Resources for Film School

[Anna.]

Hey there, IRC friends.

I just graduated college and, frankly, I hate it. I didn't like my school. I wasn't particularly passionate about my major. I always resented not following my initial dreams of studying film. And I feel empty about the entire experience.

Now, with the economy being the way it is, and my dissatisfaction with career-paths in general, I might as well go back to school.

I think I'm finally ready to make that jump, be irrational, and pursue something I know will lead me nowhere. I think I'm already there, so why not spend a hundred grand or so and dig a bigger hole for myself?

I'm just asking for any and all advice on the subject. If you've already been to film school, what was your experience there? What are some things I should know before applying? Are there particular scholarships or grants available to an inexperienced NY girl, like myself? If you haven't been, but can refer me to somebody who has, do tell. Seriously.

I plan on doing more formal research, of course, but it doesn't hurt to ask, right? You guys are cool. And my guess is a bunch of you actually know a thing or two about this.

Best,

AR

 

[Sblake]

Ok apparently you can't delete posts on here.

 

[Sblake]

a

 

[TerryJ]

Hmm. Just before typing this I was back and forth in my head about recommending going to film school.

I went to Ithaca College for film school (undergrad) and there were definitely plenty of cool things about going to film school. Obviously, there is a large group of people who are there for the same reason and, film being a collaborative artform, it was cool to have all of these people to work with on your projects. At the time I went, we got to work with actual film (there was no non-linear editing available), actually loading 16mm film, getting it developed, and running it through machines by hand, and cutting/splicing it. (Obviously, most places will have you shooting and editing video, not film, these days.)

That being said, I feel like you could save a lot by just getting some good DV equipment and shooting stuff yourself, reading books on film and watching a lot. For the money you would spend on school, you could get some seriously good equipment! Also, there are a lot of people in the NY improv community that are interested in writing, shooting, acting in film/video projects, so I feel you could tap into that community much like the enthusiastic people you would find in film school. (Plus, the acting ability of this group is much superior to people I worked with in film school!)

The stuff that we made in school was no better (and in many ways worse) than stuff that I've seen at Channel 101 NY, Leche Magica (an improv community film screening that happened several years ago), etc.

That also being said, I would probably not be in NY and would have never done improv had I not gone to Ithaca for school (where I met Secunda, Andy Daly, John Ross Bowie), although that might have just been good fortune (and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with film school!)

I suppose, ultimately, think hard before doing it. It's a lot of money! You can learn a lot by just doing it. Maybe, even try doing some stuff on your own before deciding either way. You can get work on film/video crews (in very low level positions) without any experience. You can then decide whether or not whether you really want to give it a good shot (in school or just jumping in.)

Hope that helps. (If you have other, specific questions, just ask.)

-Terry

 

[ProfessorKirk]

I agree with Terry.

Going back to school isn't a decision to be taken lightly - that debt won't magically disappear - and if you're just looking for a way to escape from real-life responsibilities for a few years, it's probably a bad idea.

And I can only speak from personal experience, but every person I know who works in TV/Film production didn't get there by attending film school. Sure, it helps build contacts, but that's a lot of money for contacts that you can get through the improv community and through PAing and working your way up the ranks.

 

[Anna.]

Terry, Kirk, you guys have definitely touched on something. And thank you for your responses.

I'll say this, I clearly have some issues with the fact that I went to a fake college, and always wished I could go to NYU, where all the cool kids went, and be around awesome people and all that stuff. That's something I've been struggling with forever. I went to a shit school with the intention of spending real money on graduate school but, by the time I was supposed to be thinking ahead, I realized how much I'd been fooling myself. I want to do film and, try as I might to get something started out of improv, it's been slow-going. Anyone with actual film experience is busy doing their own thing, and are in high enough demand where someone with much more clout than I have can snatch them up right away. It's frustrating. Even my closest improv buds/filmmakers have nothing to gain from helping me out. They're not going to show me the ropes. Sadly, that seems to be the case.

It's true I can just spend a bunch of money on equipment, but that inferiority complex still hangs over my head. I want to be a student, and I want to do it right this time. Saving money seemed like a great idea, and now I hate myself for it. I have no debt, but I have not much else, either: no contacts, no mentors, no experience. I had somebody tell me at a temp agency, a TEMP agency, that CUNY sucks. WTF?

There is so much more I can say but maybe this is veering off into the wrong direction. Maybe film school isn't the way to go. But I have to go somewhere. I can't stay in this one place.

