Re: Film School?

[megamatt53]

How would you say is the best way to break in to the bussiness of filmmaking ? to be a director ? would you say making short films and sending them out to film festivals is a good way ?

[icefiredarksector748]

Sir, you've pratically paraphrased everything I've ever heard from anyone giving me advise on how to get into the film industry.

Lol, I give. Thanks for the humbling info.

[sabuinthahouse]

Hello, what is your stance on grad schools? I am currently finishing up an undergrad in the UK that is focused on ftv theory. After graduation i would like to relocate to the States and work in television writer, producer etc. I am just not sure if grad school is the way to go, mostly due to financial reasons. I would need some more practical eperience an contacts, especially since i have no idea how to find a paying job in the field in the States otherwise. Any ideas? Thanks!

[StopThatSquirrel]

great info!

[The040591]

thanks man, that is helpful

[tatertots00]

Its funny how you talk about USC Champman AFI etc saying how great they are, then say UCLA is well ok.... lol Fight On

[vladradforpres5]

Would you say the Best film schools are in the SoCal area? Are you familiar with Film schools in the Bay Area?

[derickih]

Hello, there, grate video. I've been having a hard time to find videos about the USC student's work. So, 'm from Brazil, im graduating in advertising. I've work as video editor in a commercial production company, and now im working as director assistant. I'm looking forward to apply for the commercial production summer program, with the teacher Austion Formato. I'd like to have some comments about that course, to be sure if it is worth the large amount of money.

[KypHeM]

Hey man thank you!

[Ridley446]

Thanks for your input

[OFCMProductions]

Thanks for the information! I hope to have you as one of my teachers when I enroll my for my junior year in 2013...

[nOrmskiiz]

"Perfect the art in a small film"

lols nice good wakeup call that didnt really occur to me lols thanks

[hharmenhh]

What are your thoughts on Art Center's film program?

I've also heard of former USC professors who taught in the film program and voluntarily left (or something like that) because there was no real open creativity, I mean what really makes USC better than any other film school? (i'm not biased at all, if anything, i'm for USC all the way...if i get in of course)

[CbombTheTraceur]

thanks man this really helps.

unfortunately tihs spawns for more questions. is there an american equivilant to a tetiary entrance rank (a precentage that qualifies u for a course) or is it just if you did gud u get in?

also would being in USC bring more of an advantage to a director/writer etc in the business than if s/he studied in TAFESA or would it be on more of an even level?

[snowboardman720]

Can you try to get me too USC? lol. I live in Kansas City and I really want to go to film school!

[profittlich]

hey im from germany and im highly interested in making films..unfortunately germany couldnt care less about that type of career..im planning after i a have completed my school and my compulsory military service to study film-making in california..is the age or your curriculum vitae of great importance? id be so grateful if someone answered! GREETS

[FrederickLevy]

i don't think age matters. Sometimes when you're older, you've got more experience and that can be quite a positive thing.

[norec]

Thanks... very informative.

[acrabadra]

"UCLA has an OK program"?!?!

[Isaiasm2006]

What? UCLA has a great film school, just that they shoot on film and not HD like USC.

[thechurchofdave]

Isaiasm2006: You guys still editing gun smoke episodes over there? heehehe

[Isaiasm2006]

hell yeah! xD

[souldude81]

Hi you mentioned that it is imperative to learn about movie history. Although I would agree on some level, I don't think it is imperative as a storyteller. If we could discover patterns that could make a movie succesful, Hollywood would never make a bad movie again, but we know that it can't. Hence bad movies are always being made. What matters to is to learn how to find an original creative voice. Only real experiance can give us that. What is your opinion on NYFA?

[dropdeadsexy1]

I'm working toward going to USC that's my first choice.i have many ideas for films but nobody ever seems to want to help me out cuz everyones afraid of the camera so i end up acting in them myself, i enjoy watching classic films infact i jus got a 100 classic horror movie pack and i enjoy them very much and study every shot so ppl always think im weird for that...i'm about to take a film as art class and really hope i end up goin to USC i dont hav alot of suppoort frum ppl but i'm still tryin.

[tottithegreat]

UCLA, an OK program? Look at the alumni, talk to the students!

[meheh]

Hey thank you for the great input! I am at an 'art school' but I have to learn a massive amoutn on my own. I'm going to film school down in L.A. next year, but I don't know if I'm exceptional enough. Maybe you could critique some of my practicing progress. I have a little bit of my projects up on youtube. Any input on what you think I should do would be great. Thank you! Also, do you think putting screenplays into festivals is better than mailing them to production companies?

[FrederickLevy]

Be resourceful and try every option. Don't limit your method of distribution to one or the other. Send to productions companies AND enter festivals. I know filmmakers who got their break both ways!

[doldrums]

hey can you get me a film job in Houston on a movie set? Or austin? HELP!!!!!!!

[cinemachris]

what do you teach at USC? I work there and I don't think we have met.

[FrederickLevy]

I've taught a class called "Developing and Selling Your Screenplay" for the last five years. I also teach a popular pitching seminar every summer.

[cerdo24]

Francis Ford Coppola went to UCLA, so let's not knock there program completely, they also house one of the worlds largest libaries of rare film and film based artifacts.

[headlisthorseman]

how about art center in pasadena?

[MMaNutz8451]

just because most directors are/were huge film buffs and hence have a vast knowledge of film history, that doesn't mean that it's essentail for becoming a great director.

[StephaneStephanie]

thank you so much for that video. it actually helped me out a lot as well. you should make some more videos informing perspective students why film studies is not as daunting of a path to choose as it seems.

[holyhayn]

I am usually not one to watch replies to another persons video, but the question Boh3m3 posed was one that I, and I am sure a lot of others have asked. You made a lot of good points just want to say thanks for making this video, if you ever make a few more on the industry I will definitely be there to watch.

[Matuxmatux]

Same here...

[americanurge]

Frederick, thanks so much for the video. I had the same questions as boh3m3 and found this video very informative. I might email you with some more questions if that's ok.

[boh3m3]

This video was very informative! I'm not used to seeing that on the 'tubes. :D Thank you again for making this, and I'll be sure to pass your video along to friends who are wondering as I was.