why go to film school - pdf

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I went James Madison University and majored in the School of Media Arts & Design, with a concentration in Digital Video Producing and Directing. I combined this with 2 minors, Creative Writing and Film Studies. This school is very respected, the SMAD program has some of the best facilities in the country, and the professors are incredible. I've never been to film school, but I believe (from what I've heard) that it would be very similar to what I did at JMU. Not to mention that being at JMU also gave me the oppurtunity to get a broader liberal arts education while pursuing my interests in Narrative Movie-making (I say movie making since we didn't use film cameras).

Anyway, I had a great college experience and would recommend this program to anyone debating the whole to film school or not to film school topic. Check it out.
http://smad.jmu.edu/
 
We have all read these Film School vs. No Film School debates and its like talking about politics or religion. It seems to be a lose-lose argument.

I think that it is very impressive when someone who has a passion for filmmaking or anything related can hit the streets, learn what they know by doing and make a career out of it. To them, they don't need the extra hoopla that goes along with going to school. And for them, thats fine. Let that guy and girl be. Thats how they want to approach the same goal.

I have a buddy friend of my who never went to film or video school, and hes a regular on this site actually...hes wicked talented. He's entirely self-taught, his driven and he didn't need a degree to point him in the right direction. He is one of a BILLION other examples...

For those of us who chose the school route, we seem to do it for a different set of reasons. Yes, the goal is the same; to become more proficient with respects to filmmaking and videography but its possible many of us are driven to go to school for a set of intangibles that differ from post to post. For me, my folks never went to college. My friends were all going and I just didn't want to continue that trend. So, I NEEDED to go to school. My need to go to school isn't the same as my need to go to film school. So, while I wouldn't have changed a thing, there are perfectly strong arguments for both sides...

Point is, if you are faced with the question, "should I go to film school? or should I not go to film school?" you really need to ask yourself that question.
 
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rlm7189 said:
We have all read these Film School vs. No Film School debates and its like talking about politics or religion. It seems to be a lose-lose argument.
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I don't think anyone here is presuming to know what the right decision is. What prompted me to look down on the book initially was that my impression of it was that it was going to be another book that said "going to film school is pointless, just go make films blah blah blah." I personally disagree with that sentiment, I wasn't trying to tell everyone that it was the film school way or the highway.

I agree with what you're saying, but I think it's already been made quite obvious. There's no need to suggest that we're arguing over which is the best, because we're not.
 
i never had the money or the time to go to film school, had been working for ten years as editor and for two years as dp, but i think i would be a far better professional if i did go. by the way, the book seems to me like a very good introduction to film making.
cheers
 
Eastside Parkway said:
I agree with what you're saying, but I think it's already been made quite obvious. There's no need to suggest that we're arguing over which is the best, because we're not.
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Well, then you haven't read any of the other threads pertaining to this exact topic. They almost always turn into 'which path is best.'
 
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