 

[Sblake]

Terry, Kirk, you guys have definitely touched on something. And thank you for your responses.

I'll say this, I clearly have some issues with the fact that I went to a fake college, and always wished I could go to NYU, where all the cool kids went, and be around awesome people and all that stuff. That's something I've been struggling with forever. I went to a shit school with the intention of spending real money on graduate school but, by the time I was supposed to be thinking ahead, I realized how much I'd been fooling myself. I want to do film and, try as I might to get something started out of improv, it's been slow-going. Anyone with actual film experience is busy doing their own thing, and are in high enough demand where someone with much more clout than I have can snatch them up right away. It's frustrating. Even my closest improv buds/filmmakers have nothing to gain from helping me out. They're not going to show me the ropes. Sadly, that seems to be the case.

It's true I can just spend a bunch of money on equipment, but that inferiority complex still hangs over my head. I want to be a student, and I want to do it right this time. Saving money seemed like a great idea, and now I hate myself for it. I have no debt, but I have not much else, either: no contacts, no mentors, no experience. I had somebody tell me at a temp agency, a TEMP agency, that CUNY sucks. WTF?

There is so much more I can say but maybe this is veering off into the wrong direction. Maybe film school isn't the way to go. But I have to go somewhere. I can't stay in this one place.

Can you take a few film classes? Get a job as a PA? I have a lot less debt from grad school than you're wanting to take on and, trust me, it's still tough. It's hard to fathom what your life will look like in the future, but taking on a ton of debt for a career that's "iffy" is a scary idea. Most of the "cool kids" might be making videos that people watch all the time...but I bet you your tuition that they're not making a whole lot of money off of them .

 

[Books]

I'll say this, I clearly have some issues with the fact that I went to a fake college, and always wished I could go to NYU, where all the cool kids went, and be around awesome people and all that stuff.

Anna, this shouldn't be the reason you go to NYU. I went to NYU for film and one of things I regretted most about it was the lack of a traditional college campus. Whenever we would go out at night or the weekends, it was always out to bars and clubs around NY.

If you want to be where all the cool kids are and be around awesome people, just look around you. You're already there.

 

[Anna.]

Yeah, but logic's boring.

Also, I know people have ways of doing this intelligently. Paying full tuition seems absurd, especially since I'm already a graduate so, you're right, I probably could just take certain classes - but I'd still like to enroll. Plus, that's why I ask about scholarships and such; those things can add up.

Curious to know what it was you tried so hard to delete.

 

[Sblake]

Curious to know what it was you tried so hard to delete.

A post about debt that sounded like a mom .

You can take individual film courses through NYU's Continuing Ed program that cost far less than 100,000 dollars. They have classes that combine filmmaking with marketable stuff like digital marketing or animation and whatever.

 

[Books]

Another thing about NYU. One day Joel and Ethan Cohen came to speak to our class when they showed us a premiere of "Miller's Crossing" (am I dating myself). One of the students asked if going to film school helped them in their careers. They said that outside getting access to 16mm cameras, it really didn't help them. We now live in a time where you can by a HD camera relatively cheaply and shoot video quality about the same as 16mm or better. Also, there's no longer use for film theory classes. Most any old film is now available on DVD and if you want to get in depth studies on them, listen to the commentary tracks.

 

[Sblake]

Another thing about NYU. One day Joel and Ethan Cohen came to speak to our class when they showed us a premiere of "Miller's Crossing" (am I dating myself).

The age listed in your profile effectively dates you .

 

[scnmartinez]

Hi Anna- School of Visual Arts has a great continuing education program with an option to later apply credits to a degree if enrolling full time. After college I took a variety of filmmaking (both film and digital) at SVA. They run an average of $750, which is alot more affordable than some of the other programs and are once a week so you'd still have time to work and partake in improv fun Also in the end you leave with a completed film of your own.

http://www.schoolofvisualarts.edu/ce/index.jsp?sid0=3&sid1=42

 

[Anna.]

Anna, this shouldn't be the reason you go to NYU. I went to NYU for film and one of things I regretted most about it was the lack of a traditional college campus. Whenever we would go out at night or the weekends, it was always out to bars and clubs around NY.

If you want to be where all the cool kids are and be around awesome people, just look around you. You're already there.

I've been calling UCB my college since I started taking classes. It has served that purpose, for sure. But, in the real world, nobody's been too impressed with my degree in improv.

 

[Books]

The age listed in your profile effectively dates you .

That's why no one ever asked me to be in the practice grope.

