Customer Reviews

Film School

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been working making a documentary and with other filmmakers for a couple of years.. Always trying to learn.. I figured it would be great to see what the students in the schools do that I could never afford. This is a really fun masterpiece.. you don't really get anything very technical, but get to see a lot totally dysfunction people working on films..

I've lent this out to several people so far.. you know they actually liked it when they come back to you and tell you about it.. if it sucked they would never really say anything.. This people like to talk about. Its like another doc "Hands on the Hardbody" except about film students..
I looked forward everyday to watching the next installment, was bummed when it was done.

Tons of fun.. you might actually learn a few things too.

I highly recommend it even if nothing more than entertainment.

For those who might believe that the NYU Film School is a citadel of cinematic purity, helping to craft the next Scorseses, Truffauts or Polanskis of the world, "Film School" reveals a ridiculously overrated program coasting on its reputation. As a former NYU undergrad, with conflicting opinions on the worth of my education -- I found the series quite depressing yet morbidly entertaining. And for those of you who have ever dreamt of producing your own film, this series chronicles the extraordinarily difficult process, as four inept grad students flounder with their projects:

Barbara. Utterly unprepared creatively, organizationally, or emotionally to direct a film. She learns the harsh lesson that there is nowhere to run or hide if you decide to become a filmmaker and are a fragile person. At the same time, it's pretty infuriating to watch when you think about all of the hundreds of more deserving candidates who were not accepted into the program. To me, this is an indictment against the admissions process and its inability to identify people who can thrive as directors.

Vincenzo Tripodo at first seems to show a lot of promise, musing about Fellini, loving clowns and drag queens. He deserves to be here. Alas, he has the single most intense experience when he gets involved with two complete phonies to be his producers. It has to be seen to be believed, and I think exposes some of the sleazy characters to be found in an industry filled with BS and people who oversell their contacts...but begs the question: shouldn't the NYU curriculum be designed to help students avoid these pitfalls? Worse still, it eventually becomes apparent that for all Vincenzo's bravura his filmmaking is utterly cloying and imitative. He robs his actors of their unique qualities and churns out an "Amelie" or "Delicatessan" clone. Basically, his professors all see this and just send him on his merry way.

Alrick is a good looking Jamaican guy who has decided to make a satirical "comic book" short film on the killing of Amidou Diallo. It's the type of thing that might sound edgy over a case of Red Stripe, but wait until you see the race-baiting garbage this dude comes up with. It is one of the more repugnant short films I have ever laid eyes upon and I despise his brand of cheap opportunism and shameless manipulation. Alrick comes across as a confused person who is obsessed with race and not filmmaking as an art. He has no humility and almost no storytelling talent. The professors loved him.

And then there's Leah. A San Francisco hipster to her core, she assembles a script on the sexual confusion of a teenaged girl and her relationship with a handicapped mother -- autobiographical of course. It's more than a bit melodramatic and exploitative, featuring questionable sexuality with minors and other unsavory bon mots playing to the cheap seats. Leah herself is a thoroughly odious individual; hiding behind her faux-playful personality is a vindictive and disrespectful little tyrant. However, the work she put into casting and with her actors shows, proving just how important this stage of the filmaking process can be -- something that escapes the other directors. She's also the only person not to fall back on computer graphics to plug gaping holes in her narrative.

These films are a disgrace to what should be the strongest bastion of film art in the United States. I cannot even imagine what it would be like attempting to have a conversation with any of these three about some of the theories of filmmaking from Europe and the former Soviet Union. In fact, Leah says that she really does not have any inherent love of film at all, that this is just another little project of hers and will only continue if people give her money to shoot new material. How pathetic.

The NYU faculty comes across as little more than a bunch of well-read critics of varying worth, not exactly the Andre Bazins or Sergei Eisensteins one might expect for $40,000 tuition. The director of the entire department is a Chinese lady who does not convey the slightest sense of gravitas, but comes across as more of the typical academic technocrat who has snaked her way to the top. I thought she was a member of the registrar's office when first introduced! Still, "Film School" provides valuable insight into the mechanics of producing films (particularly financing), while serving as a cautionary tale against devoting your time to a program such as this.

I have an interest in movie making and have wondered what NYU's film school is like. It was great to see the different personalities, their challenges, and potential results of Film School. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in some decent insider information (actually insightful reality tv).

My Son who is taking Media/Broadcasting classes at our Community
College loved seeing this video. He was able to get a taste of
what a Film School has to offer.

This doc-series details the struggles of a handfull of young filmmakers trying to finish their projects. An interesting look at the life of a film student. How did she think she would actually get a MONKEY!??

I thoroughly enjoyed this documentary of a few film school students struggling to "make it", while making their 'thesis'/movie. It really helped me understand how difficult it is to direct, cast, edit, produce... never having done it myself. The three main protagonists are fascinating and sympathetic characters. I was thoroughly engrossed and I'm sorry to see the program end.

I saw this movie via a friend, a while ago. And I loved it so much, I wanted to purchase it.
Truly, the only complaint I have, is that I wanted more. I wanted these character to still exist past the ending. Not that I wanted a sequel or anything; but I would've been okay with more long-term.. these are the types of characters and character-developments that make a great tv series. The cast is great, and completely believable/excellent in their characters; and I loved every minute. I think Max just about stole the screen, and instantly captivates you when he's on the screen, even though he's not incredibly prominent/loud in the film (he's more subtle/shy than others).. I loved it. I loved this film, its range of characters, the dynamics, and the script/writing itself. All excellent.