It's also important to watch crap movies and try to identify why they are crap, that way you avoid the same pifalls.... like excessive wobble cam... or poor sound... none of the above applies to your work, of course, but there are plenty of folk who still need to learn this.
+nictheartist very well said - plus some crap movies are actually good, since opinions are subjective. in the least they might have something good that we can learn from them, and then take that and try to fix the things they did wrong :)
+DSLRguide So true. Also, often actors get blamed for crap acting. At times, this is justified, but if it's just the odd moment or hiccup by the actor, it's also the director's job to notice and re-do the scene. Actors can't see the finished result, they often have no idea how the shot will look in the end. In that case, dear director - Be Kind - Rewind! I like the way Rodriguez does the camcorder walkthrough with cast and crew to show exactly what he has in mind. Helpful to all, methinks!
+nictheartist I kinda love watching bad films(it's so funny!). I watched a red giant horrible short movie (in my opinion) called the bag, and the inspiration i drew from it, like everything i would have done differently IT'S SUCH A GREAT EXERCISE! Plus i even had an awesome idea about making a parody of ACTION MOVIES, since they are so far from reality it would be awesome to see a movie explore how a girl hidding behind a car being shot by 5.56 rounds would just get her head blown out because of bullet penetration hueheuheuheuhe
+nictheartist +DSLRguide Robert Rodriguez is a firm believer of Creativity being more important than the tools, the tools are just 10% the rest is creativity. He explored this topic in a podcast on the tim ferris show, it was one of the best podcasts i've ever heard, you guys should definetely checj it out xD
Finally I am somewhere where people make sense. I watched a person's video on film school who said 3 things in his video that I didn't like :- 1) English and math are boring, films are interesting 2)listed some movies, said these movies you need to watch to survive in film school like some peer pressure bullshit or some superiority complex bullshit that if you haven't watched these then you are nothing. 3) Those who haven't been to film school and don't recommend it are only jealous (now I know that film school is really helpful, but it's not necessary and nobody's jealous) YOU KNOW THINGS LIKE THIS DEMOTIVATES ME.WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO IMPOSE THEIR OPINIONS,LIFESTYLE,HABITS TO OTHERS AND THOSE WHO DON'T DO IT ARE INFERIOR TO THEM. I am not against this guy. He did explain some pretty useful things, actually the only thing that annoyed me was that this guy instead of saying his opinion was just trying to say that whatever he is saying is right.
I totally agree with you, but one big advantage of filmschool is, that you get a constant feedback from educated / well experienced people. This can mean, you would not have so many "bad habits" in your work. Outside the film school you are on your own. Can you suggest how to overcome this disadvantage? As a beginning filmmaker, I may not see all those nuances by only watching movies. :) ... Oh one more question: Do you plan to make your own short anytime soon (for example during summer)?
thanks for sharing, very valid points! I find that as soon as i've finished a project, I see hundreds of things I could do to make it better, which definitely helps for next time. Aside from that there's always constructive youtube comments, and watching your work with other people to see how they react. At the moment I do plan to make a short film in the summer, although it's going to be a bit hectic with exams, so i'm not 100% sure.
Thank you for your answer. I am just starting with filmmaking. I would like to buy canon 700D(not sure if it is the right choice). However, I am not sure if I should buy 700D with kit lens 18-55 IS STM or only 700D body with another lens. Anyways, I am a little bit into photoshop and into music production / recording so If you will need help with this kind of things, feel free to contact me :). I will be more than happy to participate on something. Good luck with your exams!
hey love the video and all previous ones. Plus do you also know any way to learn filmmaking in middle school like 7th grade? I would be interested when you started to get interested in filmmaking and how you started.
You don't need permission to be a filmmaker. You either make films, or you don't. It's that simple. You're only resumé are the films you've made. Hey, a school mate of mine made a silly film and put it on UA-cam. Next thing he got a grant to make a full feature from his country's film board. His second feature was called Dead Snow, and now Hollywood got interested, and... Well, the rest is history. Make films if that's what you want to do. If you think you need film school, that's up to you. It won't hurt you, but you don't need permission from them to do it either.
This is an awsome story and a stupid point if you use it to avoid going to school. There are always examples to find of people who make it without education. They are extremely talented or just lucky or both. Find out how many people try the same thing and fail to get a better perspective on your own chances to make it without scholing.
This is some great advice. Studying film and other art forms, observing life and human behavior or working on little short films and experementing with your equipment is definitely very helpful. However, I think that finding people and networking is quite difficult if you live somewhere that isn't a popular place to shoot at.
I'm in film school now and everything you said was true. I wanted to be an actor up until just a few years ago and had mainly focused on that but started getting interested in going behind the camera. I didn't know anything about film didnt know lenses f stops had never ever heard of a grip before so I decided to go to film school to learn. Almost two years in I've met some amazing people that I think ill be working with for a long time afterwards. I understand why people say if you wanna be a filmmaker to just go out and shoot something but I also understand why people (like me) would go to school. You meet people, learn the equipment, and you even learn from mistakes your teacher has made. People are also nicer to you when you're a film student and not just an indie filmmaker just saying ;)
Yes Kenny, go and finish school and then go and do more scholing. I work in audio and video and never had the chance to go to school and I think it is arrogant and stupid to dismiss filmschool. It is a great place to learn a lot even if you (think you) already know a lot.
This is now 5 years later, I'd love to know how things have turned out for you and your chosen path! And thank you for such a down to earth perspective on this, it's helped me to clarify my own career and educational planning! :)
same here but i keep thinking why to stop achieving something which i love just because i dont have people.... so keep doing what you love it will create your journey.
Simon, these videos keep getting better and better. I really like how much you focus on story rather than all the expensive tech that tends to draw people away from the creative side of filmmaking.
I know of a few people who decided not to go to film school because they planned to learn filmmaking and get into the industry without it and they ended up doing nothing but working part time jobs in shops. If you're extremely self motivated and hard working then it is possible to make your way as a filmmaker without it, but for the rest of us a film course is perfect for motivation, education and immersing yourself in a community of filmmakers.
@@TRASHXDD Yeah, I could agree on this. I don't have any plans about going to film school, but I am ready to do whatever it takes to be a good film producer. Overall, film schools can be very smart, since you are actually learning everything you need to learn in school, so you actually do not need to use extra time on making movies. If you don't go to a film school, then you are responsible of learning everything that you need to know. Personally I think, gaining experience is very important. I mean, I actually think that it can be important as a school diploma, or maybe more important. I would have hired someone that actually have made a lot of movies (short or long does not matter), than someone that just finished school. They make movies in school, but I think you can gain more experience by making movies yourself and do whatever it needs to be done yourself. Hopefully, I will start to make short movies and gain some experience after time very soon :)
I was just thinking, in regards to a previous comment on here about upgrading your gear; Your ability to grade your footage has gotten better and better, and to be 100% brutally honest: your graded T3i footage has, in some cases, looked BETTER than some of the A7s, GH4, 5d MkIII etc. footage that I have seen on the internet. Not all of it of course, but quite a damn lot of it. Just goes to show that many people get caught up in the gear. Especially 4k and things like that. There are benefits, even if it's all getting compressed on youtube. But if you shoot it right, grade it correctly and have interesting content, then even old T3i footage can go head to head with C300 footage. At the end of the day, what the nice gear does for us a lot of the time is speed the workflow up. Which is nice and sometimes necessary for the job, but for many of us isn't truly needed.
Why thank you, that's exactly the kind of perspective I'm encouraging! The first level is that someone who knows what they're doing can make almost any camera look as good as a cinema camera, but then even deeper than that is that none of it matters if the content is boring! I think workflow is the only legitimate reason to use better equipment - fiddling with DIY gear that's falling apart would slow you down and take focus away from creative side. However, I've also been on film sets where external recorders, big tripods and rigs were actually slowing the whole shoot down. It goes both ways.
DSLRguide You are better off skipping film school and instead focus on another career that may complement your filmmaking career. For example if you want to direct, you might benefit from studying psychology. Also study cinema history; all aspiring filmmakers should study it. I would say just get an entry level job at a movie studio or film/tv production company and work your way up. It will be your best film school and avoid the massive debt. You could still make time and be able to finance your own short films on your days off. Great videos by the way ;)
I'm currently in film school and I personally think I made the right move, yes it teaches you things you can teach yourself however I've found my 'school' in particular has put me in direct contact with festivals and industry professionals from all departments encompassed in film. My lecturers encourage us to explore freelance work and indie work, allot of my course mates have plans to enter the industry of their own backs, as do I, through creating our own production 'companies' again this is encouraged to an extent. As was mentioned in your video the opportunities to work with and interact with peers of a likened mind is invaluable and above all its just an all round great time. We get to do what we love all day every day, which is directing, producing, editing, writing and all together making of films. To top it all off the uni supports us by putting us in contact and checking that we are making strengthening those contacts with the industry in this country.
