I can understand your pain. I graduated from Full Sail in 2009, the hight of the recession. So it was hard finding any kind of job, let alone a film job. I did some day playing as a PA and worked on some indie films in the Florida area for a little while but I couldn't keep the lights on. I had 4 months before my student debt was due. So I did what any kid would. Go home. I moved back to Virginia. Got a job in a shitty movie theater as a manger and thought I was done. I still loved cinema and would read about it all the time. But I felt my window closed and I would never be a filmmaker. I worked at that theater for a little over five months. While there the majority of my employees were disabled. Some had a physical disability while others had mental disabilities. It was stressful and on more then one occasion I would have to deal with a 30-something adult with a metal disability throwing a tantrum. That will scare the shit out of anyone. But I learned so much about myself, others, and what being a good leader means. I grew much more in that theater then I did in film school.

I got fired for a stupid reason. But it was the best feeling in the world. After those months of work I felt like I had a better understanding of hard work. I got approved for my first credit card. 4K. So I put my fears aside and I packed up my car( an old 91 Saturn SL2) and drove out to California. I applied to the LucasFilm intern program( a friend from college knew someone) but they were having a hard time in the recession so that was a no go. So I lived in my card for a few weeks while I applied to an Apple Store. Got the job. Was able to get a shitty basement apartment. From there I worked my ass off until I got promoted to the App Store team. Ended up spending almost five years working on building the app store working in a developer relations role. I made good money doing that. Was able to pay those student loans.

Now I'm back in Virginia. I have a day job and it's a good one. I spend my off time building productions and working with other local creatives to make these projects. They are low budget and I pay for most of it myself. While film school thought me a lot about the process of making a film. It was the journey after college that thought me how to lead people, how to market in a complex and highly competitive marketplace, how to sell, and how to know when to move on to the next project. These skills cannot be taught. You have to challenge yourself and fail a lot to know what works.

Just because you want to be a filmmaker at 16 doesn't mean you can't start at 30. Understand that everything you've done is part of your toolbox. Keep learning and you'll get there.