Switching majors

I

IndieFilmer

Active member
I am about to receive an associates degree in pre-architecture, instead of continuing this path and becoming an architect I have been wanting to transfer into a film school. Film is the only thing I have ever been passionate about. I have been making shorts since I was 9 years old with a stupid RC Black and White camera. I am always reading about directing,screenwriting and always trying to learn because it is truly the only thing i love learning about. I watch movies constantly and I am just coming to a point in my life where I need to make this decision. So do I go with Architecture and have better financial stability or do I follow my passion and go to film school. its the battle between heart and mind. I wouldn't be able to live with film as just a free time hobby, It is the only thing that makes me feel alive. Please help...
 
If you're already close to getting your degree in architecture, I'd go through with that. That way you can work for as many years as you need (shooting shorts the whole time) until you are ready to fund your first feature.

Just because you don't go to film school doesn't mean you can't be a filmmaker. If in 20 years the film thing hasn't worked out, you can always still fall back on the financial stability of the architecture degree.

My 2 cents.
 
Yea you make it seem like it has to be one or the other... countless successful directors have never went to film school and there is a whole lot of people who believe your time and money is better used making shorts.

So i would finish out your degree, use your financial stability to make shorts and then eventually a feature... and if your film making career bombs you have something solid to fall back on.
 
That piece of paper is more important in this market than anything. Get it so you have something to do in the event you aren't as good of a film maker you think you are.
 
Yea man, I dropped from school to pursue this film thing (although I was in theater and business but there were politics involved, namely it felt our professors weren't aiding to our needs lol). But I'm scared of failure at this point, I've put myself in a position of "film maker or die!" because I have no back up plan..essentially if I fall, I must fall forward. However it would be nice to have something to turn to if this doesn't work.

Maybe I'm brain washed but I don't want to "fail" I'm trying to do my own production company.."small scale" of course, and I have access to money, so my task is making something an audience will love so I can make some straight to DVD sales and maybe sell a few short films. I simply CANNOT fail..if you're looking to create your own lane, you probably won't fail, you might not get the success you're hoping for (millions of dollars, yachts, pretty women)..but you might make 40k a year and make films for a living!! It might be less than what you're hoping for, but if you're realistic, you can be successful (it's measured differently for everyone).
 
I dropped out of film school to pursue the film thing. ;) Film school is immensely overrated. It would probably be well worthwhile if it were totally free, and all you had to do was pay for your rent, food, expenses, etc., then it'd be totally awesome. But if you're going to spend $20,000, $30,000, even $40,000 (L.A. Film School, for instance) per year, you are much better off pouring that money into short films. Learn the craft on your own, it's really not that hard to figure out what you need to know to be a director, just by hiring a pro crew on a few shoots you'll learn a lot.
 
I've heard many a story of people pursuing a career in law, business, or God knows what else, getting to a place of financial stability and then focusing more on what their true passion is. That's not to say you have to necessarily pursue a different career first but I'd certainly advise you completing that other degree, at least. Like other's have said, i don't see why having a degree in arch. would keep you from pursuing a career in film anyway.
Education is a good thing and comes from many places. All that knowledge is bound to play into your film life, especially screenwriting. There's been more than one scientist who's written a work in fiction based on their real world work.
 
I would have to agree. In my opinion you need money to make it in film, one way or another. No money, you can't make any good shorts, any good portfolio work, can't buy equipment, and can't afford long stretches of no work while you try to establish yourself, so then you're forced to be a PA or grip if you're lucky enough even to find those jobs, probably for $100/day much of the time, and now everyone will see you as a low-level position on set. I think you're better off entering into the risky world of filmmaking with some financial resources at your disposal to get where you want.
 
Hah, replace "architecture" with "law", and I'm in the same position as you are in. I'm planning to go to film school, but instead of production, I might study screenplay writing. The choice needs to be made pretty soon, at least for me.

You do what you love. But no doubt I am scared for what the future holds.
 
