"It is completely possible to make it as a filmmaker without schooling but you have to be a student of film in your own right," filmmaker and Baltimore native Daniel Hess wrote in an email. "Constantly watching, practicing, getting on sets, trying your hands at every level. No one just jumps into the director's role (well very rarely) so you have to work your way up and prove yourself as a reliable contributor."
Jennifer Lieberman – an actor, writer and filmmaker who earned an undergraduate degree in philosophy and English literature – got a writing-related degree instead of a film degree because she intended to use her writing skills when making movies. Regardless of an aspiring filmmaker's academic background, he or she will need an abundance of initiative, says Lieberman, the founder of "Make Your Own Break," an organization that helps independent creative professionals design their own career opportunities.
"For my experience, the people who have had the longevity and who have had the most success are the people who have taken the reins, created their own productions, created their own production companies and who are not waiting for anybody to give them a job," she says. "They give themselves work. They create their own work."
Many wildly successful filmmakers have created their own film companies. For instance, billionaire entertainer Tyler Perry – creator of hit movies such as "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" – established Tyler Perry Studios.