New York Film School

andythefilmer

andythefilmer

Veteran
Only 16 years old, but I am shopping around for film schools. I have already done a lot of work and I know a lot about filmmaking, more than most people my age. Documentary filmmaking is what I want to do for the rest of my life, and NYFA has a great program. It offers a one-year certificate program. Does anyone know of this who may be able to give a testimonial? It's offered at the NBC-Universal backlot here in Hollywood. Went for a tour today and I like it alot. Just wondering if anyone else has heard of it.
 
andythefilmer said:
Only 16 years old, but I am shopping around for film schools. I have already done a lot of work and I know a lot about filmmaking, more than most people my age. Documentary filmmaking is what I want to do for the rest of my life, and NYFA has a great program. It offers a one-year certificate program. Does anyone know of this who may be able to give a testimonial? It's offered at the NBC-Universal backlot here in Hollywood. Went for a tour today and I like it alot. Just wondering if anyone else has heard of it.
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I've heard of it...I was looking for good programs, although ultimately I won't apply to NYFA's program because I want an MJ (Journalism) or MFS, not just a certificate. If you don't want an MA or MFS (or don't yet have a BA) there are some other certificate programs though. GWU has a six-month course, there's the Documentary Institute in Florida..suggest you check out this list:
http://www.independent-magazine.org/08/09/10-best-academic-programs-documentary-filmmakers

A good number of those are full-time MFS or MJ programs, but a few including the ones I just mentioned are certificate programs of one sort or another.
 
NYFA is a trade school and may be good for their summer program but not for any sort of degree or certificate. It has no connection with Universal other than using their backlot. If you are serious look at a real college like UCLA or several of the UC campus's with film programs. If your parents can afford a quarter mill for college check out USC and Chapman. Full Sail in Florida offers an intensive 3 year program. But it again is a trade school. The only reason I am commenting is that I am one of those parents ready to fork over a small fortune to put my kid into USC or NYU if he can get accepted....
 
And to be completely honest no one will hire you just because of a certificate or a degree. Any artistical field is usually considered an invitation only field where you earn your invitation either by who you know or what you have done in the past.

If you are good at being self taught then spend that small fortune on gear and make films, you will get many times more "learning" than any school.

too many times I see people from film schools waste a ton of money and be in debt up to their eyeballs for an education that can be gotten by being self motivated and volunteering alot on sets. and in the end 90% of em dont stay in the industry. such a waste.

Just my 2 cents.
 
recordingwhiz said:
And to be completely honest no one will hire you just because of a certificate or a degree. Any artistical field is usually considered an invitation only field where you earn your invitation either by who you know or what you have done in the past.

If you are good at being self taught then spend that small fortune on gear and make films, you will get many times more "learning" than any school.

too many times I see people from film schools waste a ton of money and be in debt up to their eyeballs for an education that can be gotten by being self motivated and volunteering alot on sets. and in the end 90% of em dont stay in the industry. such a waste.

Just my 2 cents.
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And that is why I don't want to go to a university for a degree... I just want to learn SOME stuff, have a chance to establish contacts, etc. and then just work and gain more experience. Only way I'm going to a university is if I get a scholarship...
 
recordingwhiz said:
And to be completely honest no one will hire you just because of a certificate or a degree. Any artistical field is usually considered an invitation only field where you earn your invitation either by who you know or what you have done in the past.

If you are good at being self taught then spend that small fortune on gear and make films, you will get many times more "learning" than any school.

too many times I see people from film schools waste a ton of money and be in debt up to their eyeballs for an education that can be gotten by being self motivated and volunteering alot on sets. and in the end 90% of em dont stay in the industry. such a waste.

Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...

I don't know how good this advice is....

First of all, invitation only or not, going to college, especially for film, gives you a built-in network and can open up a lot of invitations for you after you graduate. There are, of course, some people who would hire you because of the degree -- it is a guarantee that if nothing else, you have certain baseline skills and training -- but more than that, it opens up connections...classmates, alumni...plus a school will challenge you to do things you wouldn't on your own, to make films and projects that you initially aren't interested in, but that you might learn something from or even fall in love with.

Additionally -- and I know as a 16 year old, this is going to sound meaningless to you -- but there may come a day when you want to do something other than film. And on that day, you're going to want to have a degree of some kind. Pointless as it may seem, having a BA (in ANYTHING) is a baseline qualification for a lot of jobs outside the film world; having practical experience in film and a nice looking reel is not going to open those doors for you.

