I sat, mesmerized, in front of the television, watching old episodes of The Twilight Zone, Friday the 13th and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

I watched other movies too; comedies, dramas, foreign films, new films, old films-it didn't matter really. I loved TV and film. What kid didn't?

It didn't hurt that my father was a movie junkie. Raised in the golden era of Hollywood, it seemed like my dad could name actors from every single picture made between 1935 and 1960. He'd call me into his room at night, and together we would watch movies like Casablanca, Lawrence of Arabia, and North by Northwest. I'd sit and stare, marveling at these stories.

When I couldn't comprehend upper level Economics in college, I decided to major in English. I also took my first film class. Soon I was hooked, and my mom was in shock. "You don't want to be a lawyer or doctor?" she asked. "No," I answered. My father was stunned, "International business?" "I want to make movies," I said. And like any responsible parent they asked, "Are you sure?"

When I was 19, I interned for Gale Anne Hurd in Los Angeles. She produced Aliens, Terminator, The Abyss, as well as several other major films. That summer, I ate with Clingons and Stuart Smalley at the Paramount commissary. I knew what I wanted to do.

I sent out 750 resumes as a senior that year, all looking for jobs in the film business. I got three responses. They all said, "When you come to California, give us a ring." California? I couldn't even afford Ramen noodles. I graduated, and headed back to Jersey to live with my parents and wait tables.

I was getting some work as a production assistant on commercials, music videos, and TV shows, but it wasn't steady. I was making more money waiting tables, but I wasn't happy. One day, I decided to quit the restaurant biz and focus entirely on the film biz. My dad thought I was crazy. But, I knew that if I ever wanted to succeed, I would have to dedicate my entire life to this. And I did.

Late one night, I received a call from an independent film shooting in NYC. They needed an intern and were paying $50 for the week. I picked up a van and drove to set early the next morning. Later that week, I was hired as a full time PA. I made $250, and I was psyched.

A week later, the second AD left and they moved me up to 2nd 2nd AD (which is basically a fancy term for the person who gets the actors through hair, make up, and wardrobe). A week after that, the second AD left again and they moved me up to 2nd AD. It ended up being Vin Diesel’s first film, and I was loving my decision to quit waiting tables.

From there, I started working as a First AD on movies, commercials, and music videos, but again I wasn't happy. I wanted to produce and direct. So, I moved to California to pursue my dream, this time with a few bucks in my pocket.

I was extremely fortunate to get hired as a producer on Survivor 1. I stayed with Mark Burnett for a couple more seasons, and then went to work with Mary Ellis Bunim and John Murray, the creators of The Real World. I signed with an agent and I was on my way.

Over the next ten years, I produced reality shows, music videos, commercials and movies. I started Executive Producing a few years ago, and I now serve on the Board of Advisors for the Producers Guild of America. Waiting tables seems like a long time ago.

About six months ago, an old friend called me and said that he had a horror film that needed some attention. I had made a horror film years ago with Kevin Smith, and enjoyed the experience. I said yes, which I should add, is always a good thing to do!

We came up with a plan to market and distribute the film ourselves, outside of the studio system. Having worked in the studio system for many years, I knew that this film would never get the proper attention. It was a great slasher film, but it was financed and produced completely independently and many times studios just don't have time for smaller indie films.

So, we did it ourselves. We partnered with distribution companies, marketing companies, and publicity firms. We created our own marketing plan that included online outreach as well as TV and radio. We even made the title available on our own website. Now the film is well on its way, and the company behind it is moving on up as well. We certainly learned quite a bit about self distribution, and definitely made some mistakes along the way, but we believed in ourselves, our product, and had a very clear vision on how to create a new niche for ourselves. Today, our company is growing and we are excited to grow along with it.

Keep in mind that none of this was easy. It still isn’t. It takes dedication and hard work. There are ups and downs and there are days that I revisit that conversation with my parents. But, I love what I do and I feel extremely fortunate to be able to entertain people for a living. Now, if this is something that you are interested in doing, read the next few paragraphs. If not, keep reading anyway. The lessons I learned can be applied to any career path.

First, you don’t have to go to film school or major in film or have a cousin in the business. Remember, I couldn’t even get out of freshman year Economics! Second, you don’t have to have a lot of money. Third, you don’t have to move to Los Angeles. Trust me, the traffic is horrible there!

Here’s what you do have to do.

Read as many books and trade magazines as you can get your hands on about the business. Think of the film and television business as a new language that you are learning.

Take a course from your local college, university, or continuing education schools. It will help you become more fluent and you will meet peers that share the same passion.

Intern for a production company, studio, network, or any company, that needs a helping hand. Even if it’s one day a week, you’ll receive hands on training and meet all kinds of smart people.

Join a club or professional organization. Many of the trade unions and guilds have programs designed especially for aspiring individuals! If you live in an area that doesn’t have representation, join a local club.

Practice by yourself. Are you a writer? Write. Are you a director? Direct. Are you a producer? Produce. The resources are there. Grab a pen or a camera and just do it.

Practice with a team. The best part about this business is that you get to collaborate with smart, creative individuals. Take advantage of the power of teamwork.

Finally, be passionate and have a great attitude. People like to work alongside of others that they respect creatively and that they can tolerate!

Well, I wish you luck and I hope this article gives you a bit of insight into how one can be successful in the entertainment business. Now it’s up to you!

For more information on the film, visit the official movie site.