Cinematography : Film School or No? by Aria Brice

The biggest advantage of film school is networking. If you don't live in a large city, or you aren't good at plugging in with a group, it may be beneficial. Your team is the most important part of filmmaking, and many people create those teams in school. However, the things you can learn in film school can be learned elsewhere, and if your goal is to work on other people's projects and not go the independent route, you're better off finding a PA job and working there. Some productions won't hire film school graduates because it's tough to break people of the habits they learn there, and many leave film school with an inflated ego. If you do the school route, I'd recommend a several month trade program. They tend to have more hands on and practical courses, and you're not spending nearly as much money.

Hi Aria, This is an age old question and very timely in this new world of digital filmmaking that allows us to do some incredible things on budgets that would have been unheard of 20 years ago. I went to film school but supplemented with some targeted training in cinematography at The Global Cinematography Institute in Hollywood, CA. At first I questioned if I did the right thing going to university and if I should have just gone to the institute for a fraction of the cost for the hands on and industry leading curriculum. But I realized something important: many people today will opt out of film school and will go the self teaching route and having a degree helps me stand out. I also was an exceptional student, graduating as class salutatorian and elected by my peers and administrators as most likely to succeed. So my advice would be this: if you are a good student and you can rise above the fray, do it. Get a degree and have something you can use if you want to be able to obtain a position down the road on the business, production and development side. Also keep in mind that if you ever want to finance a film project it helps producers and financiers feel confident that you have taken the time to commit to your academic work as well as your creative endeavors if you can demonstrate a body of academic work. But that's just my opinion. If you don't feel like you want to commit to the grind of an academic program and the associated costs, check out the Global Cinematography Institute. It's a fabulous program and one I highly recommend. And you will get a world class, immersive experience with Hollywood DPs. And no, I don't work for them. Lol!

Thank you for your input! I really have been stirring this around in my mind for quite sometime now, and though I am young, I really do want to do what I love to do. Education came first, now I'm working on my bachelors degree in film and fine arts. But I was contemplating getting a masters in cinematography. I guess time will tell. Thank you!

Neither accredited film school nor self -taught ( DIY / Internet / YouTube schooled ) will make someone into a person who can be hired prtofessionally on a film or television program in any position other than the most entry level ( runner / PA). A $250,000 education yields many entitled and frustrated grads who expect mid level work right off the bat... DIY teaches many things that must be un-learned in a professional environment. Most below the line jobs are best learned while doing, on set, at the bottom. It's still how the actual industry works ( actual industry not indie filmmaking).

Film school or not? Depends on what place in the film world you want to fit into. Shooting a hundred shorts with a cheap digital camera isn't going to make you into Robert Rodriguez. +1 on the comment about un-learning bad self-taught habits. I even see this in film students from the two big NYC schools.