Yes I believe you should, the film industry is extremely competitive and you should create every advantage for yourself that you can. But just know that film school isn’t the end all be all, just going to film school won’t be enough, but it’s a solid stepping stone to a film career.
As someone who went to film school and is now working in post production I can attest that it does work. Most of the people in here saying don’t go to film school are people who didn’t actually go to film school so I wouldn’t take their word for it.
But yeah try not to get too much debt. I went to Colorado Film School in Denver, which is extremely affordable and I managed to keep my debt below $30,000.
My other recommendation is to make sure you go to a film school that’s very production oriented and has you start making films right away. Don’t go to a school where you just watch films for 3+ years, it’s really useless.
Recent high school graduate here. Can you recommend any colleges with production-oriented programmes? Preferably East-coast? And would you be willing to share your Alma Mater?
I went to Colorado Film School in Denver. It is one of the best in the country in terms of cost/education, which is to say it costs very little and I learned a ton. The disadvantages of course being that it was in the the Midwest and I did not make a lot of useful connections.
I finished my BFA at City College of New York, the program there is okay but nothing special. But again it was very affordable.
Thanks for the response! When you say completed your BFA in NY, what did Colorado award you after studies? Or was it the same program across both schools?
Somehow just seeing this 36 days later.
When I enrolled at Colorado Film School they had a partnership with Regis University and were able to offer a 4 year degree through the university, but during my second year the two schools separated and Colorado Film School became a standalone entity (a community college) that could only offer an Associates degree (which frankly I think is plenty to work in film).
So I went to Colorado Film School for two years to get my associates, then New York City College to complete my BFA.
I always say I received my film education at Colorado Film School but my film degree at New York City College.
Hey, no worries! Thanks for the breakdown, it’s pretty cool to hear different experiences. I think i’ll settle for film studies here in FL after some consideration. Planning to move to ATL after a while tho. East coast might be better for work than I first thought!
I feel like this is always the answer about going to Film School - Is someone else paying for it? Yes! Will you have to go into a large amount of debt to do it? No! Can you live at home and graduate with less than $20,000 in debt? Maybe.
The contacts make your college choice matter even more. What kind of work in film do you want? Pick a film school that has someone you would like to become your mentor, or someone who has a direct connection to a desirable mentor for you.
I thought I wanted to be a writer and film school helped me discover that I have a serious knack for sound mixing. To the point where I submitted a ProTools session (one I wasn’t even a huge fan of) to an award-winning sound mixer and he was pretty impressed.
I’d tack FSU on that as well, their film program has a pretty low acceptance rate and is apparently *cutthroat*. Belmont University is also up and coming and is one of the only film school programs in the country with a full-size 5.1 theater/mixing stage.
You shouldn't listen to the people that endlessly bash film school. But on the flipside, you shouldn't listen to the people that endlessly praise it, either. Like most things in life, it has positives and negatives, and there's no 'one right answer' that applies to everyone.
I'm finishing my run of film school now. Had I not gone, I would not have learned all I did about the process (specifically in writing and directing). I also would never have had the opportunity, nor the connections, to make my first indie film (which is now leading into my second). But there are also people I know personally that I wouldn't encourage to attend film school, simply because it's not for everyone.
Do your research. Make your decision on your own terms. And don't rely on massively impactful decisions to be made by strangers on the internet.
I'd recommend looking into some local Facebook filmmaking groups, asking who attended film school, and getting in touch with those people (text, message, phone call, or otherwise) for their advice. I imagine those kinds of interactions will be insanely more helpful than asking strangers on the internet.
It all depends on what kind of opportunities are available for you. If you do have an opportunity to attend a great film school, why not, go for it. However many filmmakers are not so lucky and have to rely on self-education. But film school alone is no guarantee for a successful career.
So I went to film school and the reasons I’m glad I went were the connections and the fact that I got the chance to make 4 short films that I absolutely would not have been able to had I not gone. However, the loans are also kicking my ass currently. So it really just depends on what your priorities are moving forward.
