I'm at film school. I got into an argument with a student who wants to be a DOP.
My argument was that directing is an equally valid craft to any other.
His argument (the DOP-inclined student) was that directing can't be taught.
My retort was that clearly you are taught with camera classes on how to use a light meter, so, why can't you be taught directing theory?
Two things are clear - you can't teach cinematography, and you can't teach directing. But you *can* teach camera theory, and you *can* teach directing theory. Film school is about teaching you the 'tools' for the job, just like learning how to play C minor on the piano. But, depending on what profession you go into to, how you interpret that theory is up to you as an artist.
So, yes nothing can be "taught" at film school, but I'm just confused as to why often we are not taught directing theories? Camera classes teach you about lighting theory, in fact go to enormous length, but why is directing theory dumbed down in a lot of film schools???
I posted this in the directing forum originally, but I just wanted to get the perspective purely from camera students who are still studying and want to be DOPs... What's your take on this?
My argument was that directing is an equally valid craft to any other.
His argument (the DOP-inclined student) was that directing can't be taught.
My retort was that clearly you are taught with camera classes on how to use a light meter, so, why can't you be taught directing theory?
Two things are clear - you can't teach cinematography, and you can't teach directing. But you *can* teach camera theory, and you *can* teach directing theory. Film school is about teaching you the 'tools' for the job, just like learning how to play C minor on the piano. But, depending on what profession you go into to, how you interpret that theory is up to you as an artist.
So, yes nothing can be "taught" at film school, but I'm just confused as to why often we are not taught directing theories? Camera classes teach you about lighting theory, in fact go to enormous length, but why is directing theory dumbed down in a lot of film schools???
I posted this in the directing forum originally, but I just wanted to get the perspective purely from camera students who are still studying and want to be DOPs... What's your take on this?
