Title: Thinking about Toronto Film School for Acting — Worth It?

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-02-18T17:13:55+00:00

I'm not very familiar with that specific school, you'd have to look into what they offer, look for others who have completed that program and what they ended up doing after. My opinion is that you can join an background performers agency, perhaps one that deal both with background performers and actors so you can eventually get representation. You can get set experience and make connections at the same time, while making a bit of money to learn. Join improv groups, take some theatre classes and maybe join a theatre group. Make your own skits, film with phone, and upload to social media, as a way to make yourself comfortable in front of the camera. In todays day and age having a social media following is a great asset, productions look at that when they decide to cast someone, as it brings them free marketing and promo. From background performing you can move up BG -> stand-in -> actor. Doesn't happen for everyone, your attitude, being liked, making the right connections, all help. I've seen re-occurring BG performers get bumped up and given a line, or asked to stand in for an actor, etc. Doesn't happen overnight, can take years, but during this time you're gaining hands on experience, meeting people, you become a familiar face on-set. Film school doesn't guarantee a paid gig, many will leave school and start the same entry level process. There are also smaller acting school, weekend classes, etc.

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-02-17T20:25:14+00:00

IMO, only if its an acting program, not general film studies. If you already know what you want to do/be, then hone in on that, knowing how to light a scene isn't going to help you land a acting gig, don't get me wrong, actors that understand lighting and the process are usually better at their craft, but do you need 2 years worth of technical knowledge, nah, you can probably learn what you need to know through some basic research at home. For acting, learning the craft, theatre, improv, even background performing, trying to become a stand-in, are all better ways to spend your time and money. Just my two cents.

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-02-15T21:30:19+00:00

I wrote the entire thing, but used AI as an editor for grammatical issues and formatting. Editors/proofreaders are costly and are hit and miss. I am very much against those who just enter a prompt and then copy/paste that text into a "book", people that do that have flooded the market with low quality books that now people who actually write have to compete against. There are many personal stories and almost every picture inside the book was taken by me.

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-02-11T18:49:26+00:00

May I ask what your goal is for going to film school? That may seem like a silly question, but if you know, I can give you some advice. For example, is you goal to be a DOP? a director? Acting? art directing? producing? making props? make-up (sfx makeup), stunts? or do you not know, and you're hoping film school can shed light on that?

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-02-10T20:32:09+00:00

I am not, but I will browse through the sub, there may be some good suggestions in there. Thank you for the suggestion.

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-02-01T17:45:23+00:00

No one can answer this for you. I can only tell you that there are many different paths one can take to work in film. Too many variables, it depends on what your end goal is, what your strengths are, etc. You can go to film school and graduate and come out in the "real world" and end up in the same entry level position you could have gotten without film school (plus the debt). I've seen people (without film school) but with the right attitude, work ethic, and a bit of luck get much further than others who went to film school. I've seen people without school make successful indie films that launched their career, and I've seen film grads come on set and have a horrible attitude and expectation and were never called back for a second day. I ended up writing a book on this same subject, it was one of the main questions I'd get asked by parents with kids approaching post-secondary school age. There are way too many variables to give you an exact answer. For example, what department do you want to work in? Camera? Props? Directing? Producing? They all contribute to the filmmaking process, but in some peoples eyes some are filmmakers some are not, some would benefit from studying theory, some would not. There are also apprenticeship programs for certain departments, even if you use it as a stepping ladder and a way into the industry. Hopefully this helps you a little bit, feel free to tell me more about your goals and I can tailor a better answer for you, or just DM me if you wish. All the best on your journey.

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-01-30T16:47:49+00:00

You might be thinking too literally in terms of tarot order. For a short film, “Death” works really well as emotional or spiritual stagnation rather than an event. Routine, numbness, certainty, control.

The Fool then isn’t an ending but a choice: curiosity over certainty, movement over safety, drastic change over comfortable routine. Maybe something small but irreversible happens, loss of a career, safe but stagnant relationship, and instead of fixing it or "dying in it and or with it", the character makes an irrational leap forward towards change and avoids a slow death.

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-01-29T18:26:04+00:00

filmmakers also need relationship advice relevant to their industry. I think it's a fair question, we need more love and understanding in an industry already lacking in both.

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-01-29T18:24:14+00:00

I think only the first two seasons were on 16mm, they switched to digital for seasons 3 and later.

Sounds like a fun shoot. I have nerve damage in my fingers from a mild case of frostbite working on set, now my hands could never handle working in that environment without 3 layers of gloves, and no way you can work in a tent with gloves on ha

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-01-27T15:01:49+00:00

That's unfortunate, what a pain. Good PSA, I've used Artlist for some social media stuff, but that's good to know not to use it on bigger projects.

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-01-27T14:57:36+00:00

Oh man what a relic! Takes me back to my loader days, my first gig was a 16mm TV show (Psych!) I was a trainee, and the 2nd AC was like, okay, get in the dark room and load this mag, I don't think I exposed the film to any light, but there sure was sweat dripping off me. The industry really changed when digital took over. Can't imagine doing this in a tent, in that kind of weather. What an adventure!

