Who has/hasnt attended film school? (POLL)

[CharlesPapert]

Steep investment for sure! All I know is that I've worked alongside a good number of AFI grads who have done quite well in the industry and they seem enthuasiastic about the experience.

 

[robmneilson]

Steep investment for sure! All I know is that I've worked alongside a good number of AFI grads who have done quite well in the industry and they seem enthuasiastic about the experience.

I'm sure its well worth the money, if only I wasn't in so much debt as is.

 

[Prendi]

I went to film school and my advice is, don't bother... Unless you can afford an institute like VFS.

It's a waste of time and quite often the lecturers and the equipment are equally antiquated. The best advice is simples, be sure about what you want to do and then start learning that craft using the plethora of internet forums and tutorials that cost NOTHING. Once you get started and know roughly how to switch the camera on, start hassling everyone and anyone to get on set and learn how the world makes moving images. You will do this for free, which doesn't sound that great, but it's better than paying an institute to supply a lecturer, who hasn't been on a set in years, to teach you obsolete techniques.

Yeah, not a fan of education

 

[vcassel]

Got degrees in Theatre, Computer Animation, and Motion Picture Production in South Florida and, personally, I don't think film school is worth going to unless you go to one here in L.A. or in N.Y.C. where you can make working connections.

 

[agcohn]

Kind of. I attended a Communications program, but not exactly a film program.

Degree was in TV-Radio-Film and English & Textual Studies.

 

[ReelFilmGeek]

Decided recently that I will not be doing film school but instead going to school for EMT. I have been self taught and have worked with film school students and usually end up teaching them a few things. Kinda funny when you have just graduated high school. I find that just working on sets and getting experience and working on small projects testing out new styles have really helped me become a better DP.

 

[Gwerd]

I think success depends on a lot of factors, some of which we can control. Making the most of post secondary education is certainly one worth maximizing. My experience was that you got more out of it as a result of the more you put into it. Crappy jobs in the industry can also be a part of getting where you want to be, just like seemingly usless school assignments. A somewhat related quote occurs to me "Luck is merely being prepared for opportunity"....and 1 final word of encouragement, putting a positive spin on your own perception of the task at hand will help to achieve better (and likely faster) results...good luck w the paperwork!

 

[starcentral]

If you are young go to film school. You will learn faster than on your own plus network with others which will go a long way towards your future success and personal projects.

When you are a late bloomer like I am, it can take longer to learn specific crafts and can be even more challenging trying to break into an industry without an established network. You are starting from scratch, but just 20 years older.