Filmmaking School Professor Interview
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Interview with Jean-Pierre Geuens
Filmmaking School Professor
University of Southern California, Los Angeles City College and Art Center College of Design
Jean-Pierre Geuens has been instructing students about the nuances of film for more than 20 years. His career began in France and carried him to film school at UCLA, followed by a career as a cameraman, before he turned to teaching. Geuens has written many articles and one book on the subject of film—Film Production Theory—and contributed to two other books, which can be found on his website: www.rethinkcinema.com. He currently teaches at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles City College and the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. All Art Schools caught up with Geuens during finals week to pick his brain about what it takes to become successful in film school and the industry.
You teach film theory at three filmmaking schools. What are classes like?
Well, as you might expect, we watch a lot of film. Classes taught today are completely different than for previous generations. Where once we were lucky to have film prints, now there is an availability of DVDs and VHS clips for students to review. The curriculum used to be based on talking without seeing, and today students can learn by example. For bright, driven, aspiring filmmakers, it is even possible to educate themselves, without attending film school, by studying good film and DVD bonus tracks on their own. That and a good brain are the basis of a solid film education.
Do you have any advice for prospective film students?
If you want to be an independent filmmaker, the most important thing to learn is discipline and critique. You need to teach yourself to look honestly at your work. Judge its quality with impartiality. Not many people are capable of that. Unfortunately, in film school, students don't make that many films. People may spend an entire year on one short film. Why does it take a year? I'm in the minority of film professors who believe that students should be producing in film school, not polishing, changing, perfecting. Today things go fast in the film industry. Students need to learn to be quick and creative to stay in the game.
What's the most important technique to learn in filmmaking school?
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Film school is about finding out who you are, it's not just about acquiring a specific amount of knowledge or the latest techniques. You need to learn who you are, what you stand for and how good you are. Technical knowledge without the self is nothing. There are plenty of technicians in this industry; what's important is to have people with viewpoints. You need to be grounded as a person before you can be a great filmmaker.
How does grading work?
Grading is very subjective and generally very generous. At USC, people rarely flunk classes. The hardest part of film school is getting in, and once you're in, you're good enough. Grading is least important. Only parents care about degrees. Classes are generally a blend of group-based projects, personal projects and collaborations. Most people who graduate and stick with it will ultimately be working in some function on a film crew, so we try to expose students to all aspects of the industry.
What qualities should students look for in a filmmaking school?
Each school has its own style—LA is very much Hollywood, and portfolios emulate Hollywood values. NYU and UCLA have independent film programs. Other schools may be more experimental. The key is to research the schools, find their style, and match that style to your own. Students who apply generally fit the overall umbrella of the school's specialty. If the match isn't a good one, students tend to drop out or transfer. So see the films the school produces. Talk to students. Go into a classroom and spend an afternoon in class. Schools are not interchangeable, but it's not like one is better than the other. It's about where you will fit the best.
What is the hardest aspect of filmmaking school for new students?
Getting their feet on the ground. It's not easy to make a film. Right away, you discover your mistakes, and that can be overwhelming and disconcerting. During the editing process, things get complicated. You notice your mistakes. You realize that you haven't got all the shots you need, or that things aren't as you envisioned them to be. However, it's a wonderful learning process, and most people learn quickly from their mistakes while editing.
We also talk about how to avoid these mistakes in class, and learn from other's mistakes while reviewing films. It's a gradient process. Little by little you see the mistakes and rule them out in the next round. The more you produce and watch, the more you learn.
What skills do film students need to be successful in the film industry?
Skills? Who cares? Really, it's such a subjective thing. Some people will make it, others will not. It's not so much about what it takes; a lot of people have what it takes. It's about how lucky you are, or whether or not you have contacts, or if you're getting noticed. Many students I expected to do well have not, and others have done very well. There's just no way of knowing.
How do students form a network of colleagues?
That is what film school is for. USC is especially well known for that. You start working with someone, and eventually you form a small crew. During a project, you use people you can rely on—your friends. You all move up the ladder together. Working with someone you know simplifies the creative process, because you already know their personality and style.
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