Have you ever ask a question on a forum and got a response containing a link and the comment “Google is your friend”
There is so much truth in that statement.
My good friend JJ Kim of Orange Wedding Films just shared this video about film education in a school. I really enjoyed it and thought I would share a few thoughts I had.
I myself was very close to going to Columbia College here in Chicago for a film degree. I am so glad I didn’t. I ended up getting on a couple sets and spending my nights on Google, forums, and websites like this one (except they were run by real pros). Here are a couple things I got out of the experience that I otherwise would have missed out on:
- Learning to learn – It is a powerful skill to not know something, but know how to obtain that knowledge.
- Responsibility – When you wake up in the morning with no professor asking for a project, no class schedule, and no lab to go to its all on you to make it happen.
- Discipline – I wasn’t learning lighting in a class. I was learning it next to a gaffer on set. Learning in real environments like that instilled a serious level of discipline.
That all said there are some major benefits to film school. But IMO those things aren’t worth the price tag and time associated with it.
What are your thoughts on the subject of self education? Join the discussion in the comments below.