Grad Film Students

sleep deprived, overworked and trying not to spend my student film budget on alcohol.

[gradfilmstudents]

Directing

What I want

What I get

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When I TA a first year class

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Casting

When my top choice learns it’s an unpaid student film

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Producing

In prep

After wrap

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Stages of script writing

How I feel about a new idea 

How I feel after I’ve written a draft

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When people ask what my thesis is about

[gradfilmstudents]

I'm interested in going into film production as a career, and I was wondering if you could tell me some important things to know? Like what to prepare for and what to look out for?

An instructor once gave us a list of advice before we went on set. Number one on it was "Everything that can possibly go wrong will go wrong.”

Often, the bigger the budget, the bigger the problems. Once you know that, you can prepare yourself to take on anything. It’s a high-stress career, but if you love telling stories, there’s nothing like that. 

Film is a collaborative experience. You cannot make one single-handedly. So be prepared to work in teams, negotiate all sorts of personalities, stay polite and don’t burn bridges because it’s a small industry anywhere in the world. 

The latest season of Project Greenlight is a great introduction to what it can be like working on a film set. It’s never a like-minded bunch of people getting together to make ‘pure art’ but it is a bunch of people who want to tell stories and want to contribute to something larger than themselves. 

Work hard, and if you want to get involved in projects, don’t wait to be asked. Offer up your help and be vocal about what you’re interested in doing.

Each set becomes like a little family. You love each other, you fight, you make up... and when you wrap, being able to celebrate the creation of something together is an unbeatable joy to experience. 

All the best! 

[gradfilmstudents]

Hi! I'm an aspiring film major, I'm still in highschool but I have a burning passion for film, particularly music videos and short film. I'll be starting my junior year with a film class. I was wondering if I could ask you some advice on starting? Thank you!

Greetings!

Apologies for the slow response. 

The best advice to learn about films is read scripts, write pages and watch films. http://gointothestory.blcklst.com/2013/11/watch-movies-read-scripts-write-pages.htmlthat’s a great blog in general. 

You can find scripts on  http://www.imsdb.com

https://sfy.ru

and generally google. 

Hope this helps! 

[gradfilmstudents]

Trying to work out in film school

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Spotting a mistake in my edit while it’s screening for faculty

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How I feel about my script

When I finish a first draft

When I get feedback from faculty

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When my parents think a set I’m on is dangerous

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Trying to write my thesis

When I got an idea I think I can develop

The next day

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How I feel after a night shoot

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When I think about life after graduation

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Realizing that some footage has been lost

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When sound keeps letting the boom dip into shot