THIS. QUOTE.

“I hate people who write off other people’s talents just because of their taste in movies. I left film-school for that very reason. The first thing the teacher told us was “If you want to make Terminator 2, leave now” and I was like, fuck you man. There could be a kid sat in the corner disheartened because Terminator 2 is the movie he wants to make, that’s his vision and here’s the teacher telling him he can’t do that. He had no fucking right, none of us do. Besides, I think Terminator 2 is a pretty kick-ass movie.” - Paul Thomas Anderson


I love PTA's movies, but after reading this quote he has put into words the attitude that I've had toward film school the entire time I've been here.


Film students have a terrible stereotype of being totally elitist about movies, and I've found that 9 times out 10 it is absolutely true. Film IS subjective, don't be mean or rude about something just because YOU don't like it.


For example, I LOVE horror movies, they are the thing that I want to have a career around; but a lot of film students see horror movies as a lower form of a media, the bottom of the totem pole as far as movies go. I don't let this get me down though, because there will always be horror movies getting made, and they will always make more money than pretentious indie movies.


I can understand telling someone to broaden their tastes. But ripping someone down just because that is one type of art or movies among the varity of your tastes is pretty narrow minded. Film students should stop living in this mind set.

Just a note

Sometimes I think we (Film Students) are a little to close minded about things. Don't get defensive just yet, hear me out. We all have our own ideas of the thing that we want to achieve that we narrow in on it and almost lose sight of all the possibilities that we can have as filmmakers.

There are those of us that put all our focus on the camera work, some people only work in editing, some people like sound, and I'm one of the people that likes writing more than anything else.

We can't do this. We should experiment with everything, see how it works, dissect it as an art form and experiment. If you don't feel comfortable with a camera, get behind one anyway. Don't listen to the “rules” of what you can and can't do with something, do what you want, learn from experience, learn from your failures. Create something new and teach it to your friends.

After I graduated from high school I set out to make a feature length film. It was essentially “Clerks” but set in a movie theater, and I did it. I have a copy of the film, the script, a journal I kept in production and I look back on it with VERY fond memories. But the film itself isn't great. The script is pretty funny, the acting isn't bad, but visually it is absolutely dreadful. While the final product of my creation wasn't something for me to showoff to producers with a “HEY INVEST MONEY IN ME” attitude, it was easily to this date one of the most valuable learning experiences I have EVER had.

Learn everything about the craft, yes you'll find stuff that you don't like and stuff you really really life, and take the time to find what you're good at. Just don't narrow yourself down to a few tasks before you try them, it could be the thing putting food on your table in a few years.