>So, if a student loves Antonioni, etc., and wants to make an
>Antonioni like-film (passive characters), then they're in for
>a rude awakening.
>
>USC maintains that in order to break the rules one must know
>the rules in and out and master them first.


My school was more or less the same way. I tend to go with that school of thought myself. I mean...most student films suck to begin with. They're excercises and so you've got to learn the rules while it's still cheap and relatively no long term effects.


>Anyone of your classmates made some comparable first steps
>(your internship) like you?


I have a few who started up a production company who do music videos and commercials. I've worked wiht them a few times...and they've got a long way to go, but they're headed in the right direction. Similarly, I have some friends who just graduated from Otis Art School who got hired as a directing team (ala Motion Theory who did the "Girl" video by Beck) for a commercial firm.