If you count Martin Scorcese and Steven Spielberg among your career heroes, film school may be just the path for you to begin a filmmaking career. Beyond the director's chair, however, film school can prepare you for a variety of movie industry jobs from cinematographer, camera operator, or screenwriter to film editor or set designer, among others.

Film schools are the second step in getting your filmmaking career off the ground. The first is having the passion. For many of you, that's a no-brainer -- you were born with it. Once you've got the drive to pursue a filmmaking career, there's no substitute for thorough, hands-on training to perfect your craft.

Keeping the Big Picture In Mind at Film School
Film schools focus directly on what it takes for you to compete in the exciting, yet highly competitive, marketplace of movies. There are many people who would love a filmmaking career, but the people who attend film schools possess that extra education edge. Not only that, they also gain valuable hands-on experience in studios, on the set of movies, behind the camera, and in the editing room. All of the details behind your favorite movies -- the ones that inspired you in the first place -- are to be found in the halls of film schools.

Film degrees can be attained from colleges and universities, but students also have the option to attend specialized film schools for a more intense and condensed film study. The draw of a great film school is the chance to collaborate with classmates and create film projects hands on, not to mention network with industry contacts.

Graduates of film schools should expect to live in major motion picture towns, such as Hollywood or New York City, as that's where the majority of filmmaking takes place. It's also becoming more vital for those seeking filmmaking careers to learn and keep up with new digital technologies in the field.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, wage and salary employment in the motion picture and video industries is projected to grow 11 percent between 2006 and 2016.
Film schools offer an environment where you'll be side by side with students just like you, working with peers who will push you to achieve your best. There is no better way to motivate you and to further your craft than to be in the company of healthy, strong competition. In addition, film schools can offer you training on the ever-evolving technology behind filmmaking. With digital technologies growing in leaps and bounds, you'll need this knowledge to compete in the field. Not to mention that it's not only what you know, it's who you know. Film schools provide a great haven for networking. Establishing good relationships with faculty and peers will pave the way to a successful filmmaking career upon graduation.