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Film School

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Mr.Plank
Posts: 535 - Karma: 82
Well, its time to apply to college. I've been looking at film schools for a while now, and I have a few in mind. I've already applied to Suny Purchase, and RIT, but I need more schools. My grades SUCK because of my freshman/softmore year in highschool (81 average, 1700 SAT) so my choices are very limited. I believe my portfolio is good, and my college essay is dope, which will always help.
Does ns have any school recommendations for me?
Dec 3 2010 12:00PM
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T-Holt
Posts: 5020 - Karma: 639
Maybe SVA? My cousin is going there for film and she loves it.
Dec 3 2010 12:01PM
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saskskier
Posts: 4772 - Karma: 9,984
Good luck with film school. My old roommate graduated with a degree in film production and finding work he enjoys has been suuuuper tough. He is currently working at a local television channel and hates most of what he does. He has put out a documentary with some of the people he graduated with, but overall it's a tough profession to get into.
Seriously though, if it's what you want to do, all the best!
Dec 3 2010 12:14PM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 618
Yeah, NYU Grads are having trouble getting jobs in the film industry.

Good luck!
Dec 3 2010 12:15PM
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Mezmerize19
Posts: 6475 - Karma: 18
SVA actually cares about grades. I stare at my rejection letter everyday.

On a side note anyone here go to Full Sail?
Dec 3 2010 12:23PM
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Mezmerize19
Posts: 6475 - Karma: 18
NYU focuses more on writing and directing then anything. Im sure they can find a job not in their field thanks to their writing skills. Just a matter if they want to deal with it.
Dec 3 2010 12:25PM
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Mr.Plank
Posts: 535 - Karma: 82
I thought long and hard about full sail, I'm still debating whether or not to apply. Might as well i guess, its just something seems a bit sketch about it. I feel like i'd have trouble finding work after I got out of there
Dec 3 2010 12:27PM
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SkiThe603
Posts: 5376 - Karma: 498
Hey man, i know a few kids who go to Full Sail, they love it down there and they say it is really fun, but it is very challenging and basically all the are gonna do is get out of college and just stay down there working, its hard to get a job in north
Dec 3 2010 12:39PM
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Mr.Plank
Posts: 535 - Karma: 82
Yeah, when I visited purchase I talked to a couple freshman and they told me how crazy it is. They only accept 30 kids for the film program, and 2 of them already dropped out because of how dedicated you have to be.
I thought a lot about film school, and I'm sure thats what I want. It's what I love and enjoy most. I've been planing on going to school for film since freshman year and since then I have been building my portfolio up until today.
Thanks for the advice errone, I appreciate it mucho
Dec 3 2010 12:40PM
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Mezmerize19
Posts: 6475 - Karma: 18
From what Ive heard, Its either you love it or you hate it. No in between. My friend goes there for Audio engineering and he likes it. You look online though, and most people say its a scam.

I think of it this way, If I can come out of that school with a portfolio showing what I can do, I think I can prove to employers that im capable of doing the job
Dec 3 2010 12:40PM
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spruitm
Posts: 2219 - Karma: 1,057
Columbia in Chicago.
Although your attempt at spelling sophomore should be an automatic rejection from everyone
Dec 3 2010 12:53PM
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Mezmerize19
Posts: 6475 - Karma: 18
Are you looking to dorm at purchase? Cause from what Ive been told it sucks.I only have one friend who dorms there though. the rest commute. I believe them considering the school looks like a fortress.
Dec 3 2010 12:59PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
My advice is to not spend your time and money on film school. Most people I've talked to about it say they can't get jobs with their degree, they didn't learn anything they couldn't have taught themselves, and they're deep in the hole with debt because its so expensive.

Honestly, I think art school is a rip off. It's good for technical things like graphic design, but anybody can learn film by watching movies and fiddling with cameras. If you really feel you have what it takes to make good films, you don't need a film school in the first place. They are good for making connections though, which is really the only positive thing about them unless you've never held a camera in your life...

