3 Directors That Dropped Out of School, Before College

By: Keith Mitchell w/ Chestpoundfilms

Photo: Jean-Baptiste Mondino

Despite what four years of high school may have told you, college isn't for everyone.

In the cinema world, degrees are like AOL chat rooms- people forget they still exist.

Just ask Spielberg. The director of Jaws was rejected three times from USC before getting into California State University- only to drop out making his debut film Amblin' (1968).

So it’s no surprise these days there are successful people who didn't finish. The list of accomplished college/film school dropouts is almost long enough to contribute a name to every letter in the alphabet.

Professors can't teach creativity. They can only show you the tools of the trade. It's like teaching someone the rules of a sport- it doesn't suddenly make them an athlete.

That's just something that comes with practice.

But here are three individuals who realized this before they even finished high school.

Three individuals whose addiction to film was comparable to a frat boy's addiction to awful beer. Three individuals who dropped out of school, before college.

1. Peter Jackson

This ingeniously creative man was obsessed with movies in a way that would normally raise questions of concern. Peter Jackson started his career in cinema at an early age when a family friend gave his parents a Super -8 camera. From that point forward, he discovered his appreciation for film and embarked on a journey with a group of friends to dazzle and capture the world with his artistic visions.

While most kids were riding bikes and playing sports, the mastermind behind The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit trilogy, spent his childhood digging trenches in his parent's garden, attempting to recreate the battlefield of the Somme.

Dropping out:

Even though Jackson excelled in school, he lacked an interest in it. Instead, he'd rather tinker with editing, makeup, and special effects in his free time.

By the age of 16 he dropped out and began working as a full time photo engraver. He saved money for his film equipment while staying with his parents for seven years.

Success:

In 1987, Jackson wrote, directed, filmed, produced, edited and even starred in his low budget film Bad Taste. He was practically a one man show.

The film took four years to complete and gained an instant following after debuting at the Cannes Film Festival.

By the time his film had sold in multiple countries, Jackson gave up his job at the photography store and started directing professionally.

2. Quentin Tarantino

Known for his unforgettable characters, distinctive dialogue, pleasurably violent storylines and a foot fetish- Tarantino is a force to be reckoned with.

Since his directorial debut with Reservoir Dogs (1992) and the movie Pulp Fiction (1994) that brought us the famous scene, 'What does Marcellus Wallace look like?'. Tarantino has become a household name. During childhood, the "Director DJ" has had a creative mind for storytelling- even in the most disturbingly eccentric ways.

"He wrote me sad Mother's Day stories. He'd always kill me and tell me how bad he felt about it," his mother, Connie Zastoupil, once told Entertainment Weekly.

Dropping Out:

Tarantino was horrible in school. He described it as, "the worst institution ever imposed on me." - in the same way many of us feel about banks.

In his freshman year, he dropped out of Narbonne High School. Desperate for his cinema fix, he took up acting classes.

He developed his encylopedic knowledge of film over the next 5 years, working at the Manhattan Beach Video Archives with Roger Avary.

During that time, Tarantino also taught himself filmmaking while shooting his first film, My Best Friend’s Birthday (1987).

Success:

It was at a party where Tarantino happened to be at the right place at the right time, the third requirement for success.

He met Lawrence Bender, the guy who persuaded Tarantino to start writing screenplays.

The guy who would later become the producer for Reservoir Dogs.

The guy- who knew a guy, whose wife knew a guy, who knew a guy named Harvey Keitel- that would later star in Reservoir Dogs.

See how that works?

The screenplay took Tarantino three and a half weeks to complete, winning over both Lawrence and Harvey. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1992.

It became an instant success and gained a cult following even to this day.

3. Charles Chaplin

He is considered one of the most influential stars of the early days in Hollywood.

Charlie Chaplin, a.k.a "Little Tramp", the man with the toothbrush mustache, bowler hat, pimp cane and a quirky walk, dominated the silent film era like a boss.

At an early age, he was left to fend for himself. His father was a notorious alcoholic while his mother was in and out of Cane Hill Asylum.

Charlie's first taste of fame was at the age 5. His mother, a performer at the time under the stage name Lily Harley- lost her voice, forcing the manager to push Charlie and his brother on stage as her replacement.

In a situation most children would probably have paralyzing stage fright, Charlie discovered a whole new world of entertainment, an experience he'd never forget.

Dropping Out:

During his school years, his education was a constant struggle. At the age 13, he abandoned his schooling all together and focused on his career as a performer.

In 1913, Charlie accidentally fell into a contract with the Keystone film company. Another case of perfect circumstances. Charlie received a telegram from his manager.

It read, "IS THERE A MAN NAMED CHAFFIN IN YOUR COMPANY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT STOP IF SO WILL HE COMMUNICATE WITH KESSEL AND BAUMAN 24 LONGACRE BUILDING BROADWAY."

Which through reflection, shows that telegrams had broken english like text messages today.

Charlie assumed the telegram was referring to him, believing his great-aunt had passed away and was leaving him some inheritance. So he booked a day trip to New York.

He was disappointed when he learned the telegram was from Adam Kessel Jr. and Charles O. Bauman- who suddenly wanted to sign him to Keystone with an intial weekly salary of $150.

The weekly salary of a college part-timer today.

Success:

The character, "Little Tramp" was born in a film called Kid Auto Races at Venice (1914).

Charlie created the character on the spot, when he was told to put on comedy makeup. He wanted to be a walking contradiction- tight coat, baggy pants, small hat, large shoes.

The audience loved it.

From there, Charlie studied on set with hopes of directing his own films. He made his directorial debut with Caught in the Rain (1914) a huge success.

Charlie went on to create great films such as, The Kid (1921), A Woman in Paris (1923), The Circus (1928), City Lights (1931), Modern Times (1936), even a satirical film of Adolf Hitler- The Great Dictator (1940).

All three of these directors shared a passion for film great enough to risk leaving school behind.

Make no mistake, this does not glorify dropping out. This article is more so, an observation that clearly shows experience is the best education you can get.

If you have enough drive to succeed - you will find a way.

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