You’ve probably heard all sorts of things over the years about film school. Some think it’s a waste of time and money, while others believe it’s essential for anyone serious about a career in filmmaking. So, is film school worth it? Should you go to film school to advance your career?

 

We believe that there are some compelling reasons why aspiring filmmakers should consider going to film school. Attending film school can be a great way to jumpstart your filmmaking career. Here are some of the benefits of attending film school that can help you make your decision.

 

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

 

For aspiring film professionals, attending a film school is one of the most valuable investments you can make. Film students get to take part in challenging, practical classes taught by knowledgeable experts. This offers an invaluable opportunity to obtain specific skills and build a strong foundation that prepares you for many avenues of success.

You’re given the opportunity to immerse yourself in the experience of film production, all within a structured and intensive environment. Additionally, the specialized knowledge gained from film school grants you access to a range of opportunities and connections that might not have been available without such training.

 

 

CREATIVE COMMUNITY

 

The value of a strong and successful alumni and student community cannot be understated. Not only does it fuel your inner fire and determination to graduate from your program, it also reflects the benefits that film school provides in helping you achieve your career goals in the industry.

Taking all these into account, aspiring filmmakers should evaluate if attending film school is worth the time and money. Odds are that it will be a fruitful move for any creative professional’s career!

 

 

ENVIRONMENT

 

Learning from experienced and knowledgeable instructors in an organized environment often accelerates your development faster than self-learning through trial-and-error. Additionally, having access to production equipment and a space designated for learning is far more convenient and cost effective as compared to collecting gear independently. This enables you to easily develop practical, in-demand skills in directing, cinematography, editing, producing, writing, operating the camera and capturing professional audio.

 

 

INSIDER CONNECTIONS

 

Film Production students tend to get a well-rounded learning experience at film school. Besides the technical training, students have the opportunity to collaborate with aspiring industry peers both on-set and beyond. This experience is an invaluable asset for those looking to get their foot in the door in the notoriously competitive industry. With all the resources available at film schools, aspiring filmmakers should seriously consider this path if they are interested in making a career out of their creative dreams.

 

 

INTENSE INDUSTRY TRAINING

 

As current students already know, you must be ready for an intense, but rewarding experience when you enroll in a film program. Film school gives you the opportunity to gain a wealth of knowledge and experience quickly and efficiently. Because of this, it’s important to take advantage of your time as a film student. Make an effort to take in as much knowledge as you can from class exercises, instructors and guest speakers. Your hard work and determination will pay off and give you a head start when you enter the industry after graduation!

Speaking of instructors and guest speakers, you will get the chance to network with mentors and other industry leaders. This will give you invaluable connections as you set out into the industry. With knowledge of filmmaking techniques from experts, access to advanced filming equipment and a built-in support system, you will certainly reap immense benefits by learning filmmaking at film school.

 

 

SHOULD YOU GO TO FILM SCHOOL?

 

Film school is the ready-made perfect path for aspiring creatives to start off their careers in the film industry. It promises an intense educational experience which focuses not only on theoretical knowledge, but also technical and practical skills. All of which of course contribute to producing well-versed filmmakers who can hit the ground running after graduation. Working in film can provide not only satisfaction, but gratification, recognition and pride. But the key to success in this exciting field is dedication, training and hands-on experience.

 

Investing the time to attend a film school will help you develop the knowledge, artistry, and technique you need to build a successful career in the film industry. While there is no guarantee that attending film school will land you your dream job, it can certainly give you a significant advantage. There are pros and cons to attending film school, and ultimately the decision comes down to your individual circumstances.

 

THE BOTTOM LINE

 

In summary, attending film school is a great way to network, learn filmmaking, grow as an artist, and make connections. Plus, studying at film school can be an enlightening journey that helps you gain confidence and take pride in your creative output. All of these advantages of attending film school makes it a worthwhile experience for anyone who seeks a career in filmmaking!

 

 

 

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As we look forward to a new year, we’d like to take a moment to look back at some milestones throughout 2022. Students at InFocus had a jam-packed school year filled with hands-on learning, collaborative projects, workshops and networking opportunities. Keep reading our 2022 Year In Review to hear about some of the highlights from this past year!

 

Each and every year our students go above and beyond, creating memorable films, screenplays, visual effects and digital designs that help set the stage for a rewarding career in the cinematic & digital arts. Our campus is full of excitement, creativity and unwavering determination, all set against a backdrop of talented, up-and-coming professionals. Students across all of our programs took on the challenge of amplifying their careers with leading career training from industry professionals. Let’s revisit some highlights from 2022 that made this year so memorable!

 

AWARD-WINNING STUDENT FILMS

We’re always excited for our Film Production students to present their final films during their graduation screenings! In 2022 we saw some amazing films from students in classes FP56, FP57 and FP58. These films not only showcase the skill and unwavering creativity of our students, they’re also a treat to sit back and enjoy after a busy term!

 

 

Philia – Jonas Pascual

From FP56, Jonas Pascual started off our 2022 with his Audience Award Winning short film called Philia.

This short film tells the story of a lonely queer guy who crafted a seemingly perfect relationship with doll version of the guy that rejected him. The line between love and obsession, reality and delusion start to blur. During the graduation screening of student films from FP56, Philia captivated audience members with its unique look at the mania of love.

