How am I suposed to keep up with a Princeton film student?

#1

Hi

I came upon some Princeton book recomendations and other stuff.They have a map for their library.My town does not have a map made yet and the library there in Princeton has,and you actually have directions go here,go there,that guide you to get to the book you look for.

I am going to film school this year october,so the question is

What can i do to keep up with such students? I don’t want when i get 25 or 30 and a princeton guy stands up next to me,and i to feel like s*** when he starts talking or working.

So please help what to do

thanks

#2

it has nothing to do with what school you went to or anything like that.
its based on your skill level and determination. Just practice whenever you get the chance. try to learn something new each day.
just stay with it and keep your chin up and most importantly set your sets high and you will become 10x better than any Princeton student.

Good luck with everything!

#3

Hi

First of all NEVER compare yourself to other as you will always find someone who is better than you at this or that. BE the best you can be and be yourself. Never get imtimidated by what others say or do or even from a precieved idea. Your thinking is that JUST coz he went to Princeton that automatically mades him a better person and his work far better than yours. HOGWASH.

You learn in the way that is best for you and learn to the best of your ability. Don’t settle for been a carbon copy of another person as you will never be satisfied. Your gifts and talents are just that- YOURS not anyone else. You are a totally unique person with your own talents and gifts. Use those and let others follow YOU.

Kev

#4

Hi!

I do not agree with allwritey that you never have to compare yourself with people who are better then you at what you do… You should… but not let that take you down after the comparison you should be motivated to put in that little bit more work to try and get at that next level.

But at the same time you should compare yourself with other people who do make a living out of what you do but are not that good as you… those are hard to find at first but when you get better you can see yourself go up in the ranks.

And while it is a treasure to have a library that needs a map. All that info, there are lots of students that will come there no more then twice while still doing the courses, so that makes then stupid not using a resource like that library and also quite lazy, that you see how valueable a library like that is already states that you have more motivation and probably a higher level of thinking than the prats I was speaking about earlier.

So you got nothing to worry about… If you put in the work and time, you can be great too and because you have to work for your information you will probably be better then those who could simply go to the till and ask for that data.

Good luck with learning!

#5

I didn’t think of this point!!! Most people just get depressed when they compare themselves to other and allow it to get them down and demotivate them. How if you can let the comments just wash off you and use them as a measuring stick then yes you can grow and improve.

Kev

#6

I think I read that James Cameron majored in something like Physics - and I recall reading once that Paul Verhoeven majored in some form of math as well.

While I’m not knocking film schools (I have a BFA in Photography & filmmaking), success isn’t measured (or even started) in the degree - it’s a starting point.

There are more “directors” graduating from Film Schools that never go on to “direct” ANYTHING than “do”. You’re going there to learn theory, the language of film (which is different than stage, which is a little different from TV and music videos), etc.

Your school will supply you with a camera to use, and you need to shoot shoot shoot! Don’t stop! Figure out stories that are smart (start short), write scripts or have someone you think is good (or would be good) to write them (again, start short), and shoot them. Each time, you’ll get better. You’ll know how you would have done “this” or “that” better - and next time you WILL.

Learn from those who inspire you, don’t copy other people’s work (there’s too much of that), find your own original voice and style, and understand - as was stated above - that someone out there will ALWAYS be better at it than you are, and that’s just fine.

Good luck, hope this helps - and shoot shoot shoot!
-Lew :wink:

#7

Film school choice doesn’t have much bearing on your success as a filmmaker. Here in Los Angeles there are several outstanding film schools, American Film Institute, UCLA, University of Southern California.

In spite of all these heavy hitters, a disproportionately large number of people working in film and TV went to Cal. State Northridge – a lesser known film school. And many of them are very successful (and have lower student loans to pay back).

#8

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