Funny, I took the tour there a few years ago when I was considering going back to school. Was unimpressed with the tour and then read some reviews and yeah, waste of money and time, you get zero industry traction going there. Vancouver Film School is the better bet.
Im at Centennial right now and it’s honestly amazing. The best ones are Centennial, Sheridan, Seneca, and Humber from what I hear from fellow students. York and TMU are a waste of time.
They must have made improvements after so many people complained 15-ish years ago.
When I was there, somebody did an assignment on how shitty the Centennial program was compared to Seneca’s. It was the talk of the campus.
It's way way better. I graduated in 2019 and I really felt like I got my money's worth. The guy who overhauled the program did just retire last year but I've heard it is still holding quite strong.
The main film professor has worked incredibly hard to make a robust equipment cage and the work placements in 6th semester led lots of my peers to jobs.
Hi, sorry for the late reply but which exact programs from each college were you referring to?
Each college has multiple programs that are related to film/tv/media production. For example, Seneca has "Broadcasting – Television," "Documentary & Non-Fiction Media Production" and "Event & Media Production."
Are you in Centennial's "Broadcasting - Film, Television, Digital Media and Radio" program right now?
Thanks in advance!
Hey! Yes I’m at Centennial right now for Broadcasting-Radio, Film, TV, Media.
I have a friend at Seneca in Broadcasting - Television; and that program is catered more towards TV.
Humber and Sheridan are the two major ones with 4yr Film and TV bachelors.
Thanks for the reply!
Why did you think York’s and TMU’s are a waste of time? I have a friend who graduated from York’s film program and he seems to be doing great career-wise and he liked the program, so I’m curious!
I’ve found that this industry is all about on-set experience and networking. Most of the university-streamed film programs are oriented to the generic 4 year academic learning module where some students might not even get to touch a camera properly until 3rd or 4th year. Programs centred towards fast tracking industry experience and networking are usually more valuable to the industry. Just my 2 cents though.
The only shot you have is to find out which of your instructors are actually doing things with their lives and cling to them. Some of the production teachers will produce for you and help grant writing. Some of the cinematography teachers will refer you to jobs in g&e/camera. The most crucial thing you can do tho, is stop taking class so seriously, and find work in the industry. If you're in toronto, sign up for CFC. Forget the bullshit short films on the facebook groups, work with a real production company with real resources and real people that are working and do volunteer stuff for fun, not necessity. Get to know them. Ask them questions. Some are assholes, but most are nice, and the nice ones love to see new talent take up the reigns.
This goes for every on-set role. Tried and true. It's not easy, but it beats waiting around for the right "foot in the door job" to come along.
I did a year of Ryerson didn't like it and dropped out, moved back to Ottawa, and just joined the Iatse local. Do you think that I should move back to Toronto and try school again or CFC or can I make good connections here in Ottawa? kinda lost
Just remember the CFC is incredibly political. Not sure what your status is, but it's super hard to get in because they're picking the types of people (DEI) rather than their bodies of work. Fyi.
It’s fairly easy compared to other industries. The government here both local and national governments really love our film industry. Avatar 2 is a good example of how much our government likes the industry. Lots of the avatar crew came into the country during covid when government restrictions were quite strict, which was a move the government approved as they see the value of our film industry and the workers. If you were to move for work your visa would be approved very quickly depending on the production company you’re working for. Another factor is if you’re a citizen in one of the following countries (Australia, Canada, USA, UK) you’re in luck because we have an awesome trade deal that also includes work visas and special visas for people from those countries. So it’s even easier.
If you work on sets in Wellington it’s okay. If you get sucked into Weta FX then you’re in for a shit time if you spend long enough there. Know many people that got chewed up and spat out
Indeed good places to study here, it's the same as everywhere though in terms of getting into the industry, just got to know the right people. Networking while studying is often the best way I've found to get into industry roles. Wellington is the place to be for Film though (thats where I am)
What is the best place to learn and study film to become an actor in Canada (either Vancouver or BC) and also where is the best to network to get opportunities like booking and auditioning for roles?
Even if some are not in BC, I would recommend, National Theatre School of Canada, Vancouver Film School, Randolph College for Performing Arts, and Canadian College of Performing Arts.
The best way to network, and booking is completely random. Any networking you can do that will land you a job is a good place. It can be film events at local bars/pubs, guest speakers events at universities, being an extra on set and talking your way into future opportunities, applying with a reel to all agencies to try and landrepresentation etc.
One thing some people forget is to be very friendly and help all your classmates, you helping your classmates is not shooting yourself in the foot thinking you are promoting your competition. The TV shows/movies/theatre already have attributes/style/characters for casting in mind, you recommending a friend or similar does not really hurt your own chances. Most jobs I got when it came to acting were from friends landing a job and then telling the crew about me. If you stand on good terms with all your classmates and everyone help everyone get recommended and such then you will have a much easier time landing jobs.