 

Churi – Namit Kataria

Namit Kataria from created his Audience Award Winning film Churi during his time in the Film Production program. Churi tells the story of a young man in Canada missing his Indian home. He struggles to stay positive in the face of his daily life at a hardworking job. Remembering the comforts of his childhood, he makes a traditional Punjabi sweet called Churi, just like his mother used to make.

 

 

Memory Lane – Ed Alexander

In our graduation screening for our last graduating class of 2022, a horror film became the audience favourite of the evening.

Ed Alexander‘s Memory Lane depicts the story of an amnesiac who is trapped inside a Hellish simulation. She must battle the ghosts of her past – and search for an exit – as she slowly learns her true identity. Surely, this was a student film that had many of us gripping the edge of our seats by the end!

 

 

VALÉCIA PÉPIN: $10,000 SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

 

When it comes to the power of storytelling in film, Valécia Pépin emerged on our radar as a force to be reckoned with! When selecting a winner of our biggest scholarship of the year, Valécia’s story and creative vision got our attentions. Originally born in Haiti, Valécia was adopted at nine-months old by a family in Quebec City. She later moved to Edmonton, Alberta before starting her journey at InFocus Film School in Vancouver. Her short film Illusion: The Fear documents her own experience as a young woman struggling to free herself from being exploited by a pimp. Valécia has begun to share her story through film in order to help spread awareness about this taboo subject.

 

“I can help, I can share, I can listen. People will come to me and tell me I went through this, or my sister, or my child, or my nephew.  If someone told me how these things happen, or saw it on TV, I would know the red flags and be aware. I want to spread awareness on this whole world.”

Her dedication and hard work has got her so far already. We cannot wait to see what she accomplishes during her time at InFocus Film School!

 

 

GRAPHIC DESIGN THAT WINS AWARDS

 

In case you didn’t know, we don’t just train for the film industry here at InFocus Film School. In fact, we couldn’t be more proud of students in our Graphic Design program this year! When it comes to student success, five of our students had the great fortune of placing in the Graphis New Talent 2022 Annual this year, allowing them to jumpstart their design careers straight out of school.

Adrienne Noble was awarded Gold (Logo Design) in this year’s Graphis New Talent Annual. Adrienne created her winning logo in our Adobe Illustrator class with Graphic Design Program Head Leila Singleton.

 

“Finding out that I won GOLD in Graphis Annual’s 2022 New Talent Division was like a huge warm hug from the multiverse! Lelia trusted me and helped to squash my new designer insecurities and imposter syndrome! The InFocus instructors are passionate and caring. They provide a real working knowledge of the tools that are required to succeed as a graphic designer”.

On top of this, graphic design students this year also received honorable mentions at the Graphis New Talent Annual. Highlighted artwork from Graphic Design alumni includes a second logo design, posters and even stationary design!

 

LEARNING FROM INDUSTRY LEADERS

 

Another source of excitement for InFocus Film School this year was getting the opportunity to work with Norm Hiscock. With his impressive career spanning the roles of producer, screenwriter & director, Norm partnered with InFocus for a series of online seminars about his work as a comedy screenwriter for Parks and Recreation.

 

 

On Parks and Recreation, Hiscock found that keeping a fun set was important to the experience of shooting Parks and Recreation. Then again, working with Nick Offerman (who plays the memorable Ron Swanson) would do that!

“I learned how to write for different kinds of comedy voices and the importance of collaboration. King of the Hill also taught me what elements contribute to a good story and how to fully develop characters, even if they are animated.”

 

EDUCATION THAT LEADS TO EMPLOYMENT

 

The most exciting thing for us at InFocus Film School is seeing our students’ careers flourish after graduation. Some of our Film Production and VFX Compositing students go on to find employment with some of the industry’s biggest studios!

Our VFX Compositing program launched the careers of so many artists this year. For example, Sara Milosavic from COMP10 went on to join Gneiss Stuff VFX as a Compositor. Grace Wang and Mason Maroufi from COMP11 were both hired by Distillery VFX as Junior Compositors. Harkeerat Singh went on to employment at Luma Studios as a Roto/Paint Artist.

 

 

From our Film Production program, many students went on to work on various short and feature film productions. Others found employment through various studios and production companies. Most recently, Jesse Hart from FP53 found full-time employment at Netflix as a Post Producer! On top of this, Brynne Forrest from FP50 joined Deena Media as an Editor this year. Meanwhile, Jelica Rojas from FP56 became part of Make Believe Media as an Assistant Producer.

 

And just like that, we add another amazing year to the books! InFocus Film School continues to grow each year as we help launch the careers of up-and-coming artists and filmmakers. With a new year ahead, we’re exciting to see what creative adventures our students get up to next!

 

 

Related Articles:

InFocus Film School – Film Production Program

InFocus Film School – Graphic + Digital Design Program

Graphis New Talent Annual 2022 Awards Five InFocus Graphic Design Alumni

Parks and Recreation Writer Norm Hiscock Talks About Becoming A Comedy Writer

Valécia Pépin InFocus Film School $10,000 Scholarship Winner