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Student going to film school


Weber Kendrick

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Hi everybody, I'm new here. I'm going to film school next year, a big one which will cost my mom 200k, to my family, it's quite a big money so my mom ask me to choose a major in Film major. So how many jobs are there in film industry except director manager ? I'm interested in Cinematography and Visual Effects, but both jobs require different skills, right ? so i've to decide which one should i go for. I have some questions
_How much does Cinematographers and VFX artists earn a year ?
_About working-hour, which one takes more time ? i heard that Cinematographers only work 8-9 months a year but still earn 70k .
_About working-place, seems like VFX artists always have to seat in the studio while cinematographers, I'm a kind of person who like going out , making friend with people, i don't really like seating in a room for hours
Tks a lot for advice :)

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It's a high risk process, it often comes down to less on how much you can earn, but more on how can I manage to survive. There are no automatics to getting high salaries in the film and TV industries, How much do they earn in a year is a question very much like asking how long is a piece of string? Some do very well, others manage a living wage, while others struggle to survive.

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If this is a serious situation where your mom is investing in your future to help with hers then I would think that Cinematography would be a bad choice. There are much safer fields out there than this if your main concern is making money. And with 200k, that gives good options. Business, Medical field, and even vocation fields like master mechanic are almost guaranteed to make you money. Cinematographer has to be something you are passionate about AND be willing to struggle with no guarantee of ever making good on.

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I agree with Brian, Weber. It is impossible for you to make these career decisions at this time. Film school is much like a military boot camp. It's survival! My experience in film school, during my freshman year was I don't remember even touching any equipment! It was studying, reading and getting a general understanding of the structure of our industry. There is so much to learn that I had no social life. It was a 1000% commitment to maintain the grades just to stay in film school. That's how much competition you will be facing. Your focus needs to be on your passion for the craft of filmmaking and not how much money you could make. You may not really know what craft you want to do till your junior year.

 

And in reality, it doesn't get any easier when you actually work in the industry. There is actually more competition and stress and you are managing a self employed business. But I'm happy to report that it is all doable. It just depends on YOU! Just out of curiosity, what school are you considering?

 

Greg

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Unfortunately film is not an industry that requires or rewards people who have degrees. It's not like becoming a doctor, or a dentist, where university is a requirement to be licensed and you are guaranteed a high salary once you start work.

 

The vast majority of people that spend big money on the big film schools will have thrown that money away.

 

And you cannot go into the film industry because you want money. You have to do it because it's your passion, otherwise you will not last 6 months.

 

R,

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And you cannot go into the film industry because you want money. You have to do it because it's your passion, otherwise you will not last 6 months.

 

R,

 

I totally agree! That is reality.

 

Greg

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Tks all for your opinions

If this is a serious situation where your mom is investing in your future to help with hers then I would think that Cinematography would be a bad choice. There are much safer fields out there than this if your main concern is making money. And with 200k, that gives good options. Business, Medical field, and even vocation fields like master mechanic are almost guaranteed to make you money. Cinematographer has to be something you are passionate about AND be willing to struggle with no guarantee of ever making good on.

 

 

Sounds like the best way to make money is to start a film school. $200k is a lot of money for a retired woman. I totally agree with Matthew.

All we have is like 800k, and Dad will take 400k for himself so mom only has 400k left, she's willing to give me 200k to study, She recommend me Computer Science and many others but i don't like them, All i love is to get out there and filming

 

I agree with Brian, Weber. It is impossible for you to make these career decisions at this time. Film school is much like a military boot camp. It's survival! My experience in film school, during my freshman year was I don't remember even touching any equipment! It was studying, reading and getting a general understanding of the structure of our industry. There is so much to learn that I had no social life. It was a 1000% commitment to maintain the grades just to stay in film school. That's how much competition you will be facing. Your focus needs to be on your passion for the craft of filmmaking and not how much money you could make. You may not really know what craft you want to do till your junior year.

And in reality, it doesn't get any easier when you actually work in the industry. There is actually more competition and stress and you are managing a self employed business. But I'm happy to report that it is all doable. It just depends on YOU! Just out of curiosity, what school are you considering?

Greg

I'm ready to deal with challenge, I love making film, that's my passion, that's why i choose Film major, I'm aiming to FSU College of Motion Picture Arts. :P I have 2 gap years to work and study more about film, so i have to decide now whether should i go with Cinematography or with VFX

 

Unfortunately film is not an industry that requires or rewards people who have degrees. It's not like becoming a doctor, or a dentist, where university is a requirement to be licensed and you are guaranteed a high salary once you start work.

 

The vast majority of people that spend big money on the big film schools will have thrown that money away.

 

And you cannot go into the film industry because you want money. You have to do it because it's your passion, otherwise you will not last 6 months.

