by Mark Morris

Created on: September 21, 2008

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL FEATURE FILM DIRECTOR?
That is the sixty-four million dollar question. Do you have what it takes? Answer these simple yes or no questions to find out!

Are you a storyteller? No, I don't mean can you tell your Mom what happened at school today. I mean when you tell her does everyone in the house, including the dog, stop to listen? Are you the type of person who can turn a simple walk in the park into the Odyssey?

Have you ever been accused of having too much imagination? Daydreaming in school is a classic hallmark of most directors who speak about their early years. Their biographies are often filled with examples or descriptions of the vivid artwork and ambitious writing projects they undertook in their youth.

Do you feel you have something to say? Is your viewpoint on life sufficiently unique that it causes others to rethink their own views, or maybe wonder how you understand their own struggle so well?

Are you able and willing to give up everything in pursuit of a dream? Most stories about successful artists don't start out, "Once upon a time, I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth and a full ride to UCLA film school." You might be required to eat a lot of ramen and peanut butter, live in less than a palace, spend lunch money on new mic cables, hock your stuff to keep going, or even, as was the case with Robert Roriguez (director of El Mariachi and Spykids among others) sell your body to science to fund your production.

If you are able to say yes to at least one of these questions then get started! The tools you need are right in front of you on the desktop, or as in my case, in your lap. There are many great software tools that can help you get started.

First you'll need a script, visit Celtx.com to obtain one of the most powerful preproduction and screenwriting tools available anywhere, completely for free! Now go download a few screenplays to get an idea of what your shooting for, or visit your local library or bookstore and pick up one or two of the great books written by industry professionals on screenwriting and start today! Start simple, find a sublect or story that you know you can cast and find believable locations for, save that great Scifi trilogy for the multimillion dollar budget they will soon be handing you, do simple really well and you will have something to be proud of!

Next, you'll need a camera. Now, to make a saleable movie this is going to be a considerable expense, but to learn the skills necessary

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