What Education to Prepare for Industry Employment?

[Shane Ross]

Well, I went to film school…that gives you a great overall education in all aspects of production, if you attend a good school. I went to Montana State University in Bozeman…great program…not too expensive. Very hands on.

People want to hire people who know a little about production, who have at least some experience working with film or video.

Shane

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[Jon Agnew]

I also went to film school and would recommend it if he is truly serious about production as a long term career. The diploma can open a lot of doors. That said, however, the essential ingredient to success in this industry is practical experience. Some film programs are very hands-on, while others tend to focus on theory. I found the hands-on approach very valuable when it came time to land a job.

If I could go back and start over, I would get a part-time job or internship at a post house very early in my college career and work through graduation. That way I’d be entering the job market armed with a degree as well as a stellar reel.

[Brendan Coots]

I’ve personally given up on looking at people’s schooling (and really their resumes as well) when I’m hiring, because it doesn’t really matter to me. All that I want to see is a demo reel, because it tells me all I need to know – can the person shoot good video, do they understand lighting, staging etc.?

There are a lot of degreed people out there who aren’t qualified to WATCH movies, let alone make them. Your son would almost, but not quite, be better off spending the money on a good camera, lights etc. and taking a few months to really dive into production. He’d probably learn just as much if he’s self-directed. Plus, if he decides he doesn’t like it, you have the gear to sell off and recoup somewhat.

Brendan Coots
Splitvision Digital
http://www.splitvisiondigital.com

[Todd Terry]

I’m with Brendan….

I’m certainly not saying don’t get an education, but just make sure that your son is getting the right education. I personally don’t give a hoot about someone’s degree, I never even look at that part of a resume. I look at experience and mostly mostly look at their reel.

My senior editor is absolutely the best cutter that I could hope to have… he is smart, intuitive, fast, very creative… and never went to college. My art director is also fantastic, also without a degree. As for me, I consider myself a pretty fair director and DP, and although I went to film school I learned absolutely nothing about the craft there.

Wherever he goes to school, make sure they teach technique, not just technicalities. He needs to know why to make an edit in a particular place, not just which buttons to push. He need to know why to put the camera here or there, or why to choose this lens or that lens… not just how. It’s pretty often that we have, for example, a young editor come in with resume and reel in hand… a bit of conversation and we might learn that he knows Final Cut inside and out, can push the buttons in his sleep. But not why to push this button here, or that button there. He knows all the technicalities though… but guess what? We don’t use FCP. And while he knows all the techy parts of FCP, he has not developed the intuition (or dare I say theory) behind it… and is no use to me.

Again, get an education, if it is the right one. I’d almost suggest getting a major in something else, just for education’s sake… and take some production classes for a minor degree or just electives. And work during school in the industry. Everything I learned during my school years was the result of internships and outside jobs in real production facilities.

T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com

[Mike Cohen]

I base my ideal candidate based upon my own experience – at least an associate’s degree in something. Does not have to be productions. If someone does not have the theory, some technical skills and the aptitude to learn you will know pretty quickly.

Given that technology changes so rapidly, he should not put all his eggs into one basket – that is, don’t become a FCP expert, as others have said. An entry level job may be duping tapes, digitizing or cutting news stories – not creating hour long documentaries.

In my opinion, the important take away from any college experience is the non-technical training, such as liberal arts, science, business classes. These classes turn a 18 year old high school hot shot into a 20 year old with some professional aptitude.

Sure there are plenty of people without a degree who are well rounded people, but this is my opinion.

I did 4 internships during college, all of which were invaluable.

Mike

[Greg Ball]

i have to agree with Mike. Sure, film school may get you a job in the industry, but a well rounded education will help you move up the ladder. If your son plans on starting or owning his own business one day, a college education combined with experience is the way to go IMHO. He needs to think long term.

I also did internships and ran the student TV station in college. It worked out great!