This video really should be shown to anyone considering film school. I joined film school, but I dropped out half-way realizing that it was not the route I wanted to take. I studied history instead, and for that I'm grateful. It may be good to note that while film school may not be the best option, studying other subjects may enhance a filmmaker's world view. Currently I am shooting documentary films with no formal education. My history degree, though, comes in handy as it provides a context for my interests and characters. Good Job Simon!!!
Zachary Rutland thanks for sharing your experience! It definitely could be worth studying something 'unrelated' because it'll end up finding it's way into your work somehow! glad to hear it's working out for you:)
If you get the opportunity go to study film. The alternative film school happens either at the same time or when you finish anyway. No qualification ever prepares you enough but it puts you on a good path. What you will gain from being in a different environment studying something you love is all the new people, new experiences new places, networks and career or creative opportunities that being in a semi priviliged position will give you. It will also give you credentials and a reference point for criticism of you abilities. I only found your channel yesterday but it's obvious that you are filled with passion and knowledge and I could only see you thriving. I came to your channel looking for ideas for giving a film making course to my students next year and you've already given plenty. A great channel with tons to offer. Judging by the way you talk I'd guess your education has already begun. Of course you don't have to go, but the arts industry in the UK is incredibly challenging to navigate or progress despite any talent or enthusiasm. A course of study can help you advance. Whatever you do, good luck.
Hey all, So because I’m doing a project for class that involves me trying to find film students, aspiring filmmakers or just film nerds who wishes they could work on major blockbuster movies (doesn't matter which category you are in), I’m reaching out to see if anyone out here is willing to have a quick conversation with me about your experience with film and aspirations? Your responses will be featured in our education project. ;) Please drop me a personal message if you’re interested. Thank you!
Film school can really be a hit or miss. I've looked into going to many, and what I realized is a lot of them focus on theory. Filmmaking is a very practical career. Meaning, it's something you actually have to do! Some schools have you only make 3-5 short films in the entire 4 year period. But, there are others like, Chapman, where by the end of school, you have to make a feature film with actual actors. So, really research how many films you'll actually be making. Plus, the internet now has so many amazing sources. (Nofilmschool.com, Film Riot, AVclub.com, etc...) You just have to find it! But film school can also be very useful, just do research!
It's quite interesting your comparison between learning Spanish and learning filmmaking. The aproach to he community to learn what they do. :). In any case, practise and learning from others (and from theory of course) is the basis to filmmaking. I could not recommend my spanish channel, but if you're interested on learning the are some nice channels to learn it. Great job DSLRguide :)
I gotta say, I have a life wish that is going to film school, not only because of the contacts you get but because I educate myself better when I am commited and when I have teahcers who can orientate me through the whole thing, but I am COMPLETELY astonished and love the simplicity of the film industry and how you don't need a degree mostly, you just have to be good and someday you'll reach the top. Love the channel!
Nice video, how ever i think film school is relevant to some people and irrelevant to some depending on level of creativity, some people's creativity is not natural and others it is, so that is were the diff is, some people wd just need maybe 6 months of a film school residency and they will be all set, some need 3-4 years....and also i think depends were you come from in this world, there are some places for example in Africa were you are never gonna get any real film making inspiration to kick off with out film school even internet in Africa is a pain to watch alot of film info on line...I also think some times learning practically from experienced people may be on set or film school helps alot rather than on line...been doing videos as an editor and shooter for a while got some experience but later decided to go for a short film course for one year in the U.S which is scholarship sponsored half way any way....and believe me i realised there was alot i did not know...no body in Africa would tell you bout C-STANDS,FLAGS,HANKYBONKS,C47S,FRENELS and how all this staff is used..the need for film school,depends on how smart you are,level of creativity,were you come from on this planet etc...thats is my thought...otherwise thanks for all the info u puting out there....
Please say where you are from in Africa and stop generalizing. It is not so in Lagos, Nigeria and other cities across the country too. And I am sure it is not so in South Africa..
I'm at an arts university studying Film and TV and I'm really enjoying it. I think being at an arts university is really beneficial because not only do you get to know other people on your course, you get to know people that study other mediums such as animation, print, fashion, graphics etc. People are always collaborating on projects inside and outside university, so it's nice to know that those connections are there should you need them. I'd definitely consider an arts uni as well as a film school, as they tend to be very creative in their approach to filmmaking and programme making, yet still give you all the guidance that a film school would give you.
You are awesome! The advice you give is so useful! I've been thinking about applying to film schools. Some of the arguments against film schools that you've been already mentioning also were in my head. Now I started a channel where I will upload filmprojects from me with friends and collect as much experience I can collect :3 Thank you for your videos :) Let's see what happens after graduation from school :)
Very good video! This is a proof that expensive film school is not necessary. I am a SELFTAUGHT filmmaker, artist, photographer and writer and I did not go to school to learn that. I have taking contact with film people myself.
My goal after I earn my GED🎓 🎓 Learn about filmmaking🎬 while I'm studying to be an Entrepreneur I want to be the C.E.O. of my film company - long term goal go & I want to have a business for all ages to learn about filmmaking anyway I have my 🎬🎬 from Amazon so I want gained experiences in filmmaking I never been to film school yet so I want to work on my GED🎓🎓🎓🎓 first study film do I need to order film equipments online ???
I received an internship at a corporate production company just by cold calling so I highly recommend that to anyone interested in networking in their area. Also craigslist is a gold mine of narrative and freelance work and has put me in touch with some talented people. Hanging out in places where creatives go is also a plus. I've met some of my most valuable contacts that way.
You make brilliant content. Really appreciate your style, and you provide a lot of value. Is there a way to speed up understanding the theory of movies other than just watching? Like somewhere you can read about theory? I have some time sensitive videos about an unexpected brain tumour my husband had, and I want to learn to portray them as artistically as possible. 🙏🙏🙏
I'm hesitating alot between going to filmmschool or keep the money to travel... I could actually profit equally from both but still lack either experience in life and storytelling or experience in filming, editing, networking and the basics. Of course I can't finance both either :/
I'd suggest traveling. You can film while you travel but you can't travel while you film (If that makes sense), but as Aydin said, do what you feel is right.
@Mr Temporal "men are only after one thing" ...ehhhh? Film making? no wait....."having more expensive gear then the other guy and brag about it"? ....no wait........I give up
Hello Simon, I agree with what you said, even i wanted to go to film school and that was my dream from my teen age but the fees we need to pay there is so high that i had to kill my dream of joining film school. Now i feel that i am so fortunate that i did not get a chance to go to film school and learn it on practical basis (As you have explained in the video) it is very much fun and enriching. I am Enjoying it. Great Video. :)
The best part of films I enjoy is when you can easily tell they are not made to look like any big budget cinematography focused film. I love low or no budget real people with no experience making a film with heart and passion alone kind of film.
i definitely agree that you don't need good equipment to make a good film. I am very annoyed how so many filmmakers focus on all their tech nonsense when really they should really be working on the creative side far more. The idea and execution is what separates you from all the other filmmakers and takes you to the next level. For every new tech thing you learn, so many other filmmakers can already do that, but if you come up with a unique idea and you execute it with your unique style, you'll stand out and triumph over other filmmakers.
Like my goeroe photography master told me: "The best camera is the one you have" You do not need expensive gear to create great things. Often gear is used as an excuse and specially for men it is the "cock fight". Who has the biggest cock?. In my experience rather many photographers/videoshooters hide behind the camera. Maybe more social education is in place. Especially the ones who talk in gear all the time :)
Hello there Simon, this video is particularly related to my situation. As a newly graduated English teacher I have started a second university as a cinema and TV film making student. Honestly now I feel that I can do it without a film school but still I don't regret for studying ctv due to the contact and the security it provides.But Rather I think to attend short term filming course for not to lose time on schooling stuff and to be able to jump into business as quick as possible. I think that is what suits me best as a late comer. Thanks for all useful videos 😊
I like your approach. For the past few months, I've watched probably more than a hundred videos on how to make a movie, and most of them want to sell you some highfalutin', expensive tech gear. When I watched them, I always had the thought in mind, "With the resources I have, how can I make something similar to that?" It's like the actress Gabrielle Anwar telling an interviewer that she looks at upscale clothing she likes, then goes home and makes it.