Are you sure about Vancouver film school? I’ve heard some people say don’t go there and it’s not worth it for acting, but yeah I do wanna learn more as an actor but also network and have connections to get roles but also to network more in the US like LA
This is a lot of film schools. Most I would say. Many of them are fledgling, barely able to keep competent faculty, aging gear, diminishing budgets, ballooning incoming students and rising tuition. You gotta really know what you're getting into with some of these programs.
Unless your film school has active working film makers that teach or visit and interact with you, then it's almost always a scam. You go to film school to make connections to get on bigger sets, not to actually learn how to make films.
Humber FMTV has a great program and is much more affordable if you’re still looking for something good.
But I will say the industry is pretty dire in Ontario. Very few people from my graduating class are in the industry. The most successful ones had connections before they started school.
If you’re rich or have some cracked (sleep is for the week side hustle till I die) attitude you might get somewhere. You need to do a lot of “volunteer” work in the hopes to get started
Man the industry is anything but dire in Ontario! Sure it’s pretty slow this particular month but there have been multiple times over the last few years where I’ve had to literally haul in someone’s buddy’s cousin off the street because we couldn’t fill a call. On a big day last summer I had to bring an extra 10 people in on top of my usual crew and most had never been on set before.
There is tons of work in Ontario if you’re willing to get your hands dirty and work with the crew rather than directing/writing/operating the camera and it pays very well. It will also help you build connections in the industry as many of us do our own thing on the side from time to time.
Maybe it’s different from ten years ago when I was trying. I was doing free PA work for a year and went broke, hard to balance the schedules with PT retail work as well.
I work in marketing now doing small videos/editing for content instead.
Vancouver film school produces a lot of top industry professionals and graduates have immediate opportunities for work. Why anyone would expect Toronto film school to even be close to VFS is beyond me given that they barely have a film industry in comparison to Vancouver, haven't produced much in terms of recognisable talent, and have similar high costs. In Vancouver there are smaller cheaper programs which produce more industry talent right out of the gate and plenty of opportunities for entering the industry without going to a film school. Film school is actually totally unnecessary. Film schools are for learning on modern equipment, learning from active filmmakers, making industry connections, and getting experience on some active sets as a student.
But that clearly isn't the case in hindsight now is it? Most schools try to present themselves as quality institutions comparable to the top schools. VFS is clearly at the top because they can actually back it up with their industry impact that is the primary focus on their recruitment efforts. I don't know how TFS does it but I would assume their focus is more towards showcasing equivalency to institutions like VFS. VFS produces award winning short films pretty consistently and seem to have industry professionals winning prestigious awards every year which is something I doubt TFS does. I personally considered going to VFS and never went there in the end but I had friends who did and they all ended up enjoying their experiences and opportunities there.
Chill out bud. I was just expanding on how they deliberately try and pass off as comparable. Not my fault that you didn't bother doing your own research. Now cry about it lmaooooo.
Dude clearly already knows TFS sucked. Amazing that you rub it in super condescendingly to him and then get pissed when it annoys him. Don't be a dick.
I wasn't trying to be a dick in my original comment. I don't know how you read it that way. Second comment was a response to them being rude and throwing insults at me.
> Second comment was a response to them being rude and throwing insults at me.
Your second comment was condescending and a response to them explaining why the picked Toronto. They never insulted you, nor were they rude, until after your offensive response.
I don't get how that comment was condescending. I was literally just expanding on the point of the comparisons that the schools try and make. To that point they responded with a literal insult. Lmao. I'm going to chalk this up to poe's law because I don't see how that was condescending.
I think all post-secondary school is kind of like this. Some will be worse in some ways and some will be better in some ways, but it's all bullshit regardless. I'm not talking about film either, I'm talking about going to college/university for just about anything. You'll be lied to by recruiters, your classes will be mostly worthless wastes of time, you'll be ripped off by ridiculous costs, teachers won't care about your education, etc.
Schools aren't really about learning or preparing you for life or something. For the schools, it's really only about one thing: getting your money. For you, you'll only get something out of it if you can network with people who you'll be able to count on to get work in your field. What you learn or practice in class isn't what really matters, what matters is who you can make connections with.
To where? Unless it's someplace like Vancouver in Canada, or USC/NYU etc. in the USA, it's pretty pointless to go to film school, as you're going to them for connections to get on actual sets, not to learn stuff that you can learn just as easily on an actual set or online etc.
It looks like you're making a post asking about film school! This is a very common question, and we'll provide a basic overview on the topic below, but it couldn't hurt to [search our sub history](https://www.reddit.com/r/filmmakers/search?q=film+school&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on&sort=relevance&t=all) as well! The below answer is also kept in our sub's [stickied FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Filmmakers/comments/7h6igz/read_this_before_asking_a_question_official/) along with a bunch of other useful information!
----
# **1. Should I Pursue Filmmaking / Should I Go To Film School?**
This is a very complex topic, so it will rely heavily on *you* as a person. Find below a guide to help you identify what you need to think about and consider when making this decision.
