Film School, does anybody have more info?

darthbudge

darthbudge

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Hey Everyone, being that I will be graduating from High School in less then a year, I have been looking into my future education. Well one of the things I have been seriously considering is going to Film School. However, I would just like some more info on it.

Some things are, what is the best way to start getting into? I.E. What can I do now? Is there any other Academic fields I should be getting more experience in?

Also, How much would it cost and is there anyway to get a All-inclusive scholarship?

How much exactly job potential is there in this field?

I would just like any input that you think is helpful.
 
You may want to post what sort of job you want to do in the Film Industry. I work as a Prop Master and Art Director and going to Film School really did not help me too much. You will need to look more at your location since Robert Rodriguez does not make films all year round, you may need to look into going to school in LA or NY.

As far as job potential, working in the film industry is like that of an actor, unless you get real lucky it will be a while before you make anything since you are just another nobody with Hollywood dreams. More than likely you will start out as a Production Assistant (PA) making $125 for 10-12 hours depending on the company and your normal day on a film set is 14-16 hours. Many PAs need to work for free to start since a lot of companies may not know you and be afraid to hire some new person that has never been on a set. Being a hard worker will help you get noticed more. Your best bet would be to try to find local productions and try to get your free PA days in now so you can build up your resume.

Working in the Film Industry is not as glamorous as it seems. I have worked many 20+ hour days then needed to be back on the set 6 hours later for the next day of shooting. Sure it's fun to see your name in the film credits but unless you are above the line and have your name in the opening credits, most people don't bother staying for the full closing credits.
 
Well if I had my choice, I would want to something with Direction, not with props or something like that. However I realize that what you want is not always what you get.
 
Do NOT go to film school for undergrad.

Film school is a lot like law or medical school now. It's mainly a grad school thing. Film school for undergrad hardly prepares you for production. I took a major in Media Studies for undergrad, and I'm going to film school for a graduate program. I got the chance to work in many internships and some shoots in undergrad.

The primary problem with most film schools in undergrad is they require you to submit a reel. I didn't have a reel, I hadn't even shot anything before going to undergrad. If you go to a strictly film school, or a school whose only strong program is film, and you decide you don't like it, you'll have a tough time transfering out.

As far as job potential, there's about 0. There's a billion people trying to get 2 or 3 jobs. For the grad school I interviewed at last week (UCLA, which is about #3 in the nation for film) they had 300 applicants for 17 positions just for my one concentration, a concentration being directing, editing, producing, writing, etc. That's for grad school, not even a job in the field. If you want a job in the field it is 100% "who you know," so grad school for most film students is a means to an end.

Hopefully that makes some sense, feel free to PM me budge and I can give you some tips and stuff. Also know that almost everyone goes in wanting to direct, but most people change their minds because directing are the most competitive and most difficult (IMHO) programs.

Also, as far as getting a full ride for film. Good luck. It doesn't happen.

[quote name='CrimGhost']NYU or UCLA, unless you want to direct porn or Full House.[/QUOTE]

Hardly, you only forgot the biggest film school program out there: USC. There are a ton of other smaller schools that have equally impressive programs: Chapman, UT, FSU, Columbia, and the AFI for Graduate work.
 
Well how is it for exclusive film schools? I was not so much looking into full colleges, for several reasons, mostly being time and money.
 
[quote name='darthbudge']Well how is it for exclusive film schools? I was not so much looking into full colleges, for several reasons, mostly being time and money.[/QUOTE]

It's definitely less expensive to go to a film-only school but you have to consider the fact that film will be the only training you get, and you may not get a degree, and if you do it will be in "Film"

If you can't get a job in the field, can you fall back on that degree? Probably not.
 
Go buy the book "A Rebel Without A Crew" by Robert Rodriguez....all the film school you need, sir! Then go and shoot some stuff yourself. Seriously, best way to learn is to do it!
 
I started my film career as an Assistant Director but quickly realized if I wanted to continue to work I had to work in some other departments as well. Just look at the film credits and look at the number of people in each department and you can get an idea of how much competition there is for each job.

There is also the whole union versus non-union thing with the film industry that makes it tough to get work. It does revolve around who you know and getting lucky breaks since there is not a bunch of places that will list productions so you know who to contact to try to get on the different shows.

Have you done anything in film like write a screenplay, shoot a short film, etc yet? If you are picking film industry work because you think it will be big cash quickly, that will more than likely not be the case.
 
[quote name='SubiDoobieDoo']Go buy the book "A Rebel Without A Crew" by Robert Rodriguez....all the film school you need, sir! Then go and shoot some stuff yourself. Seriously, best way to learn is to do it![/quote]

Hmm I will have to check that book out. I love Robert Rodriguez and how he got his start. My mom actually was in one of the pharmaceutical studies with him. Kinda neat.

[quote name='Owen']I started my film career as an Assistant Director but quickly realized if I wanted to continue to work I had to work in some other departments as well. Just look at the film credits and look at the number of people in each department and you can get an idea of how much competition there is for each job.

There is also the whole union versus non-union thing with the film industry that makes it tough to get work. It does revolve around who you know and getting lucky breaks since there is not a bunch of places that will list productions so you know who to contact to try to get on the different shows.

Have you done anything in film like write a screenplay, shoot a short film, etc yet? If you are picking film industry work because you think it will be big cash quickly, that will more than likely not be the case.[/quote]

I have written some short Screenplays, but they were never completely finished or anywhere near something I would submit for others to see. Very First draft kinda stuff.

Also, I didn't look to film because I thought I could make alot of money, I just have a passion for film and would love to work in that field.
 
Rebel without a crew is a good book, but his way of funding his films is pretty poor (medical experiments). I recommend reading it, but realize that he had numerous things go his way that allowed his film to get made, and distributed.

I would also go to a bookstore and see if you can find a book called Film School Confidential. And read the first chapter, it explains pretty succinctly why going to undergrad for film is a bad idea.
 
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