film studies

projectmayhem

i'm not quite sure if this is the right forum to post this but a mod can move it if need be.

i was searching around (rather lazily, granted) for night courses in Dublin for film. i have dilusions of directing (with quite a bit of interest) but quitting computer science right now would have wasted quite a bit of time and would probably send my parents into orbit with fury. so anyone know of any good night courses in film or film directing?

any help would be nice. thanks..

ObeyGiant

Originally posted by projectmayhem
i was searching around (rather lazily, granted) for night courses in Dublin for film. i have dilusions of directing (with quite a bit of interest) but quitting computer science right now would have wasted quite a bit of time and would probably send my parents into orbit with fury. so anyone know of any good night courses in film or film directing?

any help would be nice. thanks..

I'm not a director, nor do I have any aspirations of becoming one. So you should take what I say with a pinch of salt.

Courses in "Film Studies" are mainly only useful to journalists, focusing primarily on analysing existing films, taking them apart for subtexts, narrative structure etc. Not particularly useful if you want to get into making movies.

Courses in actual filmmaking (such as the ones taught out in Dun Laoghaire) are more useful, but mainly only because they give you free access to a range of expensive equipment. Apart from that, the only real function they seem to serve is to give people a taste of the beurocracy involved in getting a film made, instead of teaching them how to make good films. (This is based on talking to a few friends who studied film in DL - it seemd to do little more than break their spirit).

I'd suggest your best bet would be to pick up some cheap, second-hand equipment and start making your own movies. Perhaps pick up a copy of The Guerilla Film maker's Handbook if you feel like you need some semi-professional advice.

John

Also, keep an eye on the IFI's website as they do the odd workshop. Although like ObeyGiant I'm not any form of expert. I'd consider finishing your current computer science course and then deciding what to do as film equipment is expensive so you might need to get a steady income. Oh and if you're in a college that has a filmmakers society, join it as they'll have lots of equipment for you to learn how to use and hopefully you'll get some good experience and advice.

smiaras

This post has been deleted.

BlitzKrieg

On night Courses, cant help you, i've been on a few summer courses when i was younger the best bet is to look at colleges and universities that do film studies normally and see if they have a night scheduale.



i'm a film studant myself but for the best on offer your gonna need to pack your bags and head abroad, i'm in APU in Cambridge which has an amazing film course because its a combination of both the journalistic elements and the practical. Unlike Trinity and most other film courses which only do practical year for one semester in the third year (or something similar) APU runs it through the entire 3 years with studants encouraged to tack on one or two practical modules a semester. Practical's include digital filmmaking, documantaries, animation and 16 mm filmmaking. Screenwriting, adaptation and short/feature length scripting. The course can also becombined with an almost unlimited selection. For example my combination is Film Studies and 20th Century European History and Politics. I think only 3 people do that exact course.

So if you want to keep your current study but combine it with film studies this would be your best bet. it would also be the most expensive sadly.

neXus9

Saw an ad for a new college that do multimedia evening courses in stuff like film, photo editing and cgi development (3d studio max). This course seems interesting. Bit too late for it though.

mycroft

1. Be leery of private colleges, often you'll spend more than the course is worth.

2. The IFI does an introduction to filmaking course spread over a few weekends.

3. Read Robert Rodriguez's rebel without a crew and get inspired.

Finally, and I hate to be blunt. Lots of people want to work in the industry, lots of people want to direct. If you're interested and commited to becoming a filmaker you'll have plenty of barriers in the way. To be honest if you're faltering now because of your parents opinion, you may want to reconsider.

BlitzKrieg

Also read Kris Malkiewicz book on cinematography to get an impression of the opposite spectrum to Rodriguez (i.e all the paperwork proper channels etc explained in detail) if it still looks exciting after that then you might have a chance.

mycroft

Christ give the guy a break!

I would not recommend Malkiewicz's book to a novice. It's an excellent book, but at great depth, not knowing where to start and suddenly finding out about ASA and filters, is overwhelming. Get your feet wet. Buy Film Ireland, find out about a short or a feature thats starting. One is filming at the mo "boys eats girl" ask to come out to set.

Consider a course, and consider whether you'd be commited, long ago my tutor told us that only two people in my class would still be working in film in 10 years time**. It's a really tough industry.

