How do I do what I want to do?

[AcrylicAce]

Hello everyone,
I see that many people make introduction posts however this will be a combination introduction as well as a "looking for help" post because I think they fit well together. I hope this is ok.

I am 22 years old from Montana and am graduating this May with a degree in psychology. I, like many people, am not interested in my field of study any longer. I do not want to go to graduate school for psychology nor do I want to get a job in the field.

Lets start with the good news:
The good news is that I DO know what I want to do! I took an introduction to media arts class and loved making movies! What I would really like to do is something with either video editing or special effects.

Now the not so good news:
I don't know how to get into this field that I want to get into. Now that I have finished my degree in psychology I would like to get into the film industry (like i said, editing or special effects) without having to go back to undergraduate school.

I just have a few questions that I would really appreciate some answers to. If you are in a similar field that would be wonderful but I believe many people could help me.

1. Do I need to go back to undergrad school to get a degree in a certain field to become a film editor or a special effects artist?

2. Can I just go straight into graduate school to learn the trade or is this not possible without an undergraduate degree in a similar area?

3. Is it possible to get into this field without going to school for it? Such as get a position at a company that does what i want to do and work my way up?

4. Any other advice you could give me in order to help me pursue this career?

Thank you so much for any advice you can give me!

AcrylicAce
Kadin Goldberg

[Shamou]

This may sound simplistic but have you seen this...???

Good luck to you...

.

[Max Power]

How do you learn how to make movies? Go and make them!!

Worked for Spielberg, Lucas and Peter Jackson.

Just do it. I wouldn't be too concerned about the education of it all, you'll learn alot of it along the way. Join web forums and groups that are doing it.

Brain Surgery, sure you need a piece of paper that says you're good at it, but for movie making, that's a real hands on pesonal creative thing.

Go for it, you can do it, you'll be a great movie maker I can tell

Good Luck!

Power to the MAX!

[JohnB23]

I'm not a movie expert at all, but I think a film degree is way over rated.

If you want to be an accountant, a lawyer, a doctor. You need a degree.

With movies, I don't think I've ever watched commentary on a DVD, and the director (or writer or editor) said..."this technique...I learned in school". Or, "I got this from a class".

If I wanted to get into that business...

-I'd buy a ton of DVD's just to hear the commentary about editing, special effects, or anything else. For $8-12, let the pros teach you.

-then start editing and putting things out there. Get feedback and experience long before you step into a classroom. And I'm sure there's some groups, web boards focused on it.

[Susie]

I'm not an expert in this field, but I'd imagine you can take some individual courses (like for various video editing software) that will at least provide some "piece of paper" to get your foot in the door somewhere. Good luck!

[AcrylicAce]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Here is my predicament... I am not very interested in directing/acting/filming, at least not now anyways (maybe in the future). If I were to just go out and "do it" right now I would have to write the script, hire actors (or find people to do it for free), act in it myself possibly, film the thing and only then could I get into what I want to do. Is there a way around this?

Thanks for link but I already know how to edit movies... that is not where I am stuck. I am stuck in the next process, how do I get a job in the field?

I will definitely try to find a forum, i have tried in the past and couldn't find any that were active... I will search again.

I really do appreciate all the advice and am hoping I can get some more feedback.

Thanks again!
AcrylicAce