Choosing The Right Film School
If making movies is your lifelong dream, then you might be right for film school. There are many programs out there, but choosing which one to attend is often difficult. With the right research, you may be able to find a school that’s right for you.
School rankings often list top film schools based on criteria such as industry reputation and connections and student experiences. This means a large part of the school’s prestige comes from who graduated from that school and whether the school has a strong relationship with the film industry.
Other film rankings are usually based on user submissions. This means anyone with an opinion can vote. Although looking at these rankings might help you get a vague idea of which schools have reputations, the informality of these rankings should let you know that it’s better to find out for yourself rather than trusting the opinions of strangers.
Consider this: even if a magic equation existed that could objectively measure film schools in general and make a list based on this equation that would place the “best” film school at the top of the list, the best school might still not be the right school for you. Do some research and ranking of your own to find out which schools to consider. Try to consider the following when narrowing down your film schools to a choice few:
Are you going to focus solely on directing? While some students at film school focus exclusively on directing, some film schools require course work in other areas of filmmaking such as acting, writing, editing, and producing. Either approach may be right for you, depending on what you prefer. If you want to be a director and you have no interest in exploring other fields, the former might suit you best. If you want a more well-rounded experience, the latter might fit your needs. Additionally, if you want to take another major apart from film altogether, you may want to examine whether the school’s other programs are reputable as well.
Is your number one priority to get a film started while at school? Although you may get plenty of filmmaking experience at school, you might not make a film while you’re there. Competition to direct a film is very stiff at some schools. Other schools require students to complete a full film or video production before graduation.
Are there any famous names at your school? Although you should not choose your school based on famous names, there are certain advantages to attending a school that has turned out famous graduates in the past. These famous names usually support these schools, and consequently the schools enjoy stellar equipment, strong reputation, and Hollywood connections. These schools typically have a big tuition bill. Other less famous schools can still provide you with a solid film education to launch you into the movie business.
Written By J. Edwards
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Tags: acting, editing, film education, film industry, Film School, film schools, filmmaking, making movies, production, school, school rankings, schools, the film industry, top film school, top film schools, video, video production