Brookes institute or Full Sail?

[Derek_Sine]

I've been looking at both schools. What have you guys heard? I'm not asking you guys to decide, just some friendly input.


Thanks,
Derek

[Psynema]

I've been looking at both schools. What have you guys heard? I'm not asking you guys to decide, just some friendly input.


Thanks,
Derek

I'd go with Brooks for sure.

Don't know a whole lot about either school, but Full Sail is a 2 year condensed BS degree and BS tend to be more technical.

Brooks I believe is a BA but their program seems to be more artistic from what I've seen. Go to studentfilms.com and you can see some of Brooks student work - frankly I think it's some of the best films on that site - everything is technically sound, well shot, with a sincere artistic purpose.

EDIT: I actually went on studentfilms.com to get a link for you, but the films submitted by Brooks were not renewed so there are no films under the school, but I assure you they were damn good.

One thing I don't like about Full sail is it's year round and compressed into two years. Frankly I think students need the breathing room of a 4 year school. Reflecting is always good...as is working summer jobs to save up cash.


May I suggest the University of the Arts, Media Arts Department??? www.uarts.edu

Forgive their site - it doesn't have that many samples and are encoded with an archaic QT codec that hasn't been updated in years, but I assure you it's a good place. Graduated their a few years back and had a job by the end of the summer after graduating, mostly because of their unique approach and what they prioritize in film teaching.

Their program is under the radar, since UArts is strictly an art school and not an all encompasing University like NYU or UCLA, but don't be discouraged. It's arguably the best program in Philadelphia (students often receive a buttload of the PIFVA grants) in addition a high number of students have procured very nice jobs.

Good thing is they have two video departments - make sure, if you're interested, to take the Media Arts dept BFA in Film and NOT the CMac dept. But the good thing is you can take classes in the communications department as a BFA Film major and have access to both departments equipment rooms LOL - in addition to rounding yourself out more. Plus the screenwriting department, while underpopulated and often not having a strong student body, has some great teachers and one of them I'd say the best I ever had.

[Duct Tape Films]

I've been looking at both schools. What have you guys heard? I'm not asking you guys to decide, just some friendly input.


Thanks,
Derek

My advice, neither. Here's why. Do you have a bachelor's already? Then get an MFA in Film at a state or private university, and it doesn't have to be "name" school, either. Alternately, teach yourself on your own gear, in conjunction with working on other people's films. If you don't already have a bachelor's, get one, and you can with the amount of scratch you'll spend going to Full Sail or Brooks. Remember, a school loan is a just that, a loan, and someday you'll have to pay it back. Make sure your investment in yourself is thought through with enough foresight into what will eventually be your hindsight.

The main reason Full Sail et al came into existence was to give students more "hands-on" experiences than they were getting at the state and private universities. Doesn't so much apply anymore, seeing as how nearly everyone with access to $15K or even less can set themselves up with gear equivalent to what they'll be using at a school.

So if you're going to go to school, sure do it in film/media/communications, but don't rob yourself of the opportunity to take classes on entirely seemingly unrelated topics. You never know when you'll be writing a script about Einstein. Wouldn't knowing physics make that whole lot easier? Or that idea you had about a lawyer down on his luck? A media law class would have made your characters SOOO much more believable. If documentaries are your bag, then cultural anthropology is your class.

In the industry you're going to come across a good deal of people with many varying backgrounds, more like the diversity of people you would be exposed to at a unviersity than you would at a specialized school. It's great to have people you can talk shop with, who know the difference between 720P and 1080P, but you'll also have to know how to communicate effectively with people who do not understand the difference between a progressive frame and an interlaced one. (I always find the "CBS Evening News vs. CSI" explanation works best here) In my experience, it will prepare you for working in film, and the real world, far more so than being in a bubble with those who only speak filmspeak.

Most people I know working (full time) in the industry either....

a) Worked their way up through the ranks all the way from PA
b) Came from a somewhat related background (journalism, english, another form of media, art, even business)
c) Bought their own gear, even back when that meant a real razor (!) - not an icon on your cinema display.
d) All of the above.

