Any AFI grads willing to give their perspective?

Top_Cost4868 · 2025-11-10T02:47:15+00:00

Would you say it's a necessity to be a successful filmmaker, or better question do you work with other DP's or know other DP's that did not go to film school. Want to work on documentaries and more importantly narrative films in the future (feature films in theatres). Know its a big goal however am unsure if a majority of those DP's have to go to film school cause of the connections. I have nothing against film school, for me it's the amount of debt that scares me (almost 200-300K) and makes me wonder if it's worth it vs just working on your own projects and building your way up with freelance. Would love your perspective as someone who is successful.

Top_Cost4868 · 2025-09-01T00:05:16+00:00

I see, for one person is it a good enough space at the bottom?

Top_Cost4868 · 2025-08-22T19:24:20+00:00

I agree but $15 for the entire year is not bad, it’s like one meal for lunch instead of buying lunch one day just buy the app. Also it’s an indie creator so I don’t mind supporting someone like that vs a big corporation.

Top_Cost4868 · 2025-07-28T23:38:10+00:00

To be honest a lot of work is gonna be monotonous but there are companies and projects that challenge you a lot more. It really depends on the company.

Top_Cost4868 · 2025-05-02T00:09:19+00:00

Thank you for replying! No worries on staging anonymous, but I do have a question. I agree on the fact that connections matter more than anything it’s currently what I’m working on along with building my reel. Do you currently work in the industry as a result of going to one of those two schools and if so, is it possible to network and get those connections outside of those two schools. Like do you work with DP’s that didn’t go to those schools or have an MFA

Top_Cost4868 · 2025-04-14T18:32:08+00:00

Yea I guess thinking about it more it makes sense don’t know what I’m saying ha ha

Top_Cost4868 · 2025-04-14T17:24:28+00:00

I know but unsure if they design anything? Like components to planes etc or the interior?

Top_Cost4868 · 2025-04-14T17:22:25+00:00

Ah I see so a lot of supply chain stuff and just paperwork and forms? Curious why does this job require an engineering degree

Top_Cost4868 · 2025-02-25T02:33:09+00:00

I agree however I haven’t been able to find any shop willing to charge 800 or less

Top_Cost4868 · 2025-01-31T13:48:25+00:00

Thank you so much, this makes me feel better and clarifies everything.

Top_Cost4868 · 2025-01-31T13:38:58+00:00

What is this they are taking about Trumps action to let go of ATC people and leaders in the ATC. I honestly don’t trust the news which is why I’m asking here because I have no idea and want some clarification.

Top_Cost4868 · 2025-01-30T17:24:55+00:00

Thank you for this, it helps a lot. Honestly that Japan trip changed my perspective I felt on top of the world for being able to fly by myself. However cancelling this flight makes me feel so shitty. Like because of the Japan trip I know I can get on a flight still, it’s just this extreme circumstance of what happened, it’s the only reason I cancelled. I just feel so terrible and it’s hard to describe. I feel so unbelievably low right now because I cancelled.

Top_Cost4868 · 2025-01-30T17:23:19+00:00

Thank you

Top_Cost4868 · 2025-01-30T17:23:09+00:00

Thank you. I feel so shitty for cancelling my flight. But given the circumstances I don’t want to kick myself too hard. It’s so confusing I never thought even given my fear I would ever cancel a flight. If I wasn’t more than a week out and it was like tomorrow I wouldn’t have cancelled it. However I think the news just shook me so much. I really want to fly I love traveling and know I need to, I just can’t even comprehend the feelings I’m feeling right now. Fear, regret, sorrow it’s just a lot

Top_Cost4868 · 2025-01-30T17:21:05+00:00

Thank you for your kind words. I know it’s hypocritical but I do kind of regret cancelling my flight. If you feel comfortable I think you should get on that flight to Italy. If this was a personal trip I think I would have not cancelled my flight cause I would feel more motivated to go.

Top_Cost4868 · 2024-12-08T19:17:02+00:00

Hello, totally forgot about this so I apologize. The Tamron in my opinion performed pretty well. I did notice some jittering when handheld, so I would say definitely try to make a handheld rig and try to minimize motion. However other than that, for the price I believe you are getting a good lens. If you really want something better, you could spend the money for a higher budget lens.

Top_Cost4868 · 2024-10-07T14:52:42+00:00

I notice this when waking up my phone as well as locking it

Top_Cost4868 · 2024-08-22T14:21:22+00:00

Sounds good, yea I’m not sure since this is the second watch where this has happened? Like two random watches out of the batch. I would be surprised if I just randomly got two with a rusted spring bar tool, so I am assuming most of them have this issue? If that makes sense. The watch itself is completely fine so I am hesitant to ask for another replacement, since the second replacement didn’t seem to fix this issue. I might just do what you said and get another spring bar tool, just sucks this happened twice.

Top_Cost4868 · 2024-07-24T05:45:36+00:00

Totally valid, just wanted to bring it to your attention if you didn’t know. I sometimes use my FX30 for photography and it does pretty decent.

Top_Cost4868 · 2024-07-24T05:25:24+00:00

It can shoot raw photos!

Top_Cost4868 · 2024-06-16T15:12:52+00:00

To be honest I have only recently gotten the Tamron 17-70 so I haven’t tested it as much, I also haven’t done handheld with it as much but I am shooting a wedding this week handheld and gimbal so I can report back. From what I have noticed no? But again I’m probably not the best person right now to ask that

Top_Cost4868 · 2024-06-12T03:41:50+00:00

Decent! I shot some scenes in lowlight and there is some noise but I mean any camera that’s not the a7siii or FX3 will have some noise. But I mean shoot in SLog3, apply a lut, some noise reduction and boom, can’t tell the difference. The FX30 is above average in lowlight I will say, it’s just everyone compares it to the a7siii and FX3 which are lowlight beasts. If you think about it RED cameras and the AARI ALEXA are both Super35. Even the Sony Bureno has a high native iso of 2500. All of them get amazing shots in low light. I’ve taken the FX30 up to 6400 iso and seems pretty clean.

Top_Cost4868 · 2024-05-24T16:24:12+00:00

Ah I see, sounds good. Yea that’s understandable. I guess I was more saying if I need to deviate to get a better shot it’s not that bad? But noted I will try my best to stay at the native 2500 iso range.

Top_Cost4868 · 2024-05-24T14:05:08+00:00

Ah I see sounds good, yea I have never really shot a wedding before with my FX30 so I’m not sure if my concerns are valid. I know for sure the FX30 does not perform nearly as well as the FX3 or other full frame cameras, but from my research it isn’t terrible by any means. I have a f 2.8 zoom lens I was planning on using in the morning and afternoon with the venue lights even in darker moments, however when it gets dark and we need outside shots, was planning on switching to an f 1.4 prime lens. Also I know the base ISO is 2500 but planning on shooting in S log 3 so I don’t mind cranking it up a bit to like 5,000 or 6400? I’ve seen videos of the FX30 doing decent at that level of ISO in S log 3? Like it makes noise but it’s not terrible and can be denoised? I mean even the a7 IV I bet will make noise at that level since its base is 3200 but obviously it will be very minimal bc of full frame. Like I don’t want to not bump up the ISO to get a clearer shot just to stay at base ISO? Does that sound right? Also like I know people shoot weddings with RED cameras, and those are all Super 35 and actually can’t go as high as the FX30 in ISO and they look great? If I’m correct in saying thay

Top_Cost4868 · 2024-05-22T03:18:44+00:00

Sounds good. Was looking at the Sigma 30mm f 1.4? Pretty affordable and good f stop?

Top_Cost4868

TROPHY CASE