An unfortunate development

"Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman." (ryanwacker02) 08/13/2013 at 16:23 • Filed to: None

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Personal after the Jump.

So, we got a detailed breakdown of my fees for school this semester. I have my tuition at the amount I expected. I also have an unexpected tuition surcharge. This charge is my being in the film department. Now, at no time did anyone tell me I would have to pay this extra amount. It's put a huge wrench in my plans since it's such a big fee. A big enough wrench to stop my plans altogether. As of now, it's looking like I won't be going to school in Vancouver after all, friends.

CB > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 16:24

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Wow, that's a load of bullshit right there.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 16:25

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Now that's just messed up, man.

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > CB 08/13/2013 at 16:25

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Yup. All in all, it's an extra 50% of my tuition. I have enough money to cover tuition, fee included, but no longer enough for housing and living.

Nerd-Vol > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 16:26

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Sorry to hear that.

Xesty > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 16:26

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Thaaat sucks... At my college the graphic design department had insane "lab fees" that weren't shown until the day you paid for your classes...

CB > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 16:27

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Are you going to wait a semester or two to build up some cash, then reapply?

magman007 > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 16:28

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call the school and talk to them about it. Usually they have ways to make things cheaper, not sure how canadian university works, but in the states schools have different pricing, for in state (cheap) and out of state (expensive) students. I know for students at my school (kansas state university) going through the pilot program (expensive) they would give you the in state rate.

ttyymmnn > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 16:28

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Is the school willing to work with you on the fee? Make payments? Got a rich uncle? Thought about loans?

That's unfortunate.

Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 16:29

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What complete and utter horseshit.

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > Xesty 08/13/2013 at 16:29

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Yup. That's pretty much what happened here. It's a massive fist in my ass, since these fees are in the quad-digits. If it was just a few hundred I could handle it no problem. Still wouldn't be happy about it, but I could handle it.

Bird > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 16:31

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Film school's overrated. I left film school to work on a movie...now I'm in LA and I get to play with toys like these:

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > ttyymmnn 08/13/2013 at 16:32

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Loans are the primary payment as is, unfortunately. Since I'm an international student coming from the US I don't have many options. Back when I applied I was able to get both federal and Sallie Mae loans. Thanks to some recent law changes I can only get Sallie Mae loans. No private banks have study abroad loans for Americans either.

Sparf > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 16:33

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Really sorry to hear that. I suppose this means no JDM import either, then?

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > Bird 08/13/2013 at 16:35

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If I had an industry around me to get into I'd try. But I currently live in a dead-end town in Texas whose primary economy is based off of cotton. There isn't much going on here.

Jelly about that camera car too.

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > Sparf 08/13/2013 at 16:36

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Probably not, no. If something works out and I can go, I should be able to save the money to get one by next fall. But things are looking grim at the moment.

SonorousSpeedJoe > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 16:36

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Wow, that's ridiculous. So not only can you not afford to import a JDM ride to tool around in over in Canada, but your entire reason for going there in the first place gets torpedoed too?

That fee is BS on your school's part. I feel for you, man.

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > SonorousSpeedJoe 08/13/2013 at 16:40

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Honestly, when I applied for school I had completely forgotten about the import laws up there. It ended being a nice bonus I remembered after I was accepted. Finding all this bad news out in the past few days has been a huge PITA.

SonorousSpeedJoe > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 16:42

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I know it wasn't your primary motivation, but now it's basically become something else that's gone since they pulled the rug out from under you with that fee.

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > SonorousSpeedJoe 08/13/2013 at 16:44

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Yeah. The money I had set aside for both a car and for housing will be going to pay that fee over the 13-14 term. If I end up going, that is.

GhostZ > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 16:44

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What kind of financial aid do they do? Work with them on it.

A lot of schools, once they've accepted you, can bend over backward to work out financial plans. Threatening to not go to their school means that they've spent money and time on you, but won't get anything back. Ultimately, there is a price for them to hold onto someone they've accepted. It's not much... especially if the school isn't super-exclusive, but it is something.

Playing the game in person and on the phone has saved me about 10,000$ this year, and a little less last year. I'd have had to drop out if I had to pay that much out of my own pocket, and the school wanted to keep me.

