“Every scene is a lesson. Every shot is a school. Let the learning continue.”
-Martin Scorsese
My philosophy of education is that all students are unique and must have a stimulating educational environment where they can grow mentally, emotionally, and socially. It is my desire to create this type of atmosphere where students can meet their full potential. I try to provide a safe environment where students are invited to share their ideas and take risks.
The purpose of any film school is to primarily get the students ready to enter the industry with the tools and skills needed to allow them to function at a high rate of proficiency, whether it’s working on features, short films, commercials, or any form of visual media.
I believe that there are five essential elements that are conducive to learning. The teacher’s role is to act as a guide. Students must have access to hands-on activities. Students should be able to have choices and let their curiosity direct their learning. Students need the opportunity to practice skills in a safe environment. Technology must be incorporated into the school day.
I have taught classrooms that have ranged in sizes from a dozen students to around 60 students. Needless to say, the smaller classes were easier to allow student’s to workshop scripts and pitch ideas and network creating close professional bonds with each other. The larger, lecture style classes, created the challenge of trying to engage every student that was present. This challenge required a lot of trial and error trying to find the best methods to teach large groups of students trying to get everyone involved in some way or anther. I also made it clear that my office door was always open. This allowed students to stop by and discuss the course work, discuss other projects, or just come in and talk about movies. I would even have former student’s stop by and ask for advice on their projects.
And at the end of the day, I would give all my student’s the same advice that was passed on to me while I was an undergrad, “If someone asks you to help on a film, the answer is always ‘yes’.” I tell them that they can learn only so much from books and films, but the actual education comes from getting your hands dirty on as many sets as possible.
