Tell me all about the Movie Business
 

I want to become familiar with the movie business.

I am seeking an introduction to the titles, labels, terms, and perhaps see an organizational flow chart for a typical studio. Also of value would be the pay scale. For example I understand Production Assistants and can make $100-150 a day (self employed - gross), this would not a step up for me.

Links, books, articles, publications.....anything of value to the topic.

The reason for this request is that nothing is being built here except maybe a few new film studios in Michigan.

I figure in addition to playing the traditional role of architect I can; design stage sets, draw story boards and build scale model miniatures.

In the creative profession of architecture I develop an idea or concept to solve a problem, make sense of it and turn it into a functional form. This skill set has got to be in some way transferable into movie making, right?

Your talent would be used in the area that I work in, the Art Department. Production Designer, Art Director, Set Decorator, Designers and Draftsman. Here's a link to their guild..
http://www.artdirectors.org/?art=adg_1
A good Production Designer makes some serious coin, has an agent and one of the most integral parts of film making. That would be more your speed, although even films shot in Detroit, the designer comes out of L.A. PM me if you want more info or examples of set blueprints, script breakdowns, etc.

Thanks for the link.

FYI: I am in the process of customizing my portfolio for the movie industry. I was thinking of including story board examples and examples of industrial design (clay cars and hovercraft models from scratch).

I recently did a one sheet story board (comic book-like) sketch documenting a movie making seminar I attended. I plan on including it in the follow up to three contacts I made that day.

Interesting idea, I like it.

There are lots of Pelican guys out here on there West Coast that are in the industry and should be able to point you in the right direction.

I have a good friend who is a long established story board artist. She works for a agency that feeds her business and provides an office space (never uses it) however she gets paid 1099 from them. Avg annual income 75k+. It wasn't easy to get into the industry at that level without specific schooling/experience..

I have documents on how the investment side of the industry works, PM me if you want..

Hope it all works out for you!

Interesting! I had no idea what it was all about until just a few months ago I was contacted to have my WW1 plane in a short silent film they are shooting in the Grand Rapids area, I have talked to the guys and am really excited to see how its all done. So I guess I am gong to learn a lot too in the next few weeks!

You're a talented guy with a good eye for design so the biz would be a good fit. But you should concentrate on one area because that's what you'll be known for and where your jobs will come from (most if not all through networking and word of mouth). Remember, the average feature film lasts 3-6 months and then you're looking for that next job.
You'll make more as a PD than a storyboard artist, you'll come up with the sketches and designs for the set, not the "play by play" for the director that the SB artist does.
It's a tough business to crack into but if you love to design anything from Fred Flintstone's car to Buck Roger's Space ship to Jack Sparrow's coconut catapult it's the job for you.

This is the tough part, I kind of want to do it all which is why I started my own architecture firm ten years ago.

I'm considering starting a new firm name to go with the character of the industry. Seems like many of the jobs are self-employed positions anyway.

Keep the ideas and information flowing.:)

Check out your local Film commission, you may have go through the local Chamber of Commerces. The film commission are the first to hear about new projects and are called on to scout locations among other things. It is a good way to learn from the outside. One other way is to join the union, you will have too anyway..

Hmm, I might suggest "A Bunch of A**holes Designs" :)

Seriously though, it can be at the same time one of the best and worst industries to work in.

Like Byron says, check with the film office. Michigan gives great incentives for "local hires". Most of the stuff shot is going to be Union, hence the inability to "jump" from trade to trade.

http://www.michiganfilmoffice.org/For-Producers/Incentives/Default.aspx

Nepotism and payola within a supposedly union environment

I can only answer questions with regards to the adult movie industry.

If you want to be a studio head or a big producer, this quote from one of the most successful ever sums it up nicely:

"If I'd said yes ro everything I ever said no to and vice-versa, I'd probably be even..."

Not a lot of science going on in Hollywood. (Or the creative world in general).