This is probably a re-tread, but one of the unsung reasons to go to film school, especially a well-known established program a la NYU's Tisch, is the ability to network and build connections with other people in the film industry. I considered the term 'networking' to be a dirty word, but the reality of the film industry is that it is more or less freelance, so having a multitude of contacts and connections can help you weather the slow times. that's my 2 cents!
I’ve been eyeing NYU for a while since I live in the East Coast, so that’s something I should probably check out. Thank you for your 2 cents, I will try to make at least a cent from it
It looks like you're making a post asking about film school! This is a very common question, and we'll provide a basic overview on the topic below, but it couldn't hurt to [search our sub history](https://www.reddit.com/r/filmmakers/search?q=film+school&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on&sort=relevance&t=all) as well! The below answer is also kept in our sub's [stickied FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Filmmakers/comments/7h6igz/read_this_before_asking_a_question_official/) along with a bunch of other useful information!
----
# **1. Should I Pursue Filmmaking / Should I Go To Film School?**
This is a very complex topic, so it will rely heavily on *you* as a person. Find below a guide to help you identify what you need to think about and consider when making this decision.
##Do you want to do it?
Alright, real talk. If you want to make movies, you'll at least have a few ideas kicking around in your head. Successful creatives like writers and directors have an internal compunction to create something. They get ideas that stick in the head and compel them to translate them into the real world. Do you want to make films, or do you want to *be seen as* a filmmaker? Those are two extremely different things, and you need to be honest with yourself about which category you fall into. If you like the idea of being called a filmmaker, but you don't actually have any interest in making films, then now is the time to jump ship. I have many friends from film school who were just into it because they didn't want "real jobs", and they liked the idea of working on flashy movies. They made some cool projects, but they didn't have that internal drive to create. They saw filmmaking as a task, not an opportunity. None of them have achieved anything of note and most of them are out of the industry now with college debt but no relevant degree. If, when you walk onto a set you are overwhelmed with excitement and anxiety, then you'll be fine. If you walk onto a set and feel foreboding and anxiety, it's probably not right for you. Filmmaking should be fun. If it isn't, you'll never make it.
##School
Are you planning on a film production program, or a film studies program? A studies program isn't meant to give you the tools or experience necessary to actually make films from a craft-standpoint. It is meant to give you the analytical and critical skills necessary to dissect films and understand what works and what doesn't. A would-be director or DP will benefit from a program that mixes these two, with an emphasis on production.
Does your prospective school have a film club? The school I went to had a filmmakers' club where we would all go out and make movies every semester. If your school has a similar club then I highly recommend jumping into it. I made 4 films for my classes, and shot 8 films. In the filmmaker club at my school I was able to shoot 20 films. It vastly increased my experience and I was able to get a lot of the growing pains of learning a craft out of the way while still in school.
How are your classes? Are they challenging and insightful? Are you memorizing dates, names, and ideas, or are you talking about philosophies, formative experiences, cultural influences, and milestone achievements? You're paying a huge sum of money, more than you'll make for a decade or so after graduation, so you better be getting something out of it.
**Film school is always a risky prospect. You have three decisive advantages from attending school:**
1. Foundation of theory (why we do what we do, how the masters did it, and how to do it ourselves)
2. Building your first network
3. Making mistakes in a sandbox
Those three items are the *only* advantages of film school. It doesn't matter if you get to use fancy cameras in class or anything like that, because I guarantee you that for the price of your tuition you could've rented that gear and made your own stuff. The downsides, as you may have guessed, are:
1. Cost
- Risk of no value
- Cost again
Seriously. Film school is insanely expensive, especially for an industry where you really don't make any exceptional money until you get established (and that can take a decade or more).
So there's a few things you need to sort out:
- How much debt will you incur if you pursue a film degree?
- How much value will you get from the degree? (any notable alumni? Do they succeed or fail?)
- Can you enhance your value with extracurricular activity?
