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Home: Video University Forums: Filmmakers & Screenwriters:
Dov Simens 2-Day Film School

CSB
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Aug 20, 2005, 11:53 PM

Post #1 of 6 (2445 views)
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Dov Simens 2-Day Film School	Can't Post

Has anyone heard of this, or have it on vhs or DVD? If you do, is it worth buying? I really want to get this instead of going to film school.

Heres the sites link

http://www.dovsimensfilmschool.com/homepage.html

mvmaker
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Aug 21, 2005, 7:43 PM

Post #2 of 6 (2418 views)
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Re: [CSB] Dov Simens 2-Day Film School [In reply to]	Can't Post

The is an excellent product to invest in. Film Schools have only one upside and that's the hetworking and sometimes (not likely) contacts inside a major studio. If you are truly passionate about film-maiking this is a must because it gives you the must needed tools without cramping your creative style by trying to tell what kind of films to make.

videoquestor
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Sep 10, 2005, 8:00 PM

Post #3 of 6 (2357 views)
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Re: [CSB] Dov Simens 2-Day Film School [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yup, I'm a grad! I found it fascinating. I attended with a script in hand...and found that we weren't going to talk about that. We did, however, talk about all the other things in film-making that are major hurdles.

For example, my script, with all its wonderful locations and scenes, etc., would have cost millions to make. Unlikely that a first time film maker would get support for such a project.

But had I set the story in one location -- costs drop precipitously! Then, it might have a chance, if the story's good enough. Learned that listening to Dov. Good info. Stuff most of us never think about.

Hope this helps.

VQ

Blackbird Video
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Sep 14, 2005, 4:13 PM

Post #4 of 6 (2313 views)
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Re: [videoquestor] Dov Simens 2-Day Film School [In reply to]	Can't Post

I took Dov's course in NYC in 1991. It was great. A real experience. He has a book out now which is essentially word-for-word what he says in the film school, but it is not so much the information you go for as the motivation. He made nearly everyone in the class feel like an idiot. And that was a GOOD thing. He asked if there were any writers in the room. When a bunch of people raised thier hands he screamed, "You're not writers. You're talkers. If you were a writer you would be writing right now! You would have a bunch of scripts. You would be WRITING NOW!"

He made it clear that when you are anobody with no money and no contacts you have absolutely no business putting together a REAL script with monsters and lots of sets and people. His point was KEEP IT SIMPLE. PUT 12 PEOPLE OR LESS IN A ROOM AND HAVE THEM TALK OR KILL EACH OTHER. THAT IS HOW YOU GET YOU'RE CAREER GOING. MAKE YOUR MOVIE. GET OFF YOUR ASS AND MAKE YOUR MOVIE. NO EXCUSES. TAPE IS SO FREAKIN CHEAP YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE NOT TO BE MAKING A MOVIE!!!!!

He also said to not call yourself a filmmaker. If you did it sounded like you were full of sh*t and unemployed. Call yourself a PRODUCER or a DIRECTOR but never call yourself a FILMMAKER.

He also hates the the word FILM. Don't call your movie a FILM. It is a MOVIE! If it's a movie it means it made money. If it was a film it was some piece of cr*p that nobody wanted to see except ou and your friends.

He'll crack you up.

I remember all this because it was amazing. I made a film right after. I made another after that. I have lsitened to him. I took his advice. KEEP IT SIMPLE. MAKE A MOVIE!

(This post was edited by Blackbird Video on Sep 21, 2005, 9:10 AM)

dansen
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Sep 21, 2005, 5:43 AM

Post #5 of 6 (2244 views)
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Re: [Blackbird Video] Dov Simens 2-Day Film School [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have Dov's 16 audio tape Film school from 1995. It's pretty damn good. That and Guy Magar's Film School are definitely worth getting. I got the new 16 DVD set for 150 dollars (really cheap-retail: 500 dollars) off a guy on ebay. I'm still waiting for the DVD set to come. The reason i got it was to hear what he had to say about the digital world. The 1995 tapes were all about film. i knew this course would be up to date and fresh.
GET YOUR HANDS ON THIS NOW!!

TVC
Novice

Oct 9, 2005, 8:39 AM

Post #6 of 6 (2115 views)
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Re: [dansen] Dov Simens 2-Day Film School [In reply to]	Can't Post

I've got 2 of these sets (don't ask), and I'm selling 1 on e-bay at the moment. All legit, above board & a really great investment for any film maker.