How Do I Make This My Career?

F

finder

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I'm faced with some big decisions. I want to make filmmaking more than just a hobby to others....i want it to be my career. Specifically i want to be a cinematographer. I am 18 years old, have 5 screen credits as a DP own my own arriflex 16-BL, K-3, and of course a DVX. Let's just say i am able to carry a decent conversation with your average DP working in this industry.

Film is my life. I don't stop for a single second thinking about filmmaking....not so much the story part of filmmaking but more technical aspect.

Furthermore, I am faced with the dilemma of college. Now, prior, i have successfully completed high school without having to conform to the normal teenage jobs with minimum wage. I have carried myself these years entirely by soliciting my reel and gaining jobs. I've worked on big productions and small productions. I've worked on productions for $100 and i've worked on productions for $5000. So, my point is that i have tasted how great it is to work on sets and make good money. My friends in one month make $350 where as on the average month i make $1000, which is pretty good considering i have no formal college education and that i am young.


So, i was accepted to NYU. Now, i have the money to go to college. But, if i do go, when i am finished, i will have $0.00 to my name. In other words....broke, but i will have that degree.

I want to be a cinematographer. Do i spend all my money on education and come out broke or do i forego college, keep my $180,000 and use it for something like starting my own production company?

Bottom line, film is my life and i don't want college to be a disappointment. My parents are no help since they have not the slightest understanding of what a cinematographer is. My father barely knows the difference between a film camera and a camcorder.
 
Only you can decide really. I mean, you know yourself best. If I were in your shoes, I'd go to college. I'm not advocating film school necessarily, but college to me was invaluable, not just for the education.
 
Go to college. When you come out of college and have a degree, people take you more seriously. It opens doors, and that is a good thing. Work while you go to college so you do not come out broke, and continue film making during the entire process. That is my suggestion. I wish you the best!
 
I don't mean to be flippant or pedantic finder but your 18 enjoy it; enjoy not knowing what it is you have to do; enjoy your aspirations and dreams and follow that voice that has always urged you to question what it is you are here for. Don't compare yourself to others; forge you own path.
I returned to college at thirty six, and still question myself every day. My da is a great man but hasn't got a clue about film or cinema but that does not lessen his other abilities. As long as you are dedicated and can make them see your dedication they will eventually understand. Parent and friends have their own interests/ concerns, that does'nt mean they are not interested in yours.
Don't feel bad !. If you want to go to college do so; but do it for yourself and not to proove a point to anybody else. You have shown your ability and dedication ,and seem like a resilient guy. If you feel you have the experience and maturity to run a production company go ahead. I do not say this sarcastically. But if there is a doubt that you still have not found your voice; take a holiday/break from it all. Come back fresh and then decide. The bottom line is that other people cannot decide whether something will or will not be a disappointment for you;
You have to persevere and go through the doubt and uncertainty yourself. But remember you always have friends and family.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
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Firstly, you should definitely consider everyone's consultation and then make your own path. I personally do not think you need film school based on the scenario you have described to me (I have finished an undergraduate and graduate degree in another field, btw, which I would be unable to work in without.) I think with the Arts it's a little different.

Go out and try to find work with your reels; why not? I think with every project you should be moving up ... Have you worked on any films that have gone somewhere? If so, you're on the right track! If not, you should try to get this exposure. Sacrafice while your young and work on a serious project you believe might go somewhere for little or no money.

I mean, say you worked on a few movies that won awards for cinematography for a few festivals. I think in the industry that's worth more than someone who has no experience, except a bachelor of arts at a film school (with no offense to film school students). I cast for my own shorts and I have seen many actor resumes who have bachelor's and I admire this from them, but I mainly look for their motivation and what experience in acting they actually have!

Maybe you can try film school for a semester or two and see how you like, but it will drain your pocket if your paying for it on your own. Consider that if money is an issue. I do want to clarify, formal education is NEVER a bad thing, except financially.
 
Go to school... you need to network.

Spend some of that crazy cash you have to attend trade shows in LA... become 'bicoastal'... no one has any work for you at 18... spend some time working the
adolecent stuff out of your system, enjoy college and pay attention to your
literature and art history classes.

