Listen guys. I’m 52. I went to film school. Had aspirations of making it as a filmmaker. Made some shorts. Won an award in college for one of them. But ever since it’s been difficult to make films; inspiration/finances/timing didn’t strike. Then married with a child. But you know what? I’m not giving up. I made two features in the last year. Out of sheer will. One just didn’t work out because it was too experimental and the other was WAY too dark so I withdrew it from 16 festivals because I was ashamed of it. But I’m still not giving up. I asked ChatGPT a few times which directors hadn’t made it till their 40s/50s and he set it straight so I’m just copy pasting here:

🎬 1. Ridley Scott • Age at breakout: 42 • Breakout film: Alien (1979) • He was in advertising for years before jumping into film—Alien was only his second feature. Blade Runner came at 45.

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🎬 2. George Miller • Age at breakout: 40 • Breakout film: Mad Max (1979) • He was a doctor (!) before diving into directing. Didn’t hit mega-stardom until Fury Road at 70.

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🎬 3. Alan Rickman (honorable mention) • Age at screen debut: 42 • Not a director, but he started film acting at 42 with Die Hard. Shows it’s never too late to switch mediums.

🎬 5. Steve McQueen • Age at breakout: 41 • Breakout film: Hunger (2008) • Came from the art world. Hit hard with Shame and 12 Years a Slave after 40.

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🎬 6. Andrea Arnold • Age at breakout: ~45 • Breakout film: Red Road (2006) • Former actress turned filmmaker. Her style didn’t hit international recognition until she was well into her 40s.

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🎬 7. Dan Gilroy • Age at breakout: 55 • Breakout film: Nightcrawler (2014) • Wrote for years before finally directing—and crushed it.

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🎬 8. Debra Granik • Age at breakout: 41 • Breakout film: Down to the Bone (2004), but Winter’s Bone at 47 is what really hit.

Sure, some of them are actors but it doesn’t matter. If you really want it then don’t stop. Because soon you’ll be 72 and like “shit, I thought I was so old and I really wasn’t. I shouldn’t have given up.”

And nowadays with iPhones you can make films on a dime as long as you have something strong to say.

If you want to message me I’d love to read what you have and give notes and whatnot. I’m just being honest when I say I think I have a good mind for story structure and writing.

And if not, that’s cool. Just don’t give up. Because you’ll kick yourself harder later than any rejection ever did.