You are one lucky reader, because if our demographic studies are correct, chances are excellent that you are now, or soon will be, making a movie. You're lucky because the hard evidence outweighs the hype when I tell you that there has never been a better time to start making your movie than right now. New technologies are here that take the fetters off your storyteller's imagination. New options are available that bring more industry gates crashing down with each passing month. (You don't even have to be the beneficiary of a trust fund, a cache of credit cards, or a dentist's whim in order to get your first movie financed now!) New outlets are opening up that will allow your work to be seen (Six hundred active film festivals? Exhibiting on the world-wide web? What's next?) by more viewers than most of us would have thought possible just a couple of years ago. I am in complete agreement with those who claim that never before have so many considered motion pictures both a viable means of personal expression and a valid way to earn a living. As Thom Andersen, acting dean of the School of Film/Video at Cal Arts, says (in Eric Sherman's article "Film Schools at the Millennium," pg. 56) "The technical revolution is making it easier to make movies-so there will be more movies made, and more and more people will go to film schools to learn the basics." Sally O'Steen, of Video Symphony in Burbank, CA speaks for many when she says "There's no doubt about the opportunities that will become available for those who can align their talent with the context of this fresh era....the technology is here that will create a moviemaker in every house and an audience for every moviemaker." (see "A Moviemaker in Every House," page 78). Do you see how lucky you are to be dreaming this dream right now? But obviously, you're not alone; there are many others dreaming, too. Whether you're a new moviemaker poised to take advantage of digital technologies or a working professional with long-honed traditional skills, what you need now is an edge. You need to continue learning to stay competetive. Thus, we're proud to bring you our fifth annual "Film School Issue," which this year has evolved to become our "Media Education Issue." Of course, MovieMaker readers know that our content is always aimed at the audience and the artist, and though we strive to provide content that's consistently enlightening to working and would-be professionals, we hope there's plenty within these covers to interest rank and file cinema lovers all over who stand in line at film festivals to support independent moviemaking. So I hope you enjoy #34. You lucky devil, you. MM