Do I Need To Go To A Film School In Order To Be Successful??

Do I really need to go to a film school?
One big question some aspiring filmmakers have is..."Do I have to go to filmschool?" Well first off filmschool costs A LOT of money! (around 50,000 or more!) If you go to a film school you will most likely just learn about film history, film theory, and make a few connections. And even though you will also learn some techniques and how to work on a set, you won't get any real life experience. Also when you get out of your expensive film school, then there are no guarantees you will get any jobs or even be working for the film industry. In my opinion you could've used all that cash to fund your own projects and get new equipment. Of course if you mostly care about going to a college then it wouldn't be a bad idea.


But then how do I learn how to film correctly?
Well there are many ways to learn how to film and they are really easy to find. All you need to do is pay attention and be motivated to learn. (There are some links down below.) Now you want to follow a few steps to get started:

1. Research - Research is critical! Without research you will be lost in the dark. Remember research is you collage. You can find some really goos stuff on the internet and most of it is very helpful when starting. Make sure you don't go to fast though! You want to absorb all the information as best you can and store it in the back of your head for when you need it. Also practice make perfect!
2. Get Equipment - In order to start filming you need some film equipment. The basics you absolutely need is a camera, editing software and maybe a microphone. Make sure you get the right equipment for your needs and budget. Check out my post on cameras and editing softwares here for some ideas. 
3. Make Connections - As an independent filmmaker you need to try to get anyone and everyone to see your work. You want to put your work out everywhere you can which will give you an audience and get you some connections.

Following these three basic steps can help you and get you started! So if you want to start, don't hesitate! Just do it! Below are some links of people who can help you learn a little more about film!

Links:

Filming For Cheap

Film Riot

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