As someone who’s attended two of the top film schools in the world, NYU and USC, I often get asked a simple question: Should I go to film school? The answer actually can’t be answered in a yes/no fashion as it really depends on multiple factors regarding the individual student considering attending and what they hope to get out of the experience. This article aims to address some of the major points that one should contemplate when considering a film or cinema school education.
The first distinction that one should understand are the differences between attending an undergraduate or graduate film/cinema program. Undergraduate programs combine the general liberal arts education requirements that are necessary to receive a bachelor degree along with major specific classes in film and television. Usually the first two years are predominantly liberal arts while the junior and senior years include mostly major concentrated classes. Some programs start with film related classes earlier. Both USC and NYU start the beginning film student off with some film history as well as either video based (DV) or Super 8 filmmaking that progressively leads to more sophisticated film classes in later years.
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American Film Schools cost anywhere from $15,000 to $42,000 a year. When famous alum like George Lucas and Martin Scorsese went, the industry was very different, and their programs did not cost even a fraction of this amount. As a graduate of NYU Film, I learned the hard way of the gross disconnect between what is taught there, and how little it prepares a graduate for either working in the industry or making feature films. With tuition that astronomically high, I want to help dispel 3 of the biggest myths about film school that most people still believe in until they attend and graduate.
Myth #1: Film schools have clout in the industry. This is not Business School. Going to Harvard may get you a cushy job at Goldman Sachs. In the film industry, everybody works their way up from the bottom. Period. It does not matter if you went to NYU or USC. I recommend calling the Comar Agency. (I am unaffiliated with them). They are a staffing agency specializing in the Entertainment Industry. Call and ask them if a film degree makes you any better a candidate for a job than someone without that degree. And if not, then why not apply for a film job right now?
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The proximity to Hollywood has made Los Angeles a perfect place for Film schools. The Institutes boast of facilities incorporating the latest production technologies, with some of them providing the opportunity of working with Hollywood personalities as well. This proves to be ample motivation for the students and encourages them.
These institutes employ professional filmmakers and highly qualified instructors to guide their students in the film industry. The courses covered by most of these institutes include cinematography, film producing, production design, editing, directing, story analysis and screenplay and sound designing. Digital video editing and workshops are arranged to provide hands- on experience in the projects. The entire process of creating motion pictures, starting with the conception, through the different production stages is taught in the workshops. The workshops provide practical experiences in filming and sound stage exercises. Documentaries are made by the students and hosted on the Internet for public viewing. The best film is chosen from the list of entries and mentioned under the name of the film. This encourages the students to strive harder.
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