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Don't Quit Your Day Job

Strategies for Sustainable Filmmaking

A workshop with J.P. Chan

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Too many people think that having a day job means that you're not a real artist. They're wrong. In fact, that steady paycheck can actually enable your artistic freedom by freeing your work from commercial considerations. So keeping that day job (for now) may actually be the best way to make real art -- and pay the rent. What you need is to set up a strategy that gets you started and keeps you going.
- J.P. Chan

So you want to make movies? Contrary to popular belief:

  • You don't have to go to film school
  • You don't have to buy expensive equipment
  • You don't have to have "connections"
  • You don't have to spend a lot of money
What you do need is a filmmaking strategy that empowers you to start making movies now and, more importantly, keep making them and getting them seen.

It's an approach J.P. calls sustainable filmmaking and it's based on his experiences as a self-taught filmmaker with a full-time day job.

The idea behind sustainable filmmaking is simple: the more movies you make, the better you and your movies will get. So don't go into debt making your first film. Instead, create a path that gets you to your fifth film without destroying your bank account, your relationships, and your sanity.

Using his own films as case studies, J.P.'s two hour workshop is suitable for all ages and levels of experience and includes:

  • A screening of his award-winning short films
  • Advice on all stages of filmmaking, including the creative process, equipment, marketing, film festivals, and funding
  • Extensive Q&A and participant-led discussion
 

Praise
"An authentically self-taught independent filmmaker, J.P. Chan has thrown all his expertise into a nicely packaged DIY workshop for aspiring filmmakers of all skill levels. His presentation is accessible, honest and provides indispensable information from the point of view of a filmmaker who truly learned his craft by just jumping into it."
- Rose Pergament, Associate Director, DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon

"J.P.'s workshop rocks! He makes it easy to understand the process and inspires the wannabe filmmaker to jump in. I haven't encountered anyone else who has explained the process as honestly, clearly, and matter-of-factly."
- Marvy Schuman

"The workshop was very special, a packed house, J.P.'s wise and encouraging lecture definitely set the bar for future creative craft programs that we will have."
- Nina Sharma, Programs Coordinator, Asian American Writers' Workshop

"Even with a large group of 50 people packed into a tiny space, everyone somehow became a tight knit group critiquing, analyzing, asking for advice, and loving the short films in J.P's filmmaking workshop."
- Avani Chaaya

"Just a super workshop. I’m fired up to make a film."
"Very enjoyable. His story telling was great!"
"His films are great. Fascinating! I’d love to teach them! His answers to Q&As are very pertinent, interesting and informative."
"Very enjoyable. His story telling was great!"
- Workshop Particpants @ 2009 Hawaii International Film Festival

"J.P. gave such a great workshop about making movies that I am going to make my own!"
- Samara, Age 11
 

Scheduling & More Info
DON'T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB has been held at the Hawaii International Film Festival, Cucalorus Film Festival, Los Angeles Asian-Pacific Film Festival, DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival, and the Asian American Writers Workshop in New York, among other venues.

For bookings, please inquire at workshop [at] jpchan [dot] com

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