** though in a postive note of the two years I was there there are about 8 people I know from my college making a goodish living in the industry

callmescratch

here's what i could find on the nightcourses.com site.
the second one listed looks the most promising i'd say. 4 years part time in the dublin business school.

herobear

yep DBS have a good film department, i studied introduction to film there last year as part of a full time 1 year course i was studying there, i personally really enjoyed it and am thinking about going back in october to study fulltime BA in FilmStudies, be aware that you will have to choose 2 other subjects on top of film studies(afaik, not too sure about night course)and also that it is a private college =/.
if i were you i'd just goto to the ifi bookshop oneday, get a copy of sight and sound and film ireland and have a look through any books you see there that might interest you, that can be for starters anyway.

Retr0gamer

Wasters!

Do a real course and get a real job that doesn't gaurentee a place in the queue out side the post office every thursday.

Elessar

Colaiste Dhulaigh in Coolock does a 2 year film production course. There are no requirements other than an interview and portfolio. From what I hear it's a fantastic course and has had numerous successful people in it (including Damien O'Donnell BAFTA award winner and one of the guys who wrote Father Ted). Well, at least I'll find out in September

mycroft

Do a real course and get a real job that doesn't gaurentee a place in the queue out side the post office every thursday.

Much as I'd like to take career advice for a computer game plumber, I did a film course, do have a real job in my choosen industry.

You're the kind of person who at the age of seventeen looks at a cao form and thinks "you know I fancy being an accountant"

has had numerous successful people in it (including Damien O'Donnell BAFTA award winner and one of the guys who wrote Father Ted). Well, at least I'll find out in September

Neither of the guys from ted went to dulaigh. Damien definetly went to DIT where he and several fellow class mates set up clingfilms which went on to make 35 a side (very good short film) and most of the good Irish music videos of the early nineties.

Dulaigh is a good school, theres the potential to go onto wolverhampton to study tv technology, multimedia, or experimental filmaking as a add on degree. A few friends of mine went there some of themare doing very well for themselves. Good luck.

I was under the impression Dulaigh was a media course, with radio, tv, and print in the first year, and specialising in the second. Wasn't aware they did a film course

herobear

Elessar wrote:

Colaiste Dhulaigh in Coolock does a 2 year film production course. There are no requirements other than an interview and portfolio. From what I hear it's a fantastic course and has had numerous successful people in it (including Damien O'Donnell BAFTA award winner and one of the guys who wrote Father Ted). Well, at least I'll find out in September

sounds interesting, website ?
what kind of portfolio you need ?
what qualifications can you be awarded ? etc.....

Elessar

mycroft wrote:

Neither of the guys from ted went to dulaigh. Damien definetly went to DIT where he and several fellow class mates set up clingfilms which went on to make 35 a side (very good short film) and most of the good Irish music videos of the early nineties.

I was under the impression Dulaigh was a media course, with radio, tv, and print in the first year, and specialising in the second. Wasn't aware they did a film course

Damien definately went to Dhulaigh. He did the media production course in 1987 and then went on to DIT (he also gives students a lecture during the year). Also, according to the website : "Famous Coláiste Dhúlaigh past pupils include: Will Harris, editor of RTE’s Out of the Blue, TV presenter Bianca Lyukx and the Father Ted scriptwriter Graham Linehan."

Yes there is a film production course alright, which I think came about from the mass interest in the film/tv dept. of the media course. It only started a few years back.

herobear wrote:

sounds interesting, website ?
what kind of portfolio you need ?
what qualifications can you be awarded ? etc.....

www.colaistedhulaigh.ie
You'll have to have a pretty good one, with reviews/short scripts/pictures etc. as it's a tough course to get into. Qualifications are on the website (FETAC, Higher National Diploma. BA (Hons). and you get the chance to move onto further studies in wolverhampton.

Tbh, I can't wait

mycroft

Yes there is a film production course alright, which I think came about from the mass interest in the film/tv dept. of the media course. It only started a few years back.

I did not know that......

Tbh, I can't wait

It's great. Everyone says this to people in film school, but make the most of the opportunties. Even if you're lucky it'll be years before you have access to all that equipment and facilities again. And people actively encouraging you to use it. Final piece of advice, even you feel you're going to be a "creative" type, pay attention to the technical classes about stock, and timecode, and lens, it matters to everyone.

