Is Film School Worth It? (From an NYU Tisch graduate) 

Thank you to everyone who has come across this video, especially those that have subscribed. As I grow my channel, I’m curious what sort of film-related content you’re looking to see more of. I’m open to anything, and would love to hear in the comments below. Some ideas to consider: -Film School talk -Screenwriting technique -Production advice -Film gear -Artist’s inner journey (reflective talks) -My narrative/documentary work -Job/Creativity balance (finances vs art) I appreciate all your input. Sincerely, Ehud

Totally agree. I'm a psych student at NYU Shanghai and I took several courses at Tisch. If you are really self-dependent, you don't need film school at all. But I like how you say "that's a BIG if". Very True. People tend to overestimate their independence and self-discipline. Personally, I love how film school provides the environment that pushes you to work harder and gets you surrounded by useful feedbacks. Also, most film projects are team work. It's easier to find a good teammate in good film schools. That being said, yes, it's so expensive.

I loved the analogy of film school being like a personal trainer. This is the best advice video about film school I've seen.

I shot a low budget feature film in 4 - 12 hour days called REZ DOGS. My cousin went to Tisch and they are usually pretty snoobby. She said I needed a crew and a big budget. hahah got it done with what I had. Won 4 awards for best feature and got my film career kickstarted. Just go out and shoot.

This really helped me. I got accepted into USC this fall for an MFA in writing for screen and television. I'm feeling more encouraged in myself and my own work after getting accepted and, after careful consideration, decided to not go to film school. Since it's a creative craft, I felt more assured that I just needed the confidence in myself and my work to push forward on my own.

very honest, raw, and coming from someone who has been there and experienced the quite tormenting 18 yr old experience of laying out your life's plan and goals. This was nice good on you and thank u

Best video I’ve literally ever seen about film school

"It's better to have those outside perspective, then to be stuck in your own head... Love that!" 💯👆🏾🤔

Thanks very much for making this video. I've been yearning to get started in this industry for 2 years, in that time I've written and storyboarded a short film. But I keep running into issues when I look at how much it would cost for me to move to Toronto, Vancouver, or USA for film school, especially when I have a very clear vision of the work I'd like to do. It is very encouraging to hear from someone today that while it is A way, it is not the ONLY way of pursuing a career in film. Thank you!

I've just accepted my offer to Tisch film- I'm definitely excited but also nervous as hell (will be moving from Australia). Thanks for this video, insights like yours are hard to come by!

This is easily the best video I have seen so far about whether film school is worth it. Every other video either says it’s great or it’s a waste of time and money

Dude this was golden.

Hey! I love filmmaking and storytelling, that’s for sure my passion. I would love to explore my creativity and work in the entertainment business. My biggest concern, though, is that I don’t know exactly what type of films I would like to work with, I don’t have a complete artistic view. I think of film school as a way of finding and developing my artistic view, storytelling habilities... It would be all about cultivating myself. Would a film school be worth it? Can a film school really make me able to discover with kind of storyteller I am? Or should I know it before going to it?

Thank you for this honest assessment of film school. It was straight to the point and gave a realistic view of how to attack the decision of whether to go to film school or not. In addition, there just seems to be so many ways to get into creative media these days, that one just needs to do some research and as you said, be passionate. Again, thank you!

After that first question, I knew this was going to be a genuinely insightful video.

You have made it so clear. Not going to a film school and to learn the craft of film making on your own is for very few people. I want your views on - students who pass out from top film schools in US , where do they end up in next 5 years.

great points and video. thanks!

Facing the exact situation right now , appreciate your insightful content ✌🏻

This was incredibly helpful and insightful. Thank you so, so much.

Did you say $300,000 ?

This was helpful, thank you.

Love this, bro!

This was helpful

Cool!

Hi! this video was really very helpful and insightful, I belong to a middle class family from India, and in no way can I afford film school even with a 50% scholarship. I have decided my vision as filmmaker but what I believe is, and in fact many film graduates would say this in favour of film school is that it helps you in networking with different people from the industry. How do I build that network without a film school? is that even possible? I had many questions which i wanted to talk about with someone as sensible as you, is it possible to have a conversation somewhere else than a comment section? Thanks.

Thank you for the explanations! Would you know anything about the NYU MFA in Screenwriting? I'm doing some researches and would love to know more about it.

You are on some tru tru tru points

That was golden man. Quick question, do you think that going to an affordable filmschool such as Concordia (as a canadian citizen all i get to pay is 3k$) are an in-between solution? or do you think it’s really not gonna get me very far because of its local - artsy - indie approach?

I have to ask if I live in Toronto, Ontario and I want to go to NYU in Manhattan, what ar sky chances of getting in.

Helpful ❤️

what was your knowledge and experience with film before you started film school? did you have an expansive knowledge of writing and films before you started?

Hey there, i've just discovered your video so I am really late... but maybe someone still reads this: I'm graduating this summer and I always wanted to go to New York to study acting. But the mentioned financial aspect is a constant question, if I should actually pursue this path. Besides the fact that my parents want me to do something more stable, would you recommend studying something related to my passion and focus on making my dream come true, to work as an actress, in my free time? I'd say I am independent and my biggest goal is to study in NY as an international student, so could this be something that is worth it, instead of spending so much money on film school? And thank you for this video, it gave me a lot of input to think about and answered a few of my consistent questions!!!

I loved this video. Does it also apply to actresses? 😅

Hey I am from India , I am planning to come to New York and study at nyfa , what is your opinion on nyfa ? Is it a good school ?would it give bang for buck ? I would be taking 8 week classes for direction and 8 week for screenwriting and 8 week for acting and 8 week photography.

I just got into nyu on financial aid, is film school worth it for making connections and building a resume??

you look like you should be the 3rd Safdie brother lol

Got to make an update 5 years after you graduate... it's not worth it. Investing that tuition... living your life... is way more worth it. If you want to rely on yourself, the same way Michael Burry invested in himself(invest in equities... just invest your film school tuition in yourself, not NYU. Masterclass is better than 4 years of Tisch Undergrad... I did both(Tisch and Masterclass) I also graduated in 2007; when the WGA went on strike, so 93% of their guild could afford to be out of work most the time. The getting students outside of Tisch to work on you student films is new... like post 2009; when a film student died, and that student died from a non Tisch "hire" not being technically skilled. It's academic fraud for nobody in the industry to care what school you went to... any other College in a University in all other industries, do care what school you have gone to. NYU Film at Tisch is just fraud. Simply put. As as Tyler Perry put it, the most despicable people are those who can't understand other's "suffering", which is who NYU Tisch accepts. Only 7% of the WGA has what the top screenwriters and producers deem as talent. Only 7% of WGA screenwriters are even in demand at any given time; at that was in 2012... there abouts... it's probably less now.