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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Hi I'm a novice where do I start!???

1st off... let's start with a real name here.

Jim
 
A. Bastaki said:
can't stress how right you are Gavin... these books are like the abc's of filmmaking. gotta learn your abc.



mmost - ive surveyed a lot of filmschools... if I had the time, I'd rather pay a dp/director whoever.. and have him teach me. or atleast be on their sets.. learn the craft... then go rent out eq. make a short or two and get a feel for the craft.. MAKE experienced friends.. and ask them their input on your work.. not from some class instructor.. but from the industry itself.. also ask your mentor for some job favours... and allow him to guide you where to start. even as a PA. u'll probably start scrubbing toilets.. or c-stands.. boxes.. or whatever... but you will be surprised at how much u've learned in a year by reading the books.. and being a part of the industry gaining experience... whereas the same guy in your shoes getting out of usc or nyfa.. would be fighting for a job, and be so full of theory - not knowing where to start... very very few filmmaking students make it in the industry..

filmmaking is about running, selling yourself, self-educating, self-inspiring yourself and give yourself opportunities by being in the industry from headstart. That, my friend, you will not get from a film school.
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BINGO. Much better to pay a professional to teach you one-on-one than to pay for expensive college classes. L.A. Film School was so much that it was about $85/hr. I can hire almost anyone I want for that rate in L.A., in this economy. I hire very good, experienced DPs for $300 a day, so it's not hard to find people to teach you a ton about the basics for a lot less than film school costs. Even advanced knowledge, of course.

I'm not going to say I'm anti-film school but... oh who am I kidding, yes I am. Film school is for rich kids who don't have anything better to do and aren't smart enough to figure out that you can learn more for cheaper in the real world. Obviously just my opinion, but to spend that much money on a career with NO guarantees just makes no sense. It's not med school. Filmmaking is learned by doing.
 
Please, somebody, start a new thread about the incentives of filmmaking, because everytime I see the name Jdoe, I can't stop laughing. :Angel_anim:
 
Jonathan L. Bowen said:
BINGO. Much better to pay a professional to teach you one-on-one than to pay for expensive college classes. L.A. Film School was so much that it was about $85/hr. I can hire almost anyone I want for that rate in L.A., in this economy. I hire very good, experienced DPs for $300 a day, so it's not hard to find people to teach you a ton about the basics for a lot less than film school costs. Even advanced knowledge, of course.

I'm not going to say I'm anti-film school but... oh who am I kidding, yes I am. Film school is for rich kids who don't have anything better to do and aren't smart enough to figure out that you can learn more for cheaper in the real world. Obviously just my opinion, but to spend that much money on a career with NO guarantees just makes no sense. It's not med school. Filmmaking is learned by doing.
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.......well, I grew up lower middle class. I went to film school. I went because it provided an additional foundation to the skills I learned in the army as a combat cameraman (Combat Photo Journalist). I also went because I was lucky enough to get grants/scholarships from the school. I dropped out four months shy of graduating to go to Portland and work on "The Hunted" because a friend from school asked me to. I have been working ever since... I didn't start with film school but I owe a lot to it.

$300/day for a DP?! You're lucky I suppose... Really?! $300 a day?! That doesn't even get me out of bed...

While it may be your opinion, it's obviously not based in any form of experience/knowledge. One might say though, paying one person to "shadow" them is for rich kids blah blah blah....

Opinions can be misguided and ignorant.

And since when is obtaining any degree a guarantee for any job? Nothing is guaranteed except death and taxes...
 
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