Lets start with some question:
Where do you live?
Do you have lots of money?
Are you social or awkward?

Filmschool is VERY expensive because you shoot on actual film and you've got to pay for it. A lot of the experience you get from film school is the connections you make. That's particularly true of USC and NYU.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

Live in Ohio
Not rich, but probably could afford film school
Most of the time I'm social, and pretty friendly, but sometimes I'd rather be alone.

I am not rich at all I have to work and study. Do you think I should go to Cinema? By the way i live in Canada.

How much money should I have to study Cinema? As i heard students here need arround 5000 Canadian dollars for their first year of study. the rest of years is less than that...hopefully.

I study in Concordia University and regarding the expense of studying Cinema, the university's web site says:

EXPENSES

PRODUCTION GRANTS
Students enrolled in second and third year filmmaking courses are eligible to apply for a production grant through the School. These small grants are intended to assist students to start or complete their film project. It should be noted however, that grants are never greater than one-third the cost of the entire project and that not all those who apply receive a grant.

I think it is not bad. Do you guys agree?

quote:

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Originally posted by rjschwarz

Lets start with some question:
Where do you live?
Do you have lots of money?
Are you social or awkward?

Filmschool is VERY expensive because you shoot on actual film and you've got to pay for it. A lot of the experience you get from film school is the connections you make. That's particularly true of USC and NYU.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

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Those numbers aren't bad, I've heard far worse from NYU and USC. You should also see who owns your student film when you graduate, that can be important. From what I've heard NYU and USC own the film because generally you use their equipment. Chapman and others let you own the movie.

It's really a personal choice. Robert Rodriguez went to film school, Kevin Smith dropped out and used the tuition to pay for his first movie.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

Robert Rodriguez dropped out of film school too, and he says the film school is a huge waste of money.

That may be true but he made 200+ short films before he dropped out.

I have not gone to film school but the producer and DP on my movie are both currently going to Chapman University and not only are we getting inexpensive insurance and easier access to permits we're also getting sound equipment. Film school is expensive but can offset a lot of costs.

Like I said, I have not gone to film school but I'm sure glad my DP did.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

So basically you're saying that it's better to write as much as you can, and make as many movies as you can and watch as many movies as you can rather than pay a university tens of thousands of dollars for them to teach you?

I'm not saying that. Everyone is different and there are a lot of things you cannot put a value price on. A lot of people would be better off going to film school and learning the nuts and bolts of how and why things are done, meeting people and getting practical experience on short films. Others would be better working for free on independent films on weekends trying to gain the same experience on the set learning as you go.

Everyone is different and the number of film sets you might get invovled with may not be significant enough depending upon location and such.

There is no easy answer, you gotta go with your gut.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

find a college (rather than a university) to study film at.

Advantages:
-Free Production equipment
-Minimal cost for stock, process/transfer
-Free Post-Production facility
-Down to earth Instructors
-Alot of people, like you, who want to make films
-You get out of it what you put into it
-LOW TUTION

Disadvantages:
-not as prestiges as University
-limited connections
-no degree (it's just a piece of paper anyway)

Elipses