 

[benzado]

Most of the value of going to school is networking with people who are in, or who will be in, your field. Doing improv in New York already makes you part of a network, and a much better network than you'd get by going back to school.

As far as the inferiority complex: that has nothing to do with where you went to school. You just have that feeling and where-you-went-to-school is just the rationalization for it. Once you go to film school, you will feel inferior because you started late. Once you graduate, you will feel inferior for some other reason. You will always find a reason to justify the feeling.

How do I know it's in your head? Because I have no idea where you went to school, or where pretty much anybody else went to school. I'll bet if you make a list of the people you think kick-ass you won't be able to put down where any of them went to school. I know most people don't know or forget where I went to school because I've answered the question dozens of times. And knowing where someone went to school never changed my opinion of them.

Learn by doing. Take a tiny fraction of the money you would waste on school and buy some equipment and then film as much as you can. Film stupid stuff, film stuff you know will be boring or terrible, just so you can have the experience. It will turn out better than you think, and get better every time you do it. Have you seen Rob Stern's "Life and Times" on YouTube? Do something simple like that. Talk to Will Hines about helping film UCBcomedy shorts. Offer to film other people's sketches and shows.

You have no debt? Seriously? In 21st Century America that is the equivalent of a superpower! Don't feel dumb for that.

 

[Anna.]

Hi Anna- School of Visual Arts has a great continuing education program with an option to later apply credits to a degree if enrolling full time. After college I took a variety of filmmaking (both film and digital) at SVA. They run an average of $750, which is alot more affordable than some of the other programs and are once a week so you'd still have time to work and partake in improv fun Also in the end you leave with a completed film of your own.

http://www.schoolofvisualarts.edu/ce/index.jsp?sid0=3&sid1=42

Thanks!

 

[Books]

I've been calling UCB my college since I started taking classes. It has served that purpose, for sure. But, in the real world, nobody's been too impressed with my degree in improv.

In the real world, no one's been impressed in my BFA in filmmaking.

 

[Anna.]

Most of the value of going to school is networking with people who are in, or who will be in, your field. Doing improv in New York already makes you part of a network, and a much better network than you'd get by going back to school.

As far as the inferiority complex: that has nothing to do with where you went to school. You just have that feeling and where-you-went-to-school is just the rationalization for it. Once you go to film school, you will feel inferior because you started late. Once you graduate, you will feel inferior for some other reason. You will always find a reason to justify the feeling.

How do I know it's in your head? Because I have no idea where you went to school, or where pretty much anybody else went to school. I'll bet if you make a list of the people you think kick-ass you won't be able to put down where any of them went to school. I know most people don't know or forget where I went to school because I've answered the question dozens of times. And knowing where someone went to school never changed my opinion of them.

Learn by doing. Take a tiny fraction of the money you would waste on school and buy some equipment and then film as much as you can. Film stupid stuff, film stuff you know will be boring or terrible, just so you can have the experience. It will turn out better than you think, and get better every time you do it. Have you seen Rob Stern's "Life and Times" on YouTube? Do something simple like that. Talk to Will Hines about helping film UCBcomedy shorts. Offer to film other people's sketches and shows.

You have no debt? Seriously? In 21st Century America that is the equivalent of a superpower! Don't feel dumb for that.

This is a great post. Thank you.

I used to think I had pretty low self-esteem but, I have to say, I honestly don't. No more than the next person. I'm not known for my confidence, but I'm generally indifferent, I'm thinking. Anxiety over not getting on a Harold team or doing a bad scene is different from "I have no future." If I feel inferior it's because I haven't fulfilled my potential, even as just an undergrad, and I'm trying to find a way to fulfill it. Grass is greener, etc, and I'd be the first to admit that. But, after so many years (many in my life-span at least) is it really not worth exploring further?

 

[katiecheek]

Pratt has a really great film program, but unfortunately it's a 4 year BFA program...they don't offer associates degrees. http://www.pratt.edu/media_arts/curriculum/Bachelor_of_Fine_Arts_Film

I loved going to Pratt, but I can't help but feel like maybe I spent too much money to get a BFA in creative writing? Degrees are important, but networking has gotten me much further than my classes probably ever will. I would recommend looking into an associates program somewhere so you can nab up a good internship at a film company or something and learn there. If you need any PA contacts let me know...I can pass on some info.

If you're interested in applying to Pratt, you have to have a pretty solid portfolio that includes still life drawings. Again, if you want any help with that I used to work in Admissions at Pratt and can give you some advice as to what they're looking for.

Good luck Anna!

-Katie