Film College is expensive and there are several options to consider. There is film education that is the major course of study in the overall, general college experience. While this is a well rounded education, it is not only expensive but can be very trying for the student, especially if they are not one for conventional school and classes. In addition to the cost of the tuition though, there will be the costs of books and other learning materials to consider. If the school is not local there is the cost of travel to and from as well as the cost of living at the school, including meals and lodging.

In addition to these costs for film education, there are also costs for the equipment that the student will need. While enrolled in film college, students can usually utilize cameras, lights and other equipment in the school although many will prefer their own set ups. Even used equipment can be very expensive, and can sometimes be harder to find, especially in smaller areas.

Film education can also be expensive because it is so exclusive and difficult to get in. The aspiring film student might need to apply several years in a row trying to get in to the film college in the first place. To apply, most schools require an admission fee as well as a short film clip or other example of their work, meaning there is a need for film equipment before the education even starts. Even renting or borrowing these items can be very costly; especially if the short film is going to take a long time to actually be shot.

No Budget Film Making is one of the only low cost alternatives to the various types of film school or film making education. Film education is very expensive and can be very heart breaking as well. Not everyone is going to make a blockbuster movie, but everyone should get the chance to try. If the cost of film school is stopping your visions from coming to life, there are cheaper alternatives available that will help develop your movie training without breaking the bank.

Filmmaking Courses is a site providing reviews and information on film making courses in order to give readers an informed choice for their education in this industry.

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The bulletin is a booklet (or book, in some cases) that breaks down the classes and resources offered by the school. It is updated and issued to students every academic year. Bulletins are typically be mailed to prospective students upon request, but many film schools have them online.

If you are applying to a large university, request the bulletin of the school that the film program is located in. For example, the film school at NYU is located in Tisch School of the Arts (TSOA), so you would request TSOA’s bulletin. Actually, there are three film programs at NYU, located in TSOA, the School of Journalism, and The School of Professional Studies. From this you can see why it’s important to request the correct school bulletin.

Again, a lot of this can be found online. Just keep in mind that the larger schools can be a maze of interconnected websites. To save time, you might try The Film School Reporter’s US and international film school directories (link below).

Perhaps better than reviewing the film school’s bulletin is calling them directly with your questions. We don’t recommend calling admissions. They are too far removed from actual film instruction and production, so their answers will be too general. The same goes for advisers and counselors.

What we recommend is that you call a member of the film faculty or production staff. They are in the best position to give you an inside look at the film school. Go through the points below with them. You’ll find that they are not out to “sell” the school and their answers will be surprisingly blunt.

Here is the checklist:

Equipment
What type of production and post-production equipment does the film school have? How often is it upgraded? This second question is most important. You don’t want to learn filmmaking on outdated gear. This can be determined by researching the school’s camera models online. Look carefully at the digital video cameras. Are they high definition (HD) or standard definition (SD). Standard definition equipment is fast becoming obsolete.

If they teach film in addition to video, is it 16mm, Super 16, or 35mm? 35mm is a big plus because Hollywood is reluctant to give up this format. On the other hand, 16mm and Super 16 have little value except as a stepping stone to 35mm.

Film Faculty
Are there any award winners? Check their credentials in the bulletin, and then crosscheck them online against the Internet Movie Data Base. You’ll be surprised by what you find.

Filmmaking Courses
Do they cover the areas that you want to specialize in (e.g., narrative, documentary, experimental, TV production, etc.). If you want to make documentary films but the school specializes in narrative production, you don’t want to discover this on the first day of class!

Ties to the Industry
What are the film school’s ties to the industry? Do they have successful (i.e., famous) guest speakers, faculty, or advisers?

Student Films
Are the school’s student films available for your review? Some schools issue them on DVD, while others put them online. Take a look-see. It will give you an idea of the type of filmmaking the school fosters, as well as its caliber. Are there award winning films in the archives? Successful alumni?

Student Exchange Programs
This is not for everyone, but it might be important to you if you have a desire to experience international technologies and film education.

Career Opportunities
Does the school have a student internship program or job placement program for graduates? There are two points not mentioned above that you should consider, both revolving around money. First, if the school you are considering is out of town, you must factor in the cost of living in a dorm or apartment during the course of your studies.

Second, you must consider the cost of making student films. Unlike, other academic programs, which only require books and supplies, film courses require that you make movies, which can be quite expensive. Some schools offer “allotments” to help defray the cost of production, but it is usually only a fraction of the actual expense. So, in addition to tuition, add on the cost of housing and making student films.

We hope this guide is helpful in researching the right film school for you.

-Antonio Fox

Visit Film School Juice! http://www.FilmSchoolJuice.com, dedicated to the art and craft of filmmaking for beginners and film students.

Here are links to the film school directories mentioned above: Best International Film Schools Directory and Best US Film Schools Directory.

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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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