[Eric Bintner]

Wayne,
A trade school like the art institutes schools will teach your son the technical end of production, which you say is already part of his education. Think of those schools as a how-to instructional classes, a useful tool nonetheless. They are not structured like, say a large state school where film students can network with music, media and art students toward larger scale original productions. Add to that a critical discourse at the foundation of most art and film departments and you have a petri dish for creative growth.

So it depends on the kid… If he’s got creative potential — send him to somewhere that will challenge him.

Like others have mentioned, in the end it’s how the reel looks. Someone can go through the hoops of school and not be too keen on that whole focus thingy… But, with “3 years experience” on every job posting, a couple years interning in college can be a big help.

I have a friend who graduated from Pratt Institute in Film/Video. As a Cinematographer, he was picked up by Sufjan Stevens for a project involving an orchestra and red carpet at BAMM. Conversely, my roommate started his undergrad at University of Southern California in Film but droped out because he’d rather be in the industry on the set.

My suggestion is state school for undergrad. It worked for most of us, or at least pointed the right direction without wasting too much money in indecision.

[Steve Wargo]

Please contact me off forum and we can talk. steve@sntvideo.com

I also sit on the advisory board of another film school.

Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!

Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
2-Sony EX-1 HD .

[Rennie Klymyk]

I think any profession that involves team work to complete a project, a good understanding of all the roles involved by everyone on the team will create the best team.

Scenario “A” If he were to buy some gear and enter the work force now chances are he would land a position and remain there for a long time doing only a few roles. In 2 years he will be good at those few roles.

Scenario “B” On the other hand if he were to go to film school for 2 years when he comes out he will be in a much better position than in scenario “A” to enter the work force. A good film school education will expose him to all facets of the production process so he understands the role of the next person down the line. A good camera man or sound person will make the editors job much easier and so. Now, fast forward 10 years, the jump start from having been exposed to the whole picture early on in film school is paying off whereas if he went with scenario “A”, he may only now be being exposed to some of the fundamentals of the industry.

Sure, chances are that in scenario “A” he could get off on the right track and make so much money in the 1st 10 years he would be ready for early retirement and be able to set up MOM & POP in the process. He could also end up moving into the basement.

[Wayne Keyser] “My son (soon to begin his last year of high school) wants to go into professional camera/editing/post.”

These 3 words are key: camera/editing/post They are about 10+ different jobs. He has time to get immersed in them before he chooses his direction and film school will help give him that opportunity. How many employers can offer those experiences. I can see it now: Picture gets wavey and soft focus “you’ve been 1st.& 2nd ac; pa, and dop for the past 8 months, would you like to do some editing, compositing and graphics for a while?” “When you’ve gotten a grasp of that we’ll let you do some color timing and authoring if you like, we can just train someone else to do your old job” ” and oh yeah, you’ll be getting a raise too”

It’s difficult for any of us to say but I can’t see where a year or two in film school would hurt.

“everything is broken” ……Bob Dylan

[Andrew Kimery]

Just to toss in my 2 cents.

What your son does in college is more important than where he does it, IMO. I know people who went to big name film schools (some even w/masters) and people who went no-name schools and it made no difference here in the LA food chain. We all worked in lower level positions and worked our way up based on performance (and luck and networking) and not on where our diploma came from. When I was in college I tried to do as much extracurricular work as possible and that work ethic led to getting a camera assistant position (cable puller) once when Monday Night Football came to town. When I was starting out that single MNF game got me more call backs then my diploma did, IMO.

I’d say go to a good in state school w/a film/broadcast program (if possible), get a well rounded education, and business minor. As unsexy as it sounds to a budding “artiste” you need at least a basic understanding of the business side of things (if for no other reason then to make sure you aren’t getting screwed by a shady contract). The money saved by staying in state can be put towards your sons living/moving expenses after graduation or so he can intern/work away from home during the summers. Also, tell your son to start hanging out on the COW and other industry forums. Not only is there a lot to learn, but he can start building his network so when he goes to LA or Phoenix or Atlanta he already has people he can call up for advice over lunch/dinner/drinks.

-A