Everything to Know About Film School

Me proving I didn't waste the last 4 years of my life in under 5 minutes.
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BUSINESS INQUIRES:

Thank you for watching! :)

[MrGojira]

“It depends” is the most common answer in the film industry.

[EddieInFrame]

One of my favorite stories about film school was with Paul Thomas Anderson. He dropped out of film school after the teacher in his first lecture claimed that anyone who wants to make a film like Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) should leave immediately.

[neivilde.]

"go to film school and form your own opinion" he says, as if this is a movie review.

[natbatrat-de]

"I decided to go to Chicago" *Trina from Victorious shows up*
underrated moment.

[SethNScruggs]

As a Film Production major at a small university entering my senior year, the biggest thing is access. I have access to people and equipment and access to a mentor that I wouldn't have otherwise. Also, the freedom to fail in a controlled environment where the risk is lower.

[catsrule]

I want to go to film school but I'm afraid I'll suck at everything and then my dreams will be crushed. Also my parents won't let me go.

[Pinely]

I've been thinking for a while about whether I should go to film school or not so this is pretty helpful

[kevineightnine]

If you are reading this: you can win an Oscar someday! (Or the Palme d’Or, whatever butters your biscuits.)

[Termina]

I think that the main issue with film school is the fact that many people don't have the money to form their own opinion about it, it's a situation of not knowing if the debt is worth it or not, which is why the question is so frequently asked, they can't enter just to see how they feel about it, which sucks completely.

[mangosocks]

Me, a mechanical engineering student: yes, this will be useful to know

[joebo]

Hi, I'm the lynch guy and everyone hates me

[HarinderSingh-dypg]

I don't know what to do with my life. I want to go to film school but I don't have any impressive talent. I just love films and everything about them.

[raulruizdevelasco]

Video thumbnail: Do you have to go to film school?

Spike Lee’s very first sentence in ad before video: “In no way, shape or form do you have to go to film school to be a film maker.”

[meepster]

Karsten covered a lot of the most important parts, I'll add some of my experience. I am going to NYU in the fall for undergrad film production and I also took an online class at UCLA and did two summer programs with USC School of Cinematic Arts. Here was what I found. BTW, feel free to ask any questions if I or Karsten didn't cover something you wanna know.
First, what Karsten says about you learning the basics is true to an extent, I knew the basics when I went into film courses at first but still learned new things: bigger schools, like NYU or USC, will give you an insight in how industry professionals do their jobs. Some of this stuff (like basic set etiquette and pitching tips) you can find online, but more subtle things (like how to prepare a treatment, how to do proper casting, how to organize a call sheet) will be harder to find unless you're willing on learning a less professional version. For most positions of film, this industry-level-training is enough.You need to know how to network, how to do your work, how to know what's a good opportunity, you know the basic stuff.
For a few jobs, this is not nearly enough. Directing, DoP, writing, and even producing are examples of jobs I'd say this isn't enough. That isn't to say that the schools don't teach you how to do those jobs, they do, but those jobs are so experience-based it's difficult to master it from pure education. So here is what schools do for people who want to do those jobs: you can work on a crap ton of films. You can do this in two ways, one, required filmmaking in class. I did this my first year at USC's summer program and NYU seems to be the same. The second way is to work on a crap ton of films on your own merit, for example, in the 2nd summer my class only made me do one film so in order to get some experience I want, I worked on around 12 projects in various crew positions of my classmates and connections I made. I used those connections for help on my own films after and stay in touch with all those people.
How does the university help you do this? Good question. You can do it yourself without the school, but the university will basically hold your hand and make it far easier and far less stressful to do it. You don't feel like you're trying to "break in" but just working with friends. It is very much a safe space to grow your skills.
The university will probably give you enough connections for you to find a job after spending 4 years with them, if that's what you want. It won't make you an oscar-award-winning director or anything like that but it will 100% help you find the path to a larger goal like that

[felippesamueldedominicis]

“Should I go to film school?”
Karsten: Well yes, but actually no

[ActStudios]

I'll leave this comment here in cases anyone needs it:

I was lucky enough to find myself in a free 2 year film class in my time in high school, and while it didn't have the full funding or pricier gear a college class would have I would say it was still pretty informative and an amazing experience.

Now It's been a little over a year since I finished that class and I have no fucking clue what I'm doing. I found myself not having enough money to spend on even more moderately priced schools, which was a small bummer at first, then I decided that I would at least give myself a year to try to start a videography business and make films of my own.

