Let's face it, when we were kids we always had different ideas of what we would be when we grow up. I still remember the first thing I ever wanted to do. I wanted to own my toy store. Eventually, I decided to become a scientist. Then, I decided I wanted to be a stand up comedian. I can't tell you how many times I changed my mind. Little did I know that the whole time, my true career and passion was something that enjoyed for as long as I can remember: movies.



For as long as I can remember, I've always enjoyed watching movies. Of course as a kid, I watched movies made for kids, such as Disney films, The Muppet movies, etc. However, these films intrigued me in ways I didn't even realize at the time. As I got older, I started to watch some PG movies. As I kept watching I got more interested in movies. Finally, I was allowed to go out myself, I would walk down the street to my local video store. I would spend so much time over there, that guy knew me and we would talk about movies. I remember going through shelf after shelf looking at different movies. I would get home watch these movies and be so mesmerized by what I saw (depending on if it was a good movie or not). I also went to the movies with family and friends and every time I went, I walked out thinking about the movie, such as how it was made and what it all meant. I eventually discovered the website Internet Movie Database (IMDb). I would always and still do go on that website and look up some of my favorite movies and find out information I didn't even know about. When I was 10 years old, I decided to take a step into film and write my own script.

I wrote this script called, Boy Bot. The idea for it was mostly inspired by the 1999 film Bicentennial Man. I had the intention of making it into a real movie. I look back on it now and I realize that it could've been done, because of several reasons, besides the fact I was only a kid. The "script" was only 30 pages long, the format was wrong, the dialogue and story didn't make any sense, and I didn't have the equipment to make a movie. Being 10 years old, I thought it was possible. I went as far as to send my idea to actual film studios in LA. All of them sent back my script. So, I eventually gave up the idea of making movies after I couldn't get my first idea off the ground, and found something else I liked better: Acting. I started dreaming of becoming an actor. Flash forward to age 17. At this point, I was still considering acting as a career. Up to that point, I had done several plays and enjoyed it. Then, one day I decided to revisit the old movies I used to watch as a kid, such the Disney and Muppet movies I mentioned earlier. After watching them for the first time in over 10 years, I thought about becoming an animator or a puppeteer. I was inspired so easily. Then I realized it be impossible to be an actor, animator, and a puppeteer at the same time. Eventually, I found a solution.



When I reached age 18, I started to go back to my movie roots. I started develop a love for classic cinema and other types of films. I did some research about film in books, on the internet, and watching documentaries. That's when I realized that film isn't just entertainment, it's an art form. I knew right away what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to be a film director. I then realized that I could take my love for film and combine it with acting, animation, puppetry, and forms of art that I enjoy.

Currently, I'm 19 years old. I still have a strong passion for wanting to be a film director. I start college pretty soon, and I will be majoring in film. I really can't explain why I love film and why I want to do it. I just do. I just love it. I guess every time I watch a movie, it's pretty magical, because you're a story being told through moving pictures. It's especially magical when you're watching old films, because they look terrific, even though they didn't have the technology we have today. Although, it's kind of ironic that I say that, because I believe that filmmaking of the past is much than current filmmaking, because it's all about money today, and not art. When I become a filmmaker, I want to make it my mission to bring the art back into filmmaking. I hope to use older techniques, instead of a computer or CGI, because to me it's a lazy way out to use some of the current techniques. That doesn't mean I'll never use a computer, of course I will. However, there are some things I feel that you don't need a computer for to accomplish something in a film. I recently took a visit into that old video store I used to go to, since I haven't been there in quite a while. You see, a couple years ago I moved to another state and I tried to look for the same kind of video store. It was one of those independent video stores and was filled with VHS tapes. However, by that time, the independent video store was going downhill. Anyway, I went back to revisit the store to say "hello" to the guy I always talked to and to see if anything changed. Surprisingly, nothing changed there were VHS tapes from top to bottom, with a section of DVD's and some Blu-Rays. The majority of the store was VHS tapes. I remember walking in, and seeing VHS tapes all over. I looked around at the sections I used to go to. As I'm looking at the faded VHS covers sitting along on the shelves, I got this nostalgic shiver going down my spine. I felt as I came back to the place where I found my imagination to come up with ideas for films. So, that's my story and that's my dream. I hope you got some inspiration from this.

By: Chris E.