My parents are trying to seize control of my money, but...!

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Basically I want to get into a career as a film director, and have decided to make my own feature film after saving up a lot of money. But people think I am crazy for wanting to do this, and everyone is telling me absolutely not to.

But now since then, and now that I am closer to getting the ball rolling, the pressure for me to quit is so much higher, and I feel like everyone is just at my legs trying to pull me away. Even my parents think it's a huge mistake and waste of so much money as the movie will never sell. They think I have gone insane, and are trying to seize control of my savings, cause I am mentally unfit.

I understand they care and they mean well, but what can I do to get them to be more supportive. If I lose it all, then I am back to square one, but what can I do to make them see that it may be a necessary risk?

Do you live on your own?

No, I live with them right now. I was going to buy a house a while ago, but since I really want to break into the movie industry and become a movie director, I wanted to use the money to make a microbudget indie film to try to break in with hopefully.

Do you support yourself and pay for your expenses while living at home?

Yes, but they allow me a discount compared to rent in other places, so I could save up some.

My apologies for all of the questions. Do did they encourage you to pursue buying your own house when you were thinking of doing that? Are they fine with you living at home long term?

I don't think they mind right now. They encouraged it but a part of me thought I probably would probably have to spend it on my first feature, just in case I couldn't get any funding for it, which I probably won't and feel like I have to accept the risk if I am to get ahead in my goals, if that's the way to see it.

Your parents obviously see things differently than you do regarding your desired plan. What do think their fear is, other than you losing your money?

Just losing money is the fear, I was probably thinking. I didn't think there was other fears.

Maybe they think that saving the money like you have is a positive accomplishment and would provide you the means to succeed in reaching greater independence which in turn could help lead to additional accomplishments and successes.

I'm guessing you think that your film would be an accomplishment, but it might not be a success. It's a high risk proposition in which you could spend your savings and have nothing more to show for it and then be back at "square one".

Would they be ok with that? Would they require that you move out?

Well after I make the feature film, I want to move out anyway, even if I don't get my money back. I am worried about it, as it is a high risk for sure, but at the same time, I keep regretting not doing it over the years, so not sure what to do.

I have to side with your parents here. If you think making one independent feature film is all you need to do to crack into the film industry, I can almost guarantee you're setting yourself up for disappointment. How would anyone even discover it?

Do you even have a concept? A script? Characters? Actors? Lighting and sound people and equipment? Camera people and equipment? Filming locations? Wardrobes? Producers and interest from production companies? Film Editors? Makeup artists? Etc. A lot of time and work goes into feature films, and if you've never even made a short film before, you should start there. In fact, if you're that serious about becoming a director, take your money and spend it on film school instead. The film industry is a hypercompetitive space, and many people who make it through film school don't end up getting jobs in the industry as a result, so for you as someone who hasn't made it through film school to think that you're just gifted with all the knowledge and resources and contacts necessary is incredibly naive. It's also naive to think you can make one indie feature film that hasn't caught the interest of major production companies and then just be set with directing jobs for life. It's not that easy.

Furthermore, it seems as though you want to do this project primarily for yourself, but you have to consider what other people are going to want to watch if you want have any chance of making it. And if you're going into this project with the goal of becoming a director and you'll be disappointed if it doesn't work out/disappointed that you've spent money on something you won't make the money back on, don't even bother with it.

Okay thanks, but I have made some shorts before and, editing another one I shot at the moment as well. I also went to film school.

Plus people told me to go for it before, even on here, when I talked about it on this previous thread:

viewtopic.php?t=358146

So I don't know what to think now, especially since my parents are not for it at all.

You're 34 years old. It is your life. It is your money. It is your decision. No one can make it for you. Things might go terribly wrong. But they might go terribly wrong in your new house, or whatever other path you choose. Or they might go terribly wrong, but that ends up being exactly right. You don't want to collect "votes" from WP to prove to your parents you are right to make this decision.

If you can manage a low-budget film, you're committed to seeing it through over a months or years long process, you can get reliable amateur/aspiring actors, lighting and sound etc who'll work for free and you won't be disappointed if the money you spent doesn't yield you any more career prospects, then yeah, go for it. But don't spend more money than you're prepared to lose. If this project is just an aspiration of yours and you don't necessarily expect career prospects from it and you're committed then I think you should give it a try, but remain level-headed and realise it's going to be a huge undertaking

What's it about (genre)?

Are you intending to add it to a portfolio of your past film work for presentation to potential mentors or people who could possibly finance future efforts if they like what they see?

It is a highly risky field to go it alone in...but if you're confident in yourself and the possibility of success you could prove your parents wrong. If it doesn't get anywhere, it will prove them right.