Will I benefit from filmschool?

Jardoss said:
I've made a 49minute film, which ended up to me 18 minutes (the Harry Potter film). It had some great scenes, some bad ones, and I got to write a long script for a change. And I loved it! with all my heart, I loved the hectic process of nothing going according to plan ^^ 49 minutes isn't that far from a feature, and taken the fact that that the film wasn't written as a "film" but as a story; visualized, I know that I learnt a lot. I did a whole bunch of mistakes, so I know what not to do next. A director is almost never pleased with his work, i've never been either. The thing is: I believe in my film. I believe it will be good. And since you all tell me its a stupid thing to do, and that it wont be "watchable", ill prove you otherwise. I want to show you, what I can do, when no one believes in me ;) Of course, I love shorts, thats not the point. But this time I wanted to make a feature, simple as that- I have a story I want to tell!
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Given the quality of your short films (particularly Deja Vu), you're closer than 90% of filmmakers to having a shot at your first feature film being actually good. I think film school would be of tremendous use to someone with your drive and talent. Coming out the other side, you'd have a few more short films under your belt, and your first feature would probably be at least 4x better than it would be without. It's not because film school magically makes good filmmakers out of everyone who gets through the program -- it's because you've already got the foundation for a great career, and film school gives you 4 years to woodshed that under the helpful guidance of your instructors and with the help and support of all the friends you'll make there.

Still, ultimately it comes down to what you think is best for you, as an artist and as a professional. If you want to make mistakes on a few more short films, do it. If you want to make mistakes on a feature film, do it. If you want to make mistakes in a 4-year film program, do it. Just be sure that whatever road you take, you never stop making mistakes and you never stop learning from them. Art is no fun if things go exactly as planned, and you don't learn anything from having done everything right.

-JMT
 
Jardoss said:
Being good in science, shouldn't make you better to make movies haha. But then again, thats how the system works. And we all have to respect that.
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Well, while we might wish the only knowledge we filmmakers needed was filmmaking knowledge, the truth is that no art is created in a vacuum. You can't make a good movie about World War Two unless you know a lot about World War Two. You can't make a good movie about romance unless you've had experience with romance. You can't make a good movie about a spy unless you've know at least a little about spies. Etc. Filmmakers are artists. Art is a reflection and commentary on the real world. Artists, therefore, must be very knowledgeable about the real world.

I make films because I love showing people the world through my eyes. My best films, I think, have all been about topics I am knowledgeable on. My best writing was about the civil war. The best cinematography I've ever done was on a zombie movie in the mountains - a place I've always absolutely loved as a separate hobby from film.

If you have nothing to say about the world you won't make good films. You must have something to say, since you're making stuff already, you just aren't sure what it is yet. That's where experience and just "living life" outside of the film world will help you and why undergraduate film schools require you to be good at more than just film.

Jardoss said:
No way? So, basically, I cant go to filmschool in 3 years. More like 5? I'll have to take some kind of education, before going to filmschool? oh well, if thats what it takes, ill do it.
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No no no, haha, let me clarify (I'll use NYU undergraduate as an example but the process is typical):

The way it works (at least here in the U.S.) is that a university such as NYU has many majors or concentrations that students take. One of these majors is film. Unlike many majors (such as history or philosophy) the school only offers the film major to certain, hopefully talented, students. These students must apply for it specially. So if you want to go to NYU and major in film you must apply to NYU and apply to the film major. If you wanted to go to NYU for history you could just apply to NYU and then pick history as your major.

NYU might accept you academically but reject your film major application. Or it might reject you academically but accept your film major application. However, you can't attend NYU for film unless you've been accepted to NYU in general. If NYU did accept you all the way, however, you'd start taking classes in your major (film) right away.*

This is because, for undergraduates at least, NYU is primarily an academic institution and wants all of its students, regardless of their majors, to meet the same academic standards. Anything extra you want from NYU, such as a film major, is something extra you have to apply for.

This probably works differently for NYU graduate film students but I don't know much about that.

Not all schools will even let you apply for the film major until you've been a normal academic student there for a while. UCLA is the biggest example. You just have to do your research and find out what you want.

*and general education classes, but that's another issue. At NYU you're required to have a certain number of general education classes by the time you graduate in addition to your film classes, but it's not very many (works out to one class most semesters) and most students seem to enjoy being able to take classes in whatever passing interest they have. I'm in a logic class this semester and was in a (terrific) World War II class last semester.

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If someone else could chime in for other types of schools, such as a graduate school (NYU graduate?) or a conservatory (AFI?) we could turn this thread into a book on how film schools work...
 
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Film school is great if you can afford to attend one of the few good ones. Most colleges with film programs simply should not have them. It's a money-grab.

