Canadian Film Centre

dany27227

dany27227

Member
I'm currently finishing my last year of high school (:)) and I'm starting to see where I want to study. It's pretty much decided that I want to become a writer/director. Now I'm very familiar about the whole argument of whether or not film school is worth it. I already know quite a bit about the whole filmmaking process and have become technically proficient. What it means is that what I'm really trying to get better at is the whole creative side of things.

I know that a wonderful way of doing that is to simply write and make movies. I've tried as hard as I can to make movies but I've come to the conclusion that right now is not the time. With school and my job, freelance video editor and Motion graphic designer, it's very hard to get my friends together and make something. The little time I have, I'd rather spend enjoying life a bit rather than working more.

When I come out of school it will really free me up to start doing what I want to do. Maybe open up a production company and start pursuing my directing ambitions. I'm someone that loves to learn and I think that for me film school is a good idea because it will let me meet similar minded people and show me what I have to work.

All of this to simply ask you guys if the Canadian Film Centre is a good school? Even if you don't know and have some advice for me, please post.
 
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never heard of it. Major films schools in america are UCLA, USC, and NYU school of tisch.

I know for nyu they accept 40 students out of over 800. Good Luck.
 
I was in the same boat nearly 10 years ago. When I got accepted, but couldn't afford, to go to NYU, I pretty much turned my back on all of the Canadian schools (at least here in Toronto). It's never a good idea to give up on something you dream of but, hey, I'm back now...

I didn't know they offered classes at the CFC, but looking at their site, I see that they offer 'training'. This, I have to assume, is not any kind of formal education, but rather like an intensive workshop/lab (like the writing/directing labs at Sundance). I can't speak of their methods or mentors, but I'm sure you'll meet noobs and seasoned pros at a place like that...whereas if you took an actual film/tv/new media program at an accredited or technical school (Ryerson, George Brown, Sheridan, IADT/TFS) everyone would be a (relative) noob, as those programs tend to progress towards some kind of specialization. Plus you would get a degree/diploma. And they'd cost less on a $$/lecture-hr basis. Just don't end up going to U of T for Cinema Studies, like I did, cuz you learn how to analyze film, not critique them, and certainly not make them. Which is hilarious and frustrating when a prof says something like '(insert director here)'s use of jump cuts in that particular sequence serve to jar the viewing audience, but also to strengthen it's connection to the story, and specifically to that of the heroine, by way of empathetic means; if she's uncomfortable with what's going on, we feel that with the editing and the sound'. Okay, that sounds fine and dandy, but what if the editor was just trying to spice up some boring-but-really-pretty footage, inadvertently doing a masterful job of it, and thus going with the jump cuts? Nope. That's too practical. I digress...
 
The Canadian Film Centre is not a school per se. It's not really going to be available to recent high school graduates, but rather offers training for filmmakers and writers who are already making films. It's more like the AFI in this respect. You can't apply to the AFI out of high school either...unless you've already made a couple of award winning shorts or an amazing feature. Usually "students" at the Film Centre (or "residents" as they're called) are in their late 20's and 30's.
 
Thanks for the clarification guys. The CFC is more a place to hone skills than to actually learn some, right? The chances of me getting accepted are none right out of high school. What would you say is the best film school in Canada. I heard that in Montreal it's Concordia but after reading some stuff online it seems like it really isn't a good school. They don't teach much and have one Avid in the whole school. I want to feel that my money is well spent. I'd like a film program that covers everything and is very results oriented. I don't want to be in a class where all we do is analyze old Russian movies. :)
 
There's a sorry lack of respectable film schools in Canada, in my opinion.

Only one that comes to my mind in Canada is Vancouver Film School, which used to have a reputation as a place where rich kids went to play around, and the school wasn't taken that seriously. In recent years, I think they've developed quite a solid and serious reputation. It is expensive though, because it's a private school.
 
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