This is a question I get asked a lot these days, and answering it is far from easy.
I’ve been to film school, but it doesn’t mean that everyone else should. I went thinking I had no other option if I wanted to pursue a career in filmmaking.
I didn’t have any equipment, and since I’d spent all my money on tuition fees, I became stuck.
To be blunt with you, I didn’t learn much either. I’ve heard that it’s common practice in film school that tutors don’t want to share their knowledge with us. Well, after my experience I think that rumour should be placed on facts of filmmaking book. The overwhelming egos of everyone in film school blot out most of the benefits we could have had from the little practical exposure received. I must add that if getting a big ego was part of the course, then it defiantly worked on me. Big egos make the whole process of working with people downright tricky.
However, it doesn’t mean that all film schools are the same.
If I were to start from the beginning again, I wouldn’t have gone to film school.
I would buy equipment, and by that, I don’t mean anything fancy, just a simple editing program along with a digital camera and start shooting and editing as much as possible.
I believe that filmmaking is a practical hands-on thing. Just get straight to work. The more you work, the more you’ll learn, any difficulties come across will soon be replaced with confident knowledge.
You might ask me about crew members, getting to know people and networking.
Well, after three years of study I’ve lost touch with everyone at film school.
I met more people online than in any other way. Many filmmakers are working a lot, so you can’t expect them to be at festivals or any other social place except the internet.
Networking is essential, however with so many websites, it’s much easier to meet people with similar interests online.
Digital technology is so advanced these days, that very often people make films with minimal crew members or even alone.
You can network in many different ways such as Social websites, industry websites, film festivals, indie film screenings, working on sets for different people, going to film schools and helping out etc., the possibilities are endless
If you want to get a degree, best choose a subject that will develop your storytelling abilities.
If you do decide to go to film school, then be selective. Find one that’s not only good for reputation but is good because many of the students continue working in the industry years after leaving school. Talk to the current students; find out more about the tutors and see how many festival shorts the school produces. You’ll be spending a lot of time and money at this place so let your instincts make the final decision.
Well, whether you are going to film school or not, stop reading and talking, just pick up your camera and go and tell your story, tell it the way you want and enjoy the process as much as you can.
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