Yet another feature came out of my fingertips this week, one that started from the seed of a simple video on pixels. Entitled 'How to produce award-winning films without going to film school', this piece packs in huge amount of information from some of the most outspoken self-taught cinematographers on the net.

I went to art school, a study I'm sure many people would claim needs no formality or implied success with a degree, so I expected a little retaliation by film schoolers. Surprisingly, none have surfaced yet. Just I wait.

Without belittling the certain perks of attending film school (or formally studying any specialty for that matter), I believe if you’re motivated, there’s a way to teach yourself enough to obtain a great job, gain work experience, and prosper with continued self-improvements. As many advocates for the self-taught film path cite, it’s likely your favorite filmmaker didn’t study his craft at school either.

The underlined actions to take away from the piece include:

Get schooled for free at your own pace - with Vimeo Video School and online tutorials by self-taught filmmakers such as Philip Bloom
Get fluent in the ever-changing tools - Zacuto instructional videos, NoFilmSchool.com cinematography guide, and getting creative with basic tools like iPhones
Position yourself for the current job market - learn how to be autonomous like Alexander Fox of CrewOfOne.com
Get constructive feedback on your work - connect with other filmmakers, hear online critiques, or pay someone to watch your work
Connect with people that help you grow - submit to festivals, post online, and network with access you already have
Clarify your thoughts on higher education - because it might not help you achieve your specific angle

With ample video embeds and links, this is a meaty post worth reading and commentating. And if you disagree, please do provide the insight I need in order to determine if film school is on my path.