Your channel was one of the best finding that I discovered in 2016. I'm a beginner filmmaker and I love the filmmaker universe. I think I would like make it for the rest of my life. I'm not from UK, I'm brazillian. And here the audiovisual world is hard, but is not impossible. I think that with love and effort, we can be whatever we want. I started to film since I earned my first phone with a camera, in 2010. I was 10. I made videos with my cuddly toys. It was a fun time when I was filmming. I love animations videos too. 2 years ago I made a animation short film for my school and I loved to made it. Congratulations for your channel, I'm your fan :D
Very nice! My dream is to go to Oxford or Cambridge after high school. But I want to make videos while (maybe) going there. This was very nice! PS: I'm hearing like a soft high hoarse sound synced with your normal audio. It's a little bit annoying :)
Your videos are really great. I'm a musician who loves movies and almost any other form of art, but I had never done anything relevant about films or photography. Your videos inspired big, right now I am learning photography by my self, just the same, watching videos, reading a lot and making mistakes, and I hope to be making some terrible first short film very soon XD ... Thanks a lot!!!
I don't know what camera to get. I also don't even know how to use one (How long to record, what settings to use to get the desired effect that I want, etc) I know I want cinematic shots, beautiful shots (think thought provoking nature documentary with epic music) and I know I want to shoot in higher fps to get really good slow motion shots. 4k would be preferable but if I can't get a 4k camera that isn't one of those over the shoulder behemoth (preferably like dslr or similarish). Is this possible? whay camera should I get?
Lumix G7 or Sony A6300 are good for their price at the moment and is not too expensive. Honestly if you have a phone with an okay camera it will do well.
the sony a6300 offers great image quality and 120fps in 1080p. it's fairly cheap for the quality and you can also use log profiles to get more dynamic range for when you understand those concepts. it has some downsides like overheating in long 4k shots, but it wont be an issue when shooting films, barely any shots will be longer than a minute. it'll only be a problem when shooting long interviews, weddings and documentaries, even though i don't recommend shooting long 4k clips since you probably don't have the computer to handle it at your budget. you could also buy some fixed lens cameras which offer more slomo sometimes, but for the future a interchangeable lens camera will be the better choice. to understand the setting just learn the basics of photography on youtube. for cinematic effetcs and other cinematic stuff just watch some videos from this channel.
DSLRguide Always love your videos! :) I really appreciate the work you put into them. It shows. You're one of my favorite channels. Ive never used gimp but now I'll definitely check it out! (sorry for my typos in my previous comment, no idea what happened haha)
i just subscribed. There aren't a lot of people that really give clear and concise just all around good content. and while at work i checked out about 4 of your videos. not one of them bad. keep up the good work man. i can only hope that some day my content be a clear and clean cut as yours.
I'll tell you something. I quit my job to join a film school. I spend whatever I had, on the camera. So I thought I'll work in some dingy corporate house for 2 years to save up for the fee. But thanks to you, for broadening my horizon :)
I love your channel but please judge film school after you have attended it. This is a sum up what you could think of what happens there. How would you be able to know upfront what you don't know? To me this video sounds like trying to make an excuse for yourself to say: "I don't need it, I don't want it". It sounds arrogant or ignorant. I never have been to filmschool so I for sure have no idea if it is a good idea but I would believe a video about this more from someone or rather a bunch of people who did go and then judge it.
I have a full time job, but still have a few minutes of every day I can dedicate to my craft. Don't get yourself down with "I don't have this, so can't do that" just go out shooting and have fun!
One of the best gems was to master your existing gear instead of buying new. I nearly got caught up in this w qhen the new Blackmagic MFT was released, but I have yet to master my current cam.
are you sure you are as old as you say you are? and haven't gone to filmschool? you are very professional man, and i love all your stuff (hence the subscription)!!!
TL;DR -- (Bascially, this decision is subjective; I also give general scenarios, including from my own personal experience) - Peace! ------ Before I go scrolling through the comments - I will simply say that: The creative arts field/ industry (especially for younger, or up-and-coming creatives), always proposes this same question: Formal training, or non-formal training? Honestly, the answer (as I have always seen it) - is ironically, just as like-minded in response, as the whole arts community in itself -- That answer is - "It Depends", lol... Why? Well, because just as the arts are naturally seen as a subjective field of study, so is the reason for those of us who pursue the arts (I speak for all arts in general). Some of us feel we are "born with" and are very-driven to achieve a high level of success within our arts crafts, and then others of us simply pursue the creative field, because we just know that -- the tech industry, or doing law, or doing counseling, or firefighting, or farming, etc -- is just not in our main career interest. Also, the arts are just an extremely relatable field to pursue. And, we are all artists, in some capacity! Of course the main difference, is that not everyone actually becomes successful with it... bcuz real life kicks in, and some of us realize that doing the arts isn't something we should do as a whole career. But for those of us that decide to fully pursue the arts. That's where this question comes in. Now, to simplify: ------ A) Formal training: This teaches us that there are indeed, techniques, rules, ways to analyze, and other critical thinking skills that are needed in pursuing our artistic endeavors. And it seems that, a lot of the times, the 'naturally talented' creative types out there, probably don't really know why they do certain things they do to get those great results that we admire them for. (And this is fine, because truly, not everyone is a teacher, or not everyone should actually teach). But, for the ones of them who can interpret and structure these learning measures for other creative types in their industries -- it leaves us with high tuition costs, or high personal mentoring costs, just to achieve the levels of creative greatness that we want to get from them. The problem though, is that not everyone who goes to these higher institutions or gets mentored by, even becomes great, or becomes employed, or even becomes proficient at everything they have learned. I think one of the main reasons, is that the critical thinking side of the creative field, is just like doing mathematics... you have to ACTUALLY do it, make mistakes and learn from it... you cannot simply take in all those theories, or styles, or possibilities of using that creative medium, without PRACTICE! DOING IT (and doing it and doing it, yeah) - is the best way to become great in your field as a creative... This part though, is where the other popular debate comes in: NATURAL TALENT (or Gifted) vs. LEARNED SKILLS --- Yes, I'm sure you've heard some great points for this argument as well... but essentially, it comes down to a few things. So, I would say that for the creatives who find much gain, vs the ones who don't find much gain, the key differences are: 1) Their Drive/ambition, to pursue their craft 2) Their devotion to learning/improvement, over time as they grow doing it 3) Their Belief in themselves, to overcome doubts, depressions, societal stigmas, etc. (while they go thru trials and errors) 4) Their network: (Do they surround themselves with other creatives, or like-minds) *a major key* - DJ Khaled voice-over, lol ------ B) On the other hand: NON-FORMAL TRAINING These are the creatives who decide to do ALL OF THE PRACTICE, (without engaging in the theoretical, or critical thinking side of their crafts). Usually, it's NOT that they don't care -- but it's also not their main focus, as much as the DOING IS... They simply just "breathe" this artform, if they love it that much, that is. Then, it truly BECOMES THEM - (or part of what they do)... this is the level of mastery that we admire them for... Do they really know all the technicalities for 'how and why' they do certain things in their craft? Probably not. But they somehow, someway, possess a certain greater level of mastery in that creative field, than sometimes, the ones who actually paid those high & long term costs, to get an education for it, (technically in a very similar fashion). The true differences between the formal and non formal education for creative types, is that the formally trained ones, usually acquire certain benefits - (which might or might not work out in their favor, after all of the formal training is done)... For example, they learn more about the business side of things, as well as the historical perspective of their craft. Plus, the other things mentioned in this video like: (better equipment, industry peers & teachers, latest softwares or techniques) ----- C) Finally, the last point to sum up my perspective on this - actually leads me into my next point, which is that: Some of us (whether formally, or non-formally trained, or even a mixture of both) -- we forget that the creative industry is truly such a big industry... there are many departments, and many layers to get yourself into - even within your individual field types... So, essentially, even though the competition is basically like an athletic sport (where there is a lot of ego and titles to earn)... It just so happens, that, even if you are NOT the "main" talent, or one of the best in your team, or environment, or family, that doesn't mean that your creative education (whether formal or not) - was in vain (because, both training types actually DO matter). Which is why it is ultimately a subjective topic in nature, and also really, it's just a personal choice. But I still think a combination is best. [Speaking for myself, I have a combination of both, so basically... I am a college dropout (From an animation program - the other option was pursuing creative writing)... and, luckily, as it is now - I have full creative control of my projects, networks, work hours, travel experiences, etc... Don't get me wrong! I have learned a great deal in getting formal training, however, they literally are CATERING YOU TO become -- whatever it is that your course of studying is teaching you... and I had an issue with this, because I am a 'full-creative' type... meaning, I like to keep my creative possibilities open. (NOT to just simply stick to ONE TYPE of creative career, then only do that 1 thing for all of my life, and then retire and die)... I believe that you need to have an actual STRONG DETERMINATION to achieve this. Why? Well, because you simply can't just withdraw from your academics like that, without some life challenges, or career setbacks, or even family consequences... but for those creatives that think also like me, a lot of us have a story of struggle... This is why parents don't tell their kids to be artists lol... unless, that is, you were lucky enough to be BORN INTO a creative type family, where that mentality freely is trained or nurtured into you while growing up... But for everyone else (usually the rest of us) -- I truly wish you all the best in pursuing a creative lifestyle that suits you and your career, or family!] *ehem* Anyway, back to my conclusion: Whatever path you decide, or even if you have done both perspectives -- I will end by simply stating that --- if you end up having imposing THOUGHTS OF FAILURE -- then really, this only points toward you finding your part "in the great orchestra" of your creative field. But ONLY, AS LONG AS YOU REMAIN PASSIONATE about it... Take filming for example: (You don't HAVE TO be the main role, and also, let's say that you ARE NOT IN the supporting cast, and maybe you are NOT EVEN on the production team... perhaps, your creative training (self-taught or not) -- has been leading you to create the next big APP, perhaps, it was leading you into public relations or marketing, because you learned about the historical perspective, or perhaps, it will lead you into finding an even NEWER technique or a type of learning structure that might become even more efficient.. I don't know... but I remember watching an interesting video about someone who wanted to become an amazing game artist, but they just never could do it... they somehow ended up getting into electronics, and (coding I think). Basically, doing stuff with renovations and "non creative" jobs, but they never lost their spark for gaming... eventually, they found a way to merge or blend their passion with their existing skill sets... (It's a rough paraphrase of the video) -- but the idea remains the same... Don't consider yourself as a failure, if you strongly believe that your are DESTINED to be doing something in the creative field. ----- Lastly, whatever it is you choose to pursue creatively, and whether or not you choose to find your self-taught determination, or if you choose to find employment in the institutionalized system... Just remember one thing. YOU ARE THE CREATOR. FIND YOUR CREATIONS. Peace!