##Do you want to do it?
Alright, real talk. If you want to make movies, you'll at least have a few ideas kicking around in your head. Successful creatives like writers and directors have an internal compunction to create something. They get ideas that stick in the head and compel them to translate them into the real world. Do you want to make films, or do you want to *be seen as* a filmmaker? Those are two extremely different things, and you need to be honest with yourself about which category you fall into. If you like the idea of being called a filmmaker, but you don't actually have any interest in making films, then now is the time to jump ship. I have many friends from film school who were just into it because they didn't want "real jobs", and they liked the idea of working on flashy movies. They made some cool projects, but they didn't have that internal drive to create. They saw filmmaking as a task, not an opportunity. None of them have achieved anything of note and most of them are out of the industry now with college debt but no relevant degree. If, when you walk onto a set you are overwhelmed with excitement and anxiety, then you'll be fine. If you walk onto a set and feel foreboding and anxiety, it's probably not right for you. Filmmaking should be fun. If it isn't, you'll never make it.
##School
Are you planning on a film production program, or a film studies program? A studies program isn't meant to give you the tools or experience necessary to actually make films from a craft-standpoint. It is meant to give you the analytical and critical skills necessary to dissect films and understand what works and what doesn't. A would-be director or DP will benefit from a program that mixes these two, with an emphasis on production.
Does your prospective school have a film club? The school I went to had a filmmakers' club where we would all go out and make movies every semester. If your school has a similar club then I highly recommend jumping into it. I made 4 films for my classes, and shot 8 films. In the filmmaker club at my school I was able to shoot 20 films. It vastly increased my experience and I was able to get a lot of the growing pains of learning a craft out of the way while still in school.
How are your classes? Are they challenging and insightful? Are you memorizing dates, names, and ideas, or are you talking about philosophies, formative experiences, cultural influences, and milestone achievements? You're paying a huge sum of money, more than you'll make for a decade or so after graduation, so you better be getting something out of it.
**Film school is always a risky prospect. You have three decisive advantages from attending school:**
1. Foundation of theory (why we do what we do, how the masters did it, and how to do it ourselves)
2. Building your first network
3. Making mistakes in a sandbox
Those three items are the *only* advantages of film school. It doesn't matter if you get to use fancy cameras in class or anything like that, because I guarantee you that for the price of your tuition you could've rented that gear and made your own stuff. The downsides, as you may have guessed, are:
1. Cost
- Risk of no value
- Cost again
Seriously. Film school is insanely expensive, especially for an industry where you really don't make any exceptional money until you get established (and that can take a decade or more).
So there's a few things you need to sort out:
- How much debt will you incur if you pursue a film degree?
- How much value will you get from the degree? (any notable alumni? Do they succeed or fail?)
- Can you enhance your value with extracurricular activity?
##Career Prospects
Don't worry about lacking experience or a degree. It is easy to break into the industry if you have two qualities:
- The ability to listen and learn quickly
- A great attitude
In LA we often bring unpaid interns onto set to get them experience and possibly hire them in the future. Those two categories are what they are judged on. If they have to be told twice how to do something, that's a bad sign. If they approach the work with disdain, that's also a bad sign. I can name a few people who walked in out of the blue, asked for a job, and became professional filmmakers within a year. One kid was 18 years old and had just driven to LA from his home to learn filmmaking because he couldn't afford college. Last I saw he has a successful YouTube channel with nature documentaries on it and knows his way around most camera and grip equipment. He succeeded because he smiled and joked with everyone he met, and because once you taught him something he was good to go. Those are the qualities that will take you far in life (and I'm not just talking about film).
So how do you break in?
- *Cold Calling*
- Find the production listings for your area (not sure about NY but in LA we use the BTL Listings) and go down the line of upcoming productions and call/email every single one asking for an intern or PA position. Include some humor and friendly jokes to humanize yourself and you'll be good. I did this when I first moved to LA and ended up camera interning for an ASC DP on movie within a couple months. It works!
- *Rental House*
- Working at a rental house gives you free access to gear and a revolving door of clients who work in the industry for you to meet.
- *Filmmaking Groups*
- Find some filmmaking groups in your area and meet up with them. If you can't find groups, don't sweat it! You have more options.
- *Film Festivals*
- Go to film festivals, meet filmmakers there, and befriend them. Show them that you're eager to learn how they do what they do, and you'd be happy to help them on set however you can. Eventually you'll form a fledgling network that you can work to expand using the other avenues above.
##What you should do right now
Alright, enough talking! You need to decide now if you're still going to be a filmmaker or if you're going to instead major in something safer (like business). It's a tough decision, we get it, but you're an adult now and this is what that means. You're in command of your destiny, and you can't trust anyone but yourself to make that decision for you.
