Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
  Login/Join 
Freshman
Posted
Mostly right now i'm looking for advice on my next step as to what I should do. Right now I'm a junior at University Wisconsin Eau Claire, I've always loved movies and got more interested in film since i've come to college. Right now I am majoring in business Administration, and will probably finish my degree in business. Afterwards I do want to get a degree in film, to mostly get my feet wet and maybe make a few contacts. I do want to go to LA after school and attend a film school in the area, but was considering the route I should take since I am currently paying off loans the way it is. Any help/advice anyone could give me would be great. Thanks alot
 
Posts: 5 | Location: Eau Claire, WI | Registered: January 24, 2008Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Freshman
Posted Hide Post
If you're worried about expenses, your best bet might be to try to get into a state school program. The best state school grad film programs, as far as I know, are UCLA, FSU, and UT-Austin (I'm sure there are others as well, I'm just not aware of them). If you live in any of these states for a year before starting school, you will qualify as a resident and pay resident tuition. Of course, I know the top private schools (USC, NYU, etc.) also offer scholarships and other grants, so you might want to contact those schools directly to find out about that. Regardless of where you go, film school isn't cheap and you will most likely end up racking up some more debt, its just a question of how much debt. Might want to put that business degree to work and make some money before starting school again...
 
Posts: 54 | Location: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: January 19, 2008Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Freshman
Posted Hide Post
I have considered that route to make some money, to fund the school and living expenses. But I do want to get involved soon if at all possible, do you know of any school where you can take night classes or something like that where I would be able to juggle a job and school. Especially in California, because I do plan on looking for jobs out there if I do go with the route to get a job.
 
Posts: 5 | Location: Eau Claire, WI | Registered: January 24, 2008Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Freshman
Posted Hide Post
If you're looking to go into Directing (as opposed to Producing) it will completely consume your life and you won't have time for a job, at least your first year. If you are looking to just take classes here and there around a work schedule, you might be better off with one of the non-degree programs like LA Film School, where you can probably take classes when you want to. Not sure how those kinds of schools stack up though.
 
Posts: 54 | Location: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: January 19, 2008Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Freshman
Posted Hide Post
Well I would be looking into directing movies more than producing, which is why I did doubt there would be anything similar to night school or anything. But since I probably won't be applying or going to a school for a few years until I graduate, do you have any pointers on what I can do to get started off, and maybe teach myself the industry a little bit. I know many pros did not got to film school, but rather taught themselves. Any pointers would be great
 
Posts: 5 | Location: Eau Claire, WI | Registered: January 24, 2008Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Freshman
Posted Hide Post
Not sure what you mean by "teach myself the industry." If you want to be a director, you will go to school to learn how to direct films, how to be a visual storyteller and bring various people together to achieve your vision. Practical information about how "the industry" works is valuable, but to me it is separate and secondary to cultivating your talents as a storyteller.
The best advice i could give you would be to watch as many films as possible, read as many good books as possible, figure out what excites you about storytelling. What themes? What techniques? What kind of director do you want to be? You don't have to answer these questions before film school, but if you have a more concrete idea of why you want to be a director, it can only help your application.
Now on the more specific area of getting a job, it might not be a bad idea to try to work for a producer, or even as a PA on sets, to at least start meeting some people in the "real" world and get an understanding of how the Hollywood beast operates. While its important to have talent and craft, it is still a business of who you know, so the more film industry people you meet the better off you will be.
 
Posts: 54 | Location: Los Angeles, CA | Registered: January 19, 2008Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
 Previous Topic | Next Topic powered by eve community  
 


© Studentfilms.com, Inc. 2008