Poll: Filmmaking

[PAGEToap44]

I'm in my last year at a private school in the UK. I'm seriously considering filmmaking as a career and have applied to various film courses and art colleges. However there are various reasons just to go directly into the film industry as a runner, or something similar, and working your way up. Such as not having to spend a ton of money on education and the benefit of not being, I suppose, programmed to a certain way of thinking in film school. On the other hand film school is the place to meet like-minded people and a chance to immerse yourself in the theory of making a good film.

What are your thoughts Escapists? Are any of you actually making films professionally? Anyone else at my stage in life, not sure what to do?

 

[RobCoxxy]

I'm taking Film Production at Staffordshire Uni.
Three year course.
Bachelor's under your belt when you're done, along with experience with equipment, editing software, directing, scriptwriting, etc.
Definitely worth it.

 

[RatRace123]

I'm at your stage, and my plan is to take a film course and make short films throughout my college career.
Also another plus for film school is building a report with people, the film industry is largely about who you know. It's at once both a collaborative and a competitive field, having friends, especially friends with good equipment and vision, helps.

I wish you luck in your endeavor, regardless of what choice you make.

 

[homerbert]

I work for a documentary and reality TV company, have a few fiction projects in development. I'm no big shot by any stretch, but I sorta know how things work. TV and film companies don't care about degrees, they only care about experience. However university years were some of the best years of my life, so it's not to be discounted. I did a computers degree and a business masters and those teach you a lot of skills that employers are impressed by. A lot of film courses are watching films about soviet silent cinema which is of no use to employers. If you've got a real or useful degree you're a much more attractive prospect and you've got a safety net if you decide media ain't for you (which I've seen happen a lot)

Now this doesn't mean you don't make films. Cameras are cheap and easily blag-able. If you want to make films, you'll do it in your spare time. If you're not willing to do it now when you've got a lot of free time, then you'll probably not cope well with the demands of actually working full time for a media firm. You're competing in one of the most desirable industries in the world, so there'll always be people willing to work their asses off. That said if you find filmmaking fun then it's not so much of a chore. Make a shitload of films, shorts, sketches, music videos, whatever. You'll learn lighting, camera, editing, production, scheduling, budget, blagging favours and all the practical shit that people actually need. It'll kill your social life, leave you sleep deprived and possibly cost you some mates, but you'll meet a load of interesting people and it's rewarding.

Oh and learn writing. Everything from directing live action, to character design in animation to editing is helped by knowing writing. As with all filmmaking stuff there's tons of information online, particularly the following essentials: Jane Espenson's blog, the creative screenwriting magazine podcast and wordplayer. Read Field and McKee and you won't agree with everything but at the very least you'll know what everyone else is doing.

Erm, cheeky plug for something I'm working on for a competition that starts on February 23rd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM6YbzlGF_w - Trailer.
If you like it, please feel free to like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/rtefreehouse

Cheers. Sorry for the rambly post, hope there's some useful advice in there.

Eoin

 

[PAGEToap44]

I work for a documentary and reality TV company, have a few fiction projects in development. I'm no big shot by any stretch, but I sorta know how things work. TV and film companies don't care about degrees, they only care about experience. However university years were some of the best years of my life, so it's not to be discounted. I did a computers degree and a business masters and those teach you a lot of skills that employers are impressed by. A lot of film courses are watching films about soviet silent cinema which is of no use to employers. If you've got a real or useful degree you're a much more attractive prospect and you've got a safety net if you decide media ain't for you (which I've seen happen a lot)

Now this doesn't mean you don't make films. Cameras are cheap and easily blag-able. If you want to make films, you'll do it in your spare time. If you're not willing to do it now when you've got a lot of free time, then you'll probably not cope well with the demands of actually working full time for a media firm. You're competing in one of the most desirable industries in the world, so there'll always be people willing to work their asses off. That said if you find filmmaking fun then it's not so much of a chore. Make a shitload of films, shorts, sketches, music videos, whatever. You'll learn lighting, camera, editing, production, scheduling, budget, blagging favours and all the practical shit that people actually need. It'll kill your social life, leave you sleep deprived and possibly cost you some mates, but you'll meet a load of interesting people and it's rewarding.

Oh and learn writing. Everything from directing live action, to character design in animation to editing is helped by knowing writing. As with all filmmaking stuff there's tons of information online, particularly the following essentials: Jane Espenson's blog, the creative screenwriting magazine podcast and wordplayer. Read Field and McKee and you won't agree with everything but at the very least you'll know what everyone else is doing.

Erm, cheeky plug for something I'm working on for a competition that starts on February 23rd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM6YbzlGF_w - Trailer.
If you like it, please feel free to like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/rtefreehouse

Cheers. Sorry for the rambly post, hope there's some useful advice in there.

Eoin

Cheers for the info, especially about the writing bit. Your film looks impressive btw, I look forward to seeing the finished product.

I'm at your stage, and my plan is to take a film course and make short films throughout my college career.
Also another plus for film school is building a report with people, the film industry is largely about who you know. It's at once both a collaborative and a competitive field, having friends, especially friends with good equipment and vision, helps.

I wish you luck in your endeavor, regardless of what choice you make.

Sound advice. Good luck to you too. Also, out of curiosity, which colleges heve you applied to?

I'm taking Film Production at Staffordshire Uni.
Three year course.
Bachelor's under your belt when you're done, along with experience with equipment, editing software, directing, scriptwriting, etc.
Definitely worth it.

Thanks for the advice.