Some perspective: when I was your age, I was sure I would end up in music. I had been writing, producing, and recording songs for years and I loved everything about it. I went to college and kept doing music, but I also got interested in other things, things I didn't know anything about at 16. And it was those things, not music, that have ended up defining my career trajectory so far. Even with that, I've switched professions three times since I got out of school .. and if I do go back to get an MFA in Documentary work, that will be my fourth career. The average American (of the younger generation), I read somewhere, will change careers seven times in their life. Not to discourage you from filmmaking, but you could go to college, study filmmaking, and still have a degree as a backup plan in case your feelings change down the road.

I will say, your drive to be creative will probably never go away. Mine hasn't. What I mean is, the same drive that was pushing me to make music constantly when I was in high school and college shifted directions. I gradually lost my interest in music, and felt more compelled to writing. Writing is now my career (more or less) but I'm feeling pushed toward Documentary. My point is just this: follow your dreams, but if you can do that while still keeping your options open, that's even better. And you can.

If your grades are even halfway decent, I'd bet there are lots of places you could get a scholarship -- they like creative types, and you can impress them with a reel in your applications, if done right it will really make you stand out. And even if you can't, looking at the gear list in your signature...if you (or your parents) can get up the money for that stuff, then you can afford university even without a scholarship. You can get financial aid, and the rest in student loans (not as bad as they sound; the interest rates are super low, and you can pay them back very slowly).

Give it some thought. As someone who also wants to go into the field of documentary production professionally, I'll say this -- even though my undergrad degree is totally irrelevant, not related to film at all -- if I could go back, skip college, and start working in documentary filmmaking straight out of high school....I wouldn't. Not in a million years.

What you get out of college, like anything, depends on what you put in. But if you do it right, there's a LOT more to be gained from university than just a slip of paper and some practical training.



Plus, there's no reason you can't do uni AND get yourself out there on sets at the same time. If you go to school in the right place, you'll have opportunities every day, and even if you don't, most college vacations are long as hell....three+ months in the summer, a month+ in the winter, three weeks in the spring...there's plenty of time just on vacations for you to get out and crew for other people or make your own films or whatever. I recorded two full-length albums while I was in college, drew two years worth of comic stips, etc...and none of that had anything to do with my major or any of my classes.
 
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Kid, you need a degree. Competition in this industry is tough, and you will need every edge you can get. A degree PLUS training/skills will provide the best foundation for you, best of both worlds. Good luck to you.
 
@andythefilmer I am currently in the same boat and posted this question up last year when I was a junior in highschool. I personally have decided to go to an accredited filmschool for the simple reason of building contacts and obtaining another degree while there(marketing).
 
Back in college i did television production instead of film. I worked at every radio and tv station in my market while in school. I did onair, voiceovers, trailers and dubbing gigs. It took 7 years to do an undergrad degree but when someone offered me a Director of Engineering position for a station group I took it. I've done everything in the radio/tv/film biz except sales for the past 40+ years and currently work for a major network/studio. My time in school was very productive. I've helped alumni and given internships to numerous students over the years. There is something you just cann't get on your own. A college education.....
 
If I were you, i'd take the money you going to spend on filmschool cut it in half, shoot a film. Then use the other half to get a business degree from a good local college.
 
I don't have one. Things are not too bad, but honestly, if I had one, this place I'm living in could be a bit nicer. Timur's plan is sound.
 
You know what, things are HELL come to think of it. I really do wish I had one. Someone needs to tell me now that it ain't too late to finish.
 
I think I recommended this before as an alternative and practical solution to some others. There are many types of degrees that allow you to explore your creativity while also getting paid steadily in a way that would support your goal of making that smash hit documentary. One example of this less glamorous route would be to attend a midwest college like Indiana University (cheaper tuition) and double major in something like Business Marketing and Telecom-Design & Production Track

http://www.indiana.edu/~telecom/undergraduate/design.shtml

http://kelley.iu.edu/marketing/

People tend to forget marketing, but it pays well. These guys attended the University of Wisconsin and you now see them quite a bit in FreddieW videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/CorridorDigital

Just saying, there are other ways.

Also, you may want to read this:

[h=1]Goldman Schools Students on Debt[/h][h=2]Goldman Sachs made millions through its stake in EDMC, whose schools peddle arts degrees costing up to $100,000. Some debt-crippled students are crying foul[/h]http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_33/b4191066612953.htm

And check out this thread:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?83958-How-To-Get-Started-and-Stay-In-The-Business
 
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