What does a director need?

Theoretically, as long as you work hard, you can achieve your goal. Of course, the college entrance examination is not as simple as before (there are many shady things), and the competition is fierce. Even if admitted to the Film Academy, there is still a long way to go.

But don't think too much about your future goals. Xiaogang Feng didn't go to any decent university. He only worked in a TV station for several years (as an artist) before he got a chance to shoot. Zhang Yimou didn't go to college until he was in his thirties (for historical reasons, of course), so at first he was confiscated because of his age, and later he was admitted to a photography major.

In my opinion, if you want to be a director, you don't have to go to the Film Academy, but it is more important to stick to and enrich your knowledge background. Besides, you didn't have the conditions of Zhang or Feng at that time (film and television talents were relatively scarce). The experience of many famous directors of the French New Wave can tell you that making movies is the right of everyone who is willing to take it as a career, not a privilege.

Going to school can only give you some learning resources, such as watching many movies, quickly understanding the changes in the international film circle, and systematically understanding the audio-visual language of movies. However, in today's developed media and information, these advantages are not obvious. The only advantages are the monopoly position in China and the passport to have contacts in the film circle.

Of course, having an idol or a goal to work hard can make your efforts more realistic. I think the starting point for Zhang or Feng is too low. They really have a say in the box office and popularity of China films, and their professional skills are worth learning, but the film quality should be far from the world film level. If our younger generation only aims at such a goal, how can we make our China films more promising? If it's not for the purpose of loving movies, but driven by utilitarian heart, I think you'd better give up. Maybe another way is easier.

If you like movies, you have to watch a lot of movies, which is the foundation. This condition should not be difficult to achieve now. Besides reading stories, you need to be good at thinking. You should try to understand the Pandora's box of movies by yourself, just like when you were a child, you took down the alarm clock to find out. Curiosity is the basic requirement for every filmmaker. If you like movies, you need to train your imagination and creativity, and your hands-on ability is indispensable. Try it if you want.

Cultural background knowledge is also indispensable, but I think it comes from your long-term curiosity about culture, not from your short-term exam. Knowledge of literature, drama and history will help you broaden your thinking and improve your cultural quality. At the same time, I think you should also think about philosophy, or simply think about your world outlook, outlook on life and values. Everything should be under your control.

If you want to quickly integrate into China's utilitarian and chaotic film circle, studying at Beijing Film Academy is a good choice, although many universities in China now have film and television departments. The enrollment of film academy will not enter the exam until a few months before the college entrance examination, and there are generally three professional exams. Sketch creation and film analysis are the basic ways to test directors, so you can attend the pre-test class of the Film Academy a few months before the exam and know the style of the exam. By the way, you can also get to know the teacher, because the teacher's preferences determine your grades, and there is no standard answer. This kind of pre-test class is generally closed to enrollment, and it is expensive. You need to find it through small channels.

The cultural examination requirements of the film academy are not too high, but you need to meet the requirements of the score line.

Finally, I wish you success in realizing your dream, because your dream will be the dream of many people in China. Not only the film industry as an entertainment industry or the level of film creation needs people with real dreams to join, but also it is not monopolized like a family business, killing future hopes.

Coppola (an important director of New Hollywood) has a sentence in his important works that I think is also very suitable for you. "As long as I have confidence in movies and filming, it doesn't matter even if I become a member of the Hindenburg government, because I will make it mine. The way to seize power does not always challenge the existing institutions. You can take a place in it first, then challenge it and then betray it. " So there are many ways to fight, and you can choose to enter this dirty film system. Then change it. You can also choose to fight outside the system. As long as you don't forget your original dream and assimilate it into the system, you can try.

I remember when I was your age, I had a word to encourage myself. Now it sounds arrogant, but it represents my passion and fighting capacity. "Kiss the world, then touch it, turn it and crush it." Of course, its significance is multifaceted, and it is by no means a pre-war declaration of terrorists.

Although I am still struggling, I still hope to encourage you and me.