Check this out. I found it to be VERY informative, especially if you buy the DVD version, because its the whole school, right there, and you can rewind, verify, etc.

http://www.webfilmschool.com/home.htm

-Bryce

I might be 18, but watch out, everyone has to start somewhere. I'm just starting a bit faster and bigger. 🙂

a filmmaker (guy ritchie if i'm not mistaken), once said that he hate a film that the filmmaker was graduated from film school, because it's slow and boring.

And i think he's right. Film from film school graduated (Coppola, Scorsese)usually have a slower pace and orthodox theme. Non film school filmmaker (Spielberg, Tarantino and guy ritchie himself)have a fast pace and unique theme and sometimes out of traditional rules of filmmaking (like tarantino's pulp fiction)

so i guess it's up to you, what movie you want to make.

but with attending film school (especially a popular one) you can get a better friends and connection if you're serious to entering in film industry. That's the DVDs and books can't bring to you.

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Originally posted by gun_and_girl

a filmmaker (guy ritchie if i'm not mistaken), once said that he hate a film that the filmmaker was graduated from film school, because it's slow and boring.

And i think he's right. Film from film school graduated (Coppola, Scorsese)usually have a slower pace and orthodox theme. Non film school filmmaker (Spielberg, Tarantino and guy ritchie himself)have a fast pace and unique theme and sometimes out of traditional rules of filmmaking (like tarantino's pulp fiction)

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I don't believe film school is necessary - in fact I believe it's a complete waste of time - but I can't let this statement go without responding.

Spielberg and Tarantino don't use unique themes or break traditional rules. Of course it comes down to opinion, but Pulp Fiction is far from original. It's original in pacing and structure only if you are unaware of the films he "borrowed" from. "Jaws", "Raiders", "E.T." all use an orthodox theme. Don't misunderstand me, I love all those movies - but they don't support your point at all.

I imagine you could create quite a list of directors who went to film school who don't make slow and boring films. Or who didn't make slower paced films with orthodox themes.

To answer the question: no, you don't necessarily have to go to film school. Making movies is a great way to learn.

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

I read somewhere that the hyper-kenetic style that is so common now appeared because a lot of directors made music videos prior to moving on to film. They may or may not have done film school prior to that but it was the needs of the music video format that created that.

No matter how it started you know film schools are teaching that kind of style now and if not, the students are trying to duplicate it on their own as that's been the hip thing for some time.

Personally I think it's time for a correction or two in style. Less moving cameras and senseless cuts. Cuts and camera movies should be dictated by the story and action and not by the desire to have x number of cuts/movements in this scene.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

Check out the books that the filsm schools are using and buy them. Learn on your own and use your money to make your films. A couple of good books are:
Film Production Technique
Just Shoot It!
Making a Good Script Great

Check them out online and get started making films.

Well, I'd say it's up to you. It doesn't real'y matter how you learn. Sure Spielberg didn't go, but hey, Robert Rodriguez, Michael Bay, and George Lucas did. So...

You might try doing a search of this site for "Film School" because this topic has been covered before and there might be insights on the other threads missing from this one.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

I think what it really comes down to is are you a learner who needs structure. If you need due dates to insure you do something, film school will probably help you out. On the other hand if you will really go out to the library and read the books on your own, not going can be good.
I'm in college majoring in english and minoring in film studies and making short films on the weekends and writing them during the week, so that brings me to another question:

What does everyone think of Film Grad schools. I'm looking at the AFI and a few other schools, does anyone have any experience with these. I'm hoping to specialize while there, make contacts, and get my foot in a few doors with the degree.

From what I've seen and heard, film school is for people who need a push. If you need to be pressured, and ordered to bring your visions to life, then film school is definitely for you. It's not a bad thing. Some people work better under pressure. It gives you a focus point and helps to draw out the talent you know you have. Plus you get to be around people who share the same drive. Then again, if you are the type of person that can read and apply methods from a book on your own, film school would be a waste of time and money. School would be too slow for you.

THE TEST:
You SHOULD go to film school if;
1. You have 3 or more books on filmmaking and haven't finished a single one in a 6 - 8 month period.
(even if you feel you have no time to read)

2. You have a camera and haven't shot anything.
(doesn't matter if you couldn't find actors or think of anything to shot)

3. You haven't tried to start writing a script or a story.
(even if the full story is in your head. You haven't put it on paper)

You should NOT go to film school if;
1. You have made a movie, completed or not.
(even if nobody saw it other than you and the people who helped make it)

2. You have read and understood at least one filmmaking book.
(in school you'd feel like you were being taught things you already know.)

3. You have written a script. Finished or unfinished.
(no matter if its 120 perfectly formatted pages or 3 hand written ones. As long as it tells a story)

"Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try." - Yoda

okay bryce1yar, i went to web film school and i want to buy the 2day film school. You forgot to mention it was $395. The good thing about the last reply is i have read filmmaking books, wrote a script, and made a few short films. I am a teenager though so honestly most of the time i don't know what I'm doing. Thankfully i have the passion, desire, creatvity, and drive to make movies. Someone on another site suggested Robert Rodriguez's "Rebel without a crew". Really good. Any other books in particular, i should be reading?

"Rebel Without a Crew" is good reading, but it doesn't get much into how to plan your shoot...break down yur script, make your shot list, how and why to shoot the right shots, what the shots mean and how they impact the audience, etc. "Just Shoot It!" covers all that and more. It gets into the psychology of what each shot does for the audience and when you should shoot each shot. The same with the editing portion...when should you cut and why. It covers it all and is a fast read.

I'm definetly going to go buy just shoot it. Rebel without a crew gave me the drive to make my film better than El marichi which i can if i work hard enough. Ultimately i'll have to make the decision whether to go to college or not myself, which is hard with my personality. Rodriguez argues that with film school you lose creativity and don't teach you how to film when you have no money, but a big budget. Since i have no money i make up for it in creativity which is exactly how rodriguez puts it. I think i might still go to school. Unless i read wrong, he went to school which is where he made "Bedhead" his award winning film so except for the price film school can be a good experience. anyone in here that when to film school: Did you regret it? What did you gain from it?

If you dont want to go to film school then get a film internship. Reading books isnt going to do shit.

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with attending film school (especially a popular one) you can get a better friends and connection if you're serious to entering in film industry. That's the DVDs and books can't bring to you.

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I can say that with music school that is a big thing, I definitely suspect it would be analogous in the filmmaking world. You are around other hungry, new to it all kind of people, and I think there's an inspiration associated with that. You get ideas and points of view you wouldn't have come up with on your own.

Then again, maybe you can get that just living in a community of artists. But I can definitely say school was fun.

www.tristanluke.com

Music for film.