How to Prepare for Filmmaking School

1. Find Your Style

Jean-Pierre Geuens, filmmaking school professor and author of Film Production Theory, exhorts each student to choose a school that fits his or her personal style. So take the time before your classes start to develop your style and envision your future in the industry. Are you into indie, blockbuster or experimental films? Do you prefer working on commercials, shorts, music videos or feature films? Matching your style to your filmmaking school's specialty will ensure that you can stay interested, meet the right contacts and achieve the most success.

2. Zoom Out

Once you have a feel for your preferences, the temptation is to focus only on what interests you: your specific genre, style or job title. But even though keeping a hold on your personal creative flare is important, any good filmmaking school will challenge you to broaden your perspective—to imagine yourself as an actor, writer, set builder or crew member. One of the greatest benefits of filmmaking school is the opportunity you'll have to get a feel for the film industry as a whole and learn how to maneuver within it.

3. Exercise Your Inner Couch Potato

There is almost nothing more embarrassing than having to answer your professor at filmmaking school with "No, I haven't seen that film." So you might as well find a comfortable place on the couch. Take the opportunity you have now to watch all the classic, cult and blockbuster movies you can. And pay attention to the script, acting, scenery, effects and cinematography as you watch. You may stop short of taking notes on each one, but do get used to assessing films based on their creative and historic elements.

4. Focus Your Lenses

The greatest filmmakers have eyes that never rest. They live their art by looking for inspiration in everyday activities. Beautiful arrangements of objects, positioning of actors, viewpoints and color schemes can be inspired by something as simple as a trip to the supermarket or a bus ride in the city. Start a journal where you jot down or sketch your ideas. Filmmaking school will give you ample opportunity to turn these simple musings into movies!

5. Keep Filmmaking School in Perspective

A film degree will set you apart as a job applicant and help you build on the lessons of decades of directors, producers and cinematographers. Of course, there will always be an Alfred Hitchcock who can win worldwide favor without any formal training. But instead of forgoing the education that can help you gain contacts and refine your style, let those success stories inspire you to continue building on and adding to their legacy, both in filmmaking school and beyond.

Your time at filmmaking school has the potential to shape your career and form your future. Get started right by defining your style, experiencing the greats and exercising your filmmaking vision. Who knows? Maybe the idea you jot down now might become a film that has you writing an acceptance speech in five years.