Film Schools?

Zxander34

Zxander34

Well-known member
I'm 17 and have been looking into film schools for awhile now. What are some of the best film schools? Are there any good lesser known ones?

Thanks Zxander.
 
I'm also 17 and I sent out all my applications to film schools by the 1st of January. NYU Tisch School is the best film school in the nation. But I think AFI is the best school for cinematographers. I applied to Tisch but I wanna be a cinematographer so I wanna transfer to AFI after 2 years.

I got accepted to The School Of Visual Arts in NYC and I'm waiting for others.

NYU
AFI
UCLA
USC Arts

in my opinion those are the best.
 
If I'm not mistaken AFI is a graduate program. You can also just go if you have work that is up to their standard, but from what I gather, it's pretty difficult to get in. Not to mention it's something like 60,000 a year.

I really liked the school I went to though. It's called The San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking. Basically it's a year long course and within the first 6 months you make 4 films and work on all of your other classmates films. Then the second 6 months you work on your thesis and work on a feature that the school produces.

It's just great because within a year you can learn filmmaking in a pretty general way, then work under professionals that they hire as a grip, 2nd ac, 2nd AD, set dresser...you get the idea. What's nice though is you can grip one week then work as 2nd AC the next. Just lets you figure out very quickly if that's what you want to do.

http://www.sfdigifilm.com

I just have seen way too many of my friends want to drop out of their 4 year programs by the 3rd year, and I can tell you within the 3.5 years I've been working, no ones ever asked what school I go to or what degree I have.
 
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yow ryan...whats the requirements to go there? and tuition? If u dont mind

edit: nevermind...looked on ur link :)
 
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AFI is only a grad school. NYU is not the top film school in America USC is (based off of all the ratings I have read). I am planning on going to a small cheap film school IN LA and using it mainly as an excuse to use gear and network. Location + University of DVX + contacts = success in film.
 
USC
NYU
UCLA
Chapman
Florida State
LMU
Columbia Uni
etc.

Keep in mind, these are all SUPER hard to get into. It's already hard enough to get into the schools, let alone the film programs. Get good grades, work your ass off, and you may get in. I have a relatively low HS GPA of 3.25, ACT 29 (34 in English), and it's extremely hard to get into these for me. I'll be going to a community college in LA and working as hard as I can to get my GPA up, and hopefully transfer into one of those. If not, then I'll wait until I can go to graduate school.

Good luck!
 
anybody know if Texas has a good film program? UCLA sounds like the most attractive school to me personally. public school pricing with professors that actually work in the industry. the UCLA Extension school is even cheaper, although i think it's post-grad only (i could be wrong)
 
Where do people get money to go to USC...

But San Francisco State has a long running film program... heck, one of the Mitchell Brothers went there for a while in the olden days...
 
dust'n the callipygous said:
anybody know if Texas has a good film program? UCLA sounds like the most attractive school to me personally. public school pricing with professors that actually work in the industry. the UCLA Extension school is even cheaper, although i think it's post-grad only (i could be wrong)
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Just as a note, UC system will charge 'out of state' tuition for students coming from outside of California. Don't recall the residency requirements, but you should think about getting that setup... somehow... if your residence is in SC... and I don't mean So Cal...
 
Ithaca College in Upstate NY.

One of the better film programs out there. You start on cameras your first year. (Rather than learn theory for two years before you touch a camera at NYU).

And we have an LA program too. (Included in tuition).
 
I aswell was considering going to a local(more affordable) school here in Pittsburgh but

hopefully the great powers of film will get me out to USC film...
 
FSU has a pretty great film school, just really hard to get into. I'm awaiting decision as a transfer student, but they only accept 5 transfers every fall. Plus they don't take portfolio work, its all based on your application.
 
El Director said:
In regards to Texas, UT Austin. That's where Rodriguez attended, dropped out, spoke at, then graduated from. lol
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I thought he applied, was rejected, and then after UT Austin's program saw his film Bedhead, the offered him admission, which he promptly responded with a big "go to hell".
 
I would say forget school, its a ripoff. Its really expensive and you learn more if you just read the books cover to cover anyway.

If you want to get a degree, than get something other than a film degree. It will serve you better, even in the film industry (and cost less).

Just get some self discipline and have fun. Film making is a journey not a career.
 
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