Film School - Is It Worth It?
Let's not beat around the bush. If you are thinking of enrolling in film school, it's probably because you dream of working in the film industry. So you won't have false hopes, let us discuss what are to be expected from film school.
Not one film school can instill creativity. No film school can teach drive and determination, the same as no film school can teach you how to handle pressure. Yet these are three of the most important job skills in the film industry.
On the other hand, film school can teach discipline, theory, history and many production elements effectively. In a nutshell, filmmaking is story telling: rather than words, it uses light, mood, action, dialogue, music and images to tell the story and film school can be useful in polishing your story telling chops.
Not one film school can instill creativity. No film school can teach drive and determination, the same as no film school can teach you how to handle pressure. Yet these are three of the most important job skills in the film industry.
On the other hand, film school can teach discipline, theory, history and many production elements effectively. In a nutshell, filmmaking is story telling: rather than words, it uses light, mood, action, dialogue, music and images to tell the story and film school can be useful in polishing your story telling chops.
Is it then a bright idea to enrol in film school? If we take a closer look at the film industry for answers, our findings are inconclusive. Lucas, Scorcese and Coppola all went to film school. Steven Soderbergh, Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino, Richard Linklater and Spike Jonze didn't.
Today, the primary reason of going to a film school seem to vanish as the film industry has begun to enter the digital age. In the past, film and editing equipment were best accessed through a film school, as those are extremely expensive. Currently, with digital technology, access to filmmaking equipment is within personal reach of anyone who is serious about attending film school.
The digital transformation indeed made it easier for novices to get a shot - as in filmmakers who get discovered after posting their works on platforms like You Tube. Indeed, those who will succeed in the business are those who "just do it," as Nike proudly says.
With that as our premise, is film school even important, and if it is, what type of film school makes the most sense if the goal is to make a career in the film industry?
Today, the primary reason of going to a film school seem to vanish as the film industry has begun to enter the digital age. In the past, film and editing equipment were best accessed through a film school, as those are extremely expensive. Currently, with digital technology, access to filmmaking equipment is within personal reach of anyone who is serious about attending film school.
The digital transformation indeed made it easier for novices to get a shot - as in filmmakers who get discovered after posting their works on platforms like You Tube. Indeed, those who will succeed in the business are those who "just do it," as Nike proudly says.
With that as our premise, is film school even important, and if it is, what type of film school makes the most sense if the goal is to make a career in the film industry?
