We talked of many things, but he emphasized this— if a person would like to spend their life making movies, you need first to educate yourself.

You must master many arts— of writing scripts, choosing locations, dressing sets, costuming the players, lighting scenes, manipulating the camera, directing actors, editing film, working on sound, advertising the finished product, and screening it to an audience.

Most people assume that the director is most often considered the author of a film. But everything begins with story. And when actors are on board, everything moves to yet another level of interpretation. Beyond acting, editing changes the whole game yet again.

Film schools teach you the art, craft, and technology of film, television video, animation and sound production. You learn to make movies. To take an idea and make it a visual and audible reality for strangers worldwide.

A good film school gives you intensive hands-on production experience. You learn film history. Your talent and skills are given a chance to evolve.

For instance, here goals and objectives of one famous film school— and these are typical of good film schools everywhere—

1. To develop individual talent and skills within a collaborative working environment.
2. To provide the highest standard of education and training with professionally active faculty and a broad spectrum of visiting professionals.
3. To provide an integrated liberal arts education program.
4. To encourage artistic, social and cultural diversity.
5. To develop an international perspective through student exchange and study-abroad programs.
6. To support a strong internship program offering a wide range of options for pre-professional experience.
7. To provide venues for the presentation and promotion of student work and to advise and assist students regarding national and international festivals and opportunities.
8. To provide access to the vibrant and creative community.

Sounds incredibly exciting, right. But how much does it cost? What about money?

How in the world can you pay for a film school education? There are ways and ways and more ways.

While the primary responsibility for financing one’s education falls upon the individual and family resources, good schools offer scholarships and many aid programs.

Scholarships are usually awarded on a competitive basis. Academic merit are weighed with financial need.

But, now, back to the art of film-making itself. Is it worth your investment of so much time and money and hope and work? That depends on your personal level of desire, to communicate with the whole wide world.

Just for context, and FYI, I include the film credits of the artist I quoted, Mr Konchalovski. The credits are a timeline, and run from the present, backward into time.

You can see for yourself, how richly the creative life of a film-maker shapes up…

KONCHALOVSKI as a WRITER
Nutcracker: The Untold Story (2009) (screenplay)
… aka Nutcracker: The Curse of the Rat King (Europe: English title: festival title)
I demoni di San Pietroburgo (2008) (from an original idea by)
… aka The Demons of St. Petersburg (International: English title)
Moscow Chill (2007) (writer)
… aka Moroz po kozhe (Russia)
Glyanets (2007) (writer)
… aka Gloss (International: English title: literal title) (USA)
… aka ?????? (Russia)
Chacun son cinéma ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumière s’éteint et que le film commence (2007) (writer) (segment “Dans le Noir”)
… aka Chacun son cinéma (France: short title)
… aka To Each His Own Cinema (International: English title)
Dom durakov (2002) (writer)
… aka House of Fools (International: English title)
… aka La maison de fous (France)
The Odyssey (1997) (TV) (teleplay)
… aka Die Abenteuer des Odysseus (Germany)
… aka Homer’s Odyssey
… aka L’odissea (Italy)
… aka Odysseia (Greece)
Kurochka Ryaba (1994) (writer)
… aka ??????? ???? (Russia)
… aka Assia and the Hen with the Golden Eggs
… aka Riaba ma poule (France)
… aka Ryaba My Chicken
The Inner Circle (1991) (written by)
… aka ??????? ???? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka Blizhniy krug (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka Il proiezionista (Italy)
Shy People (1987) (screenplay) (story)
Duet for One (1986) (writer)
Maria’s Lovers (1984) (screenplay)
Sibiriada (1979) (writer)
… aka ????????? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka Siberiade (USA)
Krov i pot (1978) (writer) (as Andrei Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky)
Transsibirskiy ekspress (1977) (screenplay) (as A. Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky)
… aka ?????????????? ???????? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka Trans-Siberian Express
Raba lyubvi (1976) (writer) (as Andrei Mikhalkov-Kontchalovsky)
… aka ???? ????? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka A Slave of Love (International: English title)
… aka Bondage of Love (USA: literal title)
Lyutyy (1974) (writer)
… aka The Ferocious One (International: English title: literal title)
… aka The Fierce One (International: English title)
… aka The Grey Fierce One
Nechayannye radosti (1972) (writer)
… aka ????????? ??????? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
Sedmaya pulya (1972) (writer) (as Andrei Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky)
Zhdem tebya, paren… (1972) (writer) (as Andrej Michalkow-Kontschalowski)
Dyadya Vanya (1970) (screenplay)
… aka Uncle Vanya
Konets atamana (1970) (writer)
… aka ????? ??????? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
Dvoryanskoe gnezdo (1969) (writer)
… aka ?????????? ?????? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka A Nest of Gentlefolk
… aka A Nest of Gentry (USA)
… aka Nobiliary Nest
Pesn o Manshuk (1969) (writer)
… aka Song About Manshuk
Tashkent – gorod khlebny (1968) (writer) (as Andrei Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky)
Andrey Rublyov (1966) (writer) (as Andron Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky)
… aka ?????? ?????? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka Andrei Rublev (USA)
Pervyy uchitel (1966) (screenplay)
… aka ?????? ??????? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka The First Teacher
Ivanovo detstvo (1962) (uncredited)
… aka ??????? ??????? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka Childhood of Ivan
… aka Ivan’s Childhood
… aka My Name Is Ivan (USA)
… aka The Youngest Spy
Katok i skripka (1961) (writer)
… aka ????? ? ??????? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka The Skating Rink and the Violin
… aka The Steamroller and the Violin
… aka Violin and Roller