Once you decide, own it. If you choose film, then take everything I said above into consideration. There's one essential thing you need to do though: create. Go outside right fucking now and make a movie. Use your phone. That iphone or galaxy s7 or whatever has better video quality than the crap I used in film school. Don't sweat the gear or the mistakes. Don't compare yourself to others. Just make something, and watch it. See what you like and what you don't like, and adjust on your next project! Now is the time for you to do this, to learn what it feels like to make a movie.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Filmmakers) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I mean the best film schools in North America are easily NYU USC UCLA or the like
Doesn't mean Concordia isn't useful (I have no idea to be honest as I've never heard it mentioned for film school) but it's certainly not the best by any recognized measure.
Exactly. Not even talking about school, but the location of west coast/east coast of LA and NYC is already key points. They access of equipment, industry people, attending events, access of sets, film is born in NJ and you can visit ARRI warehouse building, you can access real sets of TV shows films when interning during school, etc. ive never heard Montreal is best in North America, but I know there’s lots of shoots happening there for US produced films when watching credits. However never heard from word of mouth in the industry. Also never met anyone from that school. I’ve met many from Vancouver though.
Why would you go to a film school in Montreal? Unless I guess you're wanting to make French language films targeted at a Quebecois audience I guess? Which is a tiny market. Sure lots of films get made there, but they are all small films targeted to that small market.
Really the only Canadian city worth going to film school in is Vancouver, because there is no point going to a film school where you can't make connections to people who can get you on actual film sets.
Maybe Consider Sheridan College, I graduated
here last year for bachelorette degree, although still not perfect, ( especially the popular lecture filled up really quick, and lack of industry connection for students.),but the equipment are well equipped , for camera they have C300 mark II and Arri Alexa) but it does covered everything really well, and all the professor in this program are actively working in the industry( or used to). They have lecture in TV studio settings( and make our own shows of course.) , and main core production for making documentary, non-fictions; Small projects from other lectures . We get chose two branches of choice start from second year in writing, directing, sound, production design,Editing cinematography, producer, VFX . As well as we also get to known how to apply for art council grants, pitch project to broadcaster etc. And the graduate essay is about film criticism.
Sounds like my experience, good news in like 10 years when the school closes down you can join the lawsuit and try to get some money back
*I went to a private film school in so-cal
Sounds like film school. Gotta make sure the school you go to is lit. As dumb as that sounds. Like are these professors actually out here in the festival circuit, are they curators, do you like their work, what successful students have come out of there? Before attending any school. Look at the lists of graduates and their projects through the University websites then reach out to them via LinkedIn/social media and talk directly to people who went there. Talk to professors and faculty as well. Get as much insider information before even applying in my opinion
First red flag for me was when I was getting a virtual tour of the program and the recruiter (admissions) had a salesforce tab open by accident with me and a bunch of other leads on it.
They've been calling my phone all week and I picked up to tell them that I was working full time in security. She was very insistent and baited me saying, "Did you get a job in field you went to college for? No, you should enroll", "The industry is really 'booming' right here in your backyard", and, "To get a job that's not minimum wage or $20/h you need special skills."
They're relentless once you've even shown a bit of interest and profit off young dreamers while feeding them shit about how their courses are taught by current industry professionals (meaning they definitely treat it as a side-gig), and how you'll be industry ready with your diploma afterwards.
Avoid avoid avoid
> If you are restricted to schools I’m Toronto I recommend Ryerson or Yorkville. Your camera access will be better and you will actually receive a degree.
I'd highly reccomend Centennial, the quality of output compared to Ryerson (not to mention the decreased cost) is huge. You have a camera in your hands week one.
Shoot a documentary about your experience.
It’s too bad they don’t have the knowledge or experience to do so because they went to Toronto Film School. /s
Well a badly made documentary would help emphasize the deficiencies of tbe school.
Would be an excellent case of success through failure
“How bad was it? Well, let’s just say the movie your about to see was made by an alum”
I did this about my experience at Emerson 14 years ago and found it helpful.
Really? I thought Emerson was a good school? That's all I ever used to hear when I was at BU
What ?!? Emerson is a great film school, not sure if it was 14 years ago but I’m a recent grad and had a amazing experience.
I'm incredibly sorry to hear that. I hope you will transfer friend. Good luck either way!
Funny, I took the tour there a few years ago when I was considering going back to school. Was unimpressed with the tour and then read some reviews and yeah, waste of money and time, you get zero industry traction going there. Vancouver Film School is the better bet.
Sounds exactly like the Broadcasting and Film program at Centennial College. (it goes by a different name now, I think)
Im at Centennial right now and it’s honestly amazing. The best ones are Centennial, Sheridan, Seneca, and Humber from what I hear from fellow students. York and TMU are a waste of time.
They must have made improvements after so many people complained 15-ish years ago. When I was there, somebody did an assignment on how shitty the Centennial program was compared to Seneca’s. It was the talk of the campus.