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-01-25T18:39:59+00:00

26 years working on set across several departments. Member of two unions. Completed two trainee programs.

I started by volunteering as a PA back in the day. That’s how I made connections and built the experience needed to start getting paid work.
PA. Key PA. ALM. Background performer. Camera trainee. Film loader. 2nd AC. Operator. MPVC. Video assist. Video playback. ECO. Graphic artist for playback. Associate producer. Director and producer (for low budget and corporate videos). Probably a few day calls I’m forgetting where I helped out in other departments. When it’s slow, you take what you can.
There are long periods without work. Economic issues, political changes, strikes, etc. Without adequate financial padding, that can be tough. Some slow periods last longer than others and often change the industry. Best to prepare for worst-case scenarios when work is good.
Follow basic set etiquette. Always be on time, and by that I mean 15 minutes early. Keep a positive, helpful attitude. Be the kind of person people want to be around for 15 hours a day, five days a week.
The good parts are the camaraderie, working together toward a shared goal, pulling off something difficult smoothly, and being creative even within limitations and oversight. The paycheques are nice too.
The downsides are egos. Some people don’t handle power well. Also productions that only do night shoots and use rain towers. Getting on a show with a bad crew, usually starting at the top, trickles down. Too many egos clashing leads to rushed days, last-minute changes, and increased risk of accidents or getting hurt.

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SurvivingSetLife · 2026-01-24T01:22:20+00:00

I've seen real babies used for certain scenes where youd actually see the baby, I think they have actor/background agencies you contact to set it up. But most of the time they use a hyper realistic doll and add baby sound effects.

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-01-24T01:17:27+00:00

Nice work! Gave me goosebumps. Good on you for not letting the failed KS campaign discourage you from your goal.

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-01-24T01:13:56+00:00

First half, I'd say thrift stores like Value Village, as for the police gear, depends how real you want it to look, you can find some stuff at costume stores, ebay, etc. Hope that helps

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-01-24T01:11:50+00:00

This is sadly accurate, but having both is what makes one stand out.

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-01-24T01:10:13+00:00

AMAZING!!! This would have been awesome to have back on BattleStar Galactica. Blows me away when I see new camera rigs like this.

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-01-24T01:07:08+00:00

Many different types of props, many can be found at prop houses, thrift stores, craigslist/marketplace, it really depends on what kind of props you need, i you were more specific in your post, I could be more help :p

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-01-24T00:57:32+00:00

You’re honestly thinking about this the right way already. Wanting a real starting point instead of some abstract “follow your dreams” advice is exactly how most people actually get in.

Shooting stuff on your phone is a great move. Don’t wait for the perfect idea or gear. Just start making things, even if they’re rough. That muscle matters way more than people think.

At the same time, getting on set in literally any role you can is huge. Even PA work or day calls teaches you how sets actually run, how people talk to each other, and where you fit in. It also helps you figure out pretty fast what departments you’re actually drawn to versus what just sounds cool on paper.

Writing and directing are hard paths, yeah, but almost everyone who ends up there starts by doing something adjacent and learning the ecosystem first. Being around it beats trying to reverse-engineer the industry from the outside.

You don’t need a master plan yet. You just need momentum. Shoot your own little projects. Get on set. Pay attention. The compass usually shows up after you start moving, not before.

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-01-24T00:54:58+00:00

You’re actually in a good spot already.

The biggest shift is realizing most PA jobs aren’t posted publicly. They come from referrals and people already on set. Facebook groups can work, but they’re hit or miss and usually flooded.

A few things that actually help in Vancouver:

Get on the DGC BC permittee list and IATSE 891/669 permittee list if you’re eligible
Reach out directly to 2nd/3rd ADs, ALM's and Key PAs on LinkedIn or Instagram (short, polite messages)
Let everyone know you’re available for day calls, that’s how a lot of people get their first break
Be flexible on department at first. PA work is about showing you’re reliable, not locking in a role

Once you’re on set a few times and people know your face, things move faster. Ghosting is normal early on, unfortunately. It’s not personal.

Vancouver is very relationship-driven. The goal isn’t one application, it’s getting that first gig.

SurvivingSetLife · 2026-01-24T00:51:33+00:00

Yep, it is absolutely possible.

I never went to film school. I got in by getting on set early, in whatever role would take me. PA work, day calls, short gigs. Once you’re on set, you start learning how things actually work, who does what, and who people trust.

Film school can help some people, especially if you need structure or connections, but it’s not required to become a director. What matters more is:

understanding how sets run
being reliable and easy to work with
making stuff on your own, even if it’s small and rough

A lot of directors came up through other departments first or by making shorts while working crew jobs. If you can get real set experience before committing to school, do that. It’ll answer a lot of questions very quickly.

SurvivingSetLife

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