 

R,

I believe that i'm gonna survive, cause i really really love making movie. I'm best at making movie :)

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I'm assuming that based on your picture and FSU, you are talking about Florida State. The good news is that a state funded university should not cost anywhere near $200K. Am I wrong? And if I am, I'd rather spend the same money and go to USC Film if you could get in.

 

G

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She recommend me Computer Science and many others but i don't like them,

As someone who is Graduate Computer Science as we speak, you are right not to do this either if you don't have a strong drive for it. They seriously have "weed out" courses that are made

for the sole purpose of getting people to quit who wont put in maximal effort. Same thing with Engineering.

 

That being said, if you really wish to film, I would think that 200k would be best put into starting out into the field and acquiring some nice tools instead of throwing away on school. I could be wrong though.

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That being said, if you really wish to film, I would think that 200k would be best put into starting out into the field and acquiring some nice tools instead of throwing away on school. I could be wrong though.

 

With all do respect Matthew I definitely would not recommend that route either. A young person would blow through that cash in no time and have nothing to show for it at the end.

 

R,

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On the one hand I don't want to discourage a kid from going to film school if that's what he really wants to do and his mom wants to spend her money -- this happens every day. On the other hand, the world is full of people who have gone to film school, then moved back home and worked at Home Depot or whatever. As I near 40 years old, I think of the value of this hypothetical $200k... and with my life experience I would not give it to a film school. It is totally viable to buy a GREAT camera for only around $5,000 (C100 with all its features to learn), buy some books, start shooting, and make a good living freelancing. Then work your way into whatever filmmaking area you want.

 

Weber, if you leave your mom with $200k and she lives another 20 years, that's only $10k a year for her. She'll be broke.

 

That's not a sound business plan -- but I didn't have one when I was college age either. I'd say let your mom keep her money to retire with. And if you're good at making movies, you won't need film school. Anything else is just conjecture or gambling.

 

-Carl.

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I've got to play devil's advocate with full respect to Carl's posting. I believe that he has a valid point to a degree. There are certainly cases where one can point to successful people who have not gone to college. But there is more evidence out there that college degrees do have an impact on one's earning potential - even within our industry.

 

I received two degrees when I was in college. One was a degree in cinema and the other was in business. What did I get out of it? Certainly not a guaranteed career. But I was taught a method of critical thinking and a discipline that led me to achieving my life's and career goals. I was given opportunities via my schooling to take full advantage of a pathway in. And of course, I was formally taught the craft and business of cinema to proceed forth in creating my own successful career. I'm not even getting into the whole "college experience" that helps define one's self. I still have great friendships and business relationships that were created back in college. That was 35 years ago.

 

From that time through today, I have been blessed with opportunities to have continually worked on the type of jobs that I originally got into the industry to be involved with - the big budget, studio Hollywood movies. Back in 1989, I started my own camera equipment rental company that still services the Hollywood studios today! I attribute all of this to my own ambitions and to my education.

 

To Carl's other points, I would hate to see Weber go out and blow a ton of money on a camera that will be outdated in a year. If he's going to buy a camera, buy a less expensive one in order to practice the craft with. A good cameraman can make beautiful images with less fancy gear. Finally, Carl has an excellent point with regards to the financial impact of Weber's education vs. his mom's financial well being. A sound business plan is needed but that's now a whole new topic.

 

The school of "Life's Experiences" is a good one. But I will always argue that the formal version of education will take you to another, higher level and offer opportunities that you mIght not otherwise have. I feel qualified to say this since I'm of an age where I have experienced both.

 

Greg

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With all do respect Matthew I definitely would not recommend that route either. A young person would blow through that cash in no time and have nothing to show for it at the end.

 

R,

You are probably right, Richard. I do not think it is a good idea either BUT I was merely stating that out of the two possibilities (film school and broke vs $200k in gear) that he could have tools that can make him some money and at least have some salvage value for the gear if he couldnt make it happen.

 

Obviously with $200k there are many better options for making money. Hell, even a good and stable preferred stock can pay more or less guaranteed funds. But he sounds adamant about going headfirst into film on his mother's dime.

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It is totally viable to buy a GREAT camera for only around $5,000 (C100 with all its features to learn), buy some books, start shooting, and make a good living freelancing. Then work your way into whatever filmmaking area you want.

 

I really don't think you could to be honest. A good living freelancing at 18 years old with a $5,000.00 camera?

 

Hmmmmmm?