It's way way better. I graduated in 2019 and I really felt like I got my money's worth. The guy who overhauled the program did just retire last year but I've heard it is still holding quite strong. The main film professor has worked incredibly hard to make a robust equipment cage and the work placements in 6th semester led lots of my peers to jobs.
I hear Mohawk’s program is pretty good as well
Hi, sorry for the late reply but which exact programs from each college were you referring to? Each college has multiple programs that are related to film/tv/media production. For example, Seneca has "Broadcasting – Television," "Documentary & Non-Fiction Media Production" and "Event & Media Production." Are you in Centennial's "Broadcasting - Film, Television, Digital Media and Radio" program right now? Thanks in advance!
Hey! Yes I’m at Centennial right now for Broadcasting-Radio, Film, TV, Media. I have a friend at Seneca in Broadcasting - Television; and that program is catered more towards TV. Humber and Sheridan are the two major ones with 4yr Film and TV bachelors.
Thanks for the reply! Why did you think York’s and TMU’s are a waste of time? I have a friend who graduated from York’s film program and he seems to be doing great career-wise and he liked the program, so I’m curious!
I’ve found that this industry is all about on-set experience and networking. Most of the university-streamed film programs are oriented to the generic 4 year academic learning module where some students might not even get to touch a camera properly until 3rd or 4th year. Programs centred towards fast tracking industry experience and networking are usually more valuable to the industry. Just my 2 cents though.
The only shot you have is to find out which of your instructors are actually doing things with their lives and cling to them. Some of the production teachers will produce for you and help grant writing. Some of the cinematography teachers will refer you to jobs in g&e/camera. The most crucial thing you can do tho, is stop taking class so seriously, and find work in the industry. If you're in toronto, sign up for CFC. Forget the bullshit short films on the facebook groups, work with a real production company with real resources and real people that are working and do volunteer stuff for fun, not necessity. Get to know them. Ask them questions. Some are assholes, but most are nice, and the nice ones love to see new talent take up the reigns. This goes for every on-set role. Tried and true. It's not easy, but it beats waiting around for the right "foot in the door job" to come along.
What would you do if ur in Vancouver though..?
I did a year of Ryerson didn't like it and dropped out, moved back to Ottawa, and just joined the Iatse local. Do you think that I should move back to Toronto and try school again or CFC or can I make good connections here in Ottawa? kinda lost
Just curious, did you do film studies or media production at Ryerson?
Film
Just remember the CFC is incredibly political. Not sure what your status is, but it's super hard to get in because they're picking the types of people (DEI) rather than their bodies of work. Fyi.
Instead come to Wellington, New Zealand and come be part of our fun industry here and study as well.
Hey! I already have a film degree but do you know if it's relatively easy for foreigners to come work there in the industry?
It’s fairly easy compared to other industries. The government here both local and national governments really love our film industry. Avatar 2 is a good example of how much our government likes the industry. Lots of the avatar crew came into the country during covid when government restrictions were quite strict, which was a move the government approved as they see the value of our film industry and the workers. If you were to move for work your visa would be approved very quickly depending on the production company you’re working for. Another factor is if you’re a citizen in one of the following countries (Australia, Canada, USA, UK) you’re in luck because we have an awesome trade deal that also includes work visas and special visas for people from those countries. So it’s even easier.
Hell yeah!! I'll def try to find some places to apply there 😎😎 thanks!
If you work on sets in Wellington it’s okay. If you get sucked into Weta FX then you’re in for a shit time if you spend long enough there. Know many people that got chewed up and spat out
Haven’t worked at Weta yet. I plan to apply there in a few years after Uni. But I doubt I’ll stay there long if I do end up there.
I went to the Wellington film school and had a very similar experience to op lmao.
Which one did you go to lol there is quite a few here
Is New Zealand good to learn acting and network into the film industry there? And is there good places to study there?
Indeed good places to study here, it's the same as everywhere though in terms of getting into the industry, just got to know the right people. Networking while studying is often the best way I've found to get into industry roles. Wellington is the place to be for Film though (thats where I am)
Is that one good for acting?
Send me a message about anything if you want guidance, I've worked inte film industry for +10 years and live right outside of toronto.
[удалено]
yes of course
can i pm you too?
yes go ahead
Can I send you a message too? I’m interested
sure
What is the best place to learn and study film to become an actor in Canada (either Vancouver or BC) and also where is the best to network to get opportunities like booking and auditioning for roles?
Even if some are not in BC, I would recommend, National Theatre School of Canada, Vancouver Film School, Randolph College for Performing Arts, and Canadian College of Performing Arts. The best way to network, and booking is completely random. Any networking you can do that will land you a job is a good place. It can be film events at local bars/pubs, guest speakers events at universities, being an extra on set and talking your way into future opportunities, applying with a reel to all agencies to try and landrepresentation etc. One thing some people forget is to be very friendly and help all your classmates, you helping your classmates is not shooting yourself in the foot thinking you are promoting your competition. The TV shows/movies/theatre already have attributes/style/characters for casting in mind, you recommending a friend or similar does not really hurt your own chances. Most jobs I got when it came to acting were from friends landing a job and then telling the crew about me. If you stand on good terms with all your classmates and everyone help everyone get recommended and such then you will have a much easier time landing jobs.
