Looking for Collage Suggestions

skategriggs

skategriggs

Active member
Hey guys,

So I am currently looking for schools to go to, but am fairly lost. I cannot seem to find a good undergrad collage program that is VERY TECHNICAL and focused on cinematography. I have been building lenses, 35mm adapters, dollies, rigs, ect. since I was basically 13. And I have been attending Interlochen Arts Academy studying film for my Junior and Senior year of high school, so I am very experienced with all other aspects of filmmaking and already know everything most collages teach in their first year. Also I dont want to go to a school thats all about experimental and "going with however your artistic desire wants"... I think thats bull ****, I actually need the knowledge that will actually be applicable in the real world. Besides, I dont need an education to make dumb little artsy experimental animation pointless short films. (sorry if I am offending anyone lol)

I also dont wanna waste my money on a school that starts their program from step one, I want it to be specific and targeted for my interests of Cinematography, and also lighting, sound, ect. Also Im looking for a degree, not a Arts institute thing. Although its rather tempting because their so much more focused, I really will need a degree to fall back on. And at best, I want a school that has kick ass equipment, like anything from 35mm Arri Cameras, to HPX170s rigged up with P+S Technik 35Pro adapters and Zeiss lenses. Also good lights, is a must. I mean, I already own a lowel light kit, DVX-100b, 35mm adapter, light meters, lenses.... the list can go on. And my point is, I dont wanna be having to use my equipment because the school has crappy equipment. I want the school to make my equipment look like complete crap. haha


So I know that A LOT to ask for, but please help me out guys, any suggestions would help!!!! THANKS!
 
This is just my personal opinion but I say spend what you would on a years tuition spent in theory classes, and spend it on an ambitious film you can do within your means. Take that for what you will, but instead of going to film school and spending 25k on a year, I spent it on equipment and made my first feature which is looking for distribution at the moment, and I learned a TON. Guess what...NO DEBT.

Just a wacky suggestion :)
 
Columbia College here in Chicago. It's the best in the midwest! By the time you get there the new media center will be close to finished. The studio is already built.

-Nate
 
KyleProhaska said:
This is just my personal opinion but I say spend what you would on a years tuition spent in theory classes, and spend it on an ambitious film you can do within your means. Take that for what you will, but instead of going to film school and spending 25k on a year, I spent it on equipment and made my first feature which is looking for distribution at the moment, and I learned a TON. Guess what...NO DEBT.

Just a wacky suggestion :)
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Yeah I actually would love to do that. I mean, if it was up to me, I would do a 2 year program of just intense technical filmmaking, then use the rest of my savings on a feature film.

But its really my parents who want me to get a degree... besides, a lot of my savings are from them, plus they have been doing most the work to get help building my college found all my life, so its basically not my money to decide what to do with.
 
Yeah, I'm just bustin' on you. (Though as an English major, I do believe in the power of correct spelling.)

Honestly, it sounds like work is a better place for you than school. Your goals seem so targeted that the broader education a good college offers might not interest you. I'd suggest looking beyond school and towards connecting with the film industry in your area, taking any and every job you can to get the experience you want.

Real-world experience is the schooling you need. Just don't go into it thinking you know anything at all. Just like college, you're there to learn from those who've been there before. Work. Network. Develop your skills.
 
Nathyn said:
Columbia College here in Chicago. It's the best in the midwest! By the time you get there the new media center will be close to finished. The studio is already built.

-Nate
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yeah Ive heard good things about Columbia, but how technical are they? Good equipment?
 
A lot of the best cinematographers come out of AFI, but that's a grad school, so you might want to start with an undergrad college like Columbia College in Chicago, of course if you can't get into the big three -- USC, UCLA or NYU.
 
stephenmick said:
Yeah, I'm just bustin' on you. (Though as an English major, I do believe in the power of correct spelling.)

Honestly, it sounds like work is a better place for you than school. Your goals seem so targeted that the broader education a good college offers might not interest you. I'd suggest looking beyond school and towards connecting with the film industry in your area, taking any and every job you can to get the experience you want.

Real-world experience is the schooling you need. Just don't go into it thinking you know anything at all. Just like college, you're there to learn from those who've been there before. Work. Network. Develop your skills.
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Thanks Stephen, you make very good points.

I do think work would be best, although like I said in response to another comment, I pretty much NEED to get a degree for my parents sake, but its very true that I will need the degree to fall back on. I mean now a days, the college degree is basically the equivalent to what the High School degree used to be!

Plus, like you said about learning from those who've been there before. And I haven't "been there" before in terms of working in the business, and I do lack a lot of experience in the world of 35mm film, so I really am still interesting in learning more right now. I dont think im quite ready to jump into finding work quite yet, I just want to find a program that I can learn the most from, and not waste my time and money on things I already know.
 
skategriggs said:
...Its not that I don't know how to spell it, I just typed it up quickly and spellcheck didn't mark it wrong.
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Not to be an ass, but you spelled it wrong in the subject, and you spelled it wrong in your initial post... twice.

I don't necessarily think that not spelling has to be perfect nor is it necessarily indicative of intelligence, but it is a factor that people look at to see whether people are educated, and take care with what they do.