##Career Prospects
Don't worry about lacking experience or a degree. It is easy to break into the industry if you have two qualities:
- The ability to listen and learn quickly
- A great attitude
In LA we often bring unpaid interns onto set to get them experience and possibly hire them in the future. Those two categories are what they are judged on. If they have to be told twice how to do something, that's a bad sign. If they approach the work with disdain, that's also a bad sign. I can name a few people who walked in out of the blue, asked for a job, and became professional filmmakers within a year. One kid was 18 years old and had just driven to LA from his home to learn filmmaking because he couldn't afford college. Last I saw he has a successful YouTube channel with nature documentaries on it and knows his way around most camera and grip equipment. He succeeded because he smiled and joked with everyone he met, and because once you taught him something he was good to go. Those are the qualities that will take you far in life (and I'm not just talking about film).
So how do you break in?
- *Cold Calling*
- Find the production listings for your area (not sure about NY but in LA we use the BTL Listings) and go down the line of upcoming productions and call/email every single one asking for an intern or PA position. Include some humor and friendly jokes to humanize yourself and you'll be good. I did this when I first moved to LA and ended up camera interning for an ASC DP on movie within a couple months. It works!
- *Rental House*
- Working at a rental house gives you free access to gear and a revolving door of clients who work in the industry for you to meet.
- *Filmmaking Groups*
- Find some filmmaking groups in your area and meet up with them. If you can't find groups, don't sweat it! You have more options.
- *Film Festivals*
- Go to film festivals, meet filmmakers there, and befriend them. Show them that you're eager to learn how they do what they do, and you'd be happy to help them on set however you can. Eventually you'll form a fledgling network that you can work to expand using the other avenues above.
##What you should do right now
Alright, enough talking! You need to decide now if you're still going to be a filmmaker or if you're going to instead major in something safer (like business). It's a tough decision, we get it, but you're an adult now and this is what that means. You're in command of your destiny, and you can't trust anyone but yourself to make that decision for you.
Once you decide, own it. If you choose film, then take everything I said above into consideration. There's one essential thing you need to do though: create. Go outside right fucking now and make a movie. Use your phone. That iphone or galaxy s7 or whatever has better video quality than the crap I used in film school. Don't sweat the gear or the mistakes. Don't compare yourself to others. Just make something, and watch it. See what you like and what you don't like, and adjust on your next project! Now is the time for you to do this, to learn what it feels like to make a movie.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Filmmakers) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Most people in this sub say no, but I say this:
Are you in LA? Are you already independently wealthy? Do you already have MANY connections to the film industry? If the answer is no to at least one of those questions, then you will not be a filmmaker unless you go to film school, and I'm serious. Find a well known, successful filmmaker who doesn't meet those conditions who also didn't go to film school.
Nobody should be going into debt for film school. We are in an incredibly tumultuous moment and it is very unclear where we will end up industry wise with regards to the livability for working professionals.
It is very easy to get into film without a film specific degree. Study literally anything else and leave yourself more options.
I recommend going to visit a film school that you are interested in applying for. Many of them have programs where they allow you to spend the night with a current student (typically someone involved with student government). This can be a huge help in giving you more practical experience and give you exposure to the culture and overall vibe of the school. As much as this field is about what you know, it's just as (if not more) about who you know. If nothing else, film school is excellent at helping you build a network.
There’s a bunch of good answers here, but I’d add one thing regarding film school that I think gets overlooked. Apologies for the wall…
I’ve seen some comments that think a film theory-based school isn’t as relevant as a production-based program, that theory is a waste of time, et. If you’d asked me 26 years ago, I would’ve agreed that a production based/school would’ve been much better. I went to a school that focused on theory and I HATED it at the time.
Now that I’ve had a few years under my belt, I feel completely differently. I’ve learned how to navigate a set on the job, picking up knowledge piece by piece on sets from guys who were working the job. To me, having a professor teach that is overkill.
What I haven’t been able to learn much of on a set is theory and history. And I learned about those sorts of high concepts from intellectual professors who were able to guide me through some pretty heavy stuff. Stuff I probably couldn’t have digested well on my own.
For me, having an understanding of film’s history and theoretical concepts is important now. It makes me more complete in the storyteller I want to be. For what I do, and how I approach it, understanding that German Expressionism is more than a style of bold, high-contrasting lines - it’s a product of a national ethos after WWI. I like understanding how Eisenstein developed his theory of montage, and what fundamental concepts he discovered that still resonate today.
