movie making on my own

   The purpose of this blog is to chronicle my journey, or lack there of, on learning the ropes of filmmaking and things related.  I’ve recently dropped out of college and I’ve got to do something with all this newly acquired free time.  I do work but it’s at one of those hourly wages, joe-jobs.  So it’s not very intellectually stimulating and it leaves me with a lot of extra time on my hands.  Thus the need to journey forth and learn something creative that will give me the worth required to earn this space I occupy on earth and all the nice air I keep using up everyday. 

   My idea is simple.  Read articles, books, and message boards about the various facets of moviemaking, watch a bunch of movies (which I’d be doing anyway), and practice with my little camera.  This will kind of simulate film school which, after going to for a year, is basically just that.  You read about the topic, you take a camera out and practice, you watch movies.  Then you think about all these things and write about them and get a grade.  It’s a pretty simple process and in today’s world it’s possible to do for free, minus the grade.  The difference is you don’t get that pretty little piece of paper at the end to verify to the world that you are not a complete moron and were able to finish a degree. There’re arguments for and against striving to get that little piece of paper. 

   Even as I scorn it, I’m actually more for it than against it and will continue school to get my little piece of paper at some point in the next decade.  However, whether you’re for film school or against it, there’s a definite advantage to be actively practicing and researching on your own.  You can’t learn everything you need to know in the classroom.  There simply isn’t enough time.  I also find that the things I learn on my own, for my own reasons, I will remember a lot longer than anything from out of classroom.  Thus, I think this self-schooling idea is logical.  I know, it’s really not that novel an idea.  People have been thinking similar things since the early 90s.

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