Hey everyone. How important, in your opinion, is going to school? I have always had an interest in "behind the scenes" stuff, special effects, directing, etc, and I am now going for that long time dream, but I'm curious how important film school is, or if this industry is more, "Your talent will take you farther." I have been looking into moving to Southern Cali or NY, and attending one of the film schools there, but, between cost of moving, cost of living, and cost of school, it's just such a huge burden. Is there any way I can become a succesful director living in Tennessee and not having any film school? (Ultimately, I want out of Tennessee anyways, so Cali or NY are goals in the future).
School
- Thread starter TWISTEDII
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im in film school right now.... and i thought that i wouldnt need school because talent is what it basically comes down to.... but they teach you how to use your talent.... different camera angles to change emotion, how to properly light a set, screenplay and story boarding....
everything you go to school for you can learn yourself working on sets and being active in the film community... they just simplify and speed up the process and while your learning in school you can still be active in the film community so your gaining knowledge and experience from everywhere
plus most schools have great technical classes that get you access to very expensive equipment that on a film set, they wouldnt let you touch, unless you knew what the hell you were doing.....and being in school you can learn what the hell to do with 10,000 dollar cameras.....
also youll make many connections and have many competitions to enter your films in..... youll also be able to work with a lot of other students in film, put ideas together, make movies, and could end up with a good production crew
but yea it is expensive.... thats why i joined the army reserves haha.... they pay for most of my school now
but dont listen to me because im a nobody lol and i really dont know how far a college education can get you in this business.... im just telling you know my experience so far
everything you go to school for you can learn yourself working on sets and being active in the film community... they just simplify and speed up the process and while your learning in school you can still be active in the film community so your gaining knowledge and experience from everywhere
plus most schools have great technical classes that get you access to very expensive equipment that on a film set, they wouldnt let you touch, unless you knew what the hell you were doing.....and being in school you can learn what the hell to do with 10,000 dollar cameras.....
also youll make many connections and have many competitions to enter your films in..... youll also be able to work with a lot of other students in film, put ideas together, make movies, and could end up with a good production crew
but yea it is expensive.... thats why i joined the army reserves haha.... they pay for most of my school now
but dont listen to me because im a nobody lol and i really dont know how far a college education can get you in this business.... im just telling you know my experience so far
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yea my university isnt a great film school... but its decent... to much experimental stuff for my liking though.... but yea i was a slacker pretty much in HS haha had a lot to do with the amount of herbage i smoked... can i say that on here??
but then again ive also worked with tons of people who havent gone to film school and are more successful than people i work with that have already graduated.... i guess its just how much effort and drive you have.... but im not good at anything else so why not do what i have to do to get ahead of everyone else....like going to school, working on a film set, and teaching myself how to use my film programs through online tutorials....
either choice you make i think you can be as successful as you want to be
but then again ive also worked with tons of people who havent gone to film school and are more successful than people i work with that have already graduated.... i guess its just how much effort and drive you have.... but im not good at anything else so why not do what i have to do to get ahead of everyone else....like going to school, working on a film set, and teaching myself how to use my film programs through online tutorials....
either choice you make i think you can be as successful as you want to be
For me, film school was downright essential. Film school basically makes you think about film 24/7. Not only are you going to class for film, you live with your fellow filmmakers. You talk about film A LOT. It's like how normal people talk about sports. You talk about the films you've watched, gossip about other student work, your own work, your hopes and dreams, the actual technique and craft.
I'm pretty confident you will encounter that atmosphere no matter where you go. Not all schools are created equal though. No matter what you do, pick a program which requires you to make many short films from freshman year on. You should be making films constantly, because it is the only way to substantially improve. If you hear your program won't let you make films until your junior year, don't go. Besides, you'd probably go crazy.
I'm pretty confident you will encounter that atmosphere no matter where you go. Not all schools are created equal though. No matter what you do, pick a program which requires you to make many short films from freshman year on. You should be making films constantly, because it is the only way to substantially improve. If you hear your program won't let you make films until your junior year, don't go. Besides, you'd probably go crazy.
I was thinking of taking workshops too, but I'm not sure if thats really gonna help at all. I know the NYFA has 1 week, 2 week, all the way up to 8 week workshops. It's not as expensive as full tuition, but I doubt I'd gain as much either. It might be a good way to get my feet wet and maybe start school afterwards. I guess that would also mean moving to NY for an 8 week workshop, lol.