Full Sail University

A

alekstef

Well-known member
Hey guys!

I have been thinking about studying abroad, and I just heard from a friend, who has a friend who lives in the US, that Full Sail University has a very good film program. So I was just wondering, are there any (ex) students from Full Sail here? Would you recommend attending Full Sail?

Thanks!
Aleksander
 
From what I've heard, it's an assembly line. They take you, take your money, push you along, graduate you, then say "have fun."
 
I know they have the WORST ads I've ever seen in a video magazine... they show a picture of a set... and then what looks like a bunch of kids totally goofing off... laughing and acting like they're "real film people" but everybody looks like they couldn't stop laughing long enough to take a picture...

I think they're trying to make it look like fun... but they make it look like nobody knows what the hell they're doing... as if they gathered a bunch of stoners... lit everybody up... then told 'em where to stand while each person is trying not to laugh.

For the life of me I can't figure out how that place draws in any customers with those ads.

Try making it look cool... not silly.
 
I am currently enrolled at Full Sail. It teaches you more on the technical side of filmmaking. They care about the art as well, but they just want to make sure you know the technical side more. Classes are a month long a piece, and you go six days a week (of which I have no problem with). Some labs are at 1 or 5am depending. Then you may have another class at 9am. I've learned a lot there, but for the first few months if you already know a bit about filmmaking and such it's all rudimentary. I'm really looking forward to the 16MM and 35MM productions that we do. Some of the teachers know their ****. Others act like they do, but in reality don't. The program is a total of 21 months for the Bachelor's degree.
 
I graduated recently and I can tell you I have mixed feelings about it.

Some classes are really well put together and you learn a lot, while others you are bored as hell and learn nothing.

My favs were DC, 2nd Post and 35mm.

My not favs were Directing, Advanced Post and Storytelling(yes, that is a class name and not something from Jr. Kindergarden)
 
there are a couple of precursor classes to take just so that it can be considered a "university" they're math (algebra), creative writing, behavioral science, and computer science.

I'm in my second month of DC (Digital Cinematography). we're getting ready to shoot a project. i like that class, but before i went in i learned a lot of what was already being talked about from Barry Green's DVX book. Seriously.
 
Do what I did instead...take the money you'd be spending and make a feature and work your butt off to make sure it sells. Best classroom out there is in the field.

Take that for what you will. Either way I'm not spending 100k+ on a degree where when I get out not only am I in debt but my next priority is to find the next ball running job for a small prod. company in CA in hopes of working my way up the poll in 10 years.

Just my opinion.
 
Thank you all for your opinions! Of course, this thread is open for further discussion about Full Sail.

@ KyleProhaska: You might have a point.. But I'm not the kind that writes a script or anything like that, I'm more of a camera op / DP (when I learn enough about it though), so I'm not gonna try to write some crap script and work my ass off trying to make it sell. Also, if I study abroad, I will receive scholarship and the state will pay at least half the price of my education. I will also get at least one trip home a year. I know that the experience gathered in the field is far more valuable than having theory in the classroom, believe me, I've been there, but it looks like Full Sail have a hell of a lot more actual filmmaking in practice than I would ever get on my own without an education.
 
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I went down to check it out, and have all the same feelings as the others... seems rushed and just stealing you money..

It was way to flashy for me.... they tried to hard to get you to like it.... i caught on quickly and became very annoyed....

plus too far from MA... i want to be close to home, I'm going to somewhere in boston after i take this year off
 
Some of the people I've met from out of their quickie program seem like they must have taken a course titled "How to Get a Big Ego & Blow Smoke" But I'm sure that goes for any program depending on the personality. Just this one in particular I have a bad perception of.
 
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Zacatac said:
I went down to check it out, and have all the same feelings as the others... seems rushed and just stealing you money..

It was way to flashy for me.... they tried to hard to get you to like it.... i caught on quickly and became very annoyed....

plus too far from MA... i want to be close to home, I'm going to somewhere in boston after i take this year off
Click to expand...

Boston University as a good program..so I am told.:beer:
 
Do you want to shoot features films and commercials or work in television? Television can be episodic, documentary, reality, news and many more.....
 
Zacatac said:
I went down to check it out, and have all the same feelings as the others... seems rushed and just stealing you money..

It was way to flashy for me.... they tried to hard to get you to like it.... i caught on quickly and became very annoyed....

plus too far from MA... i want to be close to home, I'm going to somewhere in boston after i take this year off
Click to expand...

Check out Emerson. Now THAT I can recommend!
 
Aaron Murphy said:
Do you want to shoot features films and commercials or work in television? Television can be episodic, documentary, reality, news and many more.....
Click to expand...
Well I work alot with television as a picture producer or whatever you call it in English, and as a camera operator, shooting interviews and news reports, so I know how it is... I haven't worked a lot with films, it seems definitely more interesting, I don't know. But let's say I wanna work with film.

Looks like Full Sail is not an option anymore, as I trust you guys. I got a PM saying Columbia College in Chicago is a great place to study. I'm thinking, since I'm gonna have to move, why not move away from all the crap weather we have most of the year here in Norway. After what I have seen, Chicago is kind of like Norway. I was thinking something more like Sunny California or some other sunny place :) It's not THAT important though. Anyway. Any other suggestions?
 
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