Then hit em with both guns in either LA or stay in NY when you're 22ish with
a degree and at least a little bit of mileage :)
 
Clarification

Clarification

Thanks for all your input. Just to clarify, I don't have any "crazy money". The money i have is my earned money and the question is to spend my earned money on college or production. No money from my parents as they are strongly against me attending Emerson College.

Additionally, I will be going to Emerson as a Communications major, not a film student.

I don't have any video files on my home computer. But here are some stills of my last production. I was the DP and paid handsomely. Parts were shot on DVX and some shot 16mm.

stills17.jpg
stills16.jpg


Someone made a good point about being the age value of 18, as i am often faced with that issue. Two weeks ago I was hired to videograph a wedding; and i made all the arrangements through the company i was working for and via communicating with the wedding planner on the phone. When i met her, she said that based on the telephone convo, she thought i was 40 years old. I asked her sarcastically if my age mattered and she said she could care less since i sounded like i new what i was talking about.
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Man I'm 28 and still haven't found what I want to do :D
On a more serious note, go to college, you have many years to establish your self as a filmmaker.
Knowledge is one thing.
You might be earning some money now but you need a backup plan.
Read, study learn.
The only humans that are famous & established at your age are football players and
motoGP drivers.
 
I my opinion - the only thing film school is worth is for networking. If you go to NYU you are looking at 160,000 in debt - and in the film world - if that is where you are really going - a degree means nothing. I'd say that at least half of the people I work with never went to film school. I'd say if you are going to go to school, then major in anything but film. If you really want to go to film school afterwards - go to a masters program like at AFI - then you could at least teach. The cost of film school just makes no sense to me when you could use that to produce your own film, or even better buy yourself a great production set-up and get to work. Plus - if this is right - you are in Mass. so there should be work there.

I will say that going to college did help me develop as a person, and become a more focused thinker, but I use neither of my degrees and I sure wish I had the 100,000 grand back. It is your decision though - and as much as we talk on these boards - we don't know you really well - your friends and family do. Good luck and I wish you the best.
 
really man, it seems like a tough call but think about the two dicision and realize that anyway you go, your life is in your hands, so if you dont go to college and spend your money on equipment and ****, do it, if it doesnt work out, fine, go to school and earn money, or the opposite.

but one thing that can be said is this:

Alot of people like me go through the question : Is acting school of any use? Soem believe the answer to this is no, because either someone has the gift and can act, or they just cant.

Ive been acting since i was 8 or 9 and really studying it since 15, so 5 years. One thing ive learned is that yes, skill and talent is definately required, but like any skill, there are tools you discover, and when you learn how to use them, they enable you to use your talents at their maximum ability. Cause thats all these things really are, they are tools that maximize your talents, show you your full potential. Sometimes what you learn is crap, sometimes its not, but every bit and piece that you learn are tools in your bag. For exmplane, when i was 15, i had the hardest time trying to get myself to cry when needed. Now, its like a fosset. On and off. How? Not because i got bettre at it, but through breathing techniques and controlling and disciplinnning the mind, its more like teling myeslf " dont cry, dont cry, its okay ". Ther are sooo many examples out there.

the same thing can be said with painting, photography, film making, any sort of art.

Yes, im sure you are fully capable of making a feature film, but i bet you anything in the world that there are special techniques, setups, things you never even knew existed that could greatly benefit your talents. If nothing else, going to film school will confirm that yes, you do know everything and dont need it. But never let anyone tel you that its full of crap. It could be pointless and a waste of time for some, but not for others.

School is more than just expecting to get a degree and move on. Its about life experience, people you will meet that have the same passion as you but in mass! you could start comapnies, teams, ideas together, expand the motion picture business, make it bigger, stronger, advance whats already been done, make the next big step, and school can help you figure out what tools needed to get there.

So dont thhink of it as a make or break, its not needed for all, but it might show you somethings about film making you thought you knew, but only know 10%. So you might be shooting something beautiful right now that with schooling would have come out Brilliantly.

also talk to you friends and family, see which makes the most sense, but its your life so altimately it should be your choice.

have a think.
 
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