Did you go to film school?
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Ryan Patrick O'Hara
Veteran
homestar_kevin
Well-known member
Yeah I never got peoples attitude towards film school?
I went and loved it, I learned wayyyy more out of class, but had an excuse to do fun projects for 4 years and earn a degree at the same time?
I was also exposed to a bunch of movies I'd never heard of and met many people I rely on to shoot with today.
Where's the negative?
I went and loved it, I learned wayyyy more out of class, but had an excuse to do fun projects for 4 years and earn a degree at the same time?
I was also exposed to a bunch of movies I'd never heard of and met many people I rely on to shoot with today.
Where's the negative?
My experience with film school graduates is that they spend a lot of money and don't seem to have any practical filmmaking skills. Of course, that's not to imply that it's 100% the case, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's where a lot of Film School bias originates from.
KyleProhaska
Veteran
In this economy, I'm not entirely sure it's smart to build up that much debt for yourself...but that's me. That's sorta a view overall for college. I think there's a lot of great jobs you don't need college for that are available and a lot of things people think you need college for that you don't.
I didn't go to film school...I went and made a film instead, released at Redbox a number of months ago which made this year a very good year financially. I don't say that to sound prideful I'm just trying to make it clear that there's another way to do this beyond the classroom.
Make a cheap marketable product for a niche market and try to get your foot in the door. At least if you plan things right and keep the costs down you'll have given it a shot BEFORE you dive into such expensive schooling.
There's no right answer here...but that's my take
I didn't go to film school...I went and made a film instead, released at Redbox a number of months ago which made this year a very good year financially. I don't say that to sound prideful I'm just trying to make it clear that there's another way to do this beyond the classroom.
Make a cheap marketable product for a niche market and try to get your foot in the door. At least if you plan things right and keep the costs down you'll have given it a shot BEFORE you dive into such expensive schooling.
There's no right answer here...but that's my take
Personally, I value having gone to college more than anything I have ever done in my life.
Not because of any specific skill that I picked up, but for the overall experience. It gave me critical thinking skills, broadened my life experience and exposure immensly, and taught me how to learn anything that I needed to learn on my own after college.
Maybe not for everyone, but the back pressure against going to college has been stronger with the recent economy. A little too overblown I think.
I know that when I was a Manager and then a VP in a Corporate Digital Imaging/IT/Finance environment, you would not get a foot in the door without at least a Bachelor's degree. With 300+ resumes for any job, we would spend less than 10 seconds on each resume when pre-screening to get down to 30+- resumes for further review. "No degree" had a 99% probability of going into the trash.
My undergraduate was in Photography and Philososphy, with a strong emphasis in Logic. I also had a lot of Anthropology and Sociology. That Philosophy major in particular taught me to tackle truly tough material and to trust my analytic thinking skills.
I spent two years at a community college, which was not that expensive. Even graduate school for me (MBA) paid for itself within the first 2 years after I graduated.
Remember that most people change **careers** - not just jobs - from 3 to 5 times in their life. From Accountant to Teacher, from Film Maker to IT Consultant to Yoga Teacher, etc.
I wouldn't consider a "film school" that didn't include a strong overall liberal and/or technical education, with a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university.
Michael
Not because of any specific skill that I picked up, but for the overall experience. It gave me critical thinking skills, broadened my life experience and exposure immensly, and taught me how to learn anything that I needed to learn on my own after college.
Maybe not for everyone, but the back pressure against going to college has been stronger with the recent economy. A little too overblown I think.
I know that when I was a Manager and then a VP in a Corporate Digital Imaging/IT/Finance environment, you would not get a foot in the door without at least a Bachelor's degree. With 300+ resumes for any job, we would spend less than 10 seconds on each resume when pre-screening to get down to 30+- resumes for further review. "No degree" had a 99% probability of going into the trash.
My undergraduate was in Photography and Philososphy, with a strong emphasis in Logic. I also had a lot of Anthropology and Sociology. That Philosophy major in particular taught me to tackle truly tough material and to trust my analytic thinking skills.
I spent two years at a community college, which was not that expensive. Even graduate school for me (MBA) paid for itself within the first 2 years after I graduated.
Remember that most people change **careers** - not just jobs - from 3 to 5 times in their life. From Accountant to Teacher, from Film Maker to IT Consultant to Yoga Teacher, etc.
I wouldn't consider a "film school" that didn't include a strong overall liberal and/or technical education, with a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university.
Michael
William_Robinette
Shallow Member
This.
I went, and learned much more "practical" stuff out of the classroom but got the opportunity to try anything, really any idea that tickled my fancy in the classroom without worrying about disappointing a client or whatnot. I was free to explore without much fear of failure. That is something you will not get many opportunities to do.
Edit to add: I'll also I went to a school that concentrated much more on the art of films rather then a school where the whole class produces one film a year with everyone acting as a crew member. I think I made the right choice. I maintain it isn't hard to pick up and understand what needs to happen in production, but thinking critically about the art form is where it's at.
Jawa Ex Machina
Veteran
I studied screenwriting for two years so I could become a writer/director. Helped me out immensly. I also landed internships at a Warner Bros production in London and a couple of TV shows in Stockholm, which gave me practical on set experience that I wouldn't otherwise have had.
No way would I have learned to write and understand storytelling or screenwriting the way I do if it hadn't been for filmschool.
The reason I went for screenwriting instead of directing is that there are so many directors out there already who don't know how a screenplay works or how to tell a story properly. I didn't want to be one of those guys.
No way would I have learned to write and understand storytelling or screenwriting the way I do if it hadn't been for filmschool.
