No-one really cares what you studied, provided you can do the job. At least in terms of TV, the most successful TV director I've met in the UK had a degree in Physics.

That's actually quite funny. Thanks. You've put my mind at rest.

quentin tarantino worked at a video store before he was a director. So..no, school is not needed.

"Anyone who has ever been privileged to direct a film also knows that, although it can be like trying to write 'War and Peace' in a bumper car in an amusement park, when you finally get it right, there are not many joys in life that can equal the feeling." - Stanley Kubrick

To be honest, I actually think studying Physics may have been beneficial, because it encourages you to break things down and figure out how they work, rather than relying on 'intuition' to get you through the day.

That guy was apparently the fastest 'Brookside' director in the UK (that's a soap opera, for non-British readers), and of the few episodes I saw, his were probably the best. He also had a lot of amusing stories about British TV actors, particularly those on soap operas :)... and a new Lotus Esprit, so the TV companies obviously appreciated his work.

Roger Corman was an engineer. According to his book he felt the engineering background helped him solve problems in a different way, often a more practical way. One of the reasons he became a low budget filmmaking legend.

No matter what your background film school or physics, its still a nightmare to get your foot in the door for most people. Determination is one of the big keys. One way to show determination is to work or free on low budget film sets learning as you go and getting to known people that could help you later on. You may find yourself moving from PA to running a sound board if you're dependable and quick and another person is not.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA