Education & Reference Higher Education (University +)
I want to be a film maker and make short films... Should I major in film?
I want to write my movie and pick my characters,and maybe even direct my movies.....
Should I major in film and be a film major and if so what do you do after you graduate?How do I I start my passion? Do I start alone and get a side job or are there any film companies I can write movies for???
Best Answer: It sounds like you want to be a writer, because you wrote "maybe even direct my movies..... " As far as picking characters, do you mean writing characters or casting actors in roles? Casting director is a job.
If you really want to direct, film school is the way to go. If you want to write, then study screenwriting in college. Often writers end up directing.
You look for a job after you graduate. Your college should have a placement office to help.
Screenwriting is a very competitive profession. You will need to do other jobs along the way. My assistant is an aspiring screenwriter.
Typically how you start is by writing a spec script which you try to sell through an agent. Production companies and studios do not accept scripts from anyone but legitimate agents. It's very difficult to be hired onto a tv show until you're experienced. However, there are intern writer jobs. The competition is very tough, but it's worth applying, once you're ready.
If you have a camera, start filming now. Get some friends together and have them act in short films. Don't write up a full script, but more of an idea and outline and have them improve the lines. Then edit the film. It will be good experience and you will learn alot. If you have a mac, you already have film editing software. You should be able to find cheap windows software. This may give you an idea of what you're really interested in.
Having multiple scripts to show is great for a couple reasons. First, it shows that you are serious about being a writer. Second, it gives you more examples to show of your talent. And third, the more examples you have, the more possibilities your have to sell something.
There are people who make a living writing original screenplays. There are others who work steadily as "script doctors" who polish existing scripts. Then there are writers who are able to take that skill and make the jump into directing.
Thousands of aspiring filmmakers graduate from the 700+ worldwide filmschools every year and only a scant percentage of them are able to claim that the film industry provides them with their primary income. And only a very small percentage of those ever get to direct a film. And only scant few of those get to direct more than one movie in their life. So the odds are extremely small that you will get to do this for a living. Not impossible, but definitely very difficult.
Make sure your scripts are as good as they can be. Then, work to get them noticed by an established and reputable agent. Most professional Producers and studios will NOT even consider looking at unsolicited material. It MUST be submitted by an Agent. That affords the studio/Producer a measure of legal protection and it gives you a level of credibility (that someone else has recognized your talent). And outside of working for an Ad Agency or in a marketing department, there aren't likely to be companies who are going to hire you to write screenplays for them. It doesn't work like that.
So how do you even start? Start writing today. Don't wait for filmschool before you begin. Start small, by writing a few short stories in screenplay format. That will help you get comfortable with the style and format that is standard in the professional industry. Starting with smaller shorter stories also helps you to hone in on characters and plot so you learn how to get to the point quickly without extraneous scenes, dialogue, and characters. Once you feel you've grasped those concepts, begin work on the longer form screenplays.
To get you started, there are a couple of resources that I HIGHLY recommend you read. They are listed below.
In terms of what to study in school, by all means, choose a school that offers screenwriting courses. You likely should NOT major in filmmaking, but instead, concentrate more on topics that interest you, like Sociology, History, Political Science, and Business. Minor in Film/TV if you need to in order to take the classes, but you don't want to hyper-focus on filmmaking classes. As an aspiring writer, you need something to write ABOUT! Film/TV courses will teach you about film theory and some practical production, but as a writer, you need a broader base of knowledge so that your original stories and characters have a background that isn't film-centric.
Given that, you MAY want to find a filmschool with a strong screenwriting program. For the most complete worldwide list of filmschools offered anywhere, go to  and click on the "Filmschools" link at the top of the page. You can search by location and easily find all of the schools available along with their current contact information. Research the schools that interest you then contact them with questions regarding your specific situation. Don't just take their word for it either... if possible, contact alumni to find out what they thought of their education. This is no small thing... you are investing thousands of dollars into YOUR own education and YOU need to make sure that you are spending your money as wisely as possible.
No one can tell you what school is best for YOU. That's something only you can decide for yourself. On