Film School

[Aaron michaels]

Right, right , well hell why have someone teach you how to drive a car when all you need are the keys to start it.

 

[Brian Merlen]

I got a video production degree at a state school, I'm not sure if brand name degrees are the way to go or not. Gear makes money for me, degrees not really...

 

[Alberto Guglielmi]

Hey, may I ask if you think your Marketing degree may have helped you as a director (as far as the business side/aspects)? And how? Thanks

Hey Darryl,
Several ways.
- First of all the people on the other side (clients, producers, financing people, and even the vendors payable dept or so on) are mainly people who run business. So being able to speak on the same terms with them, and the ability to see their side of things was very helpful. A lot of people in the creative world are "afraid" to talk money and they hurt themselves a bunch. Money for someone running a business is just a tool like many others. Knowing it, and knowing how they think of it is very useful.
- Then understanding that in an overpopulated world of directors and videographers, you need to use marketing and networking to find clients. Either you are naturally versed to it, or you need to know what you are doing. I recently changed CRM system, and researched it. Most of the people here have no idea what a CRM system is (Customer Relationship Management). That is to say that there is marketing to be done, and ways to do it.
- We are business of a single person. Every part of a company applies to it as well. From cost controlling to financing to marketing to producing. Sometime the ability to think that way helps greatly.

I can go on for more, but I hope this helps.

On a separate note, back to film school. I think it is only as good as the people you are in with. Meaning, it is great as a source of networking contacts, if they all go to become someone later on. I think it is good to go not to learn, but to meet and become friends with people in the industry.