>>4189972Here's my 2 cents as someone who graduated from a cheap two year program:
-Once I found a group of people with similar interests as me (other students in my program), my social skills got way better. It didn't happen overnight, but I now had a context that made it appropriate in my mind to approach people, even strangers, as long as I could say <<I'm working on a film>>. That confidence carries over every other aspect of your life, after a while.
-Even at a cheap college, you can find in every class one or two really good students, and three or four more with potential. Become friends with them, those are the people that will help you make kino, even as you get older. Just don't wait too long, if they start to have kids or a career it's over for you, unless you got $$$.
In my experience, connections are kind of a meme beyond that. You could ask your teacher if he has colleagues who are looking for grips or interns or whatever, but the best connections are usually made with other students IMO
-The academic setting will very much help you to get good. You get a lot of practice, feedback, hopefully the opportunity to experiment, and you compete with your homies
