Film Schools?

Adamskinick

Adamskinick

Active member
im interested in pursuing film in college.. what colleges do you guys recomend. my gpa is roughly 3.6, SAT somewhere around 1100-1250.. im looking at most schools all over the US

NS Philosopher
 
okay considering that i plan on pursuing the same thing...this is what i've learned about film school. DO NOT GO TO FILM SCHOOL FOR AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE. how good of a filmmaker can you be if you don't know shit about anything but filmmaking? you need to educate yourself because you need to be able to draw on things other than how to work a dolly or master sequencing. an education is important and thats something that you completely don't understand until you've been in college for a while - the value of an education is entirely different than all the bullshit you 'learn' about in high school (i don't care whether its exeter or some south central l.a. shit).

theres a lot of different takes on how to get into being a filmmaker. some post graduates will say fuck college, just spend your money on making a film, but thats only because they've already been to school. others say that an undergraduate degree in film is pointless because as standards are rising, you will need a graduate degree more and more (what i will be doing).

look, my advice is that you get yourself into an undergraduate program that has nothing to do with film (i'm an anthro major), then if after 4 years you still love film with a burning passion (like i still do), then not only will you have educated yourself on some other important and very useful areas of academia, but you will then know for sure that you should be a filmmaker - remember that these sorts of decisions should be made with the intention of making a life out of filmmaking, so what does it matter if you wait a few more years?

but if you want to know specifics about film schools its fairly simple. you need to figure out what aspect of film you want to go into: hollywood (puke), indie (yes), or experimental (ballsy). some film schools are centered towards the death machine of hollywood (yes i'm being subjective), some are centered towards the indie scene and some are centered towards experimental (in case you don't know this is the super genre that has absolutely no intention of making money, just an absolute love for expression through film). next you need to determine whether the film school does two important things: that you 1. complete and turn out you own student film and 2. have a screenplay to present to film production companies to show them what you want to make. in terms of the way filmmaking works, you need both of these things. some film schools like usc (apparently) don't ensure that you'll be able to make you're own student film, often times they select the best film idea from the class and then everybody works together to make it...which is incredible for that one kid and a load of shit for everybody else. other things that you need to consider are how good the schools equipment is, how accessible it is, how good the funding is for student films..etc. a lot of this shit i've learned from a number of sources and basically you can learn about all about it (concisely) in a book called 'how to get into film school' - but that book only talks about grad schools. they authors that wrote it follow the same idea that i have about needing an undergraduate education that expans your mind and gives you some material for application.

private message me if you want to know more...i spend more time thinking about film than probably anything else...so maybe i can help.

'skinny dipping sesh, later.' - laguna beach.
 
well thats because ya got big jugs

-Bon Bons

**Stept Productions**

Enom Headwear.

'got caught with underage drinking and a bong. anyone know what charges i could be facing?' -keukawake

'being a badass, first degree'- Melvs
 
k i didn't read anything up there^ but i'm looking into film schools too. the 2 best that i've looked at are Chapman in southern california (one of if not the hardest film school to get into) and montana state univ. you should look at both of those

_____________________________

'well i bumed into kristi once and she was like 'yo me and pep are gonna get big gulps, you in? and i was like, Shit yea bitch, let me bring rory bushfeild and hibbert, cause were really tight' -Mikael420

*NWFT*

one time i was at the bedtime and i tried to open the broccoli but i couldnt because inside was the conundrum - destroy (in response to the crack addict thread)

ANNA DO YOU FLIPPIN HOMEWORK OR ILL COME OVER THERE WITH MY GENUINE ATTITUDE ADJUSTER AND START ADJUSTING SOME ATTITUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - jomama0005
 
im not too sure yet i was lookin online at UCLA, and USC both really hard schools to get into, NYU but im not gonna get in

NS Philosopher
 
chapman is the up and coming school, usc has kind or reached that uber snobby level where they no longer get anything productive done...its just a big name. but chapman is at that level where its still getting big...still being progressive. it will be the new usc.

nyu is expensive and annoying, i would suggest not going there. it costs a lot of money and the equipment is not accessible...

'skinny dipping sesh, later.' - laguna beach.
 