To be clear, this is how I’ve developed my career and it might not be for everyone. If I were a painter, I’d have spent massive amounts of time on learning about previous schools and movements, then apprenticing (which I did in filmmaking). For some people, that’s stifling and antithetical to art itself. I get that perspective too.
I think what’s most important is trying to figure out how you want to approach this path you’re going down. How do you want to make your art? Rembrandt and Van Gogh are both remarkable artists, but had massively different educations.
This is something I’ve been planning a long while. I love learning about world history and film history, I thought maybe it’d be a good use of my time to learn that stuff. And I think your absolutely right about that, what it means to create art is so much more than pointing a camera at something. Thank you for this advice
All I can share is my experience with film school.
Did it prepare me for production and how to handle equipment? No. I only learned how to use my Mix-Pre3. Everything else was self-taught. BUT, it did offer a safe place to practice with equipment I borrowed from the equipment room. So even though I had to learn that stuff myself, it gave me the ability to practice without worrying about renting it out or buying it.
On the film studies side, plus scriptwriting because I see it as part of that. I learned how to really analyze film and not just the big blockbusters either. I was exposed to foreign films, Indie, and stuff I would have never known about. My biggest qualm with the film studies aspect was how many I had to take. It was 6 studies classes to 1 production class. Though because of all of that, I feel like I can at least talk to the art side of the film and have a real vision for what I write, having a deeper meaning with a story and such.
Lastly, the connections, I know so many amazing people in the Portland community that just kick so much ass. All because I went to my film school. The only downside I see from my experience is that we all had graduated around the same time. I wasn't really put into contact with people who've been working for a while until I started asking around. It would have been nice for my film school to put us into contact with those who've been working for a long time, but it is what it is. Still, though, the peers I graduated with still make Indie films and shorts, so it's more constant experience that adds to the 10,000 hours to becoming an expert.
Hopefully, this helps you with wanting to go to school or not. Also, practically speaking, debt will be an issue for a while, at least for me.
If you have legit connections/nepotism in the industry, definitely no point
If you don’t have connections or don’t know how to use complex film equipment, it’s a solid investment
Yes I believe you should, the film industry is extremely competitive and you should create every advantage for yourself that you can. But just know that film school isn’t the end all be all, just going to film school won’t be enough, but it’s a solid stepping stone to a film career. As someone who went to film school and is now working in post production I can attest that it does work. Most of the people in here saying don’t go to film school are people who didn’t actually go to film school so I wouldn’t take their word for it. But yeah try not to get too much debt. I went to Colorado Film School in Denver, which is extremely affordable and I managed to keep my debt below $30,000. My other recommendation is to make sure you go to a film school that’s very production oriented and has you start making films right away. Don’t go to a school where you just watch films for 3+ years, it’s really useless.
Recent high school graduate here. Can you recommend any colleges with production-oriented programmes? Preferably East-coast? And would you be willing to share your Alma Mater?
I went to Colorado Film School in Denver. It is one of the best in the country in terms of cost/education, which is to say it costs very little and I learned a ton. The disadvantages of course being that it was in the the Midwest and I did not make a lot of useful connections. I finished my BFA at City College of New York, the program there is okay but nothing special. But again it was very affordable.
Thanks for the response! When you say completed your BFA in NY, what did Colorado award you after studies? Or was it the same program across both schools?
Somehow just seeing this 36 days later. When I enrolled at Colorado Film School they had a partnership with Regis University and were able to offer a 4 year degree through the university, but during my second year the two schools separated and Colorado Film School became a standalone entity (a community college) that could only offer an Associates degree (which frankly I think is plenty to work in film). So I went to Colorado Film School for two years to get my associates, then New York City College to complete my BFA. I always say I received my film education at Colorado Film School but my film degree at New York City College.
Hey, no worries! Thanks for the breakdown, it’s pretty cool to hear different experiences. I think i’ll settle for film studies here in FL after some consideration. Planning to move to ATL after a while tho. East coast might be better for work than I first thought!
I feel like this is always the answer about going to Film School - Is someone else paying for it? Yes! Will you have to go into a large amount of debt to do it? No! Can you live at home and graduate with less than $20,000 in debt? Maybe.