The reason I went for screenwriting instead of directing is that there are so many directors out there already who don't know how a screenplay works or how to tell a story properly. I didn't want to be one of those guys.
Jawa Ex Machina
Veteran
A lot of the bias comes from inexperience, lack of understanding of the craft, youth, and fear.
I've lost track of how many people I've met over the years who chose not to get educated about the craft and industry. Guys who either thought they were the next Tarantino or the next Lynch (it was always one of those two).
None of them make movies anymore though.
Sun
Carbonite Member
Education today rewards conformity, not independence. It method is regurgitation and memory based, not inspiration or creativity based. It manufactures glass eyed academics, that can't go beyond the abstractions flashed into them.
Education is a filthy business. its purpose is to supply and maintain the current systems of power and privileged. I have three PhD in my family and they all agree on this.
jghenderson
Well-known member
No I have not, and I doubt I will. In the modern world with the proliferation of digital cameras and editing software, it is easy enough to learn filmmaking without going to school. Especially when you take into account just how expensive they are.
That being said, I have decided that if my career is not at a place i'm satisfied with in 3-4 years, I will apply to the AFI Conservatory, which is the only school i'd be interested in going to. It would give me the opportunity to make more films with talented people, but most important help me to network with powerful people. Just wish it wasn't so darn pricey...
That being said, I have decided that if my career is not at a place i'm satisfied with in 3-4 years, I will apply to the AFI Conservatory, which is the only school i'd be interested in going to. It would give me the opportunity to make more films with talented people, but most important help me to network with powerful people. Just wish it wasn't so darn pricey...
Kevin Vega
Carbonite Member
News flash: lots of people are pretty much like this by nature. For some reason people think that education/schools can develop what we think of with the term "genius" when, throughout history, it's been that individual's own drive and personality type, usually with typical education standing in the way. I agree with you to a point, but I think you are seeing it upside-down. The majority of people are glass-eyed conformists, they aren't being turned into that by an educational system.
robmneilson
Veteran
Film school does what you want it to. I had classmates that barely made films and just fulfilled the requirements....of course none of them are in the industry years later. And I've had classmates that busted their ass, got on many sets, and they are all doing very well for themselves. You get what you put in...
well there are lots of good examples of those who went to school and became "something" and those who didnt and still got big, so i guess its more of a "it depends". . .
your personality r u the kinda guy who can go out to people and get connected? Get people together and work with them/lead them or do you need "someone" who gets you in contact, get the thing rolling?
if you can do it with "no push", then school is not gonna give you something that you cant get yourself easy, i guess. But if you fell like you need a guid, then school is what you are looking for. "Just go and shoot" is easier said than done. Not everyone has friends who would like to help out (when "helping out" means doing some shitty work and not just "having fun infront of the camera") And with no much support, no matter how much gear you got, you wont get too far unless you do animation ^^ (assuming you get voice, music, audio etc which isnt easy either)
anyone in the UK who got into filmschool? If so, when (age when you got in) and how? This info would totally help me (you done a short before? A demo reel? oh and of course what filmschool you got in? BIG THX )
your personality r u the kinda guy who can go out to people and get connected? Get people together and work with them/lead them or do you need "someone" who gets you in contact, get the thing rolling?
if you can do it with "no push", then school is not gonna give you something that you cant get yourself easy, i guess. But if you fell like you need a guid, then school is what you are looking for. "Just go and shoot" is easier said than done. Not everyone has friends who would like to help out (when "helping out" means doing some shitty work and not just "having fun infront of the camera") And with no much support, no matter how much gear you got, you wont get too far unless you do animation ^^ (assuming you get voice, music, audio etc which isnt easy either)
anyone in the UK who got into filmschool? If so, when (age when you got in) and how? This info would totally help me (you done a short before? A demo reel? oh and of course what filmschool you got in? BIG THX
)I went to a state college with a film program, but never got quite as much out of it as I should have due to parental deaths, personal poverty, and lack of solid goals and vision - it's difficult to coordinate a shooting schedule with a crew when you're working two jobs and carrying an overfull credit load, and then that last year I just didn't care to put forth any effort. Any failure to take much away from that program fell on me, not necessarily the program itself.
My first media job came 15 years after graduation and assorted careers, and I'm already doing better professionally and personally than in any of those three transitional careers thanks to a loving God, loving wife, and far clearer mind.
My first media job came 15 years after graduation and assorted careers, and I'm already doing better professionally and personally than in any of those three transitional careers thanks to a loving God, loving wife, and far clearer mind.
I can assure you that my Philosophy classes were not at all like that, at least as a major in uper level classes.
What I remember most is reading Kant's "Critique of Pure Reason", supposedly one of teh most important books ever written. It took me 2+ hours to get through teh first 3 pages. But it was a very valuable expereince when I was able to talk with someone who undertsood it in historical context, and was able to help me with the concepts. I actually wrote my Senior Thesis on that book and Analytical Philosophy.
My other primary memory is reading and being asked to interpret Plato's "Seventh Letter", and taking a class in Mathematical Logic during summer school.
All of my exams were essay exams, with no multiple choice. And then there was my Photography Fine Art major, which was primarily about making and critiquing iimages.
Best,
Michael
Jawa Ex Machina
Veteran
I agree with this.
Also, here's another News Flash: This entire industry that you're working so hard to get into is conformist. If you don't learn to conform to give the audience what they want to pay for, no investor will give you millions of dollars to make a film.
You will be stuck making $10,000 art experiments that very few people actually end up seeing.
robmneilson
Veteran
That's the best thing about film school too! You get to make those awful art films, and get them out of your system at a stage where it's not entirely embarrassing!