23 y.o. dropout needs film school advice....(US & UK)

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
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<p>To be totally frank I am 23 y.o. community college dropout... I want to be a film writer/directior; auteur. I basically need advice..I either want to return to my community college that has a film program and get my gpa up and then transfer to a west coast/east coast/Uk film school...</p>

<p>or..just move to west c/ east c/ uk now and restart my schooling there with comm college then transfer to a bigger school. </p>

<p>Well, I don't know what I should do...I basically need advice. As you may have gathered I am also considering film school in the UK...Sheffield-Hallam or Metro (or if anyone has any better ideas??) As far as east coast/west coast, I would be leaning towards west coast. I don't know what kind of schools I could get into with my academic history even if I raised my gpa... Schools in the west coast I like so far would be: USC (sigh), Chapman, UCLB, UCSC... </p>

<p>I know nothing is impossible and I feel like school would be the right path for me, and I will work hard to get into college. So any and all advice/help on different schools, what I should do....greatly appreciated!!!</p>

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<p>where is kuma-chan when we need him?
OP
name is kmazza, made funky community college recommendations galore, now went underground.
you can PM and see if he’d resurface. oh wait, is everyone Ok with that?
I have no idea how good or bad this school is, but this is one of his thread.
he had many more names posted all over the place with OCD-sh details that noone could follow.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/1021459-certified-degree-serious-film-tv-majors.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/1021459-certified-degree-serious-film-tv-majors.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Stereotypea,</p>

<p>I can offer some advice on how to help get you going but I need more info first.</p>

<p>1.) How many units have you completed at your CC? What is your CC GPA today?
2.) What was your GPA in high school? SAT scores?
3.) In what State do you currently live?
4.) What about money? If admitted, can you afford the high prices of the schools you mentioned?</p>

<p>Best,
Wheaty</p>

4

<p>Bears,</p>

<p>You’re right, this is right up kmazza’s alley. Kmazza was a good source here, he just hit a few speed bumps on the way in. I thought he made some very good posts after he settled in.</p>

<p>Wheaty</p>

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<p>so it wasn’t you chased him out of Eden (art forum)
wonder who or what?
hope he is alive and well.
I did dig a little. There were SJSU, SFSU, De Anza (what is this? cute name)
his thing was technical rigging and lighting and all sort of certificates.
last I read was budget cut did affect all state schools for choice of classes you can take.</p>

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<p>Stereotypea- What are you doing now? Are you working in film field? If not, that is a good way to shore up your credentials. While applying to school they will want to see what you have or are doing. You don’t need a high powered job: just anything to show you are serious about film. If your local cc offers some film classes it might be a good place to start. Work in the field, take a class or two and DO WELL. Really apply yourself. Then more doors will open. Even if school didn’t work out the first time, showing a school you are serious this time can get you in the door.</p>

<p>Also: write, write, write. Show your writing to people, make changes and write some more. Then when you are ready to apply, write a really killer essay. (See a book called Concise advise: Jump starting your college admission essays- by Robert Cronk- he uses the structure of a movie plot for essays: I think you might find it useful). He is also a contributor to CC.</p>

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<p>maddenmd ( I still about to type madbean, or ‘e’ in the wrong place or ‘n’ and ‘m’ jumbled…what is your story behind your used mane, md must stands for MD?)</p>

<p>don’t tell me this contributer is “I don’t name the name but sort of obvious”</p>

<p>I am sorry if I come off patronizing or some sort
I think what OP is asking is a practical advice.
there are many kids who did not have parental support or taking them around or dinner table discussion, scrabble tournament, you name it.
Even this somebody admitted one point suggested all things- that home schooled kids want to pursuer dream to go to film school won’t be able to do.
I am sorry if I am wrong, but isn’t it time to think about achievement gaps that is no fault of kids but situations very many kids are dealing with?
It is easy to say do this and that.
hard to put oneself in someone else’s shoes, or point of view, or simply put, income bracket.
OP
I am not saying you are a loser or got no stuff nor your parent didn’t/can’t do this and that.
I felt I need to say something now it have been my pet peeve reading well meant but comes off smug because I happened to know how much these parent put their effort to support kids’ passion and how high achieving these kids have been from partially, result of the support available since they are conceived. (or even before that)</p>

<p>I am ranting because I got my own issues, I know.
just disregard and hope someone could suggest good school you can start with which won’t judge your potential by your past numbers or age or credential.</p>

<p>lastly I love films made by people un-educated at film schools, because there are things only non-film people can see and tell, and those non film people are the ones mostly go see movies by paying their own buck. And if those aren’t any good, they shouldn’t be available to common folks in theaters near you, no?
Think about it. don’t give up.</p>

