Hi, my daughter just got accepted at Tisch (off the waitlist) but got zero $$$$ in scholarships or grants. She is going into Film and had other very generous offers (80-90)% at less well known schools. We were planning to use the extra money saved to make a decent film as her calling card (she wants to be a director). We can afford Tisch but that will probably leave no money for the film she wanted to make. Any thoughts?
If somebody gave your daughter $50K today to make a film, would she have any idea how to spend it? Would it result in a great film? Would that film make her one of the less than 5% of Tisch film grads who ever go on to direct a feature? Would it even make her one of the 20% who are even working in the industry 10 years after graduation?
Money doesn’t make great films, and great films don’t necessarily get one employment.
I think it really depends on the programs at the lesser known schools. I transferred to Tisch from a smaller school with a more “experimental” program. Unlike my former school, every intermediate and advanced production at Tisch has a full crew with the proper equipment and proper training provided by the school. Other schools may just rent out a random camera to a director that films his or her thesis the way somebody would film a YouTube video.
Films are expensive, but having now directed commercial projects after graduation, I can tell you the most important and most expensive element is people. At Tisch, you’re getting some of the best people for absolutely free. For instance, DPs at NYU go through a comprehensive cinematography curriculum, and are provided with at least somewhat adequate equipment by the school (this is if you don’t decide to rent). Moreover, you’ll receive the proper training as a director to work with DPs, actors, editors, sound designers, etc…
If the lesser known schools offer this, I’d say go for it. Nobody really cares where you went to school after you graduate. Many of my colleagues who went to lesser-known schools are doing far better than my Tisch classmates.
NYU gives you $500-$1500 in addition to equipment depending on the class. Most people put some of their own money into it, but it’s not necessary, and doesn’t necessarily make better films.
Also, putting all of your money into a film, is kind of like putting all your eggs in one basket. Maybe you’ll mess up on your film. This happens all the time, and I actually used to make money editing films for students who were too embarrassed to look at the results of their failed films, but needed to complete them for a grade.
Short films are kind of a dead end. They never make money, and virtually nobody hires narrative directors fresh out of film school. The fact that you can tell a compelling story with a $50K budget (maybe $150K if people were getting paid) is irrelevant because few people will put you in charge of that kind budget right out of school.
If you’re applying for an associate producer job, they might look at your film as proof that you can logistically manage a large project, but if that’s your end goal, there are much more cost-effective ways of pursuing it.
So I guess to sum up this long post, I’d say make films, don’t spend thousands on expensive cameras and sets you don’t need, learn, and have fun, while also starting to pursue client work. The fact that I’d done even very low budget corporate work while in school was far more instrumental to me gaining employment, than if I’d spent five figures on a thesis (I made mine for less than $1K).
If you’re worried about having extra money, you don’t have to worry. Many people have to freelance for at least several years before they can make remotely enough money to actually support themselves without any kind of parental support.
Let me know if you have anymore questions.
Hi, a lot of information to take in. I am glad you managed to have some success after Tisch . Would you care to comment on why you think colleagues from lesser known schools are doing far better than some of your Tisch schoolmates although in the beginning you made it sound like Tisch provides some great training and also great people? It sounds like the two contradict each other.