Films vs. Music Industry
Posted: July 23rd, 2009 by Khoa Le in Advice Corner, Inspiration, Performance, Photography, Random thoughts, Short films | 9 Comments »
Hey everyone,
I’m pretty convinced that this music industry is just getting harder and harder in becoming successful. You would think just like any successful business, you need to have the right people to work beside you to make it happen. It’s just that, in music, with the right people, you still have very high potential chance in failing. Supposedly, you have a better chance of being a Brain Surgeon or astronaut than being a superstar. Now, I don’t need to be discouraging, it’s just the facts of life.
I believe how I will achieve success in the entertainment market (which I love so much) is by taking a new route. Something I also enjoy doing lately which is writing, directing, and producing films. I’ve been on the grind on that level where I’ve been practicing, learning, and continue to further my self-motivation in educating myself to create great films. To think I started off video blogging to making films blows my mind. But I’m falling in love again(almost cheating). But the music business have jumped into the wild wild west where nobody really knows how to become successful. I know people with such a big network of people, credibility, and still can’t make it happen in today’s market. Though film and music go hand to hand, film requires more patience, more work, more creativity, and more of everything else than music. Unlike music, you can’t finish a film in a day. Or do post production in a day. There’s a huge difference in the work ethics for film as far as people and I believe it’s such a turn on to lean more towards that route.
In music, I just don’t know why musicians, artists, writers, and even producers who are trying to be established slack off sooooo much. Their mind says they love music and want to do it, but their actions speaks for itself. And I can tell you, the people I’m dealing with now, nobody is there right now. I thought of becoming my own Artist, and I believe I can do it much better than so many right now. But I just don’t love being an Artist, I don’t love performing or care for it. Because my heart isn’t there compared to writing and producing, morally it won’t sit in well for me. But film has taken a new turn in my career and I believe “Journey To Success” will be leaning there. It’s not confirmed as I like to have some Reels to show. And if it comes out great where I feel I have the nack for this, it will be confirmed that my priority will be films and since I do produce music, I’ll be scoring on my own films as well.
Lets see how that turns out =) If only there was a Recording Artist that had more drive than the average human being, maybe it would just be a different story. Again, remember, you can be managed, produced, be under a major label, but if have the mind frame of being pushed by someone else and think they will make you successful, you got it all wrong!
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Thanks man, your site is very informational. I respect your hard work and it will be paid off one day. Keep up good work.
Thanks Rob for the comment and compliments.
Khoa Le,
My name is chris and I just recently read your blog about “Films Vs. Music Industry.” Im glad I found and had the chance to read what you wrote. I am with you all the way. I wanted to become an artist but knew it was increasingly getting harder in the music industry. Just like you had contemplated, I am now thinking of switching my route to filming.
I just graduated with a degree in music and will go into the music buisness for my bachelors. This degree has a lot of performing classes and very litte with the music business courses. If you dont mind taking time out, that would be awesome.
My questions are: Does the music business aspect relate to the film industry? If there is, what job can I get? Lastly, should I pursue a film/degree now or learn about the music aspect and apply it to a film job later on in my life.
thanks For your time, Chris
Hi Chris,
Thank you for visiting and reading my blog. Well before you even think of those careers, you need to think of what you love doing the most. If you love music, nothing should stop you from doing music. If you love films, then you should pursue that path. If you love both, nothing wrong doing both. The great thing about this entertainment industry is that if you are highly motivated, you don’t need to go to school for these things, but do your best to find independent work from music and films so you can learn and apply. Once you establish what you have a passion for, then that would probably be the direction you want to head to. If you’re doing it for just money and love money so much, then it’s probably the wrong business as there are many other ways to make money. Entertainment is by far the hardest to make money.
To answer your questions, yes the music business aspect relate to the film industry. Without music, many movies would be very boring. On the business side, publishers win that area. So you can get into the publishing side of the business where films license music from publishers for certain scenes.
As a music producer/writer, you also win in that department as you get royalties and upfront fees for those placements.
Again, just because you have a degree in something does not mean you can be successful at it. It’s not necessary to have a piece of paper saying you understand. At the end of the day, the directors or publishers or whoever just want to hear or see your work. If you do a great job, you got the job. If not, well you need to do a better job.
I hope that helps! Let me know if you got any further questions.
Khoa
Thanks for your knowledge. It is good to have someone take the time out for people pursing such hard fields. This helps.
So by what you are saying, I guess I am doing the right thing by staying in the music buisness field for now or should I switch my major to film/video?
Another question; Do you think it may be too late to try to pursue a degree in film so I can attain the knowledge I need to be a successful filmmaker, director or a position in the film industry?
Chris
Not a problem at all. When I was looking for ideas and advice, it wasn’t there for me. Though I’m still trying to reach my own success, I still like to share my knowledge.
As I said, you got to do what you “really” love doing man. Do you have passion in film or very inspired in doing film? Have you ever used a camera or shot in one? Have you been intrigued on how things are done? Or do you wake up and keep thinking about music. The business, the artistry, and etc. If you have a passion for one of those or both, then just do it.
If you do love film, then change your degree into film making. See where it lands you. You never know what you might end up wanting to do. Maybe it’s directing, producing, script writing, actor, stunts, who knows. But you want to explore those things if you do have a passion for film making.
Music is a different story. I attended Julliards and they teach great theory. But at the end of the day, it’s how you express your music that matters. If it’s the business, well, take a business course in the music business =) I hope that helps
Helps alot.
There’s good info here. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog. Keep up the good work mate!
not to start any fights
but becoming an astronaut is way tougher than music business