<p>^^it does not mean YOU, maddenmd. keep up the good work!!</p>

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<p>First, I don’t know where your are or if this is financially feasible, but you might consider a California cc that has an articulation agreement with USC and UCLA; this will guarantee you transfer admission into those colleges if you take the right cc courses and maintain a certain GPA, although not into the film schools themselves. Also, SMCC and LACC both have film programs with industry internships, state of the art at SMCC. (Possibly also at LACC, just not sure.) SMCC also clearly teaches a variety of production skills that make students employable in the industry – you might want to check their employment stats to be sure I’m correct. There are also courses you could take through UCLA extension if you were in the LA area.</p>

<p>Also, bears, home schooled kids do make it into film production programs. I know one at USC who is doing beautifully.</p>

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<p>bears and dogs: I am from Maryland, and also an MD. But here all that is important is I am a supporter and fan of the kids who want to go into film. My son is one of them, and both he and I have received some great help and advice from people on CC. </p>

<p>Nester: I also know a few home schooled kids that have done really well. </p>

<p>I think the important things are drive and passion. It helps to have support… but some of the most successful did it all on their own after beating the odds. Spielberg was turned down by USC… twice I think… and became one of the best story tellers of our time. He didn’t give up, and Stereotypea: hope you don’t either! Follow your dreams.</p>

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<p>Here is the reference from the “Ask The Dean” forum of CC, about the book:</p>

<p>“The Dean” says</p>

<p>A newcomer to the essay how-to roster that I also highly recommend is Concise Advice: Jump-Starting Your College Admissions Essays by Robert Cronk. I just recently read this book to review it on College Confidential, and the author is a long-time College Confidential member, too.
College Essay Tips for “Ordinary Teenager” - Ask The Dean</p>

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<p>Ok did it again
it was not clear at all
I am not saying home schooled kid can not go to top film school. actually the opposite.
my point is, the said book author=CC poster promoted own book on CC linking its website with author’s photo on it ( gawk! now I know what the person even look like in where!!) and
made thread about recommendations to prospective film school kids
only to say after some home schooled kid asked for advice
“sorry, I did not think of you when I said you should do this and that during HS”
^^ I just did some digging, by the way. when I did earlier post I was just guessing this author must be this poster, just from the ‘smell’ of it.
It is nothing to do with quality of the book, or motive to write about, or anything.
just that
The only reason I could smelled was that, the said poster/author being one of the smuggest (and certain pet school pusher to top it)</p>

<p>OP
nothing^ to do with you, sorry for the hijack.
Nester, please stay around often for the kids.
I think I will skip film posts from now on</p>

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<p>PS
there wasn’t such term “helicopter parent” in Spielberg’s time. may be there were those parents, but not running the show yet. back then college admission wasn’t a game.
I am one of the helicopter so can’t laugh about it, but do it anyway hahaha</p>

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<p>Sorry I misinterpreted, bears.</p>

<p>OP – I don’t know where your GPA is at this point, but here is something else to think about. There are some excellent film schools housed in universities with relatively high GPA requirements for freshman admissions or transfer. But there are other excellent film programs within universities with less stringent GPA requirements. You might want to take a look at the Fisk book to see the average GPA’s for accepted students, and look on university websites for transfer student GPAs. What I’m thinking is that USC/UCLA/NYU have pretty high GPA standards for the universities themselves. But you might have a slightly lower GPA bar to reach at Florida State (tho an ultra-competitive film school to get into), and certainly at Chapman or at U North Carolina School for the Arts, both of which are top film schools with grads working all over the industry.</p>

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<p>Oh, and don’t leave out Loyola Marymount when you’re looking at L.A.</p>

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<p>Wheaty-

  1. I competed one semester at my cc. Don’t know what my gpa is there at the moment, probably not great. Because the second semester my house of cards toppled over and I failed all those classes, long story but I had 2 jobs and went to school full time. It didn’t work out. 2) it wasn’t that great because I skipped all the time. 2.5 or 2.7 I think 3) Minnesota 4) little to no money.</p>

<p>maddenmd-
I don’t have a job in the film arena right now, I used to work at a movie theater though:) When I go back to my cc in the fall I can take film courses… They actually have an associates degree in filmmaking… or film production. I also want to volunteer or get a job with the local film festival.</p>

<p>Nester-
Yeah I heard a about articulation agreements… Is there a way to find out what California universities have articulation agreements with whom??</p>

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<p>stereo…just to put it in the mix. SUNY Purchase has a film program and I am pretty positive the community colleges in NY State have preferential transfer to SUNY schools. Around this area there is Westchester Community College and Rockland Community College (both very close distance to Purchase and all just north of NYC.)</p>

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<p>Stereotypea,</p>

<p>You might not like this post but I think you need unfiltered answers to your first two posts. I don’t want to see you waste another 5 years and so we’ve got to develop concrete plans to move you toward your goals.</p>

<p>Reality Check 1: Private film schools are expensive and you have no money. So either you find a rich uncle or you figure out financial aid