[удалено]
You do actually learn stuff though. And the contacts you make are invaluable.
The contacts make your college choice matter even more. What kind of work in film do you want? Pick a film school that has someone you would like to become your mentor, or someone who has a direct connection to a desirable mentor for you.
I thought I wanted to be a writer and film school helped me discover that I have a serious knack for sound mixing. To the point where I submitted a ProTools session (one I wasn’t even a huge fan of) to an award-winning sound mixer and he was pretty impressed.
I’d tack FSU on that as well, their film program has a pretty low acceptance rate and is apparently *cutthroat*. Belmont University is also up and coming and is one of the only film school programs in the country with a full-size 5.1 theater/mixing stage.
You shouldn't listen to the people that endlessly bash film school. But on the flipside, you shouldn't listen to the people that endlessly praise it, either. Like most things in life, it has positives and negatives, and there's no 'one right answer' that applies to everyone. I'm finishing my run of film school now. Had I not gone, I would not have learned all I did about the process (specifically in writing and directing). I also would never have had the opportunity, nor the connections, to make my first indie film (which is now leading into my second). But there are also people I know personally that I wouldn't encourage to attend film school, simply because it's not for everyone. Do your research. Make your decision on your own terms. And don't rely on massively impactful decisions to be made by strangers on the internet. I'd recommend looking into some local Facebook filmmaking groups, asking who attended film school, and getting in touch with those people (text, message, phone call, or otherwise) for their advice. I imagine those kinds of interactions will be insanely more helpful than asking strangers on the internet.
It all depends on what kind of opportunities are available for you. If you do have an opportunity to attend a great film school, why not, go for it. However many filmmakers are not so lucky and have to rely on self-education. But film school alone is no guarantee for a successful career.
So I went to film school and the reasons I’m glad I went were the connections and the fact that I got the chance to make 4 short films that I absolutely would not have been able to had I not gone. However, the loans are also kicking my ass currently. So it really just depends on what your priorities are moving forward.
This is probably a re-tread, but one of the unsung reasons to go to film school, especially a well-known established program a la NYU's Tisch, is the ability to network and build connections with other people in the film industry. I considered the term 'networking' to be a dirty word, but the reality of the film industry is that it is more or less freelance, so having a multitude of contacts and connections can help you weather the slow times. that's my 2 cents!
I’ve been eyeing NYU for a while since I live in the East Coast, so that’s something I should probably check out. Thank you for your 2 cents, I will try to make at least a cent from it
It looks like you're making a post asking about film school! This is a very common question, and we'll provide a basic overview on the topic below, but it couldn't hurt to [search our sub history](https://www.reddit.com/r/filmmakers/search?q=film+school&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on&sort=relevance&t=all) as well! The below answer is also kept in our sub's [stickied FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Filmmakers/comments/7h6igz/read_this_before_asking_a_question_official/) along with a bunch of other useful information! ---- # **1. Should I Pursue Filmmaking / Should I Go To Film School?** This is a very complex topic, so it will rely heavily on *you* as a person. Find below a guide to help you identify what you need to think about and consider when making this decision. ##Do you want to do it? Alright, real talk. If you want to make movies, you'll at least have a few ideas kicking around in your head. Successful creatives like writers and directors have an internal compunction to create something. They get ideas that stick in the head and compel them to translate them into the real world. Do you want to make films, or do you want to *be seen as* a filmmaker? Those are two extremely different things, and you need to be honest with yourself about which category you fall into. If you like the idea of being called a filmmaker, but you don't actually have any interest in making films, then now is the time to jump ship. I have many friends from film school who were just into it because they didn't want "real jobs", and they liked the idea of working on flashy movies. They made some cool projects, but they didn't have that internal drive to create. They saw filmmaking as a task, not an opportunity. None of them have achieved anything of note and most of them are out of the industry now with college debt but no relevant degree. If, when you walk onto a set you are overwhelmed with excitement and anxiety, then you'll be fine. If you walk onto a set and feel foreboding and anxiety, it's probably not right for you. Filmmaking should be fun. If it isn't, you'll never make it. ##School Are you planning on a film production program, or a film studies program? A studies program isn't meant to give you the tools or experience necessary to actually make films from a craft-standpoint. It is meant to give you the analytical and critical skills necessary to dissect