By the way, the spelling indicator didn't flag collage, because that is a viable word with a different meaning.


All that said, if you want a DEGREE from a reputable school, they you are going to have to go through the programs they offer. And that will include some rounding. If you want to be involved in the film industry as more than a journeyman, or apprentice, and have some legs to stand on to move forward, then you really ought to consider a traditional film program.

There are many worse things you could do with your life than earn a Bachelor of FIne Arts.
 
skategriggs said:
Thanks Stephen, you make very good points.

I do think work would be best, although like I said in response to another comment, I pretty much NEED to get a degree for my parents sake, but its very true that I will need the degree to fall back on. I mean now a days, the college degree is basically the equivalent to what the High School degree used to be!

Plus, like you said about learning from those who've been there before. And I haven't "been there" before in terms of working in the business, and I do lack a lot of experience in the world of 35mm film, so I really am still interesting in learning more right now. I dont think im quite ready to jump into finding work quite yet, I just want to find a program that I can learn the most from, and not waste my time and money on things I already know.
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Well, if you're doing this for your parent's sake, here's what I'd do…

Find some place you really want to spend four years of your life (like Boulder, Colorado or…well…Austin, Texas) and go to a university there. I know for a fact that at U. Texas, you'd have access to a very well-equipped film department, but you also get the resources of one of the biggest schools in the country. Now, will your education be as "specific" as you want it? No. But you'll have a degree from a very well-known (and not terribly expensive) school, you'll be able to make films both as part of your education and in your spare time, and you'll be in a place that has a very vibrant arts scene.

Only some of your education will take place at school. The rest happens outside, in the community, so make sure you find a college that surrounds you with those opportunities.
 
stephenmick said:
Well, if you're doing this for your parent's sake, here's what I'd do…

Find some place you really want to spend four years of your life (like Boulder, Colorado or…well…Austin, Texas) and go to a university there. I know for a fact that at U. Texas, you'd have access to a very well-equipped film department, but you also get the resources of one of the biggest schools in the country. Now, will your education be as "specific" as you want it? No. But you'll have a degree from a very well-known (and not terribly expensive) school, you'll be able to make films both as part of your education and in your spare time, and you'll be in a place that has a very vibrant arts scene.

Only some of your education will take place at school. The rest happens outside, in the community, so make sure you find a college that surrounds you with those opportunities.
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Exactly.
I go to Texas Christian University - the Film/TV/Digital Media department is pretty high quality. It's not extremely intense (especially for me, as a sophomore), but I absolutely love Fort Worth and the campus. The curriculum is great, but the Student Filmmakers Association club is where everyone excels. We shoot 3 projects per semester, all student written/produced/directed/edited. We get decent budgets, around $1k per project, but we get massive discounts at film rental places so we rent top notch equipment.
Several grads I know are editing big time stuff in Hollywood, some are in grad school at places like UCLA... and guess what... the stuff that got them in there? NOTHING from their work in the TCU curriculum... Everything from their reel was stuff we made in the Filmmakers association. They also bring in alumni who are big time in the industry.

Just reiterating what Stephen said - surround yourself with people and opportunity where you think you'd fit in. I was the same way - obsessed with technical stuff since middle school. This is the perfect place for me to get acquainted with it, I'm meeting people all throughout the business, and also planting roots somewhere I didn't think I would, which is beneficial.

I'm not trying to sell TCU to you - just my experience.... but on the other hand we can always use a technical pro! And I'm personally purchasing a Canon 7d to use for the club, if that's enticing to you at all. Haha
 
Got my MFA at UCLA in Film Production so here's a perspective from that experience: Don't go to any of the schools to learn (as suggested, make films with your money instead)...Go there to make contacts and crew on other people's films. Hopefully, someone in your group hits a homerun and carries the rest of you all along with him/her.
 
cyclone said:
Got my MFA at UCLA in Film Production so here's a perspective from that experience: Don't go to any of the schools to learn (as suggested, make films with your money instead)...Go there to make contacts and crew on other people's films. Hopefully, someone in your group hits a homerun and carries the rest of you all along with him/her.
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summed up my huge post in 2 lines
 
I suggest this collage:

396441181_e0ba0d37bf.jpg


I know, I know, a very late response.
 
stephenmick said:
I think learning to spell "college" would be a great place to start.
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lol. I was going to say something along the same lines.


skategriggs-no spelling nazi here. I just found the fact that the name for the institution that teaches people stuff was misspelled, a bit ironic.
 
I'm looking for a film college to. My problem is that I keep running into schools that are classified as "scams". Apparently all art schools are. I can't stand it! I don't want to spend a bunch of time in a community college where I learn nothing. The main reason I want to go to college is just to get the name on my resume, and use their equipment. However, now that I give it thought, I'm better off buying equipment and making my own stuff. 0.o I'm in a TV/Sound Production class in high school (which is a hands on technical program, not really a class) which is where I have learned all the basics, everything I need to know! Now I just need a Mac, an HD camera, some good mics, a few lights, a better video editing program (I work with Adobe Premier Elements 8 right now) and I'm ready for action!
 
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