Who here HASN'T been to film school?

Didn't go. Took Vid Production 101 when I was in school majoring in Media Arts and Animation.

That being said, I think a lot of us here didn't go to film school and that's why we're on DVXuser because it personifies the indie spirit and is definately it's own school. Most of us are learn by doing as opposed to learn by learning.
 
Getting gigs and learning from professionals, finding a mentor, etc., is the best way to learn, IMO.
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This is my belief. You can spend the money, go to film school for 1-4 years, and THEN get a job as a PA and work your way up learning from the pros... OR just get the job as a PA and work your way up, learning from the pros. Save the money, save the time. Film school is not going to allow you to bypass the process.
 
I've been to two different film schools in a period of 4 years as well as getting gigs and learning from the pros, and I have to say I consider myself to have an extremely well-rounded filmmaking education. I learned and gained different things from all three. So do it all! And see if you can find a cheapo film school, they're out there--that was the first place I went.
 
Okay, seems we probably can agree that the ONLY singular way to make it is to make a great film. Not flm school. Not "working your way up the industry." Not PA'ing. Not mentors. Though all the aforementioned CAN lead to the great film (including film school and "not film school"), nevertheless nothing replaces that one critical ingredient. Doesn't matter how you make that film as long as you make it. Some make it as their thesis project for their MFA. Some make it by themselves in isolation. Some make it by calling on all their friends, family and experience in the biz.

If you just wanna be a crew member or get a job in the industry to be in the industry, you don't need to make any film at all. If you wanna be a filmmaker, find a way to make a great film. Seems that that is obviously the key.
 
GageFX said:
Not everyone in film school gets to make a film.
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What? What school are you talking about, because I've never heard of a film school where you don't make films. Unless it's a critical studies/film theory program, and that's a completely different animal.
 
sean90291 said:
Yes, anyone can self teach. You can teach yourself to be a medical doctor, too (though no state would licence you).
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Well I most certainly agree with that point,but I think the comparison is a little unfair.

Training to become a medical doctor is a very difficult and technical subject, were as filmmaking is a very creative and artistic subject (but also has some technical aspects of its own).

Therefore I think the two need to be treated differently, some things are best learnt at places designed for that purpose, but on the other hand, it is by no means the only avenue of learning.

as a side note:

Robert Franklin Stroud (The Bird Man)
 
dougspice said:
What? What school are you talking about, because I've never heard of a film school where you don't make films. Unless it's a critical studies/film theory program, and that's a completely different animal.
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This is SO not true. MAYBE at YOUR school EVERYONE did, but I even doubt that.

You all get to WORK on a film. You dont all get to MAKE YOUR OWN. HUGE difference.

(CAPS used for emphasis, not "yelling".)
 
GageFX said:
This is SO not true. MAYBE at YOUR school EVERYONE did, but I even doubt that.

You all get to WORK on a film. You dont all get to MAKE YOUR OWN. HUGE difference.

(CAPS used for emphasis, not "yelling".)
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I have to agree with Gage, I was at a Seminar hosted by the creator of Moviestorm (Free Machinima Software), and thats one thing he raised as well.
 
Well then that's a crap school, and you should shop around more. Yes, at my school EVERYONE directed not one but several films. EVERYONE. Including writers and critical studies majors.

EVERYONE in the production program was also required to crew on a final-year film, which was also a very valuable experience. I wouldn't go to a school that didn't both put you in the directors chair AND make you be part of the crew. That's not thorough education.

Off the top of my head I know with absolute certainty that if you go to USC, UCLA, NYU, UTA, FSU... you will be directing a film. You will fail the program if you do not. It may not be a 35mm masterpiece but it's the craft you're trying to learn, right?
 
I wouldn't go to a school that didn't both put you in the directors chair AND make you be part of the crew. That's not thorough education.
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Okay. You make the mistake of thinking every film school is like yours.
 
Film school? ...they have Film Schools now! I took 'Film Class' in High School, but back then we really did use actual film as the medium (8mm & 16mm) & a razorblade to edit. Video was just a babe in the woods... you've come a long way baby!!

Knowledge IS power, but remember, you can learn all there is to building a brick wall...but until you've actually built a brick wall...you've learned nothing.

