Valencia College for Film in Orlando...

p@mast3rs wrote on 6/9/2004, 2:35 PM

Is it worth getting the Associates degree in Film and Video there? By any chance does anyone on the board attend, teach, or know someone who does?

Its nice that it was called one of the best film schools by Spielberg but I would love to find out just what kind of stuff they teach and what kind of projects I would get to do.

Thanks.

Comments

Cheno wrote on 6/9/2004, 3:19 PM

While film school is a debatable subject, personally I don't know anyone who has gotten a job because of a film degree. Different world from when Lucas, Coppola and Scorsese were getting into the business.

I interviewed Janusz Kaminski in January, he's Spielberg's DP. He was a strong proponent for film school and graduated from Columbia College. His take was go so you can spend all your time making movies.. learn the rules and then learn how to break them and create your own vision.

You're going to eat, sleep and drink film while you're in school. That's the plus in my book. Aside from that, you can teach yourself pretty much everything you need on your own.

mike

Fleshpainter wrote on 6/9/2004, 8:38 PM

I have a friend who just graduated from there. I'll get back to you with his contact info. My own impression while visiting the place was that they do a fine job of teaching tech. But it seems to be universally accepted by teachers and students alike that creativity cannot be taught. So while the student projects are brilliantly lit, properly focused, and painstakingly edited, they somehow resemble high school plays. I'm not saying not to go there, just be aware of the limitations of ANY type of school.

p@mast3rs wrote on 6/10/2004, 9:07 PM

BTT in hopes of some more information

p@mast3rs wrote on 6/13/2004, 10:10 AM

Bounced!!!

p@mast3rs wrote on 6/23/2004, 12:24 PM

Bounced again.

For anyone who has attended, what does the extra fees cover? Film, etc...? Do I also need to use my own prosumer camera or do I have rent one for the semester?

Thanks

busterkeaton wrote on 6/23/2004, 1:04 PM

I don't know anything about Valencia, but it looks like the Film program is indeed shot on not, video.

Filmschool will give you the opportunity to make movies and you often have students who are required to work as your crew. That will be one of the differences from making films on your own. They may not be professionals, but they are probably free and most likely way better crew members than other people you could get for free (friends/family members, etc.)

When you come out of film school it doesn't mean you will get a job a director, but friends of mine are best boys, script supervisors, grips and second ADs around NYC. They've worked on The Sopranos, Law and Order, Royal Tennebaums and other high-profile projects. A greater number of my fellow students are not working in the film biz at all. It's kind of a rich man's game because when you start out you are often working for nothing as you build contacts. So you either have money of your own or are supported by your parents or you leave hand-to-mouth for a while.

If you know what type of film job you want, such as DP or editor, film school can be helpful, because you can specialize in that and offer to shoot/edit other student's films. This way you become useful to anyone who wants to be a director and you get to work on a variety of projects. I went to a public college that had a film department. We shot on film and all production costs, stock, developing fees, food, transport was paid by me. At some more expensive private film schools your lab fee gives you a certain amount of film. For the most part, we shot silent films, since we had no access to studios, and they wanted you to A. learn to tell a story visually and B. have enough experience before you shot a sound production, which is more complicated and thus more expensive.

I also got to see some great films, (some boring ones too.)

Film school doesn't guarantee you anything, but a good one will give you access to equipment, talent and resources, you won't find most other places.

If you plan on going the distance in film, I also suggest taking classes in acting, literature, accounting and business law.