getting schooled
 

I recently started graduate school(film) and most of the assignments require help from classmates. It must be me, because for the life of me I can't get my fellow classmates to be a part of my shoots---they haven't asked for my help for their projects either. I am having a very difficult time completing my assignments and the stress over doing everything alone is starting to get to me.

Historically, the program is designed that we're all supposed to be working together as eachothers crew. Our class has broken into cliques, and I don't belong to one.

I have been asking for help but people are reluctant to do so--probably since I haven't helped them (haven't been asked). I have even considered paying a crew to avoid all this agony. Tuition alone is difficult for me to handle, but the stress is really starting to get to me. It's gotten to a point where I feel like a beggar.

Would I be walking in the wrong direction if I said screw it and just paid a crew to help me?

talk to your professor, maybe there is someone else in the class in the same situation; or maybe the professor can give you a good angle to go at someone.

In NYC, it seems like all the film students get a lot of outsiders for cast/crew stuff. They put ads in Backstage or craigslist, and there are several yahoo groups-style lists that crew/actor types are on. They get more of the inexperienced people (more professional exp. types - or rather, more successful - aren't interested in working for free so much), but plenty of possible talent/enthusiasm. Have you tried these avenues? Crew people need experience too, you'd be a great avenue for that!

There may be other options, but I definitely think you should invest some effort in finding out why your classmates aren't interested in working with you. Effective networking is as much a part of your education and preparation as the actual nuts and bolts. It could be that they're all self-absorbed jerks, but maybe somehow you're being off-putting, and it would behoove you to work on that.

see i would say beat the shit out of one of the crews, but thats not the right thing to do, but talk to your professor like dilbert said, most likely the best thing to do....