Hello everyone, I'm a newbie to the site. I have a couple of questions, has anyone heard of a school called Hollywood Digital Film School? I ask because I want to go to film school.

I've been to the Los Angeles Film School and New York Film Academy and taken the tours thay have impressive eqipment and great locations but the schools seem to lack the human element. Has anyone famous come from either of these schools? Is it really worth all the money?

I found Hollywood Digital Film School through myspace their students were advertising the feature length movie they shot while in school there. Anyways, I've taken the tour, watched the shorts and a feature that the students in the 12-Week Program made. They are actually good movies. Better then some of the shorts that I've seen at the New York Film Academy and the LA Film School. They don't have much equipment and their location is small, but the knowledge and benifits seem to out weigh the negitives if you can call them that.

I have two concerns.

1. Cost, the tuition for the 12week class is $4,000.00. How can it be so inexpensive?
They said there are no hidden fees and that they pay for the feature length movie to be made. How can they do that?

2. How much equipment do you need to make a good movie?


Thanks in advance for any info.

my guess is that it is inexpensive because of the lack of equipment, and the fact that you will be paying to work on a feature film which i would guess is directed by an instrustor....so you are paying for film set experience... What exactly are your expectations for this program vs. NYFA, etc.?

do you have a link to the site?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Evan,

to make a good movie you need a camera....basically. the equipment is NOT what makes the movie good.

Hello Even,

Hollywood Digital Film School said I would direct a portion of the Feature, they also said I would gain real world experience of making an independent movie.

I want to learn the nut and bolts of film making as from the looks of previous students of the school I will.

I figure that $4,000.00 is very little money in the grand scheme of things, it's a small price to pay for a great education. Plus I get to say that I directed a feature.

What do you guys think?

The website it www.hwdfs.com

You're right. $4000 is a very small price to pay for a great education. The problem is, I highly doubt you can get that. I'm not saying Hollywood Digital Film School is not right for you because I don't know much about it (other than the fact that it's a $4000, 12 week program...) but I would be very cautious before jumping into it. If it were me, I would rather use that $4000 to rent some good equipment and make a really good short film on my own.

I've priced equipment. It's expensive to rent and or buy.

On a 5 day shoot with feeding the cast and crew renting equipment and insurance it would be cheaper to go to Hollywood Digital Film School.

Besides if I don't know what I'm doing with equipment and actors what can I do with a short that I've made for any amount of money, if it is no good.

I've seen shorts that were made for a lot more money and they looked bad.

I would be paying for knowlegde the fact that I get to make a feature is a bonus, I also get to make 2 of my own shorts.

Politicsofecstacy, I don't know your history, did you go to film school, have you made any movies?

Well, like I said, I'm not gonna tell you the school is not right for you. I guess what I'm saying is that I personally think an actual 2-4 year school would be more valuable in that you get more of an experience with peers and other "real world" aspects of life as well as getting a good film education and possibly a fairly well rounded academic education. But that's is me. Different strokes for different folks.

I'm just off to film school this fall actually. I've made lots of little videos mostly for the purpose of experimenting with different filmmaking techniques and equipment and worked for various production companies, but as far as making narrative films which may be what you're referring to, my experience is fairly limited.

quote:

On a 5 day shoot with feeding the cast and crew renting equipment and insurance it would be cheaper to go to Hollywood Digital Film School.

Heh, this is where guerrilla filmmaking comes in handy.