How To Be A Film Major

My observations from school, week 1:

- wear black framed glasses

- make use of an Apple product before class and during breaks (iPods, iPhones, iPads, and laptops are all acceptable).

- use the "thinking grip" (fingers holding chin) while watching silent features, shorts, or any other below-average-quality film in attempt to find the deeper meaning.

- nod your head if the professor recites little-known film trivia and facts (as if you already knew).

- don't take notes.

- impress each other by nonchalantly mentioning all the sets you've worked on, and the amazing cameras and lenses you have "just laying around."

- use curse words in every piece of script and prose you write.

- talk about the lighting.

- close one eye, position your fingers in the shape of a rectangle, THEN look at something.

- give a moment of silence after watching a work that seemed like it should have been moving.. even if you weren't moved. Then simply sigh, or utter things like "wow" or "man," until the professor begins lecturing again.

- possess unashamed nerdiness of your craft.

...I'm actually very excited to have started my film classes. And not everyone is like this (in fact, hardly anyone is), but there ARE people who do fit the typical "film-major" stereotype that I heard all about; which is why they're film majors and not biology majors. It was a fun week though! It's a very good feeling to have that initial intimidation behind me. And now that I know how to be a film major, I can fit right in! Just need to find those glasses...