I plan on being a filmmaker when I grow up, but I'm getting a business degree, because the film industry is just as big a shit show as the ski industry, only instead of not being payed $500 for jobs, you lose out on millions (if you're one of the few fortunate people to even get "million dollar jobs" in the first place. Read Bambi vs. Godzilla: On the Nature, Purpose, and Practice of the Movie Business by David Mamet.
Dec 3 2010 2:34PM
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TheStudioCC
Posts: 2092 - Karma: 366
What about things like ski film production? How do you guys feel about that sorry for the the threadjack. but to answer your question I don't know where you live, but Champlain in VT is a good school.
Dec 3 2010 2:51PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Ski film production a very amateur craft in itself. If making GOOD films doesn't require a degree, then buying a Best Buy HD camera and following talented athletes around a park certainly doesn't either.
Dec 3 2010 2:56PM
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dbstar
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 20
yup i know a few guys that have either graduated from film schools or gone the fine arts university route.... none of them have jobs... at least the ones they want to have.
Dec 3 2010 2:59PM
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TheStudioCC
Posts: 2092 - Karma: 366
But would it be considered a good idea to go anyways?
Dec 3 2010 3:03PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
I would say no, because you are paying an enormous amount of money for something you could do yourself.

The reason a lot of people with film degrees aren't getting jobs is because art school can only teach so much. The types of "artists" who only regurgitate what they are taught don't make any leaps of their own generally fail to make anything worthwhile. Four years of schooling and $60,000 later, you'd be surprised at how many people still have zero talent. This applies to traditional art, photography, design, etc.

observe:
Dec 3 2010 3:56PM
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Static
Posts: 8491 - Karma: 4,059
haha this is so true. It's pretty sad how bad some people are even after 4 years of school. One way to gauge the legitimacy of a film school is to go to student showing, see what the different years are putting out. That will give you an idea of the progression most students make. (You can usually buy a dvd too if you can't make it to a real screening)

I have a BFA in film production, and it definitely helps to give you an edge over people who don't, I've been very gainfully employed since my last semester (a few years ago). Depending on what you want to do, write, direct, produce, gaff, post, it might be worth it.
Dec 3 2010 4:19PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
yeah? And you are happy with it? I have been thinking a business marketing degree as a fallback/booster to my film interests. How would you compare that to a production degree?
Dec 3 2010 4:21PM
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Static
Posts: 8491 - Karma: 4,059
I don't know, really with any degree they are just walking you through text books, but using the schools resources is nice though. Most big successful tv producers have law degrees, everyone else is just someones cousin. Having a good reel is the most important thing, film school guarantees you'll have one. I did a few years in business school before switching, that's something I don't regret. If I had it all to do over again I would pick a science degree, makes tons of money straight out of school and get grad school paid for by my employer. Film is a rat race, it's only getting worse.
Dec 3 2010 4:30PM
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Dylan_
Posts: 9824 - Karma: 1,403
full sail.
pretty sure its a 100% guarantee job placement outta college
Dec 3 2010 4:40PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Judging from the senior projects posted on the site, I highly doubt that. Yikes...

My advice is to get a degree that will actually teach you something you couldn't otherwise learn yourself. Don't put all your eggs in one basket, because if it doesn't work out (extremely likely in the film industry) you are screwed. You may as well get a degree that actually has merit to those who don't give a shit about art (aka employers with money).

Filmmaking is one of those art forms where you can get a comprehensive education of through observation, experience, and the internet. The student films posted by graduates from LA Film School and NY Film Academy is pretty on par with what anybody without a degree could do. Art school doesn't make you a good artist, it only certifies you. In the working world, certification doesn't mean squat if you aren't a good artist in the first place...

Dec 3 2010 6:04PM
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Mr.Plank
Posts: 535 - Karma: 82

i just applied to suny oswego.  I actually think i'd rather go there undecided, then go to film school.   Everyone tells me to get a degree in soemthing that makes money, then do film on the side. 

Although if i do get into purchase for film, then that'd def be my first choice

Dec 6 2010 9:39AM
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