Very rarely do I come across someone from a boutique school working full time in the business. That's not to say that it doesn't happen, it's just that it doesn't happen any more often than coming across a producer who's got an MBA, which in general can make for an excellent producer - someone who really knows how money works, how to get it, and how to make it back. In fact, in my ten years since I finished school, I have never been short on tech knowledge, nor how to expand that knowledge base, but I have MANY A TIME wished I had more solid foundation in business.

[kai]

The main reason Full Sail et al came into existence was to give students more "hands-on" experiences than they were getting at the state and private universities. Doesn't so much apply anymore, seeing as how nearly everyone with access to $15K or even less can set themselves up with gear equivalent to what they'll be using at a school.

Eh, not so much. The thing with Full Sail is it's chocked full of gear no one will EVER be able to afford on their own. It's teeming with multi-million $ studios and suites most would dream of working in. It's skewed to the high end, not so much 15k prosumer suites. I went there and got 2 degrees and i'm doing just fine.

I will agree with the statement that it's all about what you put into it. I know lots of FS grads flipping burgers because they expected success without working for it. You should at least go check out the tours they do once a month if you can swing a trip down there. It will give you a good impression either way to see it in person.

[PrePro Filmmaker]

Well Full said has a program that is very hands on as well as brooks college. The way I would chose the school is what equipment is more availiable. I go to Collins college in tempe Arizona, its owned by the same company as Brooks college. Both are hands on schools and aheva a very good production base. I have a few friends and Full sail and said its a better school that Collins (they went here for a few months). So just decided whos more availiable to you.

[Duct Tape Films]

Eh, not so much. The thing with Full Sail is it's chocked full of gear no one will EVER be able to afford on their own. It's teeming with multi-million $ studios and suites most would dream of working in. It's skewed to the high end, not so much 15k prosumer suites. I went there and got 2 degrees and i'm doing just fine..

Yeah, but many universities have similarly high end programs, and experience on a set, not to mention professionalism, is going to be far more valued more than a degree from Full Sail, or anywhere else for that matter. My point about the 15K, is that it used to cost far more to get worse quality results, leaving schools as perhaps the ONLY way for some people, outside of fighting your way in professionally, to even get their hands on gear that could deliver professional results. The barrier to entry now is far lower. Point being, a camera is a camera, and an NLE is an NLE, within reason. The most important thing is the transferable knowledge base and skill set that you port around with you, which for the most part, cannot be strictly equipment dependent, as they both must be able to continually expand and adapt.

I will agree with the statement that it's all about what you put into it. I know lots of FS grads flipping burgers because they expected success without working for it. You should at least go check out the tours they do once a month if you can swing a trip down there. It will give you a good impression either way to see it in person.

It is entirely what you put into it, righty-o. Do check out Full Sail, but at the same time, check out the venerable University of Texas or even Podunk State....

[MalcolmOng]

How about NYU? Aren't they supposed to have one of the best film schools around?

[Haakon]

Both Evin Grant and I went to Brooks and I'd recommend it highly. It's somewhat expensive (aren't they all) and it's pretty intense - it's a four year school but runs year-round so it takes just a little over three to finish - but the instructors are all working industry professionals in and around Los Angeles and have a lot of insight to share. You'll definitely learn the technical chops, but the school also focuses heavily on story and function. There are different "tracks" in addition to the core program that allow you to focus in your specific area of interest, be it writing, directing, cinematography, editing, visual effects, etc. You will be busy from the first day of classes until you graduate, which, if you're into film, is a good thing. :)

If you have any individual questions, I'd be happy to answer them for you... shoot me a PM.

[Duct Tape Films]

How about NYU? Aren't they supposed to have one of the best film schools around?

Yep. Spike's at the helm.

[accidental anarchist]

a B@tch to get into, along with the other tops. and $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. anyone go there? is it worth its weight in gold?

[ZFarms Productions]

i've been looking into Northwestern lately. anyone know anything about their film school?

[DVXcellence]

a B@tch to get into, along with the other tops. and $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. anyone go there? is it worth its weight in gold?

It's not hard - I got in but couldn't afford it.

Persistance is the key.

You may not get in as a High School graduate.

But if your grades are good your freshman year of college, reapply as a transfer student and since you would be "college proven" your chances of acceptance go up dramatically, especially since you have less competition than applying while in HS. That's how I got accepted.

[Derek_Sine]

Thanks!