I'm at film school in Nebraska. It's not the most informative but I never would have met the friends and fellow filmmakers that I know now if I hadn't gone.
Was wondering what I can do on my own, now,(during Covid) creatively so that I have something to share. Tricky without the know how, skills, or money for equipment. Always wanted to go to film school. There's a great one where i live, so have had the chance to be an extra in a few films. Bet its AWESOME to be able share an idea, concept, or message through film. A gift to be able to do so. This video is Super informative. Thank you lots.
Very informative! I was never thinking about going to film school (mainly because I'm already a senior in college now), but it was interesting hearing what you had to say. Also, I know this vid is a bit old, but I hope you're enjoying whichever path you've decided to take.
I think whether you go to university to study film or learn from UA-cam and short courses - motivation is key. I've met many people who have studied film then ended up as AV technicians or IT support as they took a job for a year after uni and stopped making films then couldn't get the motivation back. On the flip side there are people who don't go to film school intending to teach themselves and don't ever end up making any films. Joining film making MeetUp groups, networking at films events and constantly trying to get onto film sets should be helpful.
Only advice: just go and do it, learn from your own mistakes, experiment, play with it. Start from nature, architecture, bugs, animals. Progress on to people. Any camera will do. If you have passion you'll be great film maker.
I'm a 52 year old former professional photographer and I enjoy your vids very much. Regardless of where you get your information from, you have a great and accessible way of presenting it which is pretty unique on UA-cam. First and foremost, you make the viewer think about the subject, with a refreshing lack of ego. I suspect that I will be going to the movies to see one of your films soon mate. I'd back you if I was hiring ;0)
I would recommend trying film school for many reasons. If you think you will get an equivalent amount of experience (in the same amount of time) fueled by your own initiative then I would say you are likely well supported by your family, not in a relationship yet, and you are not yet aware of the distractions that life WILL throw your way, delaying and hindering your progress. You are obviously very focused which is commendable, but I fear that even the most focused individuals are at the mercy of the chaos that life throws your way. Being in school is one of the only places short of a monastery that gives you permission to focus every ounce of energy on your passion (and I mean every ounce). Plus you are surrounded by people who share your passion. They will be both inferior and superior to your skill level and you will learn from everyone of them, as well as from your profs. If your profs are good they will push you into new realms and expose you to new ideas you never knew existed. You will make friends for life, guaranteed. You will be tested and graded by your profs and your peers for the entire duration (that's a good thing). If you finish you will have a stupid piece of paper that will give you opportunities (i.e. choices/options) for good/interesting employment you would not otherwise have. If you value storytelling, you MUST take English lit. and creative writing at a university level. It is one of the best reasons to be in university. At the end of the day you can always bail if you decide it is a waste of your time and money (there's no shame in that), but if you never go you won't have the awareness of its potential to influence you as a filmmaker and test your capacity to learn everything you possibly can in a short amount of time. Statistically speaking, by the time you are 30 you will likely be in a relationship and either have a family or be planning for one (that is if the planet doesn't go tits up). Other wonderful and not so wonderful things will start to invade your germinal idea to be a filmmaker. Your career path will be much clearer and your options much less (which is not necessarily a bad thing). If you don't become a self made filmmaker you will either be shooting weddings and bar mitzvahs, teaching, be a part of film making in another capacity, or some completely different occupation in order to expand your life experience. If you do become a self made filmmaker then my hat to you! Know that you will probably have no regret with whatever you choose. Play the cards you are dealt, and play them well! :-)
It's also important to watch crap movies and try to identify why they are crap, that way you avoid the same pifalls.... like excessive wobble cam... or poor sound... none of the above applies to your work, of course, but there are plenty of folk who still need to learn this.
+nictheartist very well said - plus some crap movies are actually good, since opinions are subjective. in the least they might have something good that we can learn from them, and then take that and try to fix the things they did wrong :)
+DSLRguide So true. Also, often actors get blamed for crap acting. At times, this is justified, but if it's just the odd moment or hiccup by the actor, it's also the director's job to notice and re-do the scene. Actors can't see the finished result, they often have no idea how the shot will look in the end. In that case, dear director - Be Kind - Rewind! I like the way Rodriguez does the camcorder walkthrough with cast and crew to show exactly what he has in mind. Helpful to all, methinks!
+nictheartist I kinda love watching bad films(it's so funny!). I watched a red giant horrible short movie (in my opinion) called the bag, and the inspiration i drew from it, like everything i would have done differently IT'S SUCH A GREAT EXERCISE! Plus i even had an awesome idea about making a parody of ACTION MOVIES, since they are so far from reality it would be awesome to see a movie explore how a girl hidding behind a car being shot by 5.56 rounds would just get her head blown out because of bullet penetration hueheuheuheuhe
+nictheartist +DSLRguide Robert Rodriguez is a firm believer of Creativity being more important than the tools, the tools are just 10% the rest is creativity.
He explored this topic in a podcast on the tim ferris show, it was one of the best podcasts i've ever heard, you guys should definetely checj it out xD
Finally I am somewhere where people make sense.
I watched a person's video on film school who said 3 things in his video that I didn't like :-
1) English and math are boring, films are interesting
2)listed some movies, said these movies you need to watch to survive in film school like some peer pressure bullshit or some superiority complex bullshit that if you haven't watched these then you are nothing.
3) Those who haven't been to film school and don't recommend it are only jealous (now I know that film school is really helpful, but it's not necessary and nobody's jealous)
YOU KNOW THINGS LIKE THIS DEMOTIVATES ME.WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO IMPOSE THEIR OPINIONS,LIFESTYLE,HABITS TO OTHERS AND THOSE WHO DON'T DO IT ARE INFERIOR TO THEM.
I am not against this guy. He did explain some pretty useful things, actually the only thing that annoyed me was that this guy instead of saying his opinion was just trying to say that whatever he is saying is right.
5th tip is paramount or my fave at least!
I totally agree with you, but one big advantage of filmschool is, that you get a constant feedback from educated / well experienced people. This can mean, you would not have so many "bad habits" in your work. Outside the film school you are on your own. Can you suggest how to overcome this disadvantage? As a beginning filmmaker, I may not see all those nuances by only watching movies. :) ... Oh one more question: Do you plan to make your own short anytime soon (for example during summer)?
thanks for sharing, very valid points! I find that as soon as i've finished a project, I see hundreds of things I could do to make it better, which definitely helps for next time. Aside from that there's always constructive youtube comments, and watching your work with other people to see how they react. At the moment I do plan to make a short film in the summer, although it's going to be a bit hectic with exams, so i'm not 100% sure.
