Interested in directing

NYU, where I go, is full of pretensious fucks who feel that it's their job to "save America with their art". But it's very hands on, you do a lot of work, and get cool perks to make up for the obscene tuition. Plus, it's in NYC.

Then again, I'm too busy being drunk off my ass so I won't realize that I'm in Cinema Studies (which is the black sheep of the arts school here, TSOA, because unlike our bretheren in film & TV, dance, dramatic writing, and drama, we spend all our time studying films instead of making them). Or so say my artistic colleagues.

You don't need film school, IMHO. If you have the passion, go out with whatever camcorder you can find and start making your own films. Pursue a career, but let Hollywood come to you. But NEVER hire a dancer for anything besides dance. They are unreliable and have their own ideas about art.

Now. Go and do your best. "Be bold and mighty forces will come to you aid!" Goerte said that.

There's still time for you to become a person of substance...
There's still time

That's debatable (sp?). NYU is full of 'em, but there are the others who love all kinds of movies and aren't as pretentious as you think. You just have to look around... Then again, the 6th floor is a different place from the 9th... And we film and television production majors spend most of our time watching films as well when we don't have to make them, otherwise, why be somewhere where you can't learn from others?

But anyways, very cool Jackass. Here is what I would suggest.

Go here: <a href="http://chud.com/board/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=45&t=000079&p=" target="_blank">http://chud.com/board/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=45&t=000079&p=</a> (probably one of the best 'starter' threads on these boards)...

From that thread, go out (and since I see that you live in NH) to either Cinema 93 in Concord or even try one of those crappy Movie Gallery Chains they've got everywhere. Start in the classics, start with Hitchcock, Bergman, Fellini, Kurosawa, etc... or start where ever you'd like and then BRANCH out. Learn, watch, study. Have fun. The moment watching movies turns into a chore for you, stop, rethink what you want to do because then this may not be right for you. You've got to love movies, not like them, but love them.

Go to Amazon.com, look at their book selection. Learn about cinematography. There's a good "screencraft" series of books that will give you an idea about the art and techniques involved. Search cinematography in their book sections. Go from there.

Film school may be a "waste of time" as others say, but if you don't know anyone in the "industry" and that's where you want to go, film school is essential to make a thing called CONTACTS, people who might be able to help you out later on in life. So, in a way, film school is a waste and a blessing. It's rather fun and you meet some great people, IMHO.

Looking for film schools? Well, that's up to you, but the "biggies" (where a lot goes on) is USC, UCLA, NYU, FSU, UT-Austin (I believe) and so on and so forth. Try doing a search online and then go from there. Good luck!

I, of course, am forgetting a lot, but I'm sure others will chime in and add more. So, closing, I say watch, read, learn and look around and the branch out once you find something that works for you.

There's film festivals that love to honor young filmmakers too. Some even give out money, if you enter something worthwhile.

Do some shorts on video. Don't go all out on a feature until you've learned a few things. You're gonna make some mistakes at first, but you learn more by doing it than by waiting for someone to give you an opportunity. Make your own opportunities.