Film School

[andythefilmer]

Hi guys. I am sure this is a very uncommon topic on DVXUser, but I am starting to shop around for schools. I am currently in 10th grade, in Santa Clarita, CA (right outside of LA). Filmmaking has been my passion for really, as long as I can remember. It is something I absolutely want to pursue in my life. I really cannot think of anything I would RATHER do in my future. People tell me filmmaking is my gift, and I have already educated myself enough that the most advanced (TV production) video class at my high school doesn't really have anything to teach me, as I am currently in the program which produces a daily, live broadcast.

However, TV production is not what I plan to do in life. My dream to become a documentary filmmaker. I fell in love with that type of storytelling about two years ago. I love watching other documentary films (not so much ACTUAL movies), because the doc's have so much truth and a unique perspective, in my opinion.

With that said, the time has come to begin to look at colleges. My question to a lot of the more experienced filmmakers here is: is a degree really necessary to have a good career in filmmaking, and if so, what would be sufficient? As far as scholarships and grants go, do film festivals, awards, etc. help aide in getting them? Another thing is, what type of careers in documentary filmmaking are available? I assume a lot of documentarians work for, or own an independent production company.

So, as far as schools go, which are good ones? I have heard the up's and down's of the UC system, as they are cheaper than private schools, but have a much larger student population. Private schools are more expensive, but would it be worth it to attempt to get into one? Which schools have good documentary programs?

I apologize for all of the questions, but I haven't gotten a lot of answers from filmmakers. Thank you in advance!

Andy

 

[Kevin Wells]

Hey Andy,

A degree is not necessary to be successful in the field. I've been an independent producer/shooter/editor for the last 6 years, and the issue of my degree has never come up, although I do have a production undergrad degree and am getting my MFA currently. I imagine this is a bit different if you want to work for a production company, so perhaps someone else could answer from that perspective.

I see school as a time to meet other filmmakers, collaborate, find mentors in the field, and most of all, give you the space to focus more on creative work and less on making ends meet with client jobs. So, I would recommend getting a production/film degree, but not as a necessity. Also, unless your family is loaded, don't burden yourself with enormous debts from big name schools. I would just look for programs that have a strong documentary focus...I am at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for my MFA, which has some good documentary professors, and I like it a lot.

Best of luck.

Kevin

 

[Jester2138]

I am currently in 10th grade,

Awesome, that means you have lots of time to get your grades up and make some movies before applying to schools! I know this isn't necessarily what you want to hear, but your grades matter more than your films when getting into film schools. Most of the film schools I applied to only accepted you if you first got into the general school.

I really cannot think of anything I would RATHER do in my future. People tell me filmmaking is my gift, and I have already educated myself enough that the most advanced (TV production) video class at my high school doesn't really have anything to teach me, as I am currently in the program which produces a daily, live broadcast.

This is awesome too. Get experience, LOTS of experience (you have a huge advantage being in/near Los Angeles), and take advantage of everything you can. Leach videography jobs from your family/friends/relatives, take advantage of nepotism, do whatever it takes to get more and more experience doing things with cameras. It doesn't really matter if it's a documentary about your cat, narrative short with your friends, promotional video for the local McDonalds, whatever. MAKE LOTS OF STUFF.

And always try to get on local film sets or work with a professional videographer. Maybe make a friend in someone who is in or recently graduated from film school and work on his movies.

However, TV production is not what I plan to do in life. My dream to become a documentary filmmaker. I fell in love with that type of storytelling about two years ago. I love watching other documentary films (not so much ACTUAL movies), because the doc's have so much truth and a unique perspective, in my opinion.

And this is what you'll talk about in your application essays:laugh:
But for now it doesn't matter exactly what type of film/video you're working on, just that you are working on SOMETHING.

My question to a lot of the more experienced filmmakers here is: is a degree really necessary to have a good career in filmmaking,

Not at all necessary, but extremely helpful. Not because people will ask you about it before hiring you, but because you'll learn A LOT and meet A LOT of people at school who'll give you jobs.

As far as scholarships and grants go, do film festivals, awards, etc. help aide in getting them?

Yes, SOME do, but your best bet for scholarships are academic scholarships. Film festivals that offer anything better than a $500 cash prize are few and far between, and HIGHLY, HIGHLY competitive - and usually don't reward the "best" film, but the most marketable film, i.e. the one made by the blind kid, or the one made by the kid who just moved to the USA from Zimbabwe.

So, as far as schools go, which are good ones? I have heard the up's and down's of the UC system, as they are cheaper than private schools, but have a much larger student population. Private schools are more expensive, but would it be worth it to attempt to get into one? Which schools have good documentary programs?

OK, this is the tricky part to answer. The "best" school doesn't really exist. Yes, some film schools are undeniably better as far as faculty, facilities, fellow students, internships, industry connections, etc., but that doesn't necessarily mean you'll learn the most there. It certainly means you'll have lots more opportunities to learn, however.

Faculty matters the most, I'd say. Even the most interesting class on paper can be made dull and noneducational by a bad or inexperienced teacher. Then location, so LA and NYC are the best places to go to film school. Then the fellow students - you want to go to school with people who aren't just as smart and driven as you are, but smartER and MORE driven because that will inspire you. You want classmates (not just teachers) who inspire you. Then worry about what internships and connections the school has. Those will matter most in the later years and after you graduate.

Now my story. I started filmmaking in eight grade and realized I wanted to go to film school by tenth grade - just like you. I had the advantage by luck that my parents were relatively wealthy so I was at a great private school and could afford any school I wanted, something I'm very thankful for. So what I needed to do was first, get good grades, then get lots of filmmaking experience. I applied to NYU (top choice), USC, Chapman U, and FSU. Just four schools, but I was confident I could get into at least one of them. As it turned out I got into my top choice, NYU, and am currently there in the film program.

I can't help you much with comparing individual schools because once I got into college I forgot all the things I'd researched, but if you ever have any questions shoot them my way and I'll try to answer them anyway as best I can.

And never forget that you're lucky to have a passion already! Most people don't figure out what they want to do with their life until after college, if at all...

Wow, that was a long post...

 

[Jester2138]

I do have a production undergrad degree and am getting my MFA currently.

I'm interested in your decision to get both an undergrad film degree and a graduate film degree. Most professors told me they're very similar, so it's not really necessary to get both. Is this not really true or is UNC Greensboro different?