Thank you for your answer. I am just starting with filmmaking. I would like to buy canon 700D(not sure if it is the right choice). However, I am not sure if I should buy 700D with kit lens 18-55 IS STM or only 700D body with another lens. Anyways, I am a little bit into photoshop and into music production / recording so If you will need help with this kind of things, feel free to contact me :). I will be more than happy to participate on something. Good luck with your exams!
This video just got better and better!
This is good stuff Simon, you are a young brilliant mind.
Now watching.
You are good teacher for studentsfollowing dream. i really like you thank you very much
thank you so much Simon!
hey love the video and all previous ones. Plus do you also know any way to learn filmmaking in middle school like 7th grade? I would be interested when you started to get interested in filmmaking and how you started.
You don't need permission to be a filmmaker. You either make films, or you don't. It's that simple. You're only resumé are the films you've made. Hey, a school mate of mine made a silly film and put it on UA-cam. Next thing he got a grant to make a full feature from his country's film board. His second feature was called Dead Snow, and now Hollywood got interested, and... Well, the rest is history. Make films if that's what you want to do. If you think you need film school, that's up to you. It won't hurt you, but you don't need permission from them to do it either.
That's a great story and a an awesome point. :D
This is an awsome story and a stupid point if you use it to avoid going to school. There are always examples to find of people who make it without education. They are extremely talented or just lucky or both. Find out how many people try the same thing and fail to get a better perspective on your own chances to make it without scholing.
Tommy Wirkola?
I've heard of Dead Snow.
@@kimathitalton8709 yup
this is the calmest / chillest dude I've seen in UA-cam
Yeah, agree 🥰👍
No. UA-cam have logan paul.😁😁😁
I'm telling you bro
You're not even in university yet and you're already this wise?!
Im not even 16 and im Gandalf
+Phillip B ahahahhaha
+Phillip B are u a fan???
***** of gandalf no
Phillip B Whyyy I'm a fan of LOTR
Brother, you have an EXCELLENT channel with fantastic production!
Didn't expected you here ! I subscribed to you a week ago :D
+HumerusFitness woah it's crazy to see you here!!
Film school=connections
This is some great advice. Studying film and other art forms, observing life and human behavior or working on little short films and experementing with your equipment is definitely very helpful. However, I think that finding people and networking is quite difficult if you live somewhere that isn't a popular place to shoot at.
Anyways, I really liked your videos and believe that you have a great understanding of film! Subscribed!
I'm in film school now and everything you said was true. I wanted to be an actor up until just a few years ago and had mainly focused on that but started getting interested in going behind the camera. I didn't know anything about film didnt know lenses f stops had never ever heard of a grip before so I decided to go to film school to learn. Almost two years in I've met some amazing people that I think ill be working with for a long time afterwards. I understand why people say if you wanna be a filmmaker to just go out and shoot something but I also understand why people (like me) would go to school. You meet people, learn the equipment, and you even learn from mistakes your teacher has made. People are also nicer to you when you're a film student and not just an indie filmmaker just saying ;)
Hi there, would you have any clue, recommendation where I could study in asia ? You said indie filmmaker. Any great school recommendation ? thanks !
Yes Kenny, go and finish school and then go and do more scholing. I work in audio and video and never had the chance to go to school and I think it is arrogant and stupid to dismiss filmschool. It is a great place to learn a lot even if you (think you) already know a lot.
Love this take. The area I'm around have very few film opportunities, so I am self teaching as much as I can and gonna go to film school next year.
This is now 5 years later, I'd love to know how things have turned out for you and your chosen path! And thank you for such a down to earth perspective on this, it's helped me to clarify my own career and educational planning! :)
Sigh*......where I live....people are barely interested in such stuff :(
same here but i keep thinking why to stop achieving something which i love just because i dont have people.... so keep doing what you love it will create your journey.
Be the first :)
:D thanks for the motivation
s.a.m.e.
In my country only ONE school offers a filmmaking course
Found your UA-cam lastnight and can't stop watching! Normally I'm into just photography but your really inspiring me to get into videography!! X
glad you're getting into it!
Livv what is his cahnnel
Simon, these videos keep getting better and better. I really like how much you focus on story rather than all the expensive tech that tends to draw people away from the creative side of filmmaking.
thanks AustinTheWeird123 I'm very glad to hear that!
This guy reminds me of a bird
LittleBilly lol
i love this. its a sad reality where film school cost a ton and its a big barrier from people trying to do films.
This.
I know of a few people who decided not to go to film school because they planned to learn filmmaking and get into the industry without it and they ended up doing nothing but working part time jobs in shops.
If you're extremely self motivated and hard working then it is possible to make your way as a filmmaker without it, but for the rest of us a film course is perfect for motivation, education and immersing yourself in a community of filmmakers.
a lot of people thay did go to film school also ended up doing nothing so...
@@TRASHXDD Yeah, I could agree on this. I don't have any plans about going to film school, but I am ready to do whatever it takes to be a good film producer. Overall, film schools can be very smart, since you are actually learning everything you need to learn in school, so you actually do not need to use extra time on making movies. If you don't go to a film school, then you are responsible of learning everything that you need to know. Personally I think, gaining experience is very important. I mean, I actually think that it can be important as a school diploma, or maybe more important. I would have hired someone that actually have made a lot of movies (short or long does not matter), than someone that just finished school. They make movies in school, but I think you can gain more experience by making movies yourself and do whatever it needs to be done yourself. Hopefully, I will start to make short movies and gain some experience after time very soon :)
I was just thinking, in regards to a previous comment on here about upgrading your gear; Your ability to grade your footage has gotten better and better, and to be 100% brutally honest: your graded T3i footage has, in some cases, looked BETTER than some of the A7s, GH4, 5d MkIII etc. footage that I have seen on the internet. Not all of it of course, but quite a damn lot of it.
Just goes to show that many people get caught up in the gear. Especially 4k and things like that. There are benefits, even if it's all getting compressed on youtube. But if you shoot it right, grade it correctly and have interesting content, then even old T3i footage can go head to head with C300 footage.
At the end of the day, what the nice gear does for us a lot of the time is speed the workflow up. Which is nice and sometimes necessary for the job, but for many of us isn't truly needed.
Why thank you, that's exactly the kind of perspective I'm encouraging! The first level is that someone who knows what they're doing can make almost any camera look as good as a cinema camera, but then even deeper than that is that none of it matters if the content is boring! I think workflow is the only legitimate reason to use better equipment - fiddling with DIY gear that's falling apart would slow you down and take focus away from creative side. However, I've also been on film sets where external recorders, big tripods and rigs were actually slowing the whole shoot down. It goes both ways.
This video is so high quality and well done. This was the most helpful video I watched on filmmaking. Thanks.
your voice is so soothing.. :)
ASMRguide
+EpicMeh Best joke ever haha
DSLRguide You are better off skipping film school and instead focus on another career that may complement your filmmaking career. For example if you want to direct, you might benefit from studying psychology. Also study cinema history; all aspiring filmmakers should study it. I would say just get an entry level job at a movie studio or film/tv production company and work your way up. It will be your best film school and avoid the massive debt. You could still make time and be able to finance your own short films on your days off. Great videos by the way ;)
I like what you said but a good benefit about film school I would say is meeting other students who have the same passions as you.
+VictorAlarconFilm Studying english with film arts is a good alternative.
+Patrick Daitya (Just Another Random Guy) I agree
Journalism and history are both good alternatives because they teach you how to write and tell stories indirectly
hold up
so he is in school, still knows all of that about filming and all of that stuff
omg
omg you are so mature for your age! Amazing!
I'm currently in film school and I personally think I made the right move, yes it teaches you things you can teach yourself however I've found my 'school' in particular has put me in direct contact with festivals and industry professionals from all departments encompassed in film. My lecturers encourage us to explore freelance work and indie work, allot of my course mates have plans to enter the industry of their own backs, as do I, through creating our own production 'companies' again this is encouraged to an extent. As was mentioned in your video the opportunities to work with and interact with peers of a likened mind is invaluable and above all its just an all round great time. We get to do what we love all day every day, which is directing, producing, editing, writing and all together making of films. To top it all off the uni supports us by putting us in contact and checking that we are making strengthening those contacts with the industry in this country.
calum327 what film school do you go to?
i like your way of lecturing. very humble but clear and encouraging. keep it up!
What books have you read about film?
That speaking Spanish analogy was spot on! Learning by doing, not by "reading".
This video really should be shown to anyone considering film school. I joined film school, but I dropped out half-way realizing that it was not the route I wanted to take. I studied history instead, and for that I'm grateful. It may be good to note that while film school may not be the best option, studying other subjects may enhance a filmmaker's world view.