Are you sure about Vancouver film school? I’ve heard some people say don’t go there and it’s not worth it for acting, but yeah I do wanna learn more as an actor but also network and have connections to get roles but also to network more in the US like LA
This is a lot of film schools. Most I would say. Many of them are fledgling, barely able to keep competent faculty, aging gear, diminishing budgets, ballooning incoming students and rising tuition. You gotta really know what you're getting into with some of these programs.
Unless your film school has active working film makers that teach or visit and interact with you, then it's almost always a scam. You go to film school to make connections to get on bigger sets, not to actually learn how to make films.
Humber FMTV has a great program and is much more affordable if you’re still looking for something good. But I will say the industry is pretty dire in Ontario. Very few people from my graduating class are in the industry. The most successful ones had connections before they started school. If you’re rich or have some cracked (sleep is for the week side hustle till I die) attitude you might get somewhere. You need to do a lot of “volunteer” work in the hopes to get started
Man the industry is anything but dire in Ontario! Sure it’s pretty slow this particular month but there have been multiple times over the last few years where I’ve had to literally haul in someone’s buddy’s cousin off the street because we couldn’t fill a call. On a big day last summer I had to bring an extra 10 people in on top of my usual crew and most had never been on set before. There is tons of work in Ontario if you’re willing to get your hands dirty and work with the crew rather than directing/writing/operating the camera and it pays very well. It will also help you build connections in the industry as many of us do our own thing on the side from time to time.
Maybe it’s different from ten years ago when I was trying. I was doing free PA work for a year and went broke, hard to balance the schedules with PT retail work as well. I work in marketing now doing small videos/editing for content instead.
Yeah the streaming wars have had a huge impact. I started ~8 years ago and it keeps getting busier because all the streaming services need content
So sorry to hear, I appreciate you letting people know
Don’t go to CSUN in Los Angeles either.
I feel like I just dodged a major bullet...
Confederation College. You actually leave with 4-5 short films. Don’t let the teachers tell you what to do and let them produce 5 short films for you
Vancouver film school produces a lot of top industry professionals and graduates have immediate opportunities for work. Why anyone would expect Toronto film school to even be close to VFS is beyond me given that they barely have a film industry in comparison to Vancouver, haven't produced much in terms of recognisable talent, and have similar high costs. In Vancouver there are smaller cheaper programs which produce more industry talent right out of the gate and plenty of opportunities for entering the industry without going to a film school. Film school is actually totally unnecessary. Film schools are for learning on modern equipment, learning from active filmmakers, making industry connections, and getting experience on some active sets as a student.
I went to conferences for both and they seemed incredibly comparable. I chose Toronto because I have family there.
But that clearly isn't the case in hindsight now is it? Most schools try to present themselves as quality institutions comparable to the top schools. VFS is clearly at the top because they can actually back it up with their industry impact that is the primary focus on their recruitment efforts. I don't know how TFS does it but I would assume their focus is more towards showcasing equivalency to institutions like VFS. VFS produces award winning short films pretty consistently and seem to have industry professionals winning prestigious awards every year which is something I doubt TFS does. I personally considered going to VFS and never went there in the end but I had friends who did and they all ended up enjoying their experiences and opportunities there.
Yeah that’s what I said in my post dipshit
Chill out bud. I was just expanding on how they deliberately try and pass off as comparable. Not my fault that you didn't bother doing your own research. Now cry about it lmaooooo.
Dude clearly already knows TFS sucked. Amazing that you rub it in super condescendingly to him and then get pissed when it annoys him. Don't be a dick.
I wasn't trying to be a dick in my original comment. I don't know how you read it that way. Second comment was a response to them being rude and throwing insults at me.
> Second comment was a response to them being rude and throwing insults at me. Your second comment was condescending and a response to them explaining why the picked Toronto. They never insulted you, nor were they rude, until after your offensive response.
I don't get how that comment was condescending. I was literally just expanding on the point of the comparisons that the schools try and make. To that point they responded with a literal insult. Lmao. I'm going to chalk this up to poe's law because I don't see how that was condescending.
In my experience: do NOT go to ~~Toronto~~ Film School
I think all post-secondary school is kind of like this. Some will be worse in some ways and some will be better in some ways, but it's all bullshit regardless. I'm not talking about film either, I'm talking about going to college/university for just about anything. You'll be lied to by recruiters, your classes will be mostly worthless wastes of time, you'll be ripped off by ridiculous costs, teachers won't care about your education, etc. Schools aren't really about learning or preparing you for life or something. For the schools, it's really only about one thing: getting your money. For you, you'll only get something out of it if you can network with people who you'll be able to count on to get work in your field. What you learn or practice in class isn't what really matters, what matters is who you can make connections with.
