Is Film School Really Worth The Time And The Money?
College costs a lot of money. Film school usually costs even more! And what’s worse is that many students who do graduate with a film degree never work in the film industry at all, but go off and work in completely unrelated fields after graduation.
So, is film school really worth it? Is it worth it to take all that time and spend all that money in order to get a degree in film and television?
Well, to be honest, it’s hard to say.
For some people, film school will be the right choice. These people will be able to use their film school education and the people they meet while in University as a launching pad to a career in the film and television industry.
But for others, film school will be nothing more than a complete waste of time. These people may get their degree, but for one reason or another, never actually get a job in the industry… and they’ll go off to do other things. Either that, or they do get a job and then realize that working in the film industry isn’t what they’re passionate about.
So which person are you? Are you the kind of person who goes off to film school, networks, works on every shoot he possibly can, and then instantly propels himself into a high paying job after graduation? Or are you they guy who scuffles through film school doing just the bare minimum and then graduates only to find that having a degree means very little with those looking to hire?
Honestly, I can’t tell you! Only you will be able to determine which person you will become.
But here’s what I can tell you!
Technology is advancing at a rate like never before in history. With these changes in technology, the way films and videos are both created and watched are also being altered. The main difference however, is that the studio system that stood for so long is crumbling away. Independent filmmaking is on the rise and out of nowhere, stars are being born each and every day.
The studios used to act as the gatekeepers to the film and television industries. It was the studios you had to work for if you wanted to get your hands on the equipment necessary in order to work on the big films and score the big movies. The studios ruled the world of film and TV. But not anymore!
Technology has changed all that.
Technology has enabled just about anyone to create a movie. And anyone with a video camera can go on to win prestigious awards and accolades.
The big studios are no longer the powerhouses they once were. You don’t need to work for a studio in order to call yourself a filmmaker. And you don’t need a degree in film and video production in order to work in any of these new and exciting industries.
The only thing you really need these days is a smart mind, a determined heart, and a hard-working soul.
Is film school worth all that time? Is it worth all that money? Is it worth all that effort when the rules of the industry are forever being altered?
What do you think?
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Great Article. Film school of no film school. . That is the question. For me, I chose to drop out of film school after my first semester. Columbia College Chicago will not drain my pockets any longer. Nonetheless, while attending Columbia, I took the liberty to present myself to any and every professor that will and can help me through my filming bonanza.
Make friends, create your network, use the internet for what it’s there for. One semester of Film School, befriend the right people while attending, and get out. The people you befriended will still be there, will still want to work with you because of your passion, and you save a sh*t load of money you can use for you short film.
Again, great article. I agree 100% that technology has given us filmmakers the freedom to CREATE films without the need of a studio.
Kudos x 100