As the trend for online schooling continues, and the “No Film School”ers hope to hit it big by avoiding formal schooling and educating themselves through the Internet, the simple truth is that if you’re on-line, you’re not on set.
And that separates the doers from the wannabes.
A massive part of our industry exists ON SET. This is where you’ll find protocol being practiced, this is where you learn from the pros, and this is where you build connections and test relationships.
Simply put, if you hope to work on a real movie set, you must get training on a real movie set.
Getting Your Hands Dirty
There is no substitute for hard work.
When you work and learn on an active film set, like those that MPI schooling provides, you find yourself in the trenches with fellow filmmakers — lugging gear, setting up lights, setting up the camera lenses, and learning the slate and the audio gear.
This is the best way to train — by getting on a set, and getting your hands dirty.
Interaction With The Pros
Many believe that the best way to learn any craft is by watching professionals at work. MPI puts you on set alongside working industry professionals. You see them at work; preparing, rehearsing.
By watching the pros, you learn how it’s done right.
Working alongside pros, you get to ask questions and get real live answers. You can’t talk with, nor be mentored by, your screen if you’re limiting yourself to online schooling.
Learning The Language
I’ll never forget learning about “C-47s” while being on my first film set. Or understanding how the information on a film slate serves the editor.
Or learning about Character Breakdowns, and what it means when an actor asks for their “sides”. And, learning what a table read is, and why we have makeup and wardrobe tests…
I’m speaking the language of film, and all of these terms are learned while working on an actual set. In fact, when I first stepped on set, what I thought were the answers to many film terms were incorrect.
Being on set helped me learn the correct way.
Filmmaking Is A Social Art
The truth is that movie making is a collaborative effort, and you’re not going to meet your next film crew online.
They’ll want to see you in action, and vice versa. The sooner you can meet, mingle, work with, and learn from fellow filmmakers, the sooner you’ll start to assemble a crew that could very well be with you for life.
Lifelong film relationships are born in the best film schools. It’s the hallmark of schooling: Networking. I’ve been working with some of the same crew for over 30 years, and I met them all thru film school.
In closing, before you consider going it alone, and attempting to enter a largely social arena thru anti-social avenues, do yourself a favor and get ON SET TRAINING.
It only takes a year.
The argument for an on set education is strong; much stronger than any argument for the DIY, “no film school,” or online film school arguments.
