First of all Go to college. Might as well major in film since you'll get your degree.sd006 said:Hi all,
I'm gathering a list of top film schools in the U.S. Any recommendations? Thanks.
the film school or not film school is a seperate debaet from the college or no college debate.
are you "exactly" where you wanna be?Michael Summers said:
and I would say yes to answer your question, since I've only been shooting since july have won awards in two contests here and have a deal to direct a low budget feature for an independent producer who has seen my work here. I never picked up anything but a single chip camera and had no idea what fstops or shutterspeed were before July.
So I'd say, yes.
Why not ... why not cast a wide net ... why not talk to people like you that have strong feelings about it and real world experience?Michael Summers said:
I think he should talk to his parents, his guidance counselor (whom I sure knows a lot about the film industry), any one he knows in the industry
Yeah I can see how that would give you some buyer's remorse since you dropped a big wad on film school.Michael Summers said:
But what's wrong with different paths?
I went to a short film panel last night and where all the panalists had done things like shown at Sundance and won various awards.
There was a girl, Sasie Sealy - who was exceedinlgy lovely BTW, that was in NYU grad school, a Graduate of NYU who now does short films for Sesame Street, a couple of other people with no formal training, who had doen great stuff, and a writer cum filmmaker with no formal training that now produces for VH1 and the Independant Film Channel.
So BOOM many paths.
I think most people who say DVXuser, were doing so half in jest, though I don't want to speak for them as I know some folk hate film schools and reject the notion out right, but it has been a great place to learn for me. I don't think anyone would assert that DVXuser is the hands on equivalent of a top film school and not as likely to make hard networking connections.
But for a free place as an alternative ... it's been pretty damn good to me.
Q: what do you do your 1st year, and in some places all years in film school?
You make shorts and try to get the "A"
Q: what have I been doing here?
Making shorts and trying to learn from each and trying to place higher each time.
Now I'm considering applying to film schools myself, for networking and more formalized training, but I'm waying the cost and how far I can get on my own, and I actually love the idea of film school.
I have an MFA in Directing (theatre) from a high ranked school and I love the libveral arts / fine arts learning environment and if being a student would actually pay the rent I'd stick my ostrich head in that academic hole and be happy as a clam if you'll excuse the mixed metaphor.
And sorry to quote Aristotle on you, but one of the basic tenants of his dialect approach was that anyone who professes to have ALL the answers is wrong.
So
Film School is the ONLY way = wrong
Guerilla/DVXuser/books/workshops is the ONLY way = wrong
ONLY your guidance counselor can give you valid advice= wrong
DVXuser cannot possibly yeild no valid advice on this issue = wrong
When obviously there are success stories that have taken all of the above paths
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