he money can instead go to the movies being made!). The truth is there are benefits to both sides. But while Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg went to film school, there are those, like Quentin Tarantino (see image to the left) who never went. Tarantino even dropped out of high school, and yet he is still just as successful as other big name directors. There is living proof for both sides of the argument, but while it's possible to make films without going to school, it certainly can help.Why go to film school? "I decided to go to film school because I loved the idea of making films." This is George Lucas' answer. Many have taken this path, such as Bryan Singer, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, and, as just mentioned, George Lucas. We all know their names. Going to film school offers the opportunity not only to learn about the different aspects of film making, but also to make mistakes. Which is valuable because in the real world it costs money to make mistakes, where as in school, mistakes can be learned from for free. And the instructors are all wise in the ways of the work, and can offer a lot of experience in the classroom that would possibly have taken longer to learn out in the real world. The result of going to school is that when one comes out of it, they are pretty much a jack of all trades, and therefore will not be as surprised by what comes their way on the job as they would if they had never gone through it before. So, it really prepares people for the real world. But probably the biggest benefit, one that everyone agrees on, is the connections. Going to film school puts a person together with a lot of people they will be working with in the future. By getting to know them and work with them, it establishes a contact that may be used later to get a job, or to look for extra help on a movie. And a lot of this business relies on who knows whom. Coming out of film school, they'll not only have a broad knowledge of the business, but also a list of names and numbers, and with both, they can go out and start working!
Is film school really necessary? As mentioned earlier, Quentin Tarantino is living proof of how one can become successful without it. In fact, most of his education came from his vast knowledge of films, as he worked in a video store. Film school is expensive. That amount of money put into going to school could probably cover the cost to make a low budget movie. And many directors start out by making a low budget movie. Robert Rodriguez made his first feature, El Mariachi, with seven thousand dollars, much of which he earned by letting his body be used for drug experiments. Rodriguez emphasizes the fact that anyone can be a film maker (although he went to film school at the University of Texas). He says, "the moment you think that you want to be a filmmaker, you're that," in something he calls ten-minute film school, which can be found on DVDs of his movies. And it's true. A lot of what is learned in film school is available through the internet, and the rest comes from the willingness of the person to take what they learn and put it to use. And another fact is that, in this digital age, it's easy to make movies. Digital video cameras are very affordable, compared to when there were only film cameras, and now people can get their films out to the world through the internet. A good example is called Chad Vader (see image to the right), a fan film series on YouTube which became popular on the internet and has gone on to win at several festivals.
When it comes down to the decision whether or not one should go to film school, it's really up to the person. The fact is, each side has their benefits, but it is possible to be a successful film maker without going to school. And likewise, it's possible that, even with a degree in film, one may still find it difficult in the world. A degree is not a guarantee, but what comes with going to school definitely gives an extra push into the business. I chose to go to film school because the fact was I had ideas for movies, but did not have a clue how to make them. I had not touched a video camera in my life until going to USC, and since coming here, I can definitely say that, while I'm am by far not an expert in any field in film making, I am at least comfortable and know what's going on. And I've met many talented film makers along the way who I can see myself working with in the future. True, film school is not necessary to succeed, but it can help. But this is a choice that has to be made by the person, and not just by the facts they read about.
2 comments:
I enjoyed this post very much and found it to be a great read. Your arguments are insightful and I was unable to detect a bias, which, I feel, makes your post more respectable and valid. The arguments you presented kept me intrigued through the entire post, but if I were to make a choice on whether to be in favor of attending film school or against attending film school I would have to be in favor. I thought the arguments against film school (found in your link) were interesting, but did not seem to be as valid. I agree with your argument that it is important to attend film school because you are able to make mistakes without losing a great deal of money and you are able to make connections, placing you in an environment where you are able to meet and work with the people you will be working with in the future. You are unable to put a price on the connections you will make, the experience you will receive, and the ability to make mistakes with someone there to guide you through them, all of which are benefits from film school. I understand the argument that you do not necessarily have to go to film school, but I feel that the scenario where someone is successful without attending film school does not occur enough to forego film school. That is the only problem I have with the post, I thought you should have reiterated the point that it is rare that an individual experiences success without any form of school, learning only from the Internet and relying on trial and error. As far as your graphics go, you could not have found a better picture of Quentin Tarantino. The picture is very professional and gives the reader the opportunity, through an image, to understand what kind of person Tarantino is. Once again, I thought this post was one of the best I have read in the class because you kept me interested throughout the entire post by presenting interesting arguments and opinions.
I really enjoyed reading your post on the value of film school and whether it is a necessary step in being be successful in the film industry. The subject matter is relevant and highly contested, and I appreciate your balanced viewpoint when discussing both sides of the issue. While there are examples of college and even high school drop outs who have made it big in various fields, I think this is a particularly pertinent topic for film students, since the diploma does not guarantee them a job or even a success, as an MBA of Law degree might.
I completely agree that making "connections" with "people you will be working with in the future" is one of the biggest positives of film school. Moreover, the experience and guidance from knowledgeable instructors is of paramount importance when attempting to make one's first mark in the industry. However, I respectfully disagree with your comment that film school graduates "will not be surprised by what comes at you [them] on the job" and feel that this is one of the biggest myths of a formal education in film. Cinema school graduates frequently enter the industry feeling like they have more knowledge and experience than others, when in fact, making films outside a sheltered college environment prepares you more thoroughly for real world experiences. Having said that, I completely agree that film school definitely helps in terms of gaining exposure and experience, but is not a necessary formula for success, especially in today's world of DV cameras and easy distribution on the internet.
Your links definitely added to the arguments you presented, and I particularly enjoyed Rodriguez's "ten- minute film school" website which clearly points out the possibilities of succeeding in Hollywood without a formal education, but also overly simplifies the process of breaking into an industry that is not easily penetrable. The still from Chad Vader appropriately illustrates the ability of films circulated on youtube to gain prominence in today's digital world, though the graphic of Tarantino could have been replaced with an image of greater significance that furthered your opinion. I would have liked to hear your views on the importance of attending film school on film professions other than directing, such as producing or screenwriting. Also, I did at times find some of your central arguments repeated through your post. Having said that, I think the topic you selected was interesting and I completely agree that the choice is eventually up to each individual and where they feel they are placed.
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