Studying at an online film school to get a working knowledge of filmmaking that leads to a career in the film industry is a real alternative today. The Internet offers many sites with free or low-cost training in all the fundamental skills required of a filmmaker. Today's low cost of filmmaking and editing equipment means that a student can afford to have access to the hardware necessary to make theatrical movies that previously was only available at brick-and-mortar schools.
Another reason why an online film school makes sense is that learning filmmaking isn't that hard. Several of the top directors of all time have pointed out that everything required to make a film can be learned in a few weeks. Most students going to formal schools are under the impression, encouraged by the schools, that it will take them years to learn the basics of filmmaking in order to get a job.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. Studying to be a doctor or lawyer requires learning far more than what is required to be a working filmmaker.
It is estimated that 90% of the top filmmakers never went to a formal school but rather learned on their own, first by trial and error then through on-the-job experience. That's where an online film school can be a big advantage for the prospective filmmaker. By quickly getting the basic skills under your belt you can be ready much sooner to start networking your way into your first job.
Another little known secret of the film industry is that college degrees carry no weight when it comes to hiring. The sole criterion for hiring is for a candidate is to have shown the ability to dependably produce quality work in their specialty. This could be through a portfolio or "reel" of previous work but more likely from networking and friends' recommendations.
So the real trick to getting into the film industry, assuming you have some talent and understanding of basic techniques, is getting into the production crew on actual film sets. Then your initiative, hard work and friendships will lead to additional jobs and the opportunity to work up the ladder.
The right online film school will not only teach the basic skills of filmmaking but also explain the simple secrets that can get your foot in the door and working on a film set. The other choice is to spend years in a formal film school and leave with $100,000 in debt only to find, like so many film students before you that no one in Hollywood cares about film degrees.