If you have set yourself with an objective of becoming the next Steven Spielberg, then you probably should attend a Film School. There are several fine film schools available. Be aware that you don’t have to live in the Los Angeles area to find a good one.
Begin with using the internet – Google the term “film school.” Your search will surely return with over a dozen choices. The chances are you’ll find one near you. Film production is not just done in Hollywood anymore. The days of the major film studios controlling everything is over. However, a word of caution: Be certain that the school you have found is accredited. Checking if a certain school is accredited is fairly easy. Check out http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html to find information about a school’s accreditation.
Another factor to consider is that there are online schools that offer courses in film production. Some of these highlight digital productions. Some would even teach you about documentaries and how to make them.
Finances is the next thing to think about after finding a school and being accepted in it. Will you be able to pay the tuition fees? Most, if not all, of the accredited schools will provide financial aid.
Here are some of the subjects you’ll study in Film School.
History of Cinema – As the title suggests, this subject will walk you through how movies have changed over the years.
Screenwriting – You should have a script to make a movie, and this class will provide you with the nuts and bolts of how to write one.
Financing – Making a movie entails money. This course shall then teach you on how to get financial “aid” in order for your movie to be materialized.
Budgeting – This goes hand in hand with financing your movie.
Directing – There’s a lot more to this than yelling “Action.” This course will teach you on the other functions of this responsibility.
Camera Operation – This subject will not only teach you on how to operate a camera, but it also lets you appreciate this oh-so essential equipment in movie-making.
Lighting – In a film production, the Director of Photography is the person who lights the film so that it looks natural when viewed.
Editing – Once you have shot your film, it has to be placed in the correct order. Many movies are not shot in chronological order. Goofs, flubs and mistakes must be edited out as well.
Sound Direction – You want your movie to be heard as well as seen, right?
Special Effects – As early as now, be aware that whatever happens on the screen is a Special Effect. Even the natural occurrence of a rock breaking a window is a special effect. This, on the other hand, should not be interchanged with Special Visual Effects. Think “Star Wars”.
The subjects mentioned above are just some of the ones that you’ll be able to study in a Film School. Know that many Film Schools can be quite expensive. But do not be discouraged as there are alternatives. Among these is Film Connections: http://filmconnection.com/index.html. They can provide a mentoring program that just might get you behind the camera quicker and for less money.
Any way you slice it, if you want to call yourself a filmmaker, you can easily get a camera and start shooting. However, if you want to learn the correct way to make a movie, then you must seriously think about attending a qualified Film School.
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