Knowledge is power, applying that knowledge is the key to success.
 
Copying this from another thread, but I think it fits here too:


One of the advantages of a film degree, for example, is the doors it opens to you for teaching. Teaching is probably the best job you can have if you want to pursue independent filmmaking- auteur filmmaking- in a place outside of Hollywood. Were I live, there's no such thing as a filmmaking economy. The only way I have to make money- and I'm ver, very lucky here- is to work in the publicity/ TVC field. This is all fine and dandy, but the thing is it consumes your time and creativity working for others.

I actually have a film degree, and it was taken in Portugal (!), a country, as you know, with great film tradition (sarcasm). What I gained from that 5 year course was in "opening"up my perception not only on film, but in arts in general. My course had 3 years of joint classes with the students of Graphic design, Arts and music departments, which mean it was a constant flow of creativity and networking from different fields and talents. I learned much IN THEORY, not as much in therms of the actual practical craft of filmmaking- this, I learned doing shorts, working as assistant in some Portuguese Soaps as well as the ocasional feature.

But it was invaluable how it helped me to develop the way I "think"and "see" film. That film degree basically compilled years of experience from the lives of the teachers and the supplied books and its creators in 5 years- experiences that they had to learn and gatter throughout their lives. You can say you waste your time in film school, but I believe that those 5 years gave me at least the head start of not having the trouble of going trough the worries and barriers I was thought about...

Of course, this is not ESSENTIAL. It is about your own maturity/talent/vision. I was quite imature back when I entered the program. I still am, obviously but I believe it helped me very much to achieve what I have achieved right now.
 
GageFX said:
You can spend the money, go to film school for 1-4 years, and THEN get a job as a PA and work your way up learning from the pros... OR just get the job as a PA and work your way up, learning from the pros. Save the money, save the time. Film school is not going to allow you to bypass the process.
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Not always true, John Singleton leapfrogged from USC to Hollywood gold. So have others. There must be zillion paths to Hollywood, film school is one of them. Personally I think applying a cost/benefit analysis to film school argues against it.
 
GageFX said:
Okay. You make the mistake of thinking every film school is like yours.
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No, I don't. I make the assumption that any film school worth its salt requires you to CREATE FILMS. Tell me I'm wrong.

I know there are awful, worthless film programs out there, and I feel bad for people who've spent money on them. If you want this argument to be about "getting a job vs. going to a [really bad, worthless] film school" then it becomes much easier for you to make your case. But I'm assuming people will be as selective in choosing a school as they might be in finding work, or a car, or a wife, or anything else.

Anyway, I've said my piece. Nothing else to contribute, really.
 
I personally don't understand why people haven't learned by now that these types of threads create nothing but conflict. There are pros and cons for going and not going.

I personally did not go to film school and I'll never really know what I've 'missed', nor do I particularly care what I may have missed. If I get to the point in my career that I decide I'm no longer progressing and the cause may be film school...then I'll go. Until then, I'll stick to doing and making mistakes.

On a side note, I did go to university for a bit and met great people there. So I guess school is good for networking, in a way.

-Kegan
 
But for some reason I love this particular question. It comes up over and over on dvxuser, and elsewhere. And I always feel compelled to discuss it. A bunch of us do, apparently, since it always attracts a flurry of responses. Why do you think we enjoy this particular "debate" so much? To justify our own choices (or lack thereof)? To convince ourselves that our $50K investment is worth it, or alternatively that we're not doomed without such a degree?
 
I think people like the topic because it lets them answer, based upon their own experience (that is, people who have relevant experience, upon which to base their answer).
 
sean90291 said:
But for some reason I love this particular question. It comes up over and over on dvxuser, and elsewhere. And I always feel compelled to discuss it. A bunch of us do, apparently, since it always attracts a flurry of responses. Why do you think we enjoy this particular "debate" so much?
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I don't think this question can be discussed enough. I vote it the single most important question on this board. People ransom their future to go the film school. People forsake a solid education or a truly employable degree like nursing to pursue a dream of Hollywood. I hope the subject never gets stickied so it can keep popping up for newer members.
 
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