This article from the NY Times is harrowing, depressing, daunting and crushingly honest. And it is the best, most accurate article I've ever come across about being an aspirant in Hollywood. If only I had read it seven years ago when I first moved here... I probably would have turned around and gone home.
Truly, deeply, sarcasm be damned... I am very lucky to be where I am. I bitch and moan and complain, but given the odds, given what I could be doing (writing all day, dreaming) versus what I am doing (writing all day, dreaming with Robert Duvall, a producer and a director attached) I should keep my mouth shut.
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Have other people read the short? Have you gotten honest, unsparing criticism? If so, good, give it another pass, it could probably use it. Next ask yourself is you're really willing to risk 30K of your own money on what could amount to no more than a really well-lit home movie? Maybe you're wealthy and 30K is small potatoes to you. If so, I will send you my home address. But if it's not small potatoes, think about how you can pare down the expense. Can you shoot it on DV? Can you cut the big helicopter chase sequence? What if there were four actors instead of ten? Also, just for your own peace of mind (I say this out of experience), when you are done shooting, editing, etc. consider getting a friend, significant other or (if budget permits) employee to deal with all the film festivals and their attendant proceedures. It is a jungle out there, and I needed someone to just figure it all out for me. I know these are more producer suggestions, but having a 10 year background in TV production, it's the first thing that comes to mind. I'm trying to give practical advice. The more spiritual stuff follows.
The thing really, is to examine what you want out of it all. I mean, obviously, you're like me. You have an idea, you write it, you dream it, you hope people like it. But what do you REALLY want? Live in Hollywood? Be an A lister? An indie gal? Who do you want to model yourself after? (For me it's John Sayles). If you know that, ask yourself what you are willing to do to get it? Entering film festivals and screenplay competitions, cold calling agencies, writer friends, etc. is difficult, drawn out, and not sexy. It's hard demoralizing work. But the payoff is worth it I guess. Are you willing to go through it all? Are you willing to take what as must be a hectic life in the legal profession, and make it hectic-er by getting to know people - whoever you can - going to screenings, attending lectures. Can you get to know agents, TV producers, videographers, anyone remotely interested in the same things you are? If so, go to it. They know people, and so on and so on.
I don't know if you know all this already, so let me stop now but just saying that there is no magic bullet. If you're good and you know a few people, sooner or later someone will take notice. I have been very lucky that way. I don't know if it applies to everyone, but I choose to believe it does. Do your scripts and your short the best you possibly can. Have faith, and if you don't, act as if you do and it shall be granted. Or something like that. Above all, be realistic. Enjoy the process, the community of creative people you work with, you meet. Enjoy the hoping and dreaming. Enjoy the satisfaction you get from reading and studying and watching the greats, and deciphering their tricks. Because the truth is, if you don't get to the promise land (and according to that article, precious few of us do) then you'd better have a good time trying. It's too easy to be ground into dust constantly being disappointed that no one recognizes that your a goddamn genius.
Hope it helps. I should warn you that I fear I don't know what the hell I'm talking about.
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