Do you really need to go to Film school? - Page 2

[quote]Dave Davis:
That is so true, my mate who's been a commercials director for about ten years was hiring a new trainee AD about 4 years ago.
He placed ads in all the colleges and university's but his boss then came along and told him he had the perfect man for the job, his 17yr old nephew.
And it was basically in terms of He WILL get the job, totally regardless of qualifications, experience even enthusiasm for gods sake.
When he told me i was more than a little pissed off. My mate is now a freelance and the nephew (the last he heard) was "moved to a less demaning position"

Well, regaurdless of wether of not you have to go to film school, I can say that this thread is a breath of fresh air.

I'm glad to see a group of film fanatics that are as deteremined to make it in film as I am. It's kind of suporting in a way. *sniff*

But seriously, I think a lot of the advice here is good. I hope Werewolf gurl is listening and getting a clearer image of how she wants to do it. If you do want to soak it all up like a sponge, then my advice is to go to school. Even a community colledge, and learn the tools and knowledge, because without training, you're gonna burn your brain on just figuring out editing computer programs.

I'm not saying get a AA or BA, just take a few classes. Get familair with how the camera works. Learn three-point lighting. Understand your way around the Avid editing program. It can only help you. I'm kind of in the same situation. I want to make movies, and at the same time didn't want to spend $$$ or time learning it all. I just wanted to get out there and learn it all along the way. But the truth is, I'm glad I've been taking classes, because I wouldn't have gotten very far at all.

Think of it this way; a lot of the people posting on this thread want to make it in film just as bad, if not MORE than you do, right? Some of us, have or are recieving the information/training/experince that you haven't, right? Well, why is an executive from Universal Pictures going to pick you (let's say you didn't go to school), over say Starving Dogs who has twice if not more experince in film than you do? Just how much can you bring to the table, if you haven't recieved ANY training in filmmaking?

I'm not saying "YOU MUST GO TO FILM SCHOOL", but I think a few classes can't hurt you. Even if it's just scriptwriting and cinematography, it will help you a lot more than NOT taking the classes.

Again, not words to live by, but something to think about.

- Fixxxer

I can agree with this. Just make sure they are film making classes or classes like screenwriting and cinematography. A lot of colleges want to make film theorists and not film makers. Choose wisely. Fixxxer makes really good points in his post.

The quote system on this board is a pain in the arse!

Look it's very simple. The comment I made is how I feel about everything. You have to want it more and have twice the confidence of the guy sitting next to you to make it! This is the way I approach everything I want. Of course, you need the knowledge and skills but when it comes down to whether or not you get it, it is going to be based on how much desire is in you.

Look at it this way. You're an executive looking to hire one person in a highly skilled position. You have two people sitting there with 2 resumes both with the proper education and experience. You look at the two guys and guy A is nervously scratching his leg with his hand and is ever so slightly perspiring. Guy B is sitting straight up arms at his sides looking very confident and sure of himself. Who are you going to hire?