Mel Hoppenheim

[PaPa]

Hey guys.

I just got accepted into Concordia University's Mel Hoppenheim school of film. One of Canada's best film schools, but im torn between two programs.

as ive been following these boards for a long time now, ive seen how quickly digital has progressed and feel safe to say that digital will be the main source of cinema within the next 10-20 years as it is cheaper, higher quality now with things like andromeda. yadda yadda, its coming hard and fast.

And my concern is that the film schoo lis only film, no digital. Where as i could take communications, which makes you take sound, video, and film, and in your second year you are allowed to specialize in one of thoes fields. My other concern is that, well, you guys have been the Ultimate source of information in terms of digital film making that i feel i have sufficient knowledge to pursuse it one day if need be, but my knowedge in working with film is zilch.

What should i do guys? I just got accepted into one of the most competative programs in Canada, as well as in north america.

 

[KennyJay]

PaPa are they paying for the schooling? Why would you say you need that type of education? Maybe you are a peoples person and are good in production and have work waiting for you after completing school.

Are you organized and good at working with other students? This is one of the most important choices you'll ever make. Think it through cause this is business.

A friend just graduated from AFI oweing $100,000. And he still has to find work for himself. He has made contacts and he do know how to make a film, the studio system way. Check the background of you're favorite filmmakers and see who has classroom training.

 

[PaPa]

classroom training i couldnt really care less about. Im an actor first and foremost but i was going to go either into communication studies, wihchi offers sound video and film, and i also applied to the cinema school, well, actually its bachelor in fine arts, film production.

mel hoppenheim is just film, where as comms has vidoe, however the video they do is all non fiction, documentaries and thing sof that nature, doesnt interest me too much now that i have my dvx and take online classes at our forums here at dvxuser hehe, best source or knowledge for digital on the net!

im not too worried about the costs either, Universities, for one, in Montreal, are really innexpensive. what is expensive is having to buy your own film and renting equipment for films and things of that nature. And i do have an educational fund provided by the 'rents.

at first i was leaning more towards comms, but now, not so much anymore. I figure anything i learn in film school i can use towards any means of film making, even if they focus on film. These thigns can still apply to digital film making, just using different mediums. Perhaps this program could be more benificial in the long run?

 

[d-mac]

I say do whatever you feel like. The most important part will be to get involved with the students who are making films. Sometimes this is film students, sometimes this isn't.

When I was at UCLA, there were a bunch of English majors involved in film production who couldn't get into the film school. They just hung around the film kids and worked on the projects. 5 years later, and I see now that it didn't matter what their major was, just what they DID with the time they spent there.

so basically, just start doing stuff. You can learn everything that they teach in film school by yourself.

(unless you want to be a teacher at a film school one day, this is the exception I believe where it would help)

 

[Lawsuit_Boy]

Check the background of you're favorite filmmakers and see who has classroom training.

Spielberg got denied twice. :thumbsup:

And Kubrick says the best education in film is to make one.

Something like this came up in a discussion I had with a friend last night. We often ponder the mysteries of the world and the meaning of life, as well as college at one point.

He's trying to go to Belmont in Nashville for music production (he's an incredible drummer) but his record in school isn't the greatest, and he's so afraid that he won't get in.

I did fine, and am almost through my first year of college at a smaller branch of Kent State University. I'm planning on going to University of Toledo next year to major in Film (I chose Toledo because it's IN state so it will cost much less, and I don't want to go far away just yet). So our dilemma is: do we really need to go? Both of us have a substancial amount of skill and knowledge (although he's got the edge on me since he's played for MANY years, but I'm catching up thanks to my friends here at DVXUSER and book after book) and we know we have the potential to reach our "career" goals, but the problem is being able to reach out and grab a hold of it.

Anyway, after all of my blabbering, I'm just trying to say that, like said before, REALLY weigh your options and decide what would be best for you, and where you think you'll succeed. Yeah, a great film school looks awesome on paper, but if you aren't going to be working on the process of film making and all of the aspects involved the entire time, why bother? (Although I think the school you mentioned would probably train you rigorously).

Goodluck with whichever way you decide to go, PaPa. I hope you really find your way.

P.S. I like your stuff.

 

[Spartacus]

well,
I guess "film school" in the states or canada, doesn´t only mean you´ll learn how to load an arricam or choosing different Kodak stocks...?
You wanna be a filmmaker, you have been accepted for their programm, well go there and learn as much about the ART of filmmaking as you can!
If you´ll use film or video will narrow down to a matter of taste very soon...
my 2c...

wait, you already own a DVX and know this forum - why the hell should you even consider taking video courses...?

 

[PaPa]

the flim schools offers a variety of courses ranging from acting, to directing acting, to lighting, the writing, sound, special effects and so on. its really quite cool actually. And since my passion is acting, and i love film making, im hoping one of these fields will intertwine my fate into a dream carrier. doing both my passions at the same time!

yoiu like my stuff? thanks very much man but the credit really goes to the dvx, why, because its things like this that inspire you to go that extra mile and pushes your imagination.

You guys do that as well! Best forum in the world.

-Cheers

 

[Patryk_Rebisz]

Go to film school. They will teach you how to use film camera and still let you use video camera for your no-budget-student films so you will get best of both worlds.