No forum for film schools? Wanting info on UCLA, NYFA etc...

I

ICD Films

Well-known member
Really? Could use that forum... trying to pin down info about american film schools in CA, would be lovely to actually hear opinions from US citizens and not just the occasional europeans coming over.......

Looking for advice & opinions on UCLA (that i'll never afford anyway, but maybe some nice reading), the film program(?) at Santa Monica Collage, your opinions about NYFA especially located in LA and their school at Universal Studios.

cheerio
 
Having looked at many film schools in CA, and studied at one, here's my opinion.


NYFA: I wouldn't even consider NYFA as a "real" film school. It's a school for profit like the LA Film School and Santa Monica Art Institute etc., and making money is their highest priority. This site sums it up: http://www.nyfasucks.com/

Santa Monica College: Community College (actually went there): Probably the best community college in the LA area. Good to get the general education out of the way for cheap before transferring to a 4 year University. They offer some introductory film production classes. (In case you don't know, Community Colleges don't offer a BA degree. You have to transfer to a 4 year University to get your BA).

UCLA: Used to be one of the best but not anymore. Their film department is outdated and they are mostly living from their reputation but can't keep up with the top schools anymore.

If you are serious about it, look at the following schools. They are all pretty damn hard to get in, but they have really strong film departments:

USC: Probably the most well known film schools of all. They used to fall a little bit behind facility wise some years ago, but are now catching up again big time. I heard their newly build film school is awesome. They are very well connected with "Hollywood".

NYU: Really good school but not in CA. More "artsy" than USC.

AFI: If you already have a BA, you should definitely look into their program. They are especially strong in the cinematography department.

Chapman: This is the school I chose. Located in Orange (40 min drive from LA). I was torn between going to Chapman and USC, and chose Chapman because I felt that USC is more oriented towards their grad students than undergrad students (undergrads at USC didn't get access to all the stuff grad students did when I took the tour of the USC film school). Chapman treats grad and undergrad students more equally.
I also liked that the atmosphere at chapman is very collaborative, whereas at USC there is a good amount of "back-stabbing" going on because only very few students are allowed to direct a thesis film.

I guess in the end, it doesn't really make a difference if you graduated from USC, Chapman, NYU or AFI. The most important things you take from those schools are the contacts you make while you are going to school, because that is how you will get work later....
 
Great info, thanks. Bit chocked about all the negativity on NYFA, also bit hard to take opinions seriously when the negativity posts are emotional like 15 year olds, I guess either the school *does* suck big time, or it's a sort of spinning-wheel thingy from people like the one bothered to actually put up a domain called www.nyfasucks.com. Oh well.

Haven't find any price info on USC but I assume it's no penny less than UCLA anyway. Have to look up Chapman.
 
I personally know a few people that went to NYFA that all had bad things to say about it. Also, just do a google search on it and you will be overwhelmed by similar stories... USC, UCLA, Chapman, NYU and AFI are all super expensive. Why do you want to go to film school? Are you planing in staying in the US? The only reason I personally went to film school was so I would have a chance at getting an H1B visa... The degree itself won't help you anything. Nobody is going to hire you for any production work because you went to a certain film school... If you want to become a teacher, it's a different story....
 
The best well-rounded film education in CA is probably at USC. If your interest is primarily docs or producing, you might want to look into Stanford. I have also heard good things about the Cali Inst for the Arts.

CA is not the only place for good film schools in the US. Check out New York (Columbia, NYU). For the price you can't beat City College.

Other really good schools: UT-Austin, Florida State, Ohio U, and Northwestern.

The public schools are usually less expensive than the private schools. for a two year masters program expect to pay up to $200,000 at the elite private schools. I don't recommend undergraduate film programs.
 
cordvision said:
I personally know a few people that went to NYFA that all had bad things to say about it. Also, just do a google search on it and you will be overwhelmed by similar stories... USC, UCLA, Chapman, NYU and AFI are all super expensive. Why do you want to go to film school? Are you planing in staying in the US? The only reason I personally went to film school was so I would have a chance at getting an H1B visa... The degree itself won't help you anything. Nobody is going to hire you for any production work because you went to a certain film school... If you want to become a teacher, it's a different story....
Click to expand...

If you can afford a degree, you should get it. There are many advantages to having a degree. it's not only for teaching.
 
I go to University of Miami. Since I've come here the film school as come a long way - they have really great facilities and are up on current technology. They are also in the process of revising the curriculum from a 'free for all' approach to one with different tracks based on where in film you want to work: business, writing, production, etc. I find that here, there's a great atmosphere for filmmaking if you seek it out. They'll never make you make films. Some students here are graduating and only have made one 3 minute short. I, on the other hand, have worked on thirty-something films, 7 or 8 my own, and I still have a year to go. The downside is I'm paying out my ass to come; if you were considering a more expensive film school, make sure you get a second college education out of it. I'm studying chemistry while I'm here too so when I decide later that I want to be a doctor I can go straight to med school.
 
ASchear said:
if you were considering a more expensive film school, make sure you get a second college education out of it. I'm studying chemistry while I'm here too so when I decide later that I want to be a doctor I can go straight to med school.
Click to expand...

+1. This can't be emphasized enough. If you are an aspiring filmmaker, make sure you get the most out of your education. Learn another subject besides filmmaking. A second degree is a good idea. Not only can you fall back on a second degree or go into another field if film does not work out, but you will be a better filmmaker because you know more than just filmmaking.

Keep in mind that great filmmaking is not just about technical prowess, but requires broad knowledge of the arts, science, philosophy, sociology, and history, just to name a few important fields. This applies to most of the creative positions on a film: DP, gaffer, production designer, editor, director, art director, colorist, sound designer, writer, etc.
 
+2. Minored in Medieval/Renaissance European History, and Geology. Neither of which are exactly career-makers, at least, with a BFA, but if you want super-tight focus rather than decent general education, consider a trade or technical school.
 
In order to get an H1B, you need a degree (BA, MA) in the field you are looking to work in. So if you want to work in the film business, you need a degree that is somehow related to film. Actually getting an H1B, is going to be pretty hard. You will need to find an employer who wants to sponsor you and go through the somewhat complicated process of applying for an H1B visa for you (you will also need the help of an attorney for that). Wiki has some good info about the H1B visa....
 
Everyting Cordvision said +1

Especially: I also liked that the atmosphere at chapman is very collaborative, whereas at USC there is a good amount of "back-stabbing" going on because only very few students are allowed to direct a thesis film.

I concur. I visited all the top schools in LA and chose Chapman for exactly that same reason and have never doubted my decision.

No matter what school you decide on, the best advice is to visit the campus, wander the halls and talk to random students. Ask them if they like their school, if they are learning what they want to learn and if they think they are getting their money's worth. That's the only way to get a true feel about your investment. Not just money but YEARS of your life. Not to mention connections for the next decade or two. I know it's a long trip for you, but if you are seriously thinking about coming to school out here then you MUST take a flight out and spend a week driving around visiting schools. Hell, the sights in LA alone will make the vacation worth it.
 
whereas at USC there is a good amount of "back-stabbing" going on
Click to expand...

Possibly some of the most vital real-world preparation you can hope for, before entering the professional arena...though maybe not the best value-for-money considering USC's tuition and fees.
 
The one big lesson I learned is not to work with A-holes. No matter how connected they are or tempting the project, it's just never worth it.
 
I have to disagree. If the credit on your resume is valuable enough, the professional experience gained advantageous, and/or (maybe most important, to me, anyway) the $$$ is sufficient to make it feel worth enduring - I'll do it. Well, have done it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top