Hi all,
Was hoping to get some advice. I am currently an incoming sophomore at the university of Delaware, with a major in animal biosciences (uhh..yeah.). My intention was to go to vet school, but after a serious revelation I realized that my passion is films and all I want to do is get involved in the film industry. I've tried to just forget the idea as a silly dream, but I can't get it out of my head. I think about it all the time, and am constantly "directing" in my head in everyday life. 🙂 I think I would be best suited as a cinematographer - I really have a knack for making things looks beautiful. The only trouble there is that I don't know much about cameras - lenses, lighting, etc.
Do I need a degree in film? I am planning on finishing my degree in bio - my dad is paying tuition and I'm not going to take that for granted. The other complication is that I'm a competitve dressage rider trying to go for nationals in 2011, so I need to focus on that and school for the next two years. But after that degree, I was wondering if it would be possible to get into graduate school for cinema studies with a science major. I am very smart - not bragging, just trying to give you all the facts - extremely hard working, "spatially" talented, and know that going into film involves doing it for the love of film and the willingness to put in extremely long days for little pay. I'm currently looking for experience as an unpaid production assistant, to make sure its what I really want to do - although I can say with 100% certainty that I've never felt so drawn to a particular career.
Thanks for the time! I would love input/advice.
You realize, of course, that every single person listed on the credits
of every single movie (and TV show) made is living that "silly dream".
That every one of them was once outside of the industry and is now
making a living doing what they love.
No. You don't need a degree. Check out these threads:
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6814
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6306
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6320
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5626
http://www.filmmaking.net/fnetforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4794
You can start as a PA, work your way into the camera department
and then ll the way up to cinematographer without ever going to
school at all.
You seem like the type who thrives in a school environment, so
perhaps graduate school is better for you. Only you know. I wasn't
smart enough to get anything out of school, so I dropped out if
high school, started working (for free) on sets and worked my
way into a very satisfying career.
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
Thank you! And you are correct, I do thrive in the school environment.
The only reason I feel like this might be just a pipedream for me is how suddenly it has come on. I'm the sort of person who wants lifelong passions, and I can't help feeling like I should have started earlier. I did want to be involved in film from a very young age, but never pursued it as I chose dressage over acting/theatre. My parents definitely don't support it - they think I have a guaranteed ticket into/out of med school and don't see how I wouldn't be happy as a doctor. That's why I plan to finish my bio degree before really trying to get involved in film, so at the least I'll have something to fall back on if it turns out I am not as talented as I want to think I am.
There is no answer that fits everyone. I deeply believe we each do exactly
what we want to do. If you want to go to graduate school for film after you
finish your animal biosciences degree then that is the path you should take.
I never had anything to fall back on. I jumped in with both feet. I knew if I
had a fallback I would use it when things got tough. But then I only, ever
had the one passion. I never even considered any other business. So now
my "fall back" job - when I can't make enough as a writer or director - is
as a camera operator and pyrotechnician. I even have my "day job" as a
stagehand.
All of which I learned on the job without ever going to college.
Best of luck to you. I imagine starting in the film business - long hours
no pay - with school debt is pretty difficult. Working that fall back job
to stay afloat must be difficult also. I mean how do you manage a week
of low pay, 12 hour days when you have a job? I imagine few employers
are willing to let you go 10, 20 14 weeks out of the year - the time needed
to break into the film business.
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