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > GhostZ 08/13/2013 at 16:49

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For Canadians, I'm sure quite a bit. Unfortunately as an American going to school in Canada there isn't a ton. If I was coming from Korea, or Germany or somewhere the home countries government, and Canada offer a good deal of aid.
When I applied I got the same aid packages as I would get at a school here in the states. FAFSA junk and all that. Recent law changes that passed after I applied, but before I was accepted changed that. Pretty much all I can get are Sallie Mae loans. And that's what I've been told time and time again.I have enough to cover tuition, but no living expenses. And I need that since I can't work my first year.

SonorousSpeedJoe > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 16:55

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Ah, I see.

Do you have any idea what you'd do for transportation if you do decide to go?

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > SonorousSpeedJoe 08/13/2013 at 17:08

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The housing I have lined up is about a 10 minute walk from campus, and I have a public transportation pass included in tuition. So, I can get around fairly easily. The car was always a bonus, but never a need.

SonorousSpeedJoe > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 17:11

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You said that money would also be going towards housing, so could you still cover the housing costs after paying the fee?

In any case, good luck with whatever you decide.

Bird > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 17:12

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I started in the middle of nowhere too...Yanceyville NC. Primary crop was tobacco....20 years ago.

See if you can find any rental houses even slightly close to you...tell them you're a PA and see if they'll take your name and info. If they're close enough, try to visit and meet people. I work on commercials and we travel to different areas and hire locals all the time. Usually I'll ask my local contacts (usually rental houses) for crew recommends.

Basically what you need to do is find anybody near you that is connected to the film industry and make friends. This industry is 100% a popularity contest. Your friends make your career. If you can make some friends, you're in.

My real suggestion about school though, would be to find a school in LA. Any school really. Like I said, all you need to do is meet people...If you do make it out to LA, try to get ahold of me, I hire freelance PA's for commercials that last between 1-5 days, and I'm always willing to give somebody a shot.

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > SonorousSpeedJoe 08/13/2013 at 17:14

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Maybe I could. Not all on my own. And I don;t really want to put any financial strain on my parents, ya know?

I appreciate it. Hopefully I get myself sorted.

Somethingwittyer likes noisy > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 17:14

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Fuck me that sucks. Why the hell did they tell you that just now!

GhostZ > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 17:15

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That's actually quite surprising. Given how many people come from around the world to get into US universities, I think Canada would really want to get some US students into their own schools.

I don't have much else to tell you then, I'm not familiar with film programs that might be a good alternative, though before high school I did seriously consider a career in the film industry. But then again, I wanted to be an astronaut and a superhero when I was in preschool. Now I just work my ass off for no fun to get an economics degree.

But seriously, good luck, and don't consider staying out of film just because the difficulty finding the right school.

Converse > Bird 08/13/2013 at 18:38

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Sorry to hijack the conversation. But.....

How do you find pro drivers for your shoots? I have experience with precision driving and driving on film (can't get a copy of it to save my life, but that's another story) and I have been trying to find out how to get into that side of the industry.

What are your recommendations?

f86sabre > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. 08/13/2013 at 19:01

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Scholarships? Can you write niece letters to Spielberg, Lucas, Del Toro and the like to see if they will help out. You never know.

Bird > Converse 08/13/2013 at 19:02

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Again...it's all about who you know. Hate to say it, but that's one area extremely tough to get into. There are company's like Drivers Inc. that we source drivers from sometimes, but normally we just pick up the phone and call who we know.

The other thing is, you need to be SAG (in the union..Screen Actors Guild). Getting in the union is a whole other ordeal...

Sorry I can't be more help there. Somehow you need to find a way to get yourself around the guys who are driving, and the guys supplying the cars. Look into picture car rental houses or car prep companys. Maybe see if you can get a job there...if you can get close, you might be able to make the right friend. If you can make friends with other guys who are already driving, you might be able to catch a break when the get called up for a scene requiring 50 drivers because they're doing a freeway stunt scene in traffic or something. It happens sometimes, and that's your in.

Converse > Bird 08/13/2013 at 20:06

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That's what I keep hearing. A couple of my friends and colleagues currently are in the business, but haven't had those large scenes yet.

Come on Speed 4!

Converse > Bird 08/13/2013 at 20:08

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That's what I keep hearing. A couple of my friends and colleagues currently are in the business, but haven't had those large scenes yet.

Come on Speed 4!

Getting my SAG card will definitely help, but they never released the footage I did. So, I'm looking for other ways.

Bird > Converse 08/13/2013 at 20:16

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Well, you're closer than a lot of people then. Stay friends with those guys, and offer to help them any way you can.