Currently I am shooting documentary films with no formal education. My history degree, though, comes in handy as it provides a context for my interests and characters. Good Job Simon!!!
Zachary Rutland thanks for sharing your experience! It definitely could be worth studying something 'unrelated' because it'll end up finding it's way into your work somehow! glad to hear it's working out for you:)
You're absolutely crushing it man. Can't believe you're only 20. You're going to be great
If you get the opportunity go to study film. The alternative film school happens either at the same time or when you finish anyway. No qualification ever prepares you enough but it puts you on a good path.
What you will gain from being in a different environment studying something you love is all the new people, new experiences new places, networks and career or creative opportunities that being in a semi priviliged position will give you. It will also give you credentials and a reference point for criticism of you abilities.
I only found your channel yesterday but it's obvious that you are filled with passion and knowledge and I could only see you thriving.
I came to your channel looking for ideas for giving a film making course to my students next year and you've already given plenty. A great channel with tons to offer. Judging by the way you talk I'd guess your education has already begun.
Of course you don't have to go, but the arts industry in the UK is incredibly challenging to navigate or progress despite any talent or enthusiasm. A course of study can help you advance. Whatever you do, good luck.
Well put sir
Hey all,
So because I’m doing a project for class that involves me trying to find film students, aspiring filmmakers or just film nerds who wishes they could work on major blockbuster movies (doesn't matter which category you are in), I’m reaching out to see if anyone out here is willing to have a quick conversation with me about your experience with film and aspirations?
Your responses will be featured in our education project. ;)
Please drop me a personal message if you’re interested.
Thank you!
Film school can really be a hit or miss. I've looked into going to many, and what I realized is a lot of them focus on theory. Filmmaking is a very practical career. Meaning, it's something you actually have to do! Some schools have you only make 3-5 short films in the entire 4 year period. But, there are others like, Chapman, where by the end of school, you have to make a feature film with actual actors. So, really research how many films you'll actually be making. Plus, the internet now has so many amazing sources. (Nofilmschool.com, Film Riot, AVclub.com, etc...) You just have to find it! But film school can also be very useful, just do research!
When you say "dont underistimate the power" i remember someone :D
+Iqbal Robbani As if he would get this!
Anakin? Because he doesn't like sand.
Never mind Joshua Stokes. Like I said for Cade, I say for you, you won't get this.
You mean ShahRukh. ? He is not good actor. out of comparisons even
Really great, thanks for your input!
It's quite interesting your comparison between learning Spanish and learning filmmaking. The aproach to he community to learn what they do. :). In any case, practise and learning from others (and from theory of course) is the basis to filmmaking. I could not recommend my spanish channel, but if you're interested on learning the are some nice channels to learn it.
Great job DSLRguide :)
I gotta say, I have a life wish that is going to film school, not only because of the contacts you get but because I educate myself better when I am commited and when I have teahcers who can orientate me through the whole thing, but I am COMPLETELY astonished and love the simplicity of the film industry and how you don't need a degree mostly, you just have to be good and someday you'll reach the top. Love the channel!
Studying communications is also helpful! Meanwhile you work on your own projects, in my experience, is the best complement.
Nice video, how ever i think film school is relevant to some people and irrelevant to some depending on level of creativity, some people's creativity is not natural and others it is, so that is were the diff is, some people wd just need maybe 6 months of a film school residency and they will be all set, some need 3-4 years....and also i think depends were you come from in this world, there are some places for example in Africa were you are never gonna get any real film making inspiration to kick off with out film school even internet in Africa is a pain to watch alot of film info on line...I also think some times learning practically from experienced people may be on set or film school helps alot rather than on line...been doing videos as an editor and shooter for a while got some experience but later decided to go for a short film course for one year in the U.S which is scholarship sponsored half way any way....and believe me i realised there was alot i did not know...no body in Africa would tell you bout C-STANDS,FLAGS,HANKYBONKS,C47S,FRENELS and how all this staff is used..the need for film school,depends on how smart you are,level of creativity,were you come from on this planet etc...thats is my thought...otherwise thanks for all the info u puting out there....
Please say where you are from in Africa and stop generalizing. It is not so in Lagos, Nigeria and other cities across the country too. And I am sure it is not so in South Africa..
I want to become a filmmaker . Can you give me some directional guide lines.
blah blah blah blah blah Drink some water and show short films that you have filmed??
Really liked this video, starting myself man. Thanks.
i wish I could've started at your age, for your age you already know a lot, thanx for the advice
I Always Wanna B A Film Director N I'm Only Fifteen N I'm Turning Sixteen On 3/20/18
If you want my insight on film school, check this out - ua-cam.com/video/Vg6cs23t-aY/v-deo.html
I'm at an arts university studying Film and TV and I'm really enjoying it. I think being at an arts university is really beneficial because not only do you get to know other people on your course, you get to know people that study other mediums such as animation, print, fashion, graphics etc. People are always collaborating on projects inside and outside university, so it's nice to know that those connections are there should you need them. I'd definitely consider an arts uni as well as a film school, as they tend to be very creative in their approach to filmmaking and programme making, yet still give you all the guidance that a film school would give you.
awesome, thanks for the insight!
I really appreciate having found you, I think you are very inspiring and encouraging.
Asia
Goodness, you almost have 28 000 subscribers!
It was David S. Goyer who said to get life experience. Literally watched it before I watched this video haha!
my dream is to be a neurosurgeon and that's what m studying but i love filmmaking a looooot so i decided to put efforts on it . thanks for the video
How are you managing.. kinda in same boat !!!
You are awesome! The advice you give is so useful! I've been thinking about applying to film schools. Some of the arguments against film schools that you've been already mentioning also were in my head. Now I started a channel where I will upload filmprojects from me with friends and collect as much experience I can collect :3 Thank you for your videos :) Let's see what happens after graduation from school :)
Very good video! This is a proof that expensive film school is not necessary.
I am a SELFTAUGHT filmmaker, artist, photographer and writer and I did not go to school to learn that. I have taking contact with film people myself.
Careful with audio, I keep hearing a whistling noise every half second. Otherwise keep up the great work !
Well said...bro......agree with what you said. you earned my sub.
My goal after I earn my GED🎓 🎓 Learn about filmmaking🎬 while I'm studying to be an Entrepreneur I want to be the C.E.O. of my film company - long term goal go & I want to have a business for all ages to learn about filmmaking anyway I have my 🎬🎬 from Amazon so I want gained experiences in filmmaking I never been to film school yet so I want to work on my GED🎓🎓🎓🎓 first study film do I need to order film equipments online ???
Your channel is awesome! You really sound older and more experienced than your age suggests;) Really helpful and interesting videos:)
Great video! I'm thinking of going to film school, but these tips showed me, that I could still do filming without filmschool! :) keep it up!
I received an internship at a corporate production company just by cold calling so I highly recommend that to anyone interested in networking in their area. Also craigslist is a gold mine of narrative and freelance work and has put me in touch with some talented people. Hanging out in places where creatives go is also a plus. I've met some of my most valuable contacts that way.
Adam Petrey what do you mean by cold calling?
You make brilliant content. Really appreciate your style, and you provide a lot of value. Is there a way to speed up understanding the theory of movies other than just watching? Like somewhere you can read about theory? I have some time sensitive videos about an unexpected brain tumour my husband had, and I want to learn to portray them as artistically as possible. 🙏🙏🙏
I'm hesitating alot between going to filmmschool or keep the money to travel... I could actually profit equally from both but still lack either experience in life and storytelling or experience in filming, editing, networking and the basics. Of course I can't finance both either :/
I'm in a situation similar to yours. all I can say is follow your heart.
I'd suggest traveling. You can film while you travel but you can't travel while you film (If that makes sense), but as Aydin said, do what you feel is right.
Best way to learn Spanish is to get a Spanish girlfriend ;-)
Aaron DC Photography + Video So the best way to learn filmmaking is to get a filmmaking girlfriend?
Natalie Portman? I'm down with that.
Aaron DC Photography + Video I don't think he meant to get quite *that* immersed!
@Mr Temporal "men are only after one thing" ...ehhhh? Film making? no wait....."having more expensive gear then the other guy and brag about it"? ....no wait........I give up
@Mr Temporal no...it was something else.... :)
thanks for exposing for the background, makes it much nicer!
Hello Simon, I agree with what you said, even i wanted to go to film school and that was my dream from my teen age but the fees we need to pay there is so high that i had to kill my dream of joining film school. Now i feel that i am so fortunate that i did not get a chance to go to film school and learn it on practical basis (As you have explained in the video) it is very much fun and enriching. I am Enjoying it. Great Video. :)
Simon.. Im spanish boy from barcelona, if you want I can help you whit spanish and you help me with filmmaking! Espero que lo puedas leer simon!