KONCHALOVSKI as a DIRECTOR
Nutcracker: The Untold Story (2009)
… aka Nutcracker: The Curse of the Rat King (Europe: English title: festival title)
Glyanets (2007)
… aka Gloss (International: English title: literal title) (USA)
… aka ?????? (Russia)
Chacun son cinéma ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumière s’éteint et que le film commence (2007) (segment “Dans le Noir”)
… aka Chacun son cinéma (France: short title)
… aka To Each His Own Cinema (International: English title)
The Lion in Winter (2003) (TV)
Dom durakov (2002)
… aka House of Fools (International: English title)
… aka La maison de fous (France)
The Odyssey (1997) (TV)
… aka Die Abenteuer des Odysseus (Germany)
… aka Homer’s Odyssey
… aka L’odissea (Italy)
… aka Odysseia (Greece)
Lumière et compagnie (1995)
… aka Lumière and Company (International: English title)
… aka Lumiere y compañía (Spain)
Kurochka Ryaba (1994)
… aka ??????? ???? (Russia)
… aka Assia and the Hen with the Golden Eggs
… aka Riaba ma poule (France)
… aka Ryaba My Chicken
The Inner Circle (1991)
… aka ??????? ???? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka Blizhniy krug (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka Il proiezionista (Italy)
Tango & Cash (1989)
Homer and Eddie (1989)
Shy People (1987)
Duet for One (1986)
Runaway Train (1985)
Maria’s Lovers (1984)
Split Cherry Tree (1982)
Sibiriada (1979)
… aka ????????? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka Siberiade (USA)
Romans o vlyublyonnykh (1974) (as Andrei Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky)
… aka ?????? ? ?????????? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka A Lover’s Romance
… aka Romance for Lovers
Dyadya Vanya (1970)
… aka Uncle Vanya
Dvoryanskoe gnezdo (1969)
… aka ?????????? ?????? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka A Nest of Gentlefolk
… aka A Nest of Gentry (USA)
… aka Nobiliary Nest
Pervyy uchitel (1966) (as Andrei Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky)
… aka ?????? ??????? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka The First Teacher
Istoriya Asi Klyachinoy, kotoraya lyubila, da ne vyshla zamuzh (1966)
… aka ??????? ??? ????????, ??????? ??????, ?? ?? ????? ????? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka Asino schaste (Soviet Union: Russian title: censored version)
… aka Asya’s Happiness
… aka Istoriya Asi Klyachinoy (Soviet Union: Russian title: short title)
… aka The Story of Asya Klyachina (International: English title)
Malchik i golub (1961)
… aka The Boy and the Pigeon

KONCHALOVSKI as a PRODUCER
The Last Station (2009) (executive producer)
… aka Ein Russischer Sommer (Germany)
Nutcracker: The Untold Story (2009) (producer)
… aka Nutcracker: The Curse of the Rat King (Europe: English title: festival title)
Moscow Chill (2007) (producer)
… aka Moroz po kozhe (Russia)
Glyanets (2007) (producer)
… aka Gloss (International: English title: literal title) (USA)
… aka ?????? (Russia)
Dom durakov (2002) (producer)
… aka House of Fools (International: English title)
… aka La maison de fous (France)
Kurochka Ryaba (1994) (producer)
… aka ??????? ???? (Russia)
… aka Assia and the Hen with the Golden Eggs
… aka Riaba ma poule (France)
… aka Ryaba My Chicken

KONCHALOVSKI as an ACTOR
Glyanets (2007) (uncredited) …. Provintsialnyy intelligent/Izbityy Vitkom
… aka Gloss (International: English title: literal title) (USA)
… aka ?????? (Russia)
Mne dvadtsat let (1964) …. Yuri – Guest at Anya’s Party
… aka ??? ???????? ??? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka I am Twenty
… aka Zastava Ilijcha
Ivanovo detstvo (1962) (as A. Konchalovsky) …. Soldier
… aka ??????? ??????? (Soviet Union: Russian title)
… aka Childhood of Ivan
… aka Ivan’s Childhood
… aka My Name Is Ivan (USA)
… aka The Youngest Spy
Soundtrack:
Maria’s Lovers (1984) (music: “Maria’s Eyes”)
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director:
I girasoli (1970) (second unit director)
… aka Les fleurs du soleil (France)
… aka Sunflower (USA)
Uuden aallon jäljillä (2009) (TV) …. Himself
Tracking ‘The Lion in Winter’ (2004) (TV) …. Himself
Kurosawa: The Last Emperor (1999) (TV) …. Himself
‘Psycho’ Path (1999) (V) …. Himself
7th Annual Russian Academy of Cinema Arts Awards (1993) (TV) …. Himself, guest
Schneeweißrosenrot (1991) …. Himself
… aka SnowwhiteRosered

Amazing, isn’t it? All form the talent and hard work of one film-maker!

Quite a legacy.

And it all begins with— education!

For more information on available scholarships and how to apply for them, contact the school of your choice. Be bold. If you intend to make films, its time to be confident and proactive. No student or prospective student who feels he or she may need financial aid should EVER be reluctant to apply for assistance.

In the US, many forms of aid, including Federal Pell grants, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), and the Federal Stafford Loan Program, are available to students who demonstrate financial need (based upon economic criteria and program requirements established by the federal government).

For more info, call the U.S. Department of Education (800-433-3243) or visit its website. Students are encouraged to apply for financial aid electronically – the fastest and most accurate method of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Educate, educate, educate!