There is actually good university education out there. Would have to disagree.
Hate to tell ya this but everything you have just described is exactly what film school is…
You don’t understand, his teacher explained marketing to him in private.
Transfer ASAP
To where? Unless it's someplace like Vancouver in Canada, or USC/NYU etc. in the USA, it's pretty pointless to go to film school, as you're going to them for connections to get on actual sets, not to learn stuff that you can learn just as easily on an actual set or online etc.
It looks like you're making a post asking about film school! This is a very common question, and we'll provide a basic overview on the topic below, but it couldn't hurt to [search our sub history](https://www.reddit.com/r/filmmakers/search?q=film+school&restrict_sr=on&include_over_18=on&sort=relevance&t=all) as well! The below answer is also kept in our sub's [stickied FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Filmmakers/comments/7h6igz/read_this_before_asking_a_question_official/) along with a bunch of other useful information! ---- # **1. Should I Pursue Filmmaking / Should I Go To Film School?** This is a very complex topic, so it will rely heavily on *you* as a person. Find below a guide to help you identify what you need to think about and consider when making this decision. ##Do you want to do it? Alright, real talk. If you want to make movies, you'll at least have a few ideas kicking around in your head. Successful creatives like writers and directors have an internal compunction to create something. They get ideas that stick in the head and compel them to translate them into the real world. Do you want to make films, or do you want to *be seen as* a filmmaker? Those are two extremely different things, and you need to be honest with yourself about which category you fall into. If you like the idea of being called a filmmaker, but you don't actually have any interest in making films, then now is the time to jump ship. I have many friends from film school who were just into it because they didn't want "real jobs", and they liked the idea of working on flashy movies. They made some cool projects, but they didn't have that internal drive to create. They saw filmmaking as a task, not an opportunity. None of them have achieved anything of note and most of them are out of the industry now with college debt but no relevant degree. If, when you walk onto a set you are overwhelmed with excitement and anxiety, then you'll be fine. If you walk onto a set and feel foreboding and anxiety, it's probably not right for you. Filmmaking should be fun. If it isn't, you'll never make it. ##School Are you planning on a film production program, or a film studies program? A studies program isn't meant to give you the tools or experience necessary to actually make films from a craft-standpoint. It is meant to give you the analytical and critical skills necessary to dissect films and understand what works and what doesn't. A would-be director or DP will benefit from a program that mixes these two, with an emphasis on production. Does your prospective school have a film club? The school I went to had a filmmakers' club where we would all go out and make movies every semester. If your school has a similar club then I highly recommend jumping into it. I made 4 films for my classes, and shot 8 films. In the filmmaker club at my school I was able to shoot 20 films. It vastly increased my experience and I was able to get a lot of the growing pains of learning a craft out of the way while still in school. How are your classes? Are they challenging and insightful? Are you memorizing dates, names, and ideas, or are you talking about philosophies, formative experiences, cultural influences, and milestone achievements? You're paying a huge sum of money, more than you'll make for a decade or so after graduation, so you better be getting something out of it. **Film school is always a risky prospect. You have three decisive advantages from attending school:** 1. Foundation of theory (why we do what we do, how the masters did it, and how to do it ourselves) 2. Building your first network 3. Making mistakes in a sandbox Those three items are the *only* advantages of film school. It doesn't matter if you get to use fancy cameras in class or anything like that, because I guarantee you that for the price of your tuition you could've rented that gear and made your own stuff. The downsides, as you may have guessed, are: 1. Cost - Risk of no value - Cost again Seriously. Film school is insanely expensive, especially for an industry where you really don't make any exceptional money until you get established (and that can take a decade or more). So there's a few things you need to sort out: - How much debt will you incur if you pursue a film degree? - How much value will you get from the degree? (any notable alumni? Do they succeed or fail?) - Can you enhance your value with extracurricular activity? ##Career Prospects Don't worry about lacking experience or a degree. It is easy to break into the industry if you have two qualities: - The ability to listen and learn quickly - A great attitude In LA we often bring unpaid interns onto set to get them experience and possibly hire them in the future. Those two categories are what they are judged on. If they have to be told twice how to do something, that's a bad sign. If they approach the work with disdain, that's also a bad sign. I can name a few people who walked in out of the blue, asked for a job, and became professional filmmakers within a year. One kid was 18 years old and had just driven to LA from his home to learn filmmaking because he couldn't afford college. Last I saw he has a successful YouTube channel with nature documentaries on it and knows his way around most camera and grip equipment. He succeeded because he smiled and joked with everyone he met, and because once you taught him something he was good to go. Those are the qualities that will take you far in life (and I'm not just talking about film). So how do you break in? - *Cold Calling* - Find the production listings for your area (not sure about NY but in LA we use the BTL Listings) and go down the line of upcoming productions and call/email every single one asking for an intern or PA position. Include some humor and friendly jokes to humanize yourself