I could be wrong but I suspect a private film school will be more interested in your films and your cash. Other film programs will require pretty high grades. It is always possible to go to a junior college in most states and get the qualifications. It is also possible to skip school altogether and work on films (this last bit has been discussed a number of times on this forum).

A lot depends upon where you live.

RJSchwarz

A GPA of 1.2 is painful, but that does NOT mean your career is over - quite honestly, your life has barely begun.

You should talk to the admissions counsellor at the film school, and see what you can do. Perhaps you can go to community college for a couple of years before enrolling in film school - that will give you the chance to shine.

Good luck!

I had such a terrible GPA that I dropped out of high school
three weeks into my senior year. Your 1.2 is better than mine!

I have had a very successful career in the entertainment business
. You don't know my name, but you have seen a movie I worked
on. I have done TV, film, theatre, live to tape events, live events,
concerts, theme park shows and even (gasp!) porn. I am the only
person without a degree employed at Walt Disney Imagineering.
I have never had a non entertainment job in my life.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

quote:

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Originally posted by Volk

I have a question regarding grade-school transcripts and a filmmaking career...

I am extremely passionate about film and am ready to work my ass off to be a filmmaker. The problem is, I've had very bad grades in school over the years due to slacking, my GPA being a painful 1.2. I'm currently in my senior year of high school and greatly regret not doing my work. I'm salvaging my graduation now, but I fear the damage has been done.

How will my grades affect a career in film?

I would like to go to a film school and get an education there, but if this is impossible I'm ready to start wherever I need to start.

Any feedback on this is greatly appreciated! Feel free to ask questions as well.

Thanks!

PS: I'm already making videos, and plan to have a website up soon where I can post all my stuff. I'm also learning as best I can. ?;)?

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Well, the FIRST thing you need to decide is what it is you PRECISELY want to do in the film industry. Do you want to have a viable long-lasting CAREER as a Director? A Producer? A DP? A Production Designer? Key Grip? Gaffer? etc etc etc....

The next thing to do is realize that NO DIPLOMA will get you a "job" in the film industry. Go to film school or not, it really really doesn't matter. What DOES matter is what you KNOW and WHO you know and who knows YOU.

So, can a filmschool help you learn the things you need to know to get a start in the professional film industry? Maybe. Refer back to the first step and determine exactly what it is you want to aim for. Understand that the odds are highly unlikely that you will NOT begin your career as that thing you want to do. It is likely that you will do some other "menial" job first at some capacity, on and/or off set to get your start to meet people.

Back to your grades. The grades don't matter and neither does the diploma or degree. However, grades are an indicator of your commitment to quality. Building a viable career in the professional film industry and MAINTAINING it requires absolute enthusiasm, passion, determination, perseverance, and commitment. Even if you have family in the business, there's not much room for phoning it in. You have to want it.

So, how to "make it" without filmschool? Again, figure out what it is you want to do. Saying "I want to be a filmmaker" or even "I want to direct" isn't good enough. It takes an army to make a movie so what EXACTLY do you want to do? Do you want to be a Director? Wonderful. But what KIND OF Director? Features? Commercials? Episodics? Sitcoms? Documentaries? Once you figure this out, you have to find out how to achieve that goal. Is it possible to just jump into that "job" you've chosen or do you need to work your way up to it? How do you get it, meaning, what exactly do you have to do, where do you have to go, who do you have to talk to, what do you have to invest of your own money to do this? Is the job you think you want to do REALLY what you want to do? It may sound exciting in theory, but have you really researched what that job is REALLY like on a day-to-day basis? Remember, you're not just trying to get a job in the film industry... you're also choosing a life-style. If you have dreams of a "normal" house and family, just know that you will likely NOT be making a decent income for a few years or more. You may have weeks or months where you are VERY busy followed by months of NOT working (thus, no income). So, do you have any previous debts that have to be paid while you try to establish a career? Will previous or current commitments keep you from being able to make choices that don't pay well (or at all) or take you far from home for large amounts of time?

There's a lot more to ask than "which school should I go to?" or "what camera should I buy?" Take it from me... I know... I went through it some twenty years ago when I moved out to LA to build my own career.

So, the summary is that no, you don't need a filmschool education or diploma. Could a school help you? Maybe, depending on what you already know and what you learn on your own. It's what you can do and who you know and who knows you that helps you build a career.

Check out the sites below for a lot more guidance. Good luck!

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

I don't think your grades matter if you want a career in film industry. You should have talent for filmmaking, that's it. If you look at the bios of many popular actors, none of them went to college, who went dropped out. They were passionate about this field and they worked their a$$ off to make a career in the entertainment industry.

While you can become a filmmaker without going to film school, it is no different than any other field (you can become a successful musician without going to music shool; you can become software developer without going to computer engineering school... you get the idea). The education you can get in the film school will provide solid and complete knowledge and skills. You will be forced to see many important movies from the movie history (which you probably wouldn't have seen on your own), analyze them, figure out what their directors did right, in addition to many other skills necessary for filmmaking. In the end, there is only one thing that will determine whether you can become a filmmaker or not -- your actual talent, which cannot be learned.

You'll just have to give it a shot and see if you can get in. If not in the film school of your choice, then perhaps another one.

First of all, thank you for all the incredible replies!?:)?

As to the question of exactly what I want to be doing: I'm aiming to be a director of high-concept feature films. If I was to pin down precisely what I'd like to be doing (for my career and for any given day) that would be it.

I'm very avid about moving out of my house as soon as possible and sustaining myself independently. I am more than willing to travel and I work well under pressure. I have no problem with relocating (even to a foreign country) or adapting to unique situations; I've made it a point to stay flexible and not get tied to a job, house, lifestyle, marriage or social circle.

