There’s no denying that certain fields require a lot of time in the classroom. Film Connection doesn’t think working in film is one of them. Sitting in front of a professor for four years at a university just can’t give you the real-life experience or hands-on training you need to truly understand the art form, craft, and sheer hustle that is filmmaking.

That’s why the Film Connection was created. We saw students going to school for years and then looking to start their careers with no real working knowledge of how films get made. Even worse, graduates of those film schools were often weighed down by so much debt that they actually couldn’t afford to live lean and build that career in film.

Instead, they had to find a desk job somewhere so that they could pay down their student loan debt. We feel jumping in with both feet is a much better, smarter way to learn the industry than paying a mint to sit in some lecture hall.

Our one-on-one mentoring programs for directing, film production, editing, cinematography, and screenwriting are designed to give you an immersive understanding of how films get made. Film Connection mentors are professionals in their field with years of technical, practical, and creative experience.

Work with a Mentor. Don’t Get Talked at by a Teacher or Professor.

Why jockey to get noticed by the professor in a class filled with other students when you can have the undivided attention of a professional who mentors you? You get immediate feedback, answers to your questions, and guidance tailored to your experience, knowledge, and understanding.

Doesn’t it make sense to get an education specifically created for you instead of a syllabus made for the masses? And you won’t be sitting at a desk, taking notes from a chalkboard. You’ll be on the set, in the editing room, or on location under the tutelage of your mentor.

Film Connection mentors are Professionals in the Field.

Our mentors are currently making money in the film, TV, and video industries. They had the talent, the drive, and the determination to make this their life. And while certain educators have chosen to make teaching their priority, other professors or instructors are doing it as a fall-back position.

As the old saying goes, “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.” It’s harsh, but for many, it’s true. On the other hand, Film Connection mentors are making movies, producing TV shows, or shooting videos that are seen locally, regionally, and around the world today. Why be on the outside looking in when you can have a seat at the table?

Benefits of One-on-One Mentoring

The key to our success is access, and not only to the experts who are mentoring you. In our 6-9 month film programs, you could be working with the gear, materials, and equipment being used in production today. You’ll be learning the current processes and best practices of filmmaking today. You’ll be learning the little tricks of the trade that come only with experience.

Most importantly, you have access to opportunities that just aren’t available in the classroom. Sure, you may get the occasional guest speaker at a university class, but it’s hard to make an impression in just an hour or two. With our programs, every day is a new chance to make real industry connections.

Thanks to our no-nonsense approach, many students find work with the very same production companies they’ve been learning at after completing their programs. This is because they’ve learned the right way to do things on the set, and production heads know exactly what they’re getting.

The professionals who train our students via our mentored externship approach can feel confident recommending high-performing students to other production companies themselves because they know how those students have been educated and trained.

There are other perks as well, advantages that make Film Connection programs much more attractive. In a traditional setting, class schedules are rigid and may not be able to meet your needs. Mentors can be more flexible with their time because making movies definitely isn’t a 9-5 career.

You’ll also have a say in what you want to learn. Why learn to edit if your passions lie elsewhere? Our program staff, including an Academic Facilitator, will work with your mentor and you to discuss your interests, goals, and objectives and apply our flexible curriculum to meet your needs.

Working one on one with a mentor gives you hands-on, real-world experience just not available in a classroom setting. Film Connection programs last from six to nine months, a far cry from the four-year degrees at a university or conventional film school. And the student-mentor relationship just can’t be matched for communication as well as career guidance. Are you ready to make your movie?