Film Education

Parents of budding film makers cringe at their child’s choice of career for a number of reasons. First, they are concerned that the child will end up flipping burgers in a fast food joint for the rest of their lives. After all, for every Quentin Tarantino there are twenty five Andy Shaffers who are just not going to make it. Most parents encourage their children’s dreams as much as possible, but after they start investigating the cost of Film College, they may start thinking it would be cheaper just to fund the filmmaking directly without bothering with the film courses at all. It is just not the cost of the filmmaking itself that has to be investigated and invested in; there are additional costs as well.

Film College is expensive and there are several options to consider. There is film education that is the major course of study in the overall, general college experience. While this is a well rounded education, it is not only expensive but can be very trying for the student, especially if they are not one for conventional school and classes. In addition to the cost of the tuition though, there will be the costs of books and other learning materials to consider. If the school is not local there is the cost of travel to and from as well as the cost of living at the school, including meals and lodging.

In addition to these costs for film education, there are also costs for the equipment that the student will need. While enrolled in film college, students can usually utilize cameras, lights and other equipment in the school although many will prefer their own set ups. Even used equipment can be very expensive, and can sometimes be harder to find, especially in smaller areas.

Film education can also be expensive because it is so exclusive and difficult to get in. The aspiring film student might need to apply several years in a row trying to get in to the film college in the first place. To apply, most schools require an admission fee as well as a short film clip or other example of their work, meaning there is a need for film equipment before the education even starts. Even renting or borrowing these items can be very costly; especially if the short film is going to take a long time to actually be shot. Read the rest of this entry »

If Jennifer Bertram had to credit her interest in film, she could definitely reference “Josie and the Pussycats.” After all, her first film experience was in her garage, where she filmed a music video with her friends for one of the songs from the movie. And her latest experience was with “Girls in the Director’s Chair,” where she got to be on a real movie set for a week and film a short movie that starred Rachael Leigh Cook, who coincidentally, played the title character in the film “Josie and the Pussycats.”

The Program
“Girls in the Director’s Chair” is a film program, sponsored by Stayfree®, that gives 20 young women (ages 14-19) the opportunity to learn more about the film industry, while getting the chance to work on a movie set for a week with live actors and equipment. Why? According to the film program, only 17 percent of major jobs behind the camera are done by females, while just seven percent are women directors.

Melissa Solotruk, program spokesperson, says that “Girls in the Director’s Chair” is great to give these young women resources to get real experience in film, especially since most high schools don’t have film programs. “It gives them the chance to speak up and not have to be self-conscious around boys,” says Solotruk. “By seeing each element, [the program] helps them decide which area they want to specialize in.”

Future Filmmakers
“‘Girls in the Director’s Chair’ has given me the confidence I need to work on some of the greatest films,” says Shauna Fleming, another student in the program who plans to attend Chapman University (Orange, CA) in the fall for public relations and advertising for the entertainment industry. “I got to work behind the camera, assistant direct, work with lighting and sound, and edit part of the film. It was great. I got to see what fits me and what I don’t particularly care for.”

The program is a definite booster. “I feel like I’m more confident in my abilities and skills,” says Bertram, a double major in film and theater at Stephens College (Columbia, MO) who plans to move to Los Angeles after graduation to pursue her career in film. She first learned about the program through a male friend who had stumbled upon it. Read the rest of this entry »

San Jose, California’s third largest metropolis, was at one time the State’s capital in the 1800′s. Today the heart of Silicon Valley, it is a busy and productive metropolis on the forefront of scientific developments. Oddly enough, in the event that you are an pet lover, you should in all probability realize that San Jose does not allow more than two cats or two dogs for each household. In the event that you go above this figure you will have to get rid of it, as well as end up being penalized. Also always keep a good eye on your pets in public. if your family pet is actually observed copulating within 1500 feet of any school or location associated with worship, you are going to be penalized $1500. Yes, that is a dollar a foot. Although this trivia is actually interesting, San Jose film schools are some of the finest in the nation regardless of whether you are a family pet lover or not.

The developing movie business in San Jose has spawned some of the greatest film educational facilities within the city. With so many choices, often it’s hard for the particular scholar to determine which institution to attend. Accumulating particulars on movie educational facilities in this particular metropolis is the best method to finding which one that a student would likely choose. Having so many different teaching styles and kinds of learning, it’s crucial that investigation is actually carried out.

There are several elements to enrolling in a movie institution. Precisely what will be the actual curriculum, expenses and also are there any kind of positioning possibilities right after graduation? In this existing fiscal conditions, the scholar ought to find the best benefit with regard to the money that they are investing to their future. With all of this in mind, only after that are you capable to be able to choose the proper institution to commence your journey into the film industry. Read the rest of this entry »