How to Learn Filmmaking Without Film School

Film School is pretty expensive. How can we become filmmakers without film school?

Host & Creator - Simon Cade

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Host and Creator - Simon Cade

[emmamansaray]

this is the calmest / chillest dude I've seen in YouTube

[nictheartist]

It's also important to watch crap movies and try to identify why they are crap, that way you avoid the same pifalls.... like excessive wobble cam... or poor sound... none of the above applies to your work, of course, but there are plenty of folk who still need to learn this.

[kebman]

You don't need permission to be a filmmaker. You either make films, or you don't. It's that simple. You're only resumé are the films you've made. Hey, a school mate of mine made a silly film and put it on YouTube. Next thing he got a grant to make a full feature from his country's film board. His second feature was called Dead Snow, and now Hollywood got interested, and... Well, the rest is history. Make films if that's what you want to do. If you think you need film school, that's up to you. It won't hurt you, but you don't need permission from them to do it either.

[mertinho]

This is some great advice. Studying film and other art forms, observing life and human behavior or working on little short films and experementing with your equipment is definitely very helpful. However, I think that finding people and networking is quite difficult if you live somewhere that isn't a popular place to shoot at.

[BrianTurnerOfficial]

Brother, you have an EXCELLENT channel with fantastic production!

[kenny]

I'm in film school now and everything you said was true. I wanted to be an actor up until just a few years ago and had mainly focused on that but started getting interested in going behind the camera. I didn't know anything about film didnt know lenses f stops had never ever heard of a grip before so I decided to go to film school to learn. Almost two years in I've met some amazing people that I think ill be working with for a long time afterwards. I understand why people say if you wanna be a filmmaker to just go out and shoot something but I also understand why people (like me) would go to school. You meet people, learn the equipment, and you even learn from mistakes your teacher has made. People are also nicer to you when you're a film student and not just an indie filmmaker just saying ;)

[geoffschannel]

I know of a few people who decided not to go to film school because they planned to learn filmmaking and get into the industry without it and they ended up doing nothing but working part time jobs in shops.

If you're extremely self motivated and hard working then it is possible to make your way as a filmmaker without it, but for the rest of us a film course is perfect for motivation, education and immersing yourself in a community of filmmakers.

[joefilmco]

You're not even in university yet and you're already this wise?!

[beholdthesupergirl]

This is now 5 years later, I'd love to know how things have turned out for you and your chosen path! And thank you for such a down to earth perspective on this, it's helped me to clarify my own career and educational planning! :)

[AustinThomasFilms]

Simon, these videos keep getting better and better.  I really like how much you focus on story rather than all the expensive tech that tends to draw people away from the creative side of filmmaking.

[KreativeKill]

i love this. its a sad reality where film school cost a ton and its a big barrier from people trying to do films.

[LivvHughes]

Found your YouTube lastnight and can't stop watching! Normally I'm into just photography but your really inspiring me to get into videography!! X

[calum]

I'm currently in film school and I personally think I made the right move, yes it teaches you things you can teach yourself however I've found my 'school' in particular has put me in direct contact with festivals and industry professionals from all departments encompassed in film. My lecturers encourage us to explore freelance work and indie work, allot of my course mates have plans to enter the industry of their own backs, as do I, through creating our own production 'companies' again this is encouraged to an extent. As was mentioned in your video the opportunities to work with and interact with peers of a likened mind is invaluable and above all its just an all round great time. We get to do what we love all day every day, which is directing, producing, editing, writing and all together making of films. To top it all off the uni supports us by putting us in contact and checking that we are making strengthening those contacts with the industry in this country.

[RB]

I'm at an arts university studying Film and TV and I'm really enjoying it. I think being at an arts university is really beneficial because not only do you get to know other people on your course, you get to know people that study other mediums such as animation, print, fashion, graphics etc.  People are always collaborating on projects inside and outside university, so it's nice to know that those connections are there should you need them. I'd definitely consider an arts uni as well as a film school, as they tend to be very creative in their approach to filmmaking and programme making, yet still give you all the guidance that a film school would give you. 

[zacharyrutland]

This video really should be shown to anyone considering film school. I joined film school, but I dropped out half-way realizing that it was not the route I wanted to take. I studied history instead, and for that I'm grateful. It may be good to note that while film school may not be the best option, studying other subjects may enhance a filmmaker's world view. 
Currently I am shooting documentary films with no formal education. My history degree, though, comes in handy as it provides a context for my interests and characters. Good Job Simon!!!

[christopheroliveira]

I gotta say, I have a life wish that is going to film school, not only because of the contacts you get but because I educate myself better when I am commited and when I have teahcers who can orientate me through the whole thing, but I am COMPLETELY astonished and love the simplicity of the film industry and how you don't need a degree mostly, you just have to be good and someday you'll reach the top. Love the channel!

[christopherl-b]

This video is so high quality and well done. This was the most helpful video I watched on filmmaking. Thanks.

[matrodfpv]

I was just thinking, in regards to a previous comment on here about upgrading your gear;  Your ability to grade your footage has gotten better and better, and to be 100% brutally honest: your graded T3i footage has, in some cases, looked BETTER than some of the A7s, GH4, 5d MkIII etc. footage that I have seen on the internet.  Not all of it of course, but quite a damn lot of it.

Just goes to show that many people get caught up in the gear.  Especially 4k and things like that.  There are benefits, even if it's all getting compressed on youtube.  But if you shoot it right, grade it correctly and have interesting content, then even old T3i footage can go head to head with C300 footage.

At the end of the day, what the nice gear does for us a lot of the time is speed the workflow up.  Which is nice and sometimes necessary for the job, but for many of us isn't truly needed.

[mivibes]

i like your way of lecturing. very humble but clear and encouraging. keep it up!

[CorynKLeaman]

I have been to film school. I would put you on the list of best instructors as your presentation is exrtremely, valid well thought out, with a clear and clever presentatio. I feel like I'm watching the old wise man, truly. I think film school could be limiting to you in a way. You are a gifted and you are searching for your own path instead the guided one of someone else (like school curriculum). Which in turn is helping all of us. Thank you for that. I think you are amazing! I want to see a final project of yours. Please