I couldn't afford a top rate school and I have definitely not benefited from the third rate film school I'm currently attending. The curriculum is sub-par, the resources are dismal and the students are uninspiring. Were it not for the degree at the end of the tunnel the whole thing would have been a fantastic waste of time and money.
 
@Michael Traven: Wow thank you! This was really encouraging! Once again; I'm a 100 percent focused to make this a good one;) And finish it. What you mention about film school is exactly what I want film school to be like. I've heard stories, and also may not have the financial resources to apply. Which makes me worried, of course.

And yes, once again, I will take advantage of my age and simply do all the mistakes I can, as long as I can. I know one of the top directors in Norway, and a professional screenwriter, who both want a look at my script. I asked them to be harsh and almost mean with the critics, and not look at me as a 16 year old. This will hopefully help a lot. Even if they hate it, I'll rewrite it and send it back again for a new take.

@Jester2138: I agree with you, of course. Although I do think there are exceptions: Say we have a class about plants. If I wanna make a film about plants, I'll discover that interest pretty early in the process. Therefore, having a huge project and spending weeks on unnecessary information about plants, is to me pointless. If you wanna know all about plants, you can always take some courses. I'm sure you know what I mean. And I totally agree with you; a vision, your vision, to other people. Love it.

Ahh! Ok, I get it. Because, say NFTS in London, you apply for film and film only. You either get in, or you don't. So if I understand what you're saying; I may have to take a year on UCLA, without knowing whether I get in to film school? And in NYU i just have to get good grades, and join them both? Or am I just being retarded, haha^^?

@arroway:
Iknow, and this is what I'm afraid of!

Thank you, all of you!
Jarand
 
Jardoss said:
Ahh! Ok, I get it. Because, say NFTS in London, you apply for film and film only. You either get in, or you don't. So if I understand what you're saying; I may have to take a year on UCLA, without knowing whether I get in to film school? And in NYU i just have to get good grades, and join them both? Or am I just being retarded, haha^^?
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Nope, you've got it.

NFTS is a conservatory, I believe, which means most students have experience in more areas than film already and are usually between 25 and 35 in age. AFI in Los Angeles is the same. Undergraduate programs at NYU/USC/UCLA/etc. accept students much younger than that. Graduate programs at schools like NYU/USC/UCLA/etc. generally require you to already have an undergraduate degree in something (not necessarily film) before they accept you (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

At NYU the graduate program is virtually the same as the undergraduate program, just meant for a different age / experienced group. You wouldn't get an undergraduate film degree and then go get a graduate film degree, for example. I think most other universities work the same.

If you want to start film as soon as possible then you should be looking at undergraduate film programs at the various universities that offer them.
 
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Ah, thank you! I see. hard process. Time consuming. But wow, it sounds like so much fun! I cant wait haha!
I'll start looking for undergraduate film degrees right away ;)
Thank you again Jester, you've helped me a lot. And I really do appreciate it.

jarand
 
Isaac_Brody said:
Nice work! Your stuff has a decent polish and execution, but it is weak on narrative and story. Those things you'd get from filmschool. For making money if you haven't already done this look for films being shot near you, contact them to help out on the crew. If you have experience on the lighting side you can grip/gaffer for cash, or if you're on camera crew I suggest asking to be trained for assistant camera positions. If you work hard and network you can find these gigs near you that pay a little cash. If you don't have experience on sets you'd be a producion assistant. These jobs are unglamorous but you learn the set hierarchy and how things function on a bigger film set. Jobs that pay the bills decently? Learn how to produce, or become an editor and intern at post production houses that work on commercials. If you did all the sfx in your shorts yourself that talent with after effects and 3D is in demand at a lot of places.
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i live in vancouver and there are many films being shot here. whats the best way of contacting them for? I'm thinking of attending the art institute in vancouver but would love to get my foot in the door in the industry.
 
There's been some talented DVXusers who live and shoot in Vancouver. Off the top I can think of Norm Li, though not sure he is around here as much. You can look up local production companies and ask to intern/volunteer on shoots. Write a simple query letter explaining who you are and what you want to get out of the experience.

For getting a foot in the door and with no experience, volunteering and being a production assistant is a simple way to get in, work hard, and network. You bust your ass and people notice, and you absorb what's going on and make a good impression and see which area you want to go into. Then reach out to those people you met after shoots ask to help out on further stuff and bump up to learn a different aspect or specialty.

Generally if you have a pretty good attitude and a great work ethic and good energy on set people are happy to have you. And if after a few volunteer gigs or getting experience doing a specific role and doing it well you can start to apply for those little jobs that you are now experienced for.
 
