Film School Time - USC vs. AFI vs. Los Angeles Film School

C

c.g._eads

Veteran
For whatever reason there seem to be a lot of threads related to film school lately. Anyway, here's another one.

I'm trying to decide between these 3. Not that my decision guarantees entry, but because in the case of Los Angeles Film School, I could start right away, whereas with the other two I would have to wait awhile, decisions do have to be made. I know there are a lot of people who think film school is a waste, and I've been one of those people. However film school gives you some things that work very well for someone like me. 1) It forces you to make films (this is big!) 2) It gives you access to equipment for cheap (sort of - I mean you are paying tuition) 3) It can help you find a core group of friends that will be making films for the rest of your lives (aka networking - very important). In the end, I'm a strong believer that school is what you make of it. If you go in there and raid their classes and take advantage of the cheap equipment, you can make out great! If you go in there half-assed, well then sure, film school will be kind of pointless. Having said that, these are my pros and cons of each school. Add more if you like.

AFI
Pros
1) A mentorship program that hooks you up with an established working industry member to guide you.
2) Very hooked up with the entertainment industry. The program eases you into their network of accredited alumni - including working on their films.
3) A very solid curriculum that establishes working together with other people specializing in their own departments (cinematography, writing, editing, production design) so that it's very much like how you will work in the real world.

Cons
1) Expensive.
2) Hard to get into.
3) 2 and a 1/2 year commitment.
4) Would not be able to start until a year from August!
5) You are stuck in whatever specialty you choose. If you're a director, you are not allowed to take cinematography courses. This to me is the biggest problem with the school.

Los Angeles Film School
Pros

1) Start right away.
2) They spend a lot of money on good equipment. They appear to be stacked in that area.
3) 1 year commitment
4) Fairly cheap compared to others.
5) Very flexible with what classes you can take. You get one major and two minors, allowing you to take classes in any area you want.


Cons
1) The school itself is rough around the edges. Just walking around it feels a little ratty.
2) It's a young school. Est. 1999. Who knows if they'll be around in 5 years. Saying you went to Los Angeles Film School will be like saying you went to Chris Film School. Who the hell cares??
3) Anybody can get in - So you get the kind of people who aren't fully dedicated. More slackers. More flakes.

USC (this one I know the least about - going on their tour tomorrow)
Pros
1) Top of the line when it comes to equipment and resources.
2) Top of the line when it comes to professors.
3) Top of the line when it comes to guest speakers/seminars.
4) The contacts you make at a school like USC can be very very powerful.


Cons
1) USC backlash. People feel that students who graduate from there are snotty brats with a huge sense of entitlement.
2) Long commitment (3 years?) - And from what I've been told, the first year you will learn NOTHING new if you have any history in the business. Stuff like, "this is a camera". Which makes the whole 1st year almost a waste.
3) Very hard to get into.
4) Very very expensive.


So, what do you guys think? Anything to add?
 
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Is AFI like a normal college? I thought it just had some sort of graduate program that you apply to get into once you've already been through a 4-year film school.

Another con that I've heard about USC: Apparently outside the campus it is unsafe. I have no idea if this is true and I've never visited it.


edit- Yeah, you have to be 21 to apply for AFI.
 
Oh, I should've mentioned that I was looking at the graduate programs.

Yeah, USC is in the ghet-o. I think I'll be all right though. The only thing that worries me about these places is their insane application/acceptance ratio. I did NOT set the academic world on fire in high school and college. So if they only accept triple-threats: great application, perfect grades, a piece of work that shows talent, it would be foolish to think that a little luck wouldn't be involved. I mean you got to figure 10 of these guys get in through connections alone. That only leaves 10-14 spots for around a thousand applicants. Even with a great package, you're still struggling to get in.
 
I'd recommend a very close look at AFI, if you think you've got a shot at
getting in.

Most of the folks I know that are already working in the industry, in some
capacity and want to direct - and are considering additional schooling
to do this, put AFI at the top of the list.

Secondly, I'm seeing a lot more of an overall industry 'softspot' for
helping out and giving deals to AFI projects. Usually, they do come
with a component of established people attached to the student
projects, that can call on better resources. With the glut of film
edu programs, getting those 'favors' is becoming much harder.

AFI would get my vote.
 
Yeah, they're probably my first choice. Now the question is, what number choice am I to them?

Also checked out LMU today. Some good-looking women, but I think their program is a little underfunded (although they swore to me that their school was ranked second in the nation to USC, from some major college publication - I don't know if I believe that).
 
c.g._eads said:
Oh, I should've mentioned that I was looking at the graduate programs.

Yeah, USC is in the ghet-o. I think I'll be all right though. The only thing that worries me about these places is their insane application/acceptance ratio. I did NOT set the academic world on fire in high school and college. So if they only accept triple-threats: great application, perfect grades, a piece of work that shows talent, .
Click to expand...

Yeah it *is* in the ghetto, but the area surrounding campus isn't bad and SC is actually more on the edge of the southcentral, not in the heart of it. It's very close to downtown LA.
You're right, it *is* hard to get in, especially to the grad school. My dad was on the admissions committee there for a few years(grad only). Be ready for people with perfect GRE's. Yes, 1600's. Be ready for Harvard Law grads. Be ready for people with names like "Sinatra". Funny thing though, there are exceptions. I don't think John Singleton had any of that. I have a friend who got into the Peter Stark program that was a computer programer with mediocre grades from a run of the mill school. If you think there's something exceptional about you, like serving in the 101st Airborne in Afghanistan or excelled in some endeavor, or are a deposed governor of a major state, I'd say go for it. Those programs like diversity.
 
Apparently you can start a "folder" at USC and fill it with updated resumes and letters of recommendation and that sort of thing. I'm going to do that shortly and hopefully it'll give me some advantage on getting accepted.

In case anybody is interested in this, know that they will discard your folder after it has been there for 2 years regardless of when you are applying, so if you are like me and will be applying in more than 2 years, you should wait.

Also, if you call USC's general admissions office they won't have any idea what you are talking about.
 
Yeah, I figure 10-15 slots go to people with connections, just like the real film business (they say they prepare you for the real world, right?) which only leaves a few for the rest of us. I think I might take a chance and just go totally batsh*t insane on my app. They might think, "this guy is so out there, we should take a chance on him".
 
I was thinking the graduate program. You know, a second cousin of Steven Spielberg's grandson - that sort of thing. Anything that puts somebody else at just a little higher advantage than you. "Just look at this application a little more closely" wink wink.
 
Honestly ( i could be a fool on this topic , because i am still a student going to film school) BUT.... to me it seems more about what you DO and not hwre you GO.. i bet you could be hired on pretty easily with a Epic demo reel and good resume+ good people skills... graduating from the rattyiest college around, as long as it says Film -Whatever- Degree GPA 3.5+ .. godly demo reel... who cares where you go? just learn some stuff get some experience and keep a good attitude. (try not to go too far in debt) roar..
 
Vader said:
i bet you could be hired on pretty easily with a Epic demo reel and good resume+ good people skills...
Click to expand...

I regret not going to one of the majors.. or AT THE LEAST - doing my
education in Los Angeles.

I did attend UW:Milwaukee for a spell as well as FSU. In the end its working
out ok, but I not only had to do the same things everyone needs to do, coming
out of school, I didn't have any 'go getter' network to speak of.
 
Well, there's always the Spielbergs, the guys who are driven and spend every waking moment making it happen. You know it when you meet them that nothing is going to stop them from doing it. We have quite a number of those guys on here.
 
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