How many of you guys have degrees in Film/Video Production?

T

twelvetoedtom

New member
Just curious how many folks are "self trained" so to speak. I did my undergrad in Video Production, fairly useless if you ask me. You can learn most of the stuff I was taught just by going out and shooting.
 
You want to talk about useless, I learned how to edit film on a moviola. Avid picked up speed just as I was graduating. I was never paid to splice an inch of actual celluloid so I'm self taught as far as digital editing goes.
 
Yes it's just a piece of paper saying I'm qualified to get a "real" job in the field. I'm not saying you can't, but most companies do require it. I've gotten plenty of jobs without it. Most of the people I've worked with are self taught and do pretty well in the industry. Basically that little piece of paper helps companies weed thru the talkers vs the people that do quality work. If you have a strong demo reel and references you can go pretty far.
 
Studied film in high school and took one course at university but that's all. Learned a lot more from books, the Internet and actually shooting.
 
twocik23 said:
Basically that little piece of paper helps companies weed thru the talkers vs the people that do quality work. If you have a strong demo reel and references you can go pretty far.
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I find the opposite. If you walk through the door with a piece of paper as your proof of experience, you won't get the job. A reel is far more important, a resume can only help.

I went to a liberal arts school that had a film program. After a year of intro classes and general studies, I was ready to focus on creating images. The important part for me wasn't the degree, it was getting my hands on cameras, lights, and NLEs that I otherwise would know nothing about. The degree was a bonus, and proves only that I could stomach classic literature and learning Swahili. No, really, I took Swahili.

Despite being in school, I was still self taught. At the time, my program had very little emphasis on cinematography, but I knew what I wanted to learn and used general projects to focus on my desired craft.

Not all programs are the same. My program was very broad, and was not selective (any student could get a degree in film, despite qualifications/creativity or lack thereof). Some programs require you to apply and, sometimes, get rejected. There is no right and wrong, just what fits your needs.

Usually, the piece of paper only guarantees that you know what a C47 is, and you can say a few interesting things about German Expressionism. Otherwise the proof is in the pudding.
 
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Been making films since I was 12 years old. Making my first feature film last year was the best education I've ever had.
 
I am often hired by people who know nothing about filmmaking. In those cases, the piece of paper can help. Although I heartily agree with everyone who notes that experience and a good reel are your best ticket, you can't completely discount a degree. It has gotten me in some doors.
 
High School Education here. been working full time in the industry since 99. I know a guy with a certificate from Full Sail that spent 90K on his education. He works at Staples. This is one of those rare industries were they don't care where you came from they just care if you got the chops. Biggest education for me literally came from this site.
 
BFA in Film and Television Production, concentration in Cinematography.

Was worth being young and in college, was worth the contacts, was worth the education but only because I really took advantage of learning my craft in class and in my own free time. Those who drifted through and learned only what was expected didn't fare as well. Just because you show up and pass, doesn't mean you're good at it.

Sure you could be top of your industry without going to college, but if you're college bound, I can't think of a more fun place than film school.
 
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If you are a crew member, you don't need a degree - you need experience.

If you are in an office in the studio system, you need a piece of paper from somewhere in something. I don't know anyone in the studio system that doesn't have a degree in something.
 
Ryan Patrick O'Hara said:
BFA in Film and Television Production, concentration in Cinematography.

Was worth being young and in college, was worth the contacts, was worth the education but only because I really took advantage of learning my craft in class and in my own free time. Those who drifted through and learned only what was expected didn't fare as well. Just because you show up and pass, doesn't mean you're good at it.

Sure you could be top of your industry without going to college, but if you're college bound, I can't think of a more fun place than film school.
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Well said.

p.s. one of your former classmates has PA'd on a few things I shot lately. Zach something
 
Ryan Patrick O'Hara said:
BFA in Film and Television Production, concentration in Cinematography.

Was worth being young and in college, was worth the contacts, was worth the education but only because I really took advantage of learning my craft in class and in my own free time. Those who drifted through and learned only what was expected didn't fare as well. Just because you show up and pass, doesn't mean you're good at it.

Sure you could be top of your industry without going to college, but if you're college bound, I can't think of a more fun place than film school.
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My experience as well. Just going to class doesn't get you much but if you take advantage of all the opportunities there is typically a lot of knowledge to be gleaned. The crew I ran with in college were the ones working 20, 30, 40 hrs a week on extracurricular projects, regularly pulling all nighters in the school's editing bays, and living in the hip pocket of a multi-Emmy Award winning director that decided to take a crack at teaching. For me, at least, that mentorship was basically worth the price of admission all by it's self. Most of my friends from college, not all 10yrs older, are still making a living in the industry today (from LA to NY).

My biggest suggestion when it comes to college and this industry is that you don't need to sink major cash at a big name school to get a worthwhile experience. What one chooses to do while in college is a lot more important than where one chooses to attend college, IMO.


-Andrew
 
BFA in film, emphasis in cinematography. But education goes beyond school - I'm still learning now and will be for the rest of my life. And I guess that makes me self taught.
 
Most everything I know about video I learned here. Try things out. Make cock-up. Come to DVXUser and find out why I made cock-up. Do it right next time :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG).

FWIW (Not a lot really) my degree is in Chemistry.
Dave
 
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