Which is the best route?

[beana]

Right now i have an interesting choice to make... it concerns which is the 'best' route by which to begin the process of making films. Do i go on a film production degree course or take this job as a runner and work my way up. I have no experience of film courses and no idea about whether they give you a helpful grounding in production basics or are a total waste of time and money. I guess starting as a runner would give a good idea of how a production works, and would help make useful contacts... i don't know. I could just start trying to make my own short and see where that takes me. What do you think?

[Mark Jury]

best route would be to team up with me because I am in the same boat and need a partner.

[no-one119]

Having done a degree in film, and despite finding it very interesting, I would suggest the runner route. You'll make the contacts you need and can start to climb. My advice would be to read up about the academic side of film and work on your own projects on the side.

no_one119

[Yankee Bastard]

take the runner position. You'll already be ahead of the film school students. By the time they get their degree (they'll still have to start out at the bottom as well), you will have already been working your way up the ladder. Education does have it's benefits...I won't deny that...perhaps you could take a class or two when you're not on set.

[marti-c]

Sorry chaps for not agreeing but i need to balance out the arguement!

You could say i'm biased because i have been studying Television operations/production for 2 years at college. In my opinion getting some qualifications will give you a great oversight on the whole industry. You may decide you like camerawork at first then experience a swing towards script-writing or editing.
I have spoken to class mates who have done film studies at university and said it is only good for analysing and theory of films.
If you want practical hands-on, then go to college. Do your homework and find a well respected college who will set you up with the knowledge to say "bugger the odds of getting into the industry....i'll just set up my own company and flog the programs myself." OK OK its setting your sights high, but if you've got the technical knowledge and creativity then you're unstoppable.
You could go down the runner line and get some practical experience ( and get exploited ) but as someone once said to me " getting to know someone in the industry will get your foot in the door but it won't keep you there." You'll get to work every piece of equipment in college.....not just the kettle!!!!

Just believe in yourself. You've got all your life to work yourself into the ground. Get an education and above all ENJOY YOURSELF learning. You'll meet great mates with whom you'll have exactly the same interest. These mates will be the FUTURE film /programme makers so what better contacts can you get than that!

To conclude this arguement it has to be said the decision is yours , but what do you have to lose? The amount of class-mates i know that have turned down good employment positions because they want to finish their course is good testament enough for the power you will achieve in yourself.

hope i have'nt preached too much.

bye

marti

[This message has been edited by marti-c (edited October 18, 2000).]

[Rizlaman]

Goto www.panico.co.uk sign up for a foundation course for ?650 which is six whole sundays, they teach you every aspect of film production edit camera lighting etc, then they give you access to probably the only film jobs list in the country and go from there.

[Ruthie]

I went to school and now I work in the industry. To be honest, it's all about who you know. However, the only way I got my contacts was through school and my professors.

[Littlerich]

I took the runner route...

I managed to end up Volunteering at my local TV station, and, to be honest, I'm glad I did!
I have NEVER! had to make anyone a cup of tea, I was given hands-on, dropped in at the deep end kind of learning that I would never have got in College...

I have been there for over a year, and by the end I had Edited, vision mixed (Live TV shows, as well as pre-recorded), Camera (Live & P.Rec), sound, lighting, presenting (Yup, been on the telly), graphics, etc...

I have had my good days (for example, Vision Mixing the LIVE Eclipse show, last year), and my BAD DAYS (Not getting paid)..., but although I am now working in a local ISP company, I still go back to Red and help out.
I am the Vision Mixer every Friday night for a Music-request show, as well as editor occasionally.

I made the contacts myself, and becasue I worked hard and long, I can now have access to the studios, Cameras, editing facilities, etc... when I need.

It looks (Bloody) good on the old 'CV as well!

Take the runner Job, Stick with it,become broke but happy, and you can get a better job eventually!

Go to college, stick with it, go broke, be bored and then have to take the runner job!

It's up 2 U, but I know which path I'd go down, every time!

------------------
KEEP FOCUSED!
Little Rich.
http://go.to/littlerich
www.rmsgraffix.freeserve.co.uk
[email protected]

[cash]

i took the uni route, am in my seconed year on a film course and two of my short films are about ot go into production. one on DV and the other on film. So at the end of next year i come out with a degree and a showreel and films i can enter into festivals.

www.cashproductions.co.uk

[This message has been edited by cash (edited October 20, 2000).]

[marti-c]

Ok Rich
you hit it lucky.
But remember not everyone has access to a local station that will take people on and run the risk of programmes getting messed up. ( still if there's only 10 people watching at 3 in the morning 'it wont make a big impact.)

The point i'm trying to make to the guy is that despite what happened to you , the TV industry are very tight with money and dont have the money or patience to train people nowadays. They expect colleges to do that for them.

Point 2 : Not everybody has the confidence to walk into a studio at a young age without a clue what end of a camera you look into .

Point 3: You will definetely never get to do your own creativity stuff in a major company. You will always be making someone elses programs in the real world. Explore yourself whilst in education

Point 4 : Student loans.........you'll never get a cheque like this for doing so little.

Point 5: Cheap booze in student unions

Point 6: cant get fired for being late (because if cheap booze)

point 7: More Cheap booze

marti