Is film school necessary for success in the movie industry? The short answer is no, however, there are important benefits that film schools provide. If you can compensate for this, then you don't need to spend upwards of $100,000 to attend one.
Demand
Film schools as we know them today--with full blown curriculums and specialized majors--didn't exist until the the 1960s. Prior to that, filmmakers learned their craft on the job, by doing. Alfred Hitchcock and Howard Hawks didn't go to film school. There weren't any!
These filmmakers learned their craft by moving up through the ranks of the old Hollywood system. Studios would groom their talent much the same way trade labor unions do it today. When the studio system collapsed in the 1950s, there was no way to learn the art and craft of filmmaking without having connections.
Filmmaking equipment was complex and difficult to operate. There were no "point and shoot" cameras, you needed someone to train you. Access to equipment was equally difficult since rentals were very expensive.
This void opened up the demand for film schools, which began to spring up in the 1960s. Famous graduates like George Lucas and Martin Scorsese were idolized by aspiring filmmakers, spurring the demand. Schools like NYU and UCLA became wildly popular.
Changing Needs
Demand hit an all time high in the late 1990s and then something interesting happened: the digital revolution. Filmmaking equipment became compact, easy to use, and affordable. Aspiring filmmakers began to question the need for film school. And rightfully so!
Today you can buy a broadcast quality HD camera and editing system for under $4,000. Couple this with some good books or online training (see link below), and you are on your way to becoming a filmmaker. Or are you?
Self Study
This brings us back to our original question of whether film school is necessary for success. With today's digital equipment and access to information, it is not. Film schools still flourish not because they are a gateway to the industry, but because students still go to college and major in subjects they like.
This is not to minimize the value of film schools. They provide important benefits that will help you develop your filmmaking skills and career. What are these benefits? The three most important are:
1. Instruction - Most teachers are not Hollywood stars, but you can still learn a lot from their trials and tribulations. A few will really inspire you. There is nothing better than studying with a great teacher.
2. Critical Review - Your work will be judged by instructors and colleagues. Though this can be rather blunt or downright harsh, you need it! Your parents and friends will love everything you do, so don't depend on them.
3. Contacts - Typically you will not make Hollywood contacts. This is true for even in the best schools. The contacts you make are your fellow students. This is important because as all of you move up through the industry, you become your own industry contacts and call on each other for jobs and deals.
Conclusion
If you choose to learn filmmaking on your own, it is important to compensate for the lost benefits of attending a school. A good place to start is developing a circle of filmmakers that you make movies with. Another good source is the Internet. Discussion forums can help not only with contacts, but with information and critical review as well.
I hope this is helpful in deciding whether film school is right for you.
Visit Film School Direct, http://www.FilmSchoolDirect.com, for tips, advice, and online courses.
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