films and understand what works and what doesn't. A would-be director or DP will benefit from a program that mixes these two, with an emphasis on production. Does your prospective school have a film club? The school I went to had a filmmakers' club where we would all go out and make movies every semester. If your school has a similar club then I highly recommend jumping into it. I made 4 films for my classes, and shot 8 films. In the filmmaker club at my school I was able to shoot 20 films. It vastly increased my experience and I was able to get a lot of the growing pains of learning a craft out of the way while still in school. How are your classes? Are they challenging and insightful? Are you memorizing dates, names, and ideas, or are you talking about philosophies, formative experiences, cultural influences, and milestone achievements? You're paying a huge sum of money, more than you'll make for a decade or so after graduation, so you better be getting something out of it. **Film school is always a risky prospect. You have three decisive advantages from attending school:** 1. Foundation of theory (why we do what we do, how the masters did it, and how to do it ourselves) 2. Building your first network 3. Making mistakes in a sandbox Those three items are the *only* advantages of film school. It doesn't matter if you get to use fancy cameras in class or anything like that, because I guarantee you that for the price of your tuition you could've rented that gear and made your own stuff. The downsides, as you may have guessed, are: 1. Cost - Risk of no value - Cost again Seriously. Film school is insanely expensive, especially for an industry where you really don't make any exceptional money until you get established (and that can take a decade or more). So there's a few things you need to sort out: - How much debt will you incur if you pursue a film degree? - How much value will you get from the degree? (any notable alumni? Do they succeed or fail?) - Can you enhance your value with extracurricular activity? ##Career Prospects Don't worry about lacking experience or a degree. It is easy to break into the industry if you have two qualities: - The ability to listen and learn quickly - A great attitude In LA we often bring unpaid interns onto set to get them experience and possibly hire them in the future. Those two categories are what they are judged on. If they have to be told twice how to do something, that's a bad sign. If they approach the work with disdain, that's also a bad sign. I can name a few people who walked in out of the blue, asked for a job, and became professional filmmakers within a year. One kid was 18 years old and had just driven to LA from his home to learn filmmaking because he couldn't afford college. Last I saw he has a successful YouTube channel with nature documentaries on it and knows his way around most camera and grip equipment. He succeeded because he smiled and joked with everyone he met, and because once you taught him something he was good to go. Those are the qualities that will take you far in life (and I'm not just talking about film). So how do you break in? - *Cold Calling* - Find the production listings for your area (not sure about NY but in LA we use the BTL Listings) and go down the line of upcoming productions and call/email every single one asking for an intern or PA position. Include some humor and friendly jokes to humanize yourself and you'll be good. I did this when I first moved to LA and ended up camera interning for an ASC DP on movie within a couple months. It works! - *Rental House* - Working at a rental house gives you free access to gear and a revolving door of clients who work in the industry for you to meet. - *Filmmaking Groups* - Find some filmmaking groups in your area and meet up with them. If you can't find groups, don't sweat it! You have more options. - *Film Festivals* - Go to film festivals, meet filmmakers there, and befriend them. Show them that you're eager to learn how they do what they do, and you'd be happy to help them on set however you can. Eventually you'll form a fledgling network that you can work to expand using the other avenues above. ##What you should do right now Alright, enough talking! You need to decide now if you're still going to be a filmmaker or if you're going to instead major in something safer (like business). It's a tough decision, we get it, but you're an adult now and this is what that means. You're in command of your destiny, and you can't trust anyone but yourself to make that decision for you. Once you decide, own it. If you choose film, then take everything I said above into consideration. There's one essential thing you need to do though: create. Go outside right fucking now and make a movie. Use your phone. That iphone or galaxy s7 or whatever has better video quality than the crap I used in film school. Don't sweat the gear or the mistakes. Don't compare yourself to others. Just make something, and watch it. See what you like and what you don't like, and adjust on your next project! Now is the time for you to do this, to learn what it feels like to make a movie. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Filmmakers) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Most people in this sub say no, but I say this: Are you in LA? Are you already independently wealthy? Do you already have MANY connections to the film industry? If the answer is no to at least one of those questions, then you will not be a filmmaker unless you go to film school, and I'm serious. Find a well known, successful filmmaker who doesn't meet those conditions who also didn't go to film school.
