Help me choose a program

College Search & Lists
1

<p>Hi. I have a number of things I want to pursue in the future. I have been searching around different programs/courses to find the right one for my criteria. This is how I (want to) see myself in the future:</p>

<p>*Film director
*Public speaker, debater
*Writer
*Leader (director)</p>

<p>I found the communications program, which seems to cover speaking and writing, but I’m not sure about film being included. Fine arts has writing and film, but I don’t think it would teach me how to speak. I would be very grateful for suggestions about what I should study to cover most of these things. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Hi, it’s great that you’re so self aware at your age. Really. </p>

<p>The exciting things is that none of the above roles require a particular major or certification. They each have a skillset which can be developed while you pursue over areas of interest. </p>

<p>Looking at the jobs/activities, you want to acquire the following (as you may already know):</p>

<p>broad knowledge of all modern film making practices, knowledge of film/cinema history, public speaking/ speech writing, making arguments, a knowledge of the subject(s) you want to write about and general leadership skills. </p>

<p>You could gain many of these taking any major you wanted (e.g. if you have a major interest in politics, or economics or English literature) perhaps using some of your electives for the film and public speaking elements. Leadership can be gained in lots of situations- a student club, volunteering, rotc etc. Somewhere you make decisions that affect others and you take responsibility for those decisions good or bad. </p>

<p>If you want to do a major in one of the specific areas above, the obvious choices would be film studies, film making, communications, journalism, business studies.</p>

<p>Alternatively, the skills could also all be gained outside of the classroom should you join an active film making club, debating club, write for the newspaper/journal/website/drama groups and as you gain experience, you’d find yourself naturally assuming more leadership responsibility. </p>

<p>However, could I also throw in Philosophy as perhaps being a good major for you? Its all about making coherent, truthful arguments. Lots of writing. It would help make you an effective debater. </p>

<p>You really do have the world open to you. One last thing, do research the background of the people you most admire in each field. It’ll give you an idea of their courses of study, career trajectory and you might be find that some people have had surprising journeys. </p>

<p>Very good luck!</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the great reply. If I do as you say and choose any degree I like for broad knowledge, my only concern is that I won’t fit film stuides into that degree. I don’t really know what it takes to become a legitimate film director, but, researching about successful directors, they all seem to have been through a film school. Do you think it would be possible to become a film director by joining film or drama clubs on the side? Thanks!</p>

4

<p>To get into a film school, you need to film, edit, etc. As much as possible, as early as possible with as many media as you can. Clubs in schools, personal endeavors outside of school, help for the theater club or an athletic team where your filming skills might be appreciated (obviously it’ll be a sport that’s less important at your high school), perhaps broadcast journalism/photography as classes at your high school, and the strongest English curriculum you can find. I would also suggest French as a foreign language (French cinema is a mandatory class in film studies) although Asian languages can be very good too (harder than French to master, though, and harder to get a high score on the SAT Subject.)
Speech/debate can be added to any curriculum fairly easily.
What’s your GPA/SAT-ACT score?
We could suggest different schools if we had more details. :)</p>

5

<p>I’m not actually an American. I live in Sweden, but my plan is to move to America or possibly UK to study university. Is it absolutely necessary that you attend a film school in order to become a director?</p>

6

<p>Either you’ve already worked on your directing skills, been involved in creating/shooting/editing films through your school, a club, or on your own and with friends. If so, you have a portfolio. You also need to take the SAT.
Then you can try for some of the film schools at the undegraduate level.
If you’ve never had the opportunity to build a nice collection showing your technical, directing, editing, subtitling… skills, then you need to attend a college (in the US or in Sweden), major in something related to film studies and media, perhaps drama, perhaps Writing, along with building a video portfolio and taking (unpaid) internships on film and TV sets, then go to grad school in film to learn the specific techniques.
Even for those who go to film schools, many do not become directors. And you have to work your way up to director, it would typically take 20 years of low-paid work.</p>

7

<p>As MYOS1634 says, a film school education doesn’t guarantee a directing job. Indeed, it doesn’t guarantee any job in the industry- even as a runner.</p>

<p>The opposite route is not to go to film school at all but just make films in your spare time. Live film. Making your own films to get noticed costs money. Even if its on a tight budget. Having a day job can help fund this while you try to have work accepted by film festivals. Some big name directors never went to film school:</p>

<p>Quentin Tarantino ( art school drop out), the Wachowskis (college drop outs), James Cameron (college drop out), Christopher Nolan (English Lit), Peter Jackson (didn’t go to college), Guy Ritchie (high school drop out) and Tim Twyker (rejected by film schools).</p>

<p>I’m certainly not saying don’t go to college but the one thing these people all had in common was a passion for film making- making their own work in their spare time and getting involved in others’ productions as much as they could. So, if you have another interest aside from film you can certainly do that too.</p>

8

<p>Thanks for great replies. Can you go more in-depth about communication studies? I heard someone say that it mostly teaches you the theory or knowledge about the art of communication, but not any practical skills?</p>