I've seen a pattern emerge in regards to what a filmmaker's career looks like and how it got that way. The film maker you start out as may not be the one you end up as or you may just keep doing what you did the first time for the rest of your life. There are four basic filmmaking career types and they each will appeal to a certain type of filmmaker.

1. Sell Out

Many filmmakers start out edgy and interesting, but once they smell money to turn to the dark side. These filmmakers flout film conventions to get the initial attention and use it to gain the trust of a fan base, but once they reach a certain level of success they follow mainstream convention in an attempt to create a real cash cow. They exchange their indie cred for mainstream success. George Lucas?

2. Become An Artist

Artists do what they want to do with their films and money is only important to keep going, but not all artists start out that way. This type of artist begins his or her career making normal, conventional films but slowly gets more and more idiosyncratic with their work. They master the fundamentals and then veer off into unexplored territory. Some of it still attracts the same audience and some of it falls flat, but they do what's important to them and don't let the market dictate to them. Ingmar Bergman?

3. Remain An Artist

The second type of film artist is idiosyncratic from the beginning and never changes much. They find they want to do a certain type of movie and never get tired of it. They may at times gain success and be offered opportunities to make bigger and more lucrative films, but they are happy doing whatever they started out doing. This is the hardest career to start and maintain because each film is a struggle, but in the end the artist has the most satisfaction from it. Jim Jarmusch?

4. Just Entertain

Not every filmmaker wants to express themselves. Some feel they have nothing to say or are so private they don't want to share. They begin their career with mainstream entertainment and continue that way for the rest of their career. There is a certain level of respect that other film artists have for these types given their commitment to what they do. These film makers want to make movies that make money and please the audience, nothing more artistic is desired by them. Steven Spielberg?

Time will only tell what kind of filmmaker you will be. You may see yourself as one filmmaker and end up being a different kind in the end. Don't fear your fate, you can only be the best you can be... if you're going to sell out do it well, I guess.