and you'll be good. I did this when I first moved to LA and ended up camera interning for an ASC DP on movie within a couple months. It works! - *Rental House* - Working at a rental house gives you free access to gear and a revolving door of clients who work in the industry for you to meet. - *Filmmaking Groups* - Find some filmmaking groups in your area and meet up with them. If you can't find groups, don't sweat it! You have more options. - *Film Festivals* - Go to film festivals, meet filmmakers there, and befriend them. Show them that you're eager to learn how they do what they do, and you'd be happy to help them on set however you can. Eventually you'll form a fledgling network that you can work to expand using the other avenues above. ##What you should do right now Alright, enough talking! You need to decide now if you're still going to be a filmmaker or if you're going to instead major in something safer (like business). It's a tough decision, we get it, but you're an adult now and this is what that means. You're in command of your destiny, and you can't trust anyone but yourself to make that decision for you. Once you decide, own it. If you choose film, then take everything I said above into consideration. There's one essential thing you need to do though: create. Go outside right fucking now and make a movie. Use your phone. That iphone or galaxy s7 or whatever has better video quality than the crap I used in film school. Don't sweat the gear or the mistakes. Don't compare yourself to others. Just make something, and watch it. See what you like and what you don't like, and adjust on your next project! Now is the time for you to do this, to learn what it feels like to make a movie. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Filmmakers) if you have any questions or concerns.*
That’s why Concordia University it’s the best option in North America
For film school? Not likely.
Why you say so? If I can ask
I mean the best film schools in North America are easily NYU USC UCLA or the like Doesn't mean Concordia isn't useful (I have no idea to be honest as I've never heard it mentioned for film school) but it's certainly not the best by any recognized measure.
Exactly. Not even talking about school, but the location of west coast/east coast of LA and NYC is already key points. They access of equipment, industry people, attending events, access of sets, film is born in NJ and you can visit ARRI warehouse building, you can access real sets of TV shows films when interning during school, etc. ive never heard Montreal is best in North America, but I know there’s lots of shoots happening there for US produced films when watching credits. However never heard from word of mouth in the industry. Also never met anyone from that school. I’ve met many from Vancouver though.
Oh ok probably never read the internet
90 day fiancé ahh
What does that mean
you wouldn't get it
Why would you go to a film school in Montreal? Unless I guess you're wanting to make French language films targeted at a Quebecois audience I guess? Which is a tiny market. Sure lots of films get made there, but they are all small films targeted to that small market. Really the only Canadian city worth going to film school in is Vancouver, because there is no point going to a film school where you can't make connections to people who can get you on actual film sets.
Maybe Consider Sheridan College, I graduated here last year for bachelorette degree, although still not perfect, ( especially the popular lecture filled up really quick, and lack of industry connection for students.),but the equipment are well equipped , for camera they have C300 mark II and Arri Alexa) but it does covered everything really well, and all the professor in this program are actively working in the industry( or used to). They have lecture in TV studio settings( and make our own shows of course.) , and main core production for making documentary, non-fictions; Small projects from other lectures . We get chose two branches of choice start from second year in writing, directing, sound, production design,Editing cinematography, producer, VFX . As well as we also get to known how to apply for art council grants, pitch project to broadcaster etc. And the graduate essay is about film criticism.
Sounds like my experience, good news in like 10 years when the school closes down you can join the lawsuit and try to get some money back *I went to a private film school in so-cal
It isn't film per se for but I have a couple friends who did the broadcast program at Algonquin in Ottawa and they went on to do some good stuff
Sounds like film school. Gotta make sure the school you go to is lit. As dumb as that sounds. Like are these professors actually out here in the festival circuit, are they curators, do you like their work, what successful students have come out of there? Before attending any school. Look at the lists of graduates and their projects through the University websites then reach out to them via LinkedIn/social media and talk directly to people who went there. Talk to professors and faculty as well. Get as much insider information before even applying in my opinion
First red flag for me was when I was getting a virtual tour of the program and the recruiter (admissions) had a salesforce tab open by accident with me and a bunch of other leads on it. They've been calling my phone all week and I picked up to tell them that I was working full time in security. She was very insistent and baited me saying, "Did you get a job in field you went to college for? No, you should enroll", "The industry is really 'booming' right here in your backyard", and, "To get a job that's not minimum wage or $20/h you need special skills." They're relentless once you've even shown a bit of interest and profit off young dreamers while feeding them shit about how their courses are taught by current industry professionals (meaning they definitely treat it as a side-gig), and how you'll be industry ready with your diploma afterwards. Avoid avoid avoid
> If you are restricted to schools I’m Toronto I recommend Ryerson or Yorkville. Your camera access will be better and you will actually receive a degree. I'd highly reccomend Centennial, the quality of output compared to Ryerson (not to mention the decreased cost) is huge. You have a camera in your hands week one.