They hear the success stories of other filmmakers and become frustrated as they still wander in the darkness of ignorance. "What do they know that I don't?" "Was it just luck? It has to be."

They spend their days working for peanuts on film crews, waiting for a break. Or they start different careers altogether, keeping the dream flickering in the back of their mind, all the while saving money and searching for books, videos, something, someone, anything in the endless maze of online and offline resources that will finally put the puzzle together so it all makes sense and they can begin living their dream.

It is this filmmaker who is ready to learn. It is this filmmaker who is teachable. They are the next generation of filmmaking giants and legends...once the are finally able to put 2 and 2 together.

Are you a Filmmaker class 1, 2, 3, or 4? If you're a 2, then you're probably not reading this. Good for you!

If you're a 1 or a 3, I pray you graduate to a 4.

IMPORTANT: If you're a #4, please study, work hard and take advantage of legitimate online and offline resources. The Internet is flooded with #1's and #3's so be careful when searching filmmaking forums for answers. 1's and 3's question any information outside their own experience and are unwilling to try anything unless someone else they know does it first. They are ripe with skepticism, bitterness and write and speak with whining overtones. They blame circumstances and other people for their inability to "break into the business" and fail to admit it's their own negative mindset that keeps them from breaking out of their box.

And they're the very filmmakers that will be infuriated with this article. (That's right. I called you out. Let hate mail roll...)

Once you identify these people, disregard their comments and try not to engage them.

Being positive and humble is harder than being negative and cocky. Stay strong my dear #4's. There are inexpensive educational opportunities out there that can launch your filmmaking career.

For all you other filmmakers out there, attitude is everything. Keep yourself in check and self-evaluate often. A willingness to learn from other's filmmaking successes and mistakes will put you on the right path to success.

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