Jardoss said:
And yes, once again, I will take advantage of my age and simply do all the mistakes I can, as long as I can. I know one of the top directors in Norway, and a professional screenwriter, who both want a look at my script. I asked them to be harsh and almost mean with the critics, and not look at me as a 16 year old. This will hopefully help a lot. Even if they hate it, I'll rewrite it and send it back again for a new take.
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Before spending a dime on film school it sounds you have access to some great resources in Norway. Having access to one of the top directors in Norway and screenwriters can be as good if not better than a fulltime film school. Especially if the industry is small enough and you can work your way into some type of mentorship scenario.

Just off the top of my head I googled and saw that Norway has a film commission.

http://www.norwegianfilm.com/index.php?ID=FAQ&ID2=Oversikt&ID3=1

And contact info for the film commission.

http://www.norwegianfilm.com/index.php?ID=Contact

There's no reason why you can't reach out and get in touch and network and try and get on some of these productions and work your way in. With the skills you've already demonstrated you could perhaps even go straight to working, and all this without spending one dollar of debt on film school. Film school is great, but if you have access to top talent that will mentor you this is even better. Take advantage of local resources first before taking on any debt.
 
@Isaac_Brody: Thanks a lot! Hmm, then I'll definitely take advantage of that :)
But of course, Norway is a small country in film. Very small. But thanks again, I'll have a look at the links, and try to mentor my way in to the busniness!


Thanks,
Jarand
 
Just finished checking out your shorts, maybe it is worth rolling the dice. You seem to have access to some amazing scenery and locations where you are, well worth exploiting. I would contact the film commission to find out what kind of support they offer, they should also be able to direct you towards any local educational opportunities. You may be able to submit your script for a grant, good practice even if you don't win one because you will probably be dealing with them again in the future if you want to make films in your home country. Also check on the conditions they attach - some state based film commissions place well-intentioned but crippling limitations on the projects they support, that tend only to guarantee failure (such as a requirement to make some sort of comment on the national character and typically only supporting boring little dramas that fulfill the requirements but noone wants to see). Yours may be more progressive.
 
From personal experience, film school was the biggest waste of money my parents have ever spent. I was lucky enough to have my parents pay for my education, and I appreciate it very much, but my film school experience was horrible. If you do go to a film school, I highly recommend staying away from University of Miami.
 
@Egg Born Son: Thank you, really appreciate that! :)
The film commission is a bit weird yes, it seems they require the film to have something to do with the Norwegian Society, and that I'm too young. However, I have many resources ;)
As mentioned earlier in the post, I have access to some screenwriters and a top director who both wants to have a look! So really excited! I'll post their comment here in this thread, so we can see how this all turns out.
Anyway, thank you for a great answer! Much appreciated!

@Cory Braun: Yes, haha, that is my worst nightmare. Because I have to spend my own money, haha. I'll avoid Miami then, than you! :)


Thanks,
Jarand
 
To me the bottom line would be to weigh the costs of film school vs the benefits....because surely there would be some positive points to attending film school. BUT, in this day and age.......the information age....you can learn a HUGE amount on Google/Wikipedia/DVX User/etc and the books others have mentioned. If you have the discipline to do so, which it sounds like you certainly do, put yourself through your own brand of film school...which would include time spent learning about the whole process, filming shorts/working with others, etc etc. Just keep a well rounded aproach, from written theory to practical applications and you will gain as much as your imagination will allow you to. As far as networking is concerned, that will come as you begin putting together projects to shoot and working with different people.
 
Jardoss said:
@Egg Born Son: Thank you, really appreciate that! :)
The film commission is a bit weird yes, it seems they require the film to have something to do with the Norwegian Society, and that I'm too young. However, I have many resources ;)
As mentioned earlier in the post, I have access to some screenwriters and a top director who both wants to have a look! So really excited! I'll post their comment here in this thread, so we can see how this all turns out.
Anyway, thank you for a great answer! Much appreciated!

@Cory Braun: Yes, haha, that is my worst nightmare. Because I have to spend my own money, haha. I'll avoid Miami then, than you! :)


Thanks,
Jarand
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Are you Norwegian? I'm Swedish. Where in Norway are you?
 
@pulpfiction007: That is so true. You've got a point there. Google, internet, libraries, etc. Having a few contacts in the industry, as well as being as eager as I am. But oh well, film school does seem like a very good start when it comes to filmmaking. And so true, I have to challenge my own imagination!

@Jawa Ex Machina: Yea, Norwegian ;) Live in Oslo.

Thanks again,
Jarand
 
UPDATE: Thanks to all of you, I applied to USC is Los Angeles and actually got in. I'll be attending the Film & Tv program starting this fall! I'm eager to get into the film community in Los Angeles, so PM me if you're for anything :-) I submitted the trailer for my latest film as my "visual sample", do have a look if you're interested: https://vimeo.com/99476341

Best,
Jarand
 
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