The best part of films I enjoy is when you can easily tell they are not made to look like any big budget cinematography focused film. I love low or no budget real people with no experience making a film with heart and passion alone kind of film.
i definitely agree that you don't need good equipment to make a good film. I am very annoyed how so many filmmakers focus on all their tech nonsense when really they should really be working on the creative side far more. The idea and execution is what separates you from all the other filmmakers and takes you to the next level. For every new tech thing you learn, so many other filmmakers can already do that, but if you come up with a unique idea and you execute it with your unique style, you'll stand out and triumph over other filmmakers.
Like my goeroe photography master told me: "The best camera is the one you have" You do not need expensive gear to create great things. Often gear is used as an excuse and specially for men it is the "cock fight". Who has the biggest cock?. In my experience rather many photographers/videoshooters hide behind the camera. Maybe more social education is in place. Especially the ones who talk in gear all the time :)
Hello there Simon, this video is particularly related to my situation. As a newly graduated English teacher I have started a second university as a cinema and TV film making student. Honestly now I feel that I can do it without a film school but still I don't regret for studying ctv due to the contact and the security it provides.But Rather I think to attend short term filming course for not to lose time on schooling stuff and to be able to jump into business as quick as possible. I think that is what suits me best as a late comer. Thanks for all useful videos 😊
With videos like yours there is no need of film school! Thanks for all, you inspire a lot of people around the world.
I like your approach. For the past few months, I've watched probably more than a hundred videos on how to make a movie, and most of them want to sell you some highfalutin', expensive tech gear. When I watched them, I always had the thought in mind, "With the resources I have, how can I make something similar to that?" It's like the actress Gabrielle Anwar telling an interviewer that she looks at upscale clothing she likes, then goes home and makes it.
Your channel was one of the best finding that I discovered in 2016. I'm a beginner filmmaker and I love the filmmaker universe. I think I would like make it for the rest of my life.
I'm not from UK, I'm brazillian. And here the audiovisual world is hard, but is not impossible. I think that with love and effort, we can be whatever we want.
I started to film since I earned my first phone with a camera, in 2010. I was 10. I made videos with my cuddly toys. It was a fun time when I was filmming.
I love animations videos too. 2 years ago I made a animation short film for my school and I loved to made it.
Congratulations for your channel, I'm your fan :D
Very nice! My dream is to go to Oxford or Cambridge after high school. But I want to make videos while (maybe) going there. This was very nice!
PS: I'm hearing like a soft high hoarse sound synced with your normal audio. It's a little bit annoying :)
Why do you call it a t3i you're British
Are you trying to not wake up your mum or something😂
Please talk a little louder!!
Great video though
Your videos are really great. I'm a musician who loves movies and almost any other form of art, but I had never done anything relevant about films or photography. Your videos inspired big, right now I am learning photography by my self, just the same, watching videos, reading a lot and making mistakes, and I hope to be making some terrible first short film very soon XD ... Thanks a lot!!!
I don't know what camera to get. I also don't even know how to use one (How long to record, what settings to use to get the desired effect that I want, etc) I know I want cinematic shots, beautiful shots (think thought provoking nature documentary with epic music) and I know I want to shoot in higher fps to get really good slow motion shots. 4k would be preferable but if I can't get a 4k camera that isn't one of those over the shoulder behemoth (preferably like dslr or similarish). Is this possible? whay camera should I get?
Lumix G7 or Sony A6300 are good for their price at the moment and is not too expensive. Honestly if you have a phone with an okay camera it will do well.
a6300!
the sony a6300 offers great image quality and 120fps in 1080p. it's fairly cheap for the quality and you can also use log profiles to get more dynamic range for when you understand those concepts. it has some downsides like overheating in long 4k shots, but it wont be an issue when shooting films, barely any shots will be longer than a minute. it'll only be a problem when shooting long interviews, weddings and documentaries, even though i don't recommend shooting long 4k clips since you probably don't have the computer to handle it at your budget. you could also buy some fixed lens cameras which offer more slomo sometimes, but for the future a interchangeable lens camera will be the better choice.
to understand the setting just learn the basics of photography on youtube. for cinematic effetcs and other cinematic stuff just watch some videos from this channel.
I adore you Simon. You're so informative and inspirational. I was wondering what you use to make your animations? Keep up the grate work mate :)
thanks Eduardo, glad you're liking the videos! I use gimp to do the drawings, and then final cut pro to animate/combine them.
DSLRguide Always love your videos! :) I really appreciate the work you put into them. It shows. You're one of my favorite channels.
Ive never used gimp but now I'll definitely check it out! (sorry for my typos in my previous comment, no idea what happened haha)
DSLRguide could you show us how are the lights set?
Abdulelah AlAhmad Good ideia.
Abdulelah AlAhmad Fernando Goya I covered that it a different video: ua-cam.com/video/pFUV5K3xlbY/v-deo.html
i just subscribed. There aren't a lot of people that really give clear and concise just all around good content. and while at work i checked out about 4 of your videos. not one of them bad. keep up the good work man. i can only hope that some day my content be a clear and clean cut as yours.
I'll tell you something. I quit my job to join a film school. I spend whatever I had, on the camera. So I thought I'll work in some dingy corporate house for 2 years to save up for the fee. But thanks to you, for broadening my horizon :)
Very Informative! :)
subscribed after a minute of video haha. thats a verrrrry good sign! Great video dude!
I love your channel but please judge film school after you have attended it. This is a sum up what you could think of what happens there. How would you be able to know upfront what you don't know? To me this video sounds like trying to make an excuse for yourself to say: "I don't need it, I don't want it". It sounds arrogant or ignorant. I never have been to filmschool so I for sure have no idea if it is a good idea but I would believe a video about this more from someone or rather a bunch of people who did go and then judge it.
I have a full time job, but still have a few minutes of every day I can dedicate to my craft. Don't get yourself down with "I don't have this, so can't do that" just go out shooting and have fun!
One of the best gems was to master your existing gear instead of buying new. I nearly got caught up in this w qhen the new Blackmagic MFT was released, but I have yet to master my current cam.
are you sure you are as old as you say you are? and haven't gone to filmschool? you are very professional man, and i love all your stuff (hence the subscription)!!!
TL;DR -- (Bascially, this decision is subjective; I also give general scenarios, including from my own personal experience) - Peace!
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Before I go scrolling through the comments - I will simply say that:
The creative arts field/ industry (especially for younger, or up-and-coming creatives), always proposes this same question: Formal training, or non-formal training?
Honestly, the answer (as I have always seen it) - is ironically, just as like-minded in response, as the whole arts community in itself -- That answer is - "It Depends", lol...
Why? Well, because just as the arts are naturally seen as a subjective field of study, so is the reason for those of us who pursue the arts (I speak for all arts in general). Some of us feel we are "born with" and are very-driven to achieve a high level of success within our arts crafts, and then others of us simply pursue the creative field, because we just know that -- the tech industry, or doing law, or doing counseling, or firefighting, or farming, etc -- is just not in our main career interest. Also, the arts are just an extremely relatable field to pursue. And, we are all artists, in some capacity! Of course the main difference, is that not everyone actually becomes successful with it... bcuz real life kicks in, and some of us realize that doing the arts isn't something we should do as a whole career.
But for those of us that decide to fully pursue the arts. That's where this question comes in. Now, to simplify:
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A) Formal training:
This teaches us that there are indeed, techniques, rules, ways to analyze, and other critical thinking skills that are needed in pursuing our artistic endeavors. And it seems that, a lot of the times, the 'naturally talented' creative types out there, probably don't really know why they do certain things they do to get those great results that we admire them for. (And this is fine, because truly, not everyone is a teacher, or not everyone should actually teach). But, for the ones of them who can interpret and structure these learning measures for other creative types in their industries -- it leaves us with high tuition costs, or high personal mentoring costs, just to achieve the levels of creative greatness that we want to get from them.
The problem though, is that not everyone who goes to these higher institutions or gets mentored by, even becomes great, or becomes employed, or even becomes proficient at everything they have learned. I think one of the main reasons, is that the critical thinking side of the creative field, is just like doing mathematics... you have to ACTUALLY do it, make mistakes and learn from it... you cannot simply take in all those theories, or styles, or possibilities of using that creative medium, without PRACTICE!
