Can I Be a Filmmaker Without Reading Books?

I’m 16 years old and I want to be a Filmmaker! I don’t mean to offend anybody but I don’t like reading books in general. It makes me feel rushed and pressured to finish it. I love and watch films 24/7. Can I still be a Filmmaker?

Yes, you can. If you don't enjoy reading, you can always focus on other aspects of filmmaking like becoming part of the lighting crew, sound crew, camera equipment crew, or any other technical crew. Films are not only created by people who read and write the stories and scripts, but an entire team of professionals working together to create them.

They include stunt doubles, architects, building fake fires, creating artificial weather, and designing costumes. So there is an entire world of professions involved. And if you just like watching movies, have you ever considered the universe of film distribution and getting films in front of the right audience?

Training in Filmmaking

Look at your best filmmakers and what they did. Believe me, they read a lot of stuff to put their films together. You can train yourself to read and like it. If you want to be one of the best filmmakers in the coming future, you must know everything about who, what, where, and when you are making the film about, and this requires reading. Yes, someone could do this for you, but it won't be your idea, it will be theirs. Why do you think filmmakers make films? They read someone's work and buy the rights of the book to make the movie. If you can do this, it's pretty cool.

Reading for Filmmaking

Read the book not just once but three times because each time you read it, you will gain new insights and perspectives. This process can help you understand the story on a deeper level.

Moreover, you can watch the movie multiple times to analyze the director's choices and filmmaking techniques. This will enhance your understanding of the creative process behind the scenes.

Advanced Filmmaking Education

So - are you trained enough in plot and story writing to write your own screenplays? Or do you plan on paying someone who knows how to write to create them? In other words, how much money do you want to spend offloading screenwriting onto someone else who is better qualified than you?

Writers learn to write by reading the best books by the best writers out there. Also, by investing in taking a course in creative writing. Before someone can shoot film, there has to be a script, and that means someone who has learned about plot structure and the craft of writing has to create it.

Examples from Successful Filmmakers

Consider the journey of Martin Scorsese. He got a B.A. from New York University, then stayed to get an M.F.A. in filmmaking from the Tisch School of the Arts. Go online and look at the course requirements for an M.F.A. in film. That will give you an idea of the professional competition you will be up against. Read Lew Hunter's Screenwriting 434. This was the course number of the legendary screenwriting class he taught for decades at UCAL.

Conclusion

In the real world, there are no shortcuts if you want to be successful in this field, especially with all the competition out there. Filmmaking involves many aspects, and reading can be a crucial part of your journey. However, if you choose not to read, focus on honing your technical skills and finding your unique style. The path to becoming a filmmaker is diverse, and your interests and talents will shape your journey.