Pick up one of those film maker magazines you see at a book store. I read an article about guys who go to film school, graduate and never pursue a job in that field. They were basically saying there are thousands of students graduating each year and so many don't even know what to do once they get out. They spend gads of money for the education and it goes to waste. The article even pointed out that what they teach you isn't really necessary in some cases.

I don't know film school seems fun and al, but the industry is highly competitive and rough. To each his own I guess.

 
^true, my plan is to go to Univ. of Utah, and either get a major or minor in film prod., the U is not considered a film school by any means, you should see the set up they've got haha, but i'll get something out of it, and still have education in other fields if i end up changing my mind. that's why i think montana state would be a good place. it's a big school that doesn't focus competely on film but has an outstanding program. you wouldn't just be stuck with a degree in film and no where to go with it

_____________________________

'well i bumed into kristi once and she was like 'yo me and pep are gonna get big gulps, you in? and i was like, Shit yea bitch, let me bring rory bushfeild and hibbert, cause were really tight' -Mikael420

*NWFT*

one time i was at the bedtime and i tried to open the broccoli but i couldnt because inside was the conundrum - destroy (in response to the crack addict thread)

ANNA DO YOU FLIPPIN HOMEWORK OR ILL COME OVER THERE WITH MY GENUINE ATTITUDE ADJUSTER AND START ADJUSTING SOME ATTITUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - jomama0005
 
all i know is that if you're completely driven towards film like i am, then anything else leaves you as a failure. to accept that i wont be a filmmaker, is to accep that i wont have a life...thats the kind of mentality that you need to have if you want to be successful. if you're 'being smart' and coming up with a plan b, then you don't really want to be a filmmaker.

'skinny dipping sesh, later.' - laguna beach.
 
yeah but that's just your opinion due to your mindset. there's no clean cut anything anywhere that says that.

-chris
 
yea, if you're that motivated, that's cool, i just get scared thinking that my passions or dreams might change so i don't really want to focus ALL my energy on film, i'm going with art and graphic design too. more power to ya though, you're one motivated kid, i hope you succeed

_____________________________

'well i bumed into kristi once and she was like 'yo me and pep are gonna get big gulps, you in? and i was like, Shit yea bitch, let me bring rory bushfeild and hibbert, cause were really tight' -Mikael420

*NWFT*

one time i was at the bedtime and i tried to open the broccoli but i couldnt because inside was the conundrum - destroy (in response to the crack addict thread)

ANNA DO YOU FLIPPIN HOMEWORK OR ILL COME OVER THERE WITH MY GENUINE ATTITUDE ADJUSTER AND START ADJUSTING SOME ATTITUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - jomama0005
 
yeah i just graduated from the U's film school...and i must say that it isn't the best place to learn, but you can ski everyday and their grad school is sick.

order First Light now at www.offtrailproductions.com
 
^nice, that's where i'm headed

_____________________________

'well i bumed into kristi once and she was like 'yo me and pep are gonna get big gulps, you in? and i was like, Shit yea bitch, let me bring rory bushfeild and hibbert, cause were really tight' -Mikael420

*NWFT*

one time i was at the bedtime and i tried to open the broccoli but i couldnt because inside was the conundrum - destroy (in response to the crack addict thread)

ANNA DO YOU FLIPPIN HOMEWORK OR ILL COME OVER THERE WITH MY GENUINE ATTITUDE ADJUSTER AND START ADJUSTING SOME ATTITUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - jomama0005
 
Brooks Institute in So Cal is among the best in the US. Tyler from PBP went there and he's artsy as fuck.

 
I like pickels. I was gona post somehting with more substance but I lost all of my money at the track and now I have to go tell my wife that I can't buy our kids christmas this year.

 
yeah I don't see film school as a particularly good investment...sure you develop connections and what not, but there are other ways to meet people in the business. so instead of going that route i decided to go to a school that has one of the best international relations programs in the country and a decent, if small film program. so im majoring in something that can make me money and minoring in something that i love, so it all works out.

i ski for Head
 
Montana State has a very very good film program. One of the best in the country. Im going there now and majoring in Photography. Its pretty dope.

