Hey everybody,

Been lurking for a while and figured it was time to post.

I'm 27 (male), have a 4-year film production degree and worked in the 'legitimate' film industry for 4 years as a producers assistant.

I'm currently in Bangkok Thailand teaching English as a way to pass the time and save some money. I'll be back in L.A. in about a year and basically want to know what skills/knowhow I should hone to make myself an excellent candidate for a job in the industry when I get back? (Can't really do it from here - it being illegal and all)

What do I want to do? Direct ultimately. I have no interest in being on screen - in fact I'd rather watch sex than have it surprisingly (This coming from a man in the paid-sex capital of the world)

Anyways - what should I spend my free time doing? What is my best avenue to becoming a director/producer?

I have a mini DV camera and am going to start to learn editing software - but is there anything else I should start doing?

Thanks for whatever feedback I get - all is welcome.

I've already made many new friends.

Ok, so it sounds like I should work on making a few videos on my own with the local talent. They'll do pretty much anything here for less than a quarter of what a similar act would cost in the states.

So my next question is...when I compile some material and make a decent video - what are the channels to sell it?

Is it plausible to expect to make a little money from my own content - or should I just chalk it up as experience? Would I need my own site to make it worthwhile?

Thanks!