“I wonder if curriculum pressures ever allow the space to write and produce quality stories … ”

This is a great question – and from my experience at film schools, the answer is: NO.

But…

Far more importantly, the pressure forces them to WRITE, CREATE, PRODUCE, non-stop.

And this is so much more important than to keep working on one story until you’re happy with it. It is about learning to fail, move on, accept your weaknesses and do better next time – and as quickly as possible.

This is what film schools are GREAT at: to give you that momentum, and help you overcome your doubt over whether your work is good enough.

You’re quite correct that rising star filmmakers preferentially hire from their school classmates. Both George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, for instance, gave preference to their classmates during the ’70s and ’80s (and largely stuck with them thereafter).

I’m not film school trained, myself, but have been told I ‘should’ do it. Particularly since I direct as well as write. I see pros and cons with attending (quite apart from the fees). While the school environment gives you the freedom to fail, I wonder if curriculum pressures ever allow the space to write and produce quality stories … Or is it that most film students default to making quirky. low-substance, fare just to get past their assessment tests? Bret Ratner’s graduation film, for instance, was atrocious (it’s in the “Rush Hour” DVD).