Here's the thing, like I said I dropped out, but I have a dad who is capable of funding a project for me with a decent budget (200-300k) so I was afforded a luxury some people aren't. One thing that you CAN do with an arch. degree....is architecture.....and usually people who hire architects have money..............you following me??? You make contacts you see? Here we go......then, you ask them to.........INVEST IN YOUR FILMS!! While in college I became BFF's with a girl, who's grand parents won a NICE amount of money in the lotto. That's two people that can help me....not to mention I met a girlfriend who's brother plays pro ball......follow me here! You see, in this life, you can make contacts, especially if you put yourself in positions to make them.

Film school, that has it's plus, there are contacts there, but remember everyone TRYING to do what you're doing, doesn't always have your back..I studied theater and I swear, I have no proof of this, but my teachers felt like they picked favorites..not only did they, but it felt as though they might've held some people down. So..with that said...MAKE contacts, especially rich ones that hire architects lol!
 
I studied Computer Engineering for a year before transferring to Film.

As I saw it, anything technical can be picked up on one's own (and faster than having someone teach it to you). So I concentrated on theory instead of production, and started working on feature films to gain practical experience.

However, since you're close to completing your architecture degree, I say finish it, and then start on film (or try to use your credits to get into an MA Film programme). Film and Architecture are surprisingly similar on a theoretical level.
 
Echoing everyone else's advice, finish your degree. You can always do continuing education to shore up the areas where you're weak in. You don't need a degree in filmmaking to be a filmmaker.

You can go to film school to get a piece of paper. Or you can go to learn. I you just want to learn, pick up a book, a camera, and do it. The boards are a great start and there are plenty of websites too.

Once you get to a point where you can't grow on your own, find others to push you. Sometimes you have to go to film school for that.
 
I can't tell you how helpful everyone here as been. Thank you so much. The atmosphere here is truly amazing, I feel that I have a family I can turn to. Everyone here understands what its like to be in a similar position and it really gives me some insight to what other people have done or are doing. I feel very lucky to be a apart of this forum. I think I will continue my Architecture and just see where things lead me. Thanks again everyone!
 
CRProductions said:
Here's the thing, like I said I dropped out, but I have a dad who is capable of funding a project for me with a decent budget (200-300k) so I was afforded a luxury some people aren't. One thing that you CAN do with an arch. degree....is architecture.....and usually people who hire architects have money..............you following me??? You make contacts you see? Here we go......then, you ask them to.........INVEST IN YOUR FILMS!! While in college I became BFF's with a girl, who's grand parents won a NICE amount of money in the lotto. That's two people that can help me....not to mention I met a girlfriend who's brother plays pro ball......follow me here! You see, in this life, you can make contacts, especially if you put yourself in positions to make them.

Film school, that has it's plus, there are contacts there, but remember everyone TRYING to do what you're doing, doesn't always have your back..I studied theater and I swear, I have no proof of this, but my teachers felt like they picked favorites..not only did they, but it felt as though they might've held some people down. So..with that said...MAKE contacts, especially rich ones that hire architects lol!
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I'm in a similar position in that I went into film because at least I'm not struggling for money enough that I have to make money to pay the bills, essentially. I can give this a fair chance and see what happens without having to worry about being on the streets ;)

I don't think that people you meet in film school are a useful connection whatsoever, but that's just me. They are great to hire for your crew, I suppose, if you trust some of them. But do you really think they're going to give you any jobs? There were only a few people in my film school who were good connections, and they were all rich. That was me, my business partner, and maybe one other guy. The rest are just poor wannabe filmmakers who are NOT legitimate connections. A connection is someone who has the ability to help you out significantly. I can offer people work, because I make projects, whether for myself or clients, and I own a lot of equipment, so I'm a connection. The other kids can't even compete with people I can hire on Craigslist for $100/day, so they really are not connections. Nice guys? Sure. But not film industry connections.

The connections you will make that matter are out here in the real world, not at film school.
 
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