 
^that's sweet, i just got accepted but i don't really know much about it haha, i'm going to come look at it soon though

_____________________________

'well i bumed into kristi once and she was like 'yo me and pep are gonna get big gulps, you in? and i was like, Shit yea bitch, let me bring rory bushfeild and hibbert, cause were really tight' -Mikael420

*NWFT*

one time i was at the bedtime and i tried to open the broccoli but i couldnt because inside was the conundrum - destroy (in response to the crack addict thread)

ANNA DO YOU FLIPPIN HOMEWORK OR ILL COME OVER THERE WITH MY GENUINE ATTITUDE ADJUSTER AND START ADJUSTING SOME ATTITUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - jomama0005
 
i really don't see how film school can be a bad investment if making films is what you want to do. There is no way you can just pick up a camera and make a film. Absolutley no way.

 
If you're in it just to make ski movies, then go to a community college and take a film class there. You're not gonna be making big bucks with ski films anyways.

 
^ i totally agree you don't need to go to school to learn how to use a gl2 and final cut.

'skinny dipping sesh, later.' - laguna beach.
 
There are a lot of ski movies out there that are just trash, unless you could care less about the art aspect behind each film. I have purchased one film this year pretty much like every year, and it was Soul Purpose. I thought it was incredible, most of the music was appropriate and the little diaries they read off for each segement was a creative idea. Maybe they should have called it 'Ski Diaries'..... or not. Anyways my point is I guess are that ski films are made to grab the majority of the fans attention and respect. That is why you have skier segments so that you can jump right to your favorite skiers part. They also broaden the music selection. Rap, death metal, electronic.... the transitions from segement to segment give me headaches. So when you have the completed version, you have kinda forgotten about the entire purpose of making the film. Not to mention names or anything, but Matchstick Productions and Warren Miller seem to do that for me. They care so much about being on the top, making the most profit that the entire reason to make this film has slipped away from them. It is this way with every sport out there. I want to see a ski film that leaves a scar in your brain to remeber and keep forever. Something with a story line, music of the same genre and the music flows just perfect with the skiing. With plenty of diologue, and drop the skier segments. Cunning angle shots, follow cams but instead with the fancy camera. The film makes you want to just ski, not just go slide a rail or something. I hope something from what I prefer will come out someday soon. I would love to see an Imax ski film on the screen. My dream someday is to make ski films and become a photographer. As you can see I love talking about it more than anything. I could go on and on. It greats talking about it with other people my age. My parents think I'm nuts when I say I want to make ski films. They say, 'be more realistic.' I just say, 'I am.'

 
^^ phrosty you cock. you don't need to attend film school to make low budget films, breathe and stop isn't brilliant and neither are josh bermans films, but they ARE damn entertaining. neither of those filmmakers need film school to do what they are doing, they create those films because they have a near innate ability to do so. start with that kind of filmmaking and then you go to msp/tgr type stuff. but phrosty you're an idiot if you think you can come out of nowhere and bust out with a high budget ski film, theres a lot of competition and most filmmakers are drawing from a small pool of sponsors.

'skinny dipping sesh, later.' - laguna beach.
 
i plan on attending RIT next fall. They have a good video program.

~Crock

Ski like you fuck; fast and hard with a stupid grin on your face.
 
^regardless i don't think he needed to for that film, i suppose planning for funding may have been helpful, but i don't know if dartmouths program is particularly good for that

'skinny dipping sesh, later.' - laguna beach.
 
I'm saying that film school teaches you lessons upfront instead of learning from your mistakes. Spend one year at film school and you will learn so much.

and to the guy that only bought soul purpose, you should really get redtape, it's by far the best 'jib' flick of the year.

And it is possible to blow out of the gates and produce something far superior your first year. If you know what you're doing and you have skiers who will at least go big; also using a decent camera will help tons. You say you dream about film all the time, well is that all you do? why don't you step and and get on it if it's something youre so into instead of making excuses about poor production values being ok. Look at any succesfull film, you don't see shitty camera work, sloppy editing, etc.

 
^if thats to me, i do more than dream, but i have to finish writing before i'm ready to get a cast...i'll send you the first copy when i'm finished.

'skinny dipping sesh, later.' - laguna beach.
 
The Volkl video made me want to ski, like really bad. They must have had some educated guys make it? I don't know, I like videos though.

 
Im gonna go to college to gain some fundamentals. Then its amature hour for me.

BITCH

'Jesus this, and Moses that, Abraham hit me with a wiffle ball bat' - Little Nicky

 
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