DOING IT (and doing it and doing it, yeah) - is the best way to become great in your field as a creative... This part though, is where the other popular debate comes in: NATURAL TALENT (or Gifted) vs. LEARNED SKILLS --- Yes, I'm sure you've heard some great points for this argument as well... but essentially, it comes down to a few things. So, I would say that for the creatives who find much gain, vs the ones who don't find much gain, the key differences are:
1) Their Drive/ambition, to pursue their craft
2) Their devotion to learning/improvement, over time as they grow doing it
3) Their Belief in themselves, to overcome doubts, depressions, societal stigmas, etc. (while they go thru trials and errors)
4) Their network: (Do they surround themselves with other creatives, or like-minds) *a major key* - DJ Khaled voice-over, lol
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B) On the other hand: NON-FORMAL TRAINING
These are the creatives who decide to do ALL OF THE PRACTICE, (without engaging in the theoretical, or critical thinking side of their crafts). Usually, it's NOT that they don't care -- but it's also not their main focus, as much as the DOING IS... They simply just "breathe" this artform, if they love it that much, that is. Then, it truly BECOMES THEM - (or part of what they do)... this is the level of mastery that we admire them for... Do they really know all the technicalities for 'how and why' they do certain things in their craft? Probably not. But they somehow, someway, possess a certain greater level of mastery in that creative field, than sometimes, the ones who actually paid those high & long term costs, to get an education for it, (technically in a very similar fashion). The true differences between the formal and non formal education for creative types, is that the formally trained ones, usually acquire certain benefits - (which might or might not work out in their favor, after all of the formal training is done)...
For example, they learn more about the business side of things, as well as the historical perspective of their craft.
Plus, the other things mentioned in this video like: (better equipment, industry peers & teachers, latest softwares or techniques)
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C) Finally, the last point to sum up my perspective on this - actually leads me into my next point, which is that:
Some of us (whether formally, or non-formally trained, or even a mixture of both) -- we forget that the creative industry is truly such a big industry... there are many departments, and many layers to get yourself into - even within your individual field types...
So, essentially, even though the competition is basically like an athletic sport (where there is a lot of ego and titles to earn)... It just so happens, that, even if you are NOT the "main" talent, or one of the best in your team, or environment, or family, that doesn't mean that your creative education (whether formal or not) - was in vain (because, both training types actually DO matter). Which is why it is ultimately a subjective topic in nature, and also really, it's just a personal choice. But I still think a combination is best.
[Speaking for myself, I have a combination of both, so basically... I am a college dropout (From an animation program - the other option was pursuing creative writing)... and, luckily, as it is now - I have full creative control of my projects, networks, work hours, travel experiences, etc... Don't get me wrong! I have learned a great deal in getting formal training, however, they literally are CATERING YOU TO become -- whatever it is that your course of studying is teaching you... and I had an issue with this, because I am a 'full-creative' type... meaning, I like to keep my creative possibilities open. (NOT to just simply stick to ONE TYPE of creative career, then only do that 1 thing for all of my life, and then retire and die)... I believe that you need to have an actual STRONG DETERMINATION to achieve this. Why? Well, because you simply can't just withdraw from your academics like that, without some life challenges, or career setbacks, or even family consequences... but for those creatives that think also like me, a lot of us have a story of struggle... This is why parents don't tell their kids to be artists lol... unless, that is, you were lucky enough to be BORN INTO a creative type family, where that mentality freely is trained or nurtured into you while growing up... But for everyone else (usually the rest of us) -- I truly wish you all the best in pursuing a creative lifestyle that suits you and your career, or family!]
*ehem* Anyway, back to my conclusion:
Whatever path you decide, or even if you have done both perspectives -- I will end by simply stating that --- if you end up having imposing THOUGHTS OF FAILURE -- then really, this only points toward you finding your part "in the great orchestra" of your creative field. But ONLY, AS LONG AS YOU REMAIN PASSIONATE about it... Take filming for example:
(You don't HAVE TO be the main role, and also, let's say that you ARE NOT IN the supporting cast, and maybe you are NOT EVEN on the production team... perhaps, your creative training (self-taught or not) -- has been leading you to create the next big APP, perhaps, it was leading you into public relations or marketing, because you learned about the historical perspective, or perhaps, it will lead you into finding an even NEWER technique or a type of learning structure that might become even more efficient.. I don't know... but I remember watching an interesting video about someone who wanted to become an amazing game artist, but they just never could do it... they somehow ended up getting into electronics, and (coding I think). Basically, doing stuff with renovations and "non creative" jobs, but they never lost their spark for gaming... eventually, they found a way to merge or blend their passion with their existing skill sets... (It's a rough paraphrase of the video) -- but the idea remains the same... Don't consider yourself as a failure, if you strongly believe that your are DESTINED to be doing something in the creative field.
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Lastly,
whatever it is you choose to pursue creatively, and whether or not you choose to find your self-taught determination, or if you choose to find employment in the institutionalized system... Just remember one thing. YOU ARE THE CREATOR. FIND YOUR CREATIONS.
Peace!
Hey man, I've learned so much from your channel that instead of film school, I'm just going to keep watching. Keep it up and thanks.
Love your channel! I just started to create videos with my DSLR and your videos have helped me tremendously, thank you.
I'm at film school in Nebraska. It's not the most informative but I never would have met the friends and fellow filmmakers that I know now if I hadn't gone.
Great analysis! However, I still can benefit from a school; perhaps I was not born with the sensibility that someone like you were! Great talk!
Was wondering what I can do on my own, now,(during Covid) creatively so that I have something to share. Tricky without the know how, skills, or money for equipment. Always wanted to go to film school. There's a great one where i live, so have had the chance to be an extra in a few films. Bet its AWESOME to be able share an idea, concept, or message through film. A gift to be able to do so. This video is Super informative. Thank you lots.
Very informative! I was never thinking about going to film school (mainly because I'm already a senior in college now), but it was interesting hearing what you had to say. Also, I know this vid is a bit old, but I hope you're enjoying whichever path you've decided to take.
I think whether you go to university to study film or learn from UA-cam and short courses - motivation is key. I've met many people who have studied film then ended up as AV technicians or IT support as they took a job for a year after uni and stopped making films then couldn't get the motivation back. On the flip side there are people who don't go to film school intending to teach themselves and don't ever end up making any films.
Joining film making MeetUp groups, networking at films events and constantly trying to get onto film sets should be helpful.
Only advice: just go and do it, learn from your own mistakes, experiment, play with it. Start from nature, architecture, bugs, animals. Progress on to people. Any camera will do. If you have passion you'll be great film maker.
I'm a 52 year old former professional photographer and I enjoy your vids very much. Regardless of where you get your information from, you have a great and accessible way of presenting it which is pretty unique on UA-cam. First and foremost, you make the viewer think about the subject, with a refreshing lack of ego. I suspect that I will be going to the movies to see one of your films soon mate. I'd back you if I was hiring ;0)
I would recommend trying film school for many reasons. If you think you will get an equivalent amount of experience (in the same amount of time) fueled by your own initiative then I would say you are likely well supported by your family, not in a relationship yet, and you are not yet aware of the distractions that life WILL throw your way, delaying and hindering your progress. You are obviously very focused which is commendable, but I fear that even the most focused individuals are at the mercy of the chaos that life throws your way. Being in school is one of the only places short of a monastery that gives you permission to focus every ounce of energy on your passion (and I mean every ounce). Plus you are surrounded by people who share your passion. They will be both inferior and superior to your skill level and you will learn from everyone of them, as well as from your profs. If your profs are good they will push you into new realms and expose you to new ideas you never knew existed. You will make friends for life, guaranteed. You will be tested and graded by your profs and your peers for the entire duration (that's a good thing). If you finish you will have a stupid piece of paper that will give you opportunities (i.e. choices/options) for good/interesting employment you would not otherwise have. If you value storytelling, you MUST take English lit. and creative writing at a university level. It is one of the best reasons to be in university. At the end of the day you can always bail if you decide it is a waste of your time and money (there's no shame in that), but if you never go you won't have the awareness of its potential to influence you as a filmmaker and test your capacity to learn everything you possibly can in a short amount of time. Statistically speaking, by the time you are 30 you will likely be in a relationship and either have a family or be planning for one (that is if the planet doesn't go tits up). Other wonderful and not so wonderful things will start to invade your germinal idea to be a filmmaker. Your career path will be much clearer and your options much less (which is not necessarily a bad thing). If you don't become a self made filmmaker you will either be shooting weddings and bar mitzvahs, teaching, be a part of film making in another capacity, or some completely different occupation in order to expand your life experience. If you do become a self made filmmaker then my hat to you! Know that you will probably have no regret with whatever you choose. Play the cards you are dealt, and play them well! :-)
Thanks for all your Informativ and enjoyable Videos, I appreciate your work!