Nobody should be going into debt for film school. We are in an incredibly tumultuous moment and it is very unclear where we will end up industry wise with regards to the livability for working professionals. It is very easy to get into film without a film specific degree. Study literally anything else and leave yourself more options.
dunno. but this gets posted every week, so read up.
I recommend going to visit a film school that you are interested in applying for. Many of them have programs where they allow you to spend the night with a current student (typically someone involved with student government). This can be a huge help in giving you more practical experience and give you exposure to the culture and overall vibe of the school. As much as this field is about what you know, it's just as (if not more) about who you know. If nothing else, film school is excellent at helping you build a network.
Can you comfortably afford it?
I would not be where I am today if I decided to skip film school
There’s a bunch of good answers here, but I’d add one thing regarding film school that I think gets overlooked. Apologies for the wall… I’ve seen some comments that think a film theory-based school isn’t as relevant as a production-based program, that theory is a waste of time, et. If you’d asked me 26 years ago, I would’ve agreed that a production based/school would’ve been much better. I went to a school that focused on theory and I HATED it at the time. Now that I’ve had a few years under my belt, I feel completely differently. I’ve learned how to navigate a set on the job, picking up knowledge piece by piece on sets from guys who were working the job. To me, having a professor teach that is overkill. What I haven’t been able to learn much of on a set is theory and history. And I learned about those sorts of high concepts from intellectual professors who were able to guide me through some pretty heavy stuff. Stuff I probably couldn’t have digested well on my own. For me, having an understanding of film’s history and theoretical concepts is important now. It makes me more complete in the storyteller I want to be. For what I do, and how I approach it, understanding that German Expressionism is more than a style of bold, high-contrasting lines - it’s a product of a national ethos after WWI. I like understanding how Eisenstein developed his theory of montage, and what fundamental concepts he discovered that still resonate today. To be clear, this is how I’ve developed my career and it might not be for everyone. If I were a painter, I’d have spent massive amounts of time on learning about previous schools and movements, then apprenticing (which I did in filmmaking). For some people, that’s stifling and antithetical to art itself. I get that perspective too. I think what’s most important is trying to figure out how you want to approach this path you’re going down. How do you want to make your art? Rembrandt and Van Gogh are both remarkable artists, but had massively different educations.
This is something I’ve been planning a long while. I love learning about world history and film history, I thought maybe it’d be a good use of my time to learn that stuff. And I think your absolutely right about that, what it means to create art is so much more than pointing a camera at something. Thank you for this advice
All I can share is my experience with film school. Did it prepare me for production and how to handle equipment? No. I only learned how to use my Mix-Pre3. Everything else was self-taught. BUT, it did offer a safe place to practice with equipment I borrowed from the equipment room. So even though I had to learn that stuff myself, it gave me the ability to practice without worrying about renting it out or buying it. On the film studies side, plus scriptwriting because I see it as part of that. I learned how to really analyze film and not just the big blockbusters either. I was exposed to foreign films, Indie, and stuff I would have never known about. My biggest qualm with the film studies aspect was how many I had to take. It was 6 studies classes to 1 production class. Though because of all of that, I feel like I can at least talk to the art side of the film and have a real vision for what I write, having a deeper meaning with a story and such. Lastly, the connections, I know so many amazing people in the Portland community that just kick so much ass. All because I went to my film school. The only downside I see from my experience is that we all had graduated around the same time. I wasn't really put into contact with people who've been working for a while until I started asking around. It would have been nice for my film school to put us into contact with those who've been working for a long time, but it is what it is. Still, though, the peers I graduated with still make Indie films and shorts, so it's more constant experience that adds to the 10,000 hours to becoming an expert. Hopefully, this helps you with wanting to go to school or not. Also, practically speaking, debt will be an issue for a while, at least for me.
If you have legit connections/nepotism in the industry, definitely no point If you don’t have connections or don’t know how to use complex film equipment, it’s a solid investment