Film Director – Keep the focus on passion

“Practise, practise, practise,” is the key to filmmaking says award-winning Australian director and writer Elissa Down.

“Even if you make a 20 minute short film and half of it is terrible you can still use five minutes of it for your showreel. And if it really is terrible, at least you’ve learnt something from the experience and can say to yourself, “˜next time I’ll make sure I’ve got good sound or turned the lights on.'”

Ms Down is best known for her first feature film, The Black Balloon, based on her true story of growing up with autistic brothers.

Now living in LA, she is on tour in Australia as a judge on Doritos’ You Make IT, We Play IT competition; encouraging wannabe film makers to find success by entering a national ad-making competition for Doritos.

The applicant with the best chip ad, as judged by the public, will win $20,000 prize money and have their advertisement used on national TV.

“Competitions like this are a really good way to get into the industry. All you need to do is make a 29 second commercial with a video camera, you don’t even have to have any experience or done anything before,” Ms Down explained.

The director speaks from experience. She got her own break into the film industry by winning a competition.

“It was after I graduated from uni [1998]. The competition in Perth was to make a 15 second commercial for the start of the Lotto. I won it with an animated ad.

“It was my first real gig and gave me the confidence I needed as well as a start into the industry,” she said.

Ten “shorts” and a feature film later, and Ms Down has created a name for herself. Her work has screened at a number of national and international film festivals, been broadcasted on TV here and overseas and picked up numerous awards.

Ms Down said “making it” happened when Strictly Ballroom producer Tristram Miall and actress Toni Collette got on board The Red Balloon.

“People start having confidence in you because they know you’ve done a few films and you know what you’re doing.”

Ms Down said having mentors was important but advised aspiring filmmakers and directors not to expect mentors to “run their career.”

“Target people who you admire just for specific things such as, “where can I find good actors?’ or, “how can I get a good relationship with my DOP [director of photography]?’ because you’re more likely to get an answer.”

Her own advice is to “keep making stuff” , be imaginative and creative as possible and to “use your network.”

“If money is a problem, which it always is, look around you. Do you have a friend with a camera or an editing suite or one who’s an actor? Start building your toolbox.”

She says the people who do make it in the film industry have “passion, determination and focus.”

“You see people who don’t have these qualities and they don’t last two seconds.

“It’s like Australian or American Idol. You can say how much you want to be something but can you actually back it up with what it takes to get the work done.”

For details on Doritos’ You Make It, We Play It visit www.doritos.com.au

How to be a Director

Qualifications
Elissa Down completed a a Bachelor of Arts in Film and TV and Theatre Arts at Curtin University in Perth, as well as networking film workshops for writers, actors and directors.

Course
The University of Sydney offers an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts majoring in Film Studies.

Assumed knowledge
Candidates are advised to complete HSC Advanced English and an HSC in a second language is also an advantage.

From the inside
Down says being a good director means being able to communicate ideas between cast and crew, being able to speak emotionally and visually and being able to “tell a good story.”

“If your friends aren’t entertained by your stories then you might find it a little tough,” she added.