I'm going to film school!

[Gabrielle]

I might be moving to Los Angeles to study film making and I am so excited, but I realize that I don't have any prior experience...to really jump in with both feet. I have my sony handycam, and I am trying to think of short clips to make , and then I'll possibly put them on youtube. I am really wondering if I am ready enough and I don't know, I need some ideas. I thought it would be cool to hide a camera in the house and do some experimental short clips but no one's willing to let me do that. I am the only one in the house who is interested in film-making. I need some direction, like preparation before I go to the film school.

I am hoping there are some people who have experience with film, that might have some ideas. I really need to brainstorm something, and although the school (La Film School) looks nice, it doesn't seem like a novice could jump right in and do it without having done some really nice home movies or something first. I know I can't make my own feature film without some real work, but I just need to do some preparation and I'm not sure where to begin... ??

I am wondering if anyone has ideas as to how to practice, or what to practice so I know enough before I move to California.

 

[Jayimess]

Just make whatever you feel like making. Develop your own style in the process.

The very first thing I made with my first DV camera was a mash up of this footage I shot of a drunken couple fighting in a street. I messed with it until I thought it was funny. No big deal, lots of fun, and it made me want to keep making them.

Don't worry about knowing "enough." Film school will teach you.

 

[Gabrielle]

Good point. I think that if I have fun while I'm making the videos, it won't be as hard.

 

[ganz]

hey gabrielle,

i totally agree with what jayimess said. develop your own style and do projects that you think are interesting. some books i've read on ideation suggest keeping a dream journal, and keeping some kind of mini-journal with you to record ideas when you have them. they also say it's good to list and consider what you believe to be the most formative experiences in your life. think about what made them formative, what you learned from them, and then imagine those circumstances with a different outcome, or a different person experiencing them. i thought that was a very interesting idea.

also try to make films that are achievable. don't make a sci-fi epic if you don't have the ability to create a futuristic world. make stories that occur in contexts you can readily create and control.

hope that helps,

ganz

 

[Josh]

I'm moving this to the film school forum.

- Josh