A major appealing aspect of being in film is that I won't have a normal lifestyle or a steady income. I have never had any desire for a "average" job (or life) no matter how much money it nets me; in all probability if someone offered me a doctor's income for a day job I'd turn it down and make films. Basically, I'm an adventurer. However, it would be silly to think each of us doesn't want to make a lot of money at what we love doing. ?;)?

It seems that the general consensus of the posts so far is that grades don't matter, and definitely won't matter after a few years in film. That's awesome! That's a major weight lifted off my shoulders... The thing that concerns me now is the education. What approach would you recommend if I don't go for a film school?

My overarching concern now is how to make the leap from living with my parents to living on my own. How quickly can I do this? I don't really care how much money I'm making as long as it's a solid platform to expand and I'm not stagnating. Coupled with this problem is the problem of breaking into the industry in the first place; without the luxury of being hooked up I'm going to have to support myself until I can get a solid foothold.

I'm trying (as you can probably see) to be honest with myself (and you) so I don't end up lolfaceplanting. ?:)?

Further replies appreciated as always!

Well, I won't ask you to get out of your parents house just right now and do something. I think you should make couple of short films before moving out so that you can see if you really have the talent in direction. If you make good ones then think of moving out.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Volk

First of all, thank you for all the incredible replies!?:)?

As to the question of exactly what I want to be doing: I'm aiming to be a director of high-concept feature films. If I was to pin down precisely what I'd like to be doing (for my career and for any given day) that would be it.

I'm very avid about moving out of my house as soon as possible and sustaining myself independently. I am more than willing to travel and I work well under pressure. I have no problem with relocating (even to a foreign country) or adapting to unique situations; I've made it a point to stay flexible and not get tied to a job, house, lifestyle, marriage or social circle.

A major appealing aspect of being in film is that I won't have a normal lifestyle or a steady income. I have never had any desire for a "average" job (or life) no matter how much money it nets me; in all probability if someone offered me a doctor's income for a day job I'd turn it down and make films. Basically, I'm an adventurer. However, it would be silly to think each of us doesn't want to make a lot of money at what we love doing. ?;)?

It seems that the general consensus of the posts so far is that grades don't matter, and definitely won't matter after a few years in film. That's awesome! That's a major weight lifted off my shoulders... The thing that concerns me now is the education. What approach would you recommend if I don't go for a film school?

My overarching concern now is how to make the leap from living with my parents to living on my own. How quickly can I do this? I don't really care how much money I'm making as long as it's a solid platform to expand and I'm not stagnating. Coupled with this problem is the problem of breaking into the industry in the first place; without the luxury of being hooked up I'm going to have to support myself until I can get a solid foothold.

I'm trying (as you can probably see) to be honest with myself (and you) so I don't end up lolfaceplanting. ?:)?

Further replies appreciated as always!

---

One of the keys to building a successful career at ANYTHING is being free to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. That means not being tied down financially to the point where you HAVE TO take jobs you don't want to, that take time away from your investing time in your ultimate goals.

Many successful people in the film industry have married partners who are NOT in the industry. Their spouses have "normal" jobs with regular salaries and health insurance. This gives a sense of stability to your financial life while you pursue a career in an industry that is tentative at best.

So, should you move out? That's up to you really. Just think through all of the ramifications if you do move out. Will you have to take a job just to support yourself... a job that may take away TOO MUCH time from your efforts toward becoming a Director? Or can you get work that provides enough income but doesn't take up too many hours from your day? Part of this equation is keeping your overhead expenses low. The fewer your financial responsibilities, the less you HAVE TO work to pay for them and the more time and money you'll have to devote toward doing the things you need to do.

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight) shot "Following", his first feature film", on weekends over a period of 1 year. So, doing a regular job to support yourself is not a bad option. Other reason being that you don't get free. If you become free then it bounds to create depression if you are not getting anywhere. Career in film making takes time and you can't be directing 24x7. You need something else to do. Doing a job is the best option and reading, too.

quote:

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Originally posted by naviobb

Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight) shot "Following", his first feature film", on weekends over a period of 1 year. So, doing a regular job to support yourself is not a bad option.

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That's my business plan. 🙂

Same here 😉

I have thought about writing as a source of income. English was always the only subject where the teachers (grades 1-12, all of them) called my parents about how good my writing was (even though I was failing) so if I can support myself at least partially through writing I could definitely still have both hands free to work at films. Perhaps one novel published will be enough to sustain me in an apartment with no financial trouble... I'll look into that. It's the only really "tangible" option for me right now as I can start writing right now and look into publishers whereas any other job would require me to take a leap of faith.

I don't know why, but being a DJ interests me. This is a tentative idea at best since I've obviously never been to a nightclub and have no idea what being a DJ is like. However, they do work nights, so that would leave me free to work on films during the day.

Also, I think I've always had this misconception that going to film school will leave me with a salary somehow after I graduated, I don't know why I thought that.

I am definitely going to need some work done before I move out so that I have something to show for myself, but does this mean I have to make a film with crew, cast and large expenses or just make "good video content" no matter the kind? I don't know how this usually goes but I find the idea of directing an entire project while still living with my mom horribly awkward.

Alright, you're confused.

Earning money through writing might seems to be a good idea but it's not that practical. YOu still have to sit at home which should not happen. Do some real life job. It has advantages. For example; you get to observe people which is really important for a film maker.

Being a DJ is a difficult job, dude. It requires skills and a lot of hard work.

You don't have to make a big film. Start by making short films, probably of 1 - 5 minutes. Write a story, get your friends to act and shoot it.