No college degree - How do you get your foot in the door?

I've got my whole life set up for me.
I've got a job, that for many people is classified as a "Survival job". I'm only there so I can live my life and pay my bills while I work on getting my career.

Only problem is, I don't have a college degree. And I don't plan on ever getting one.

I've had far too many claims from close and trustworthy friends about how college does nothing for them.

For me, I'd like to either be a video editor(or music video director), a photographer, or a writer(fiction).

Now, I know that without college degrees, you can get into these careers, but you have to jump through hoops for them to look at you.

For writing, I can send my manuscripts to a publishing house that accepts freelance writers. Pretty much no hassle there, if you can wait a few months to be reviewed.

For photography and Video editing, however, you have portfolios of your talent. And even if you're better than the best, they do not look at your portfolio(s) if you don't have such and such degree.

I was wondering if anyone knew how I could stamp my foot between the interviewer door and doorframe and force them to look at my demo tapes and/or portfolio before they start hacking on me about my lack of a degree.

I've looked at tech schools and colleges, and I can say with all my trust that I believe it's a waste of money to just get a piece of paper telling employers that I learned how to do something there when I can truthfully say that I already know what's going to be taught before I ever pay thousands of dollars.

Long story short, I'm stubborn as hell and not going to college, does anyone have any advice for me?

College degree is not everything in life.

You should work on what you feel like better. Then you will be an expert and opportunities will follow you. Never give up.

If you feel like a college degree will help, take a part time course.

Recently i got a SPAM mail telling they can give me any degree i want, if you go that way, buy a doctorate :-)

Important thing is what you know and how good you are.

See Bill Gates don't have a College degree and he don't need it too.

Thanks, but that wasn't what I was asking for. ^^;

If you have talent and determination you can get into any job you want. Get a portfolio that just kicks ass, if they don't look at it keep trying it's there loss not yours!