Fast forward to early 2020, and after about 6 months of working part-time and trying to get momentum on personal projects, well you know what happens once March hits. Suffice to say all projects that were just barely gaining that momentum are completely halted, I am back where I started a year ago with nothing to show for.

I actually don't know where I was going, I just felt the urge to type all of this. What I can say I've noticed is (I know this sounds cheesy) that everything takes ALOT of time to come to fruition, and that sometimes you will try to push as hard as you can and then nothing, a complete fucking gut punch. But if you're reading this, do not stop if you're truly passionate about this. If filmmaking or writing or anything keeps you up at night, and the thought of never being able to do it again makes you have a deep existential panic, don't stop. However slow you have to go is fine, it's 2020 you're allowed to go a little slower, just don't stop.

-Isaiah

[Fiyaball]

As someone in film school, I love all the connections I’ve made in it. It’s awesome to be in the same building as other people who are passionate about Cinema and to be mentored by professors who have experience in the industry. You also get access to SO MUCH EQUIPMENT. I think the biggest thing that’s great about film school though is that it’s a place where you are encouraged to make things and not worry too much about making mistakes or failing miserably. If you only go to take classes and that’s it then you missed the point. Yes, the classes are informative, but I think I’ve grown the most doing stuff on my own. I have a friend group that I work with every week and we make sketch comedy videos using the equipment the university provides us. It’s super fun and on top of that, our professors were more than happy to criticize and guide us on all the content we make. In fact, we now get legit college credit for coming out with weekly sketches. THATS FREAKIN AWESOME! Just wanted to inform everyone about my experience in film school and I’m more than happy to answer any questions y’all have about film school in the comments. I’m entering my third year so I know a thing or two.

[kartarbhogal]

Based on my experience, I would NOT recommend film school. I went to a college (I think Americans call it high school) where I studied creative media. However it focused primarily on film. This course taught me everything from editing, scriptwriting, vfx and compositing, sound production, etc....literally every aspect of film under the sun. My tutors were amazing and extremely knowledgeable. Now whilst college didn't teach me absolutely everything, I had a passion for this so I did a lot of self teaching along side this. I read articles, watched videos from film riot, dslr guide, peter mckinnon, indy mogul, etc....and most importanly...I went out and made films. This single thing here taught me things and gave me experience that no amount school could give me.

Anyway, after college, I applied for university (I'm guessing this is what Americans call college) to study film production. I'm now almost finished with my third and final year. Let me tell you...what a waste. Uni has probably only taught me about 5% of what I know. And even then, that 5% is something I know I would've eventually learnt given time. The stuff they are teaching us is stuff I've learnt in my own time. I've accumulated a tonne of debt from film school for no reason.

In today's world with digital filmmaking, it's so much easier to learn things online and actualy pick up a camera and go film. Film school is only worth it if you get the chance to shoot on analogue film (16mm up ideally) or for the potential connections you may make. But then again....can you justify that much debt for those 2 things. It will still be cheaper to buy a second hand film camera and some film and watch a youtube tutorial on how to load film and shoot with it rather than 3 years of film school. As for the connections...attend and festival or some networking event like the BFI do every year.

My advice, find a good college (High school for Americans) that covers a range of modules and has great teachers. Then teach yourself things alongside this in your spare time. If you have a passion for it you will do it. Not only will your education be free at that age and level, you will learn more than at filmschool.

P.s: I forgot to mention but another reason I went to film school/university was because I didn't know what to do after college and it felt like the natural thing to do at the time. In hindsight, it was wrong but my advice would be to try and find a job. Doesn't necessarily have to be in the film industry, maybe an in house video editor for a company or prehaps a videographer/photographer for a company. Heck any job like a sales assistant or soemthing. Point is, whilst you're working, build up your portfolio, keep learning, try to start freelancing. Make your own films and submit them at festivals. Also try to find jobs on a film set. But you having a job at least gives you an income which allows you to buy things like cameras, lights, lenses, etc..and also pay for your productions for your films.

At the end of the day I'm in the same boat of me deciding what to do next than if I never went to film school. The only difference is that I realised film school was a waste so I didn't attend my lectures and instead, I focused on my portfolio and self learning. I've now build my portfolio up and learnt so much more. I've created a website and I'm now in the process of becoming a full time freelancer.

If you got this far, thank you for reading through my entire essay.

[sgr]

Kars! I really needed this, as someone who’s dream is to pursue film - this really gave a some good grounding

[RyanNgFilms]

Spielberg didn't actually go to USC, he went to some no name local college to study english for 1 semester before he gave up and just went to make his short film Amblin which then got him into the industry. USC just has buildings named after Spielberg