career behind the camera. I worked hard, took any job I could get to start out, and God looked down upon me and gave me some lucky breaks. After having been out here for 20 years, I've been fortunate enough to make a living in entertainment, but I wouldn't say I am a great success. I'm not a millionaire nor a household name, but I am able to provide for my family, and in my book, that's a success.

Hope this informaton helps.

Good luck!

Phil