I went to film school in Hollywood. Graduated with honors. Had a polished reel before leaving school. What I'm about to say applies to America and Hollywood...not sure on Australia.

But here it is:

Where you go to school doesn't matter. Hollywood doesn't care about your degree or schooling. The film industry here only cares about what you can do, and what you've DONE.

Let me say it this way: When aspiring writers and directors graduate from film school, they're faced with the sobering fact that nobody is going to hire them. Period.

The only way to get hired is to have credits as a writer and director. Credits on IMDb, etc. So you have to fund your own films after school. This means you'd better not have spent all your money on film school, or things just became very complicated.

It's why so many hopeful filmmakers in LA are working at restaurants and such. Just trying to make ends meet.

My recommendation? Regardless of what you do, make sure you learn the story aspect of the craft first. Too many new filmmakers don't truly understand how to tell a good story. Spielberg said he's more interested in someone who understands story more than he is someone who knows how to operate the camera.

Once you truly understand story, you're ready for the next steps. There are a lot of online resources like nofilmschool.com and even masterclass.com. Or full fledged online schools like writedirect.co.

Learn the craft in the cheapest way (money not quality) possible so you have resources left over to start making movies. Because you have to fund them. Chasing money, hoping to get hired...all bad strategies for post film school.

Also, a few story books that are awesome reads: How to Make a Good Script Great, Story, The Moral Premise and Save the Cat.