 

R,

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Hey guys, I don't want to sound like I know all the answers. I've been freelancing in LA since 2008 and doing very well. Could I have done it at 18? Probably not, you're right. But I've had many great day jobs along the way that contributed to my income, skills, and experience. And to be clear, I spent many years in graphic design, music, and writing -- and those all added up to what I do now for a living (which is mostly music education videos and marketing promos). About 1/3 of my income is fun stuff: mini-docs and music videos, etc. I know many freelancers in LA who are self-taught and move from project to project, and they do fine.

 

And if the original poster is specifically wanting to work in mainstream feature filmmaking, that's not my area of interest -- so apologies if I am an outsider getting in the middle of things. And I think my answer would have been different if it wasn't half his retired mom's money. Scary! I think I can imagine Dave Ramsey freaking out over that one.

 

-Carl.

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Tks guys all, You are so so enthusiastic about my problem. I'm just a high school graduate, how can i get into film industry without any degrees these days. I know that it would be very fancy to spend nearly 200k into film school but i could study a lot during the time i'm in college. Money is a big problem here, that's why i'm willing to pay 2 years to work for extra money to help my mom paying the tuition.

 

I'm assuming that based on your picture and FSU, you are talking about Florida State. The good news is that a state funded university should not cost anywhere near $200K. Am I wrong? And if I am, I'd rather spend the same money and go to USC Film if you could get in.

 

G

USC costs more than Florida State, living expense in Tallahasse is still lower than LA, i think so. They cost approximately 38K per year including dorm and many other stuffs

 

If you're going to spend that amount of money going to film school, you really need to consider the A list ones. However, you may find that you need a portfolio in order to get into them.

Yes of course, that one is prestigious so i'm gonna need to work really really hard on portfolio.

 

I have another plan came up in my mind after read all of your comments. Either I can go to DAVE school in Orlando if i want to study VFX or go to Florida State to study Film major . But i'm dying to go to FSU, my dream school with my dream major.
_FSU film school has two Major:

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1/ Animation and Digital Arts which will focus on VFX, filming, lightings, sounds, editions, animation,...
2/ Production: more like teach students to become director or manager.
I want to go with Animation and Digital Arts, my dream school with my dream job.

DAVE school will focus 100% on working on the computer with VFX and Animation, they are 2-year institution offering A diploma while Florida State is a 4-year institution offering A bachelor degree.

I don't know what would it be like if i spend money and get out there filming to get money but i do know that if i graduate from FSU at least i have a degree and some stuff. Can anyone tell me how it would be like the way you guys recommend me to do with 200k? i mean like how can i make money with lots of gears but without any degree? Can anyone suggest me anyway to make money while filming freelance while i spend 2 gap years ?
Once again, thank you very very much for all of your opinions.It's very kind of you guys to help me understand more about my situation and challenges i'm heading towards. They are very helpful, I appreciate that. Feel free to comment what you think about my plan. :)

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Oh god! Computer Science is one of the worst subjects to study if you want to have a decent career.

It's actually up there with filmmaking as a really bad career from a financial perspective.

I used to be a software developer back when that was still a thing and one of the problems is there are so many development languages and you can't avoid becoming specialised and employers don't see any of your skills as being transferable so it is a constant fight to try and stay in with as many languages and technologies as possible and once you are out you are out and unemployable. It's also another one of those jobs where you end up working really long hours (except you don't get paid overtime!) and it can be quite stressful when things get down to deadlines in some instances.

 

Also once the internet came along it quickly became a common thing to make everyone redundant and to outsource all the developement to the Ukraine. Often this lead to disastrous results in software terms but hey it was cheap. :)

 

VFX is better in some ways as I think employers recognise to a certain extent that people have skills outside of the software packages they use but there is still a little bit of a problem in terms of them wanting experience with particular software.

 

Honestly the software industry is a bit like trying to build a career on sand.

I suspect people will always need dentists and doctors tho! :)

 

Freya

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A friend of mine did computer science and now edits top BBC dramas. For VFX, there are computer degree courses for creating CGI, which also have applications in gaming. Of course, you also have to be into the mathematics.

 

I'm not sure the Maths thing is true. It's one of those myths about computing. When working in development it tends to be more about language skills and coding in various computer languages. It really depends on what you do. In software for gaming it can be more mathematical but probably more from a physics angle, although to be honest it's often the case that these kind of algorithms have already been worked out for the most part. Maybe if you are developing something specialised in the way of financial models or something? Mostly there is only a need for basic maths but there is a stereotype about it that is somewhat self fulfilling! :)

 

Freya

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I'm not sure the Maths thing is true. It's one of those myths about computing.

 

I value your opinion on most things, Freya, and you tend to be a voice of reason but wtf are you talking about here? Are you sure you are talking about actual CS or the quasi fluffy outshoots? True CS is very math based; almost entirely so. It isnt continuous math though, it is discrete mathematics. It is this kind of misinformation that distorts the issue.

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