Elessar

Cheers mate! What do you specialise in the industry (if at all), and did you find it difficult to get into?

BlitzKrieg

ok maybe thats a tad deep...personnally i cant tell anymore alot of this info has become common knowledge for me...



To add to mycroft's points when in uni/college/whatever make the most out of extra curriculer works, If the place has a film society sign up so you can access the equipment outside work times (usually alot more restrictions but still you can make more movies so dont complain)

I have to agree with mycroft on the technical knowledge the two best studants in our course are the best because they have proper experiance with the equipment before the course started. And while this shouldnt downplay the artistic importance in the course it does help when your piece is shown before an audiance that it looks sounds and feels like high quality stuff.


Also an insider tip if you dont want to p*ss off your lecturer's do not do either of the following:

A piece about a drug deal gone wrong or similar violent crime scene akin to Tarintino etc.

or

A piece about suicide.

The reason being that unless your work is a completely original take on the situation the lecturer will roll his/hers eyes at the crime piece as it has been overdone and at the suicide piece they will again roll their eyes but at the same time HAVE TO send you to a counseller to know why you made a suicide piece and to make sure your not thinking of suicide.


also (and i dont want to sound condensending or anything) dont assume animation is all cartoons/cgi sort of work, its not and is a very good module to pick up if you can cause it works wonders.

segadreamcast

mycroft wrote:

Much as I'd like to take career advice for a computer game plumber, I did a film course, do have a real job in my choosen industry.

You're the kind of person who at the age of seventeen looks at a cao form and thinks "you know I fancy being an accountant"

Bravo. Follow your dreams...

neXus9

Mycroft, which film course did you do?

Are there any film related courses in cork city? There seems to be none.

Retr0gamer

Do a real course and get a real job that doesn't gaurentee a place in the queue out side the post office every thursday.

Oppsy. Was only joking. Didn't expect to get so much flak.

mycroft

The reason being that unless your work is a completely original take on the situation the lecturer will roll his/hers eyes at the crime piece as it has been overdone and at the suicide piece they will again roll their eyes but at the same time HAVE TO send you to a counseller to know why you made a suicide piece and to make sure your not thinking of suicide.

See my college was never that organised. But the classic short student film involves this;

Scene
two kids playings

Next Scene
One kid finds a gun

Final Scene
Can you guess what happens?

To make it a truly great student short it must be shot in grainy b&w.

Final tip is this. Do not assume your short or graduation project is your true opus and masterpiece. You'll spend so much time worrying about whether you've got enough food for the extras, who wrecked the tripod leg, do we have the right filter on the lens, and is that the BLOODY 1st AD SKINNING UP AGAIN????? You're there to learn and part of learning is making mistakes.

Mycroft, which film course did you do?

I went to Ballyfermot, I'm not sure if the course is still going. Mister Blue Velvet, I'd try FAS schemes in cork, or failing that check with the Kino.

BlitzKrieg

heard good things about the ballyfermot course. but personnally i wanted to combine mine with history so opted for APU instead.

Elessar

Dhulaigh rules the roost :cool:

Mycroft, what are you working as now in the industry? Have you been successful?

mycroft

Dhulaigh rules the roost

Not to sound cynical, but Dhulaigh is setting up a film course at worst point in the Irish film industry. Also it's an untried course, it's only been up and running a scant few years so it's yet to prove itself.

Mycroft, what are you working as now in the industry? Have you been successful?

Moderately. I work as an assistant editor. I've worked in Dublin and the UK, features, TV drama, documentaries.

Elessar

mycroft wrote:

it's yet to prove itself

Considering the success of its media course from which the film course came from, I've no doubt we'll see success in times to come.
Give it time

mycroft

Considering the success of its media course from which the film course came from, I've no doubt we'll see success in times to come.

Absolutely, I'm not dissing it. However a word of caution, ballyfermot's film course was barely a year old when it started, and there were problems and delays.

There's a world of difference between film and tv, in technical know how, crew set up etc, alot of people fall short. Also the catch with staff is, anyone good enough to teach should be good enough to work in the industry, and no teaching job will ever compete with say a cameraman's daily rate. So you can have a great deal of staff turnover.

The best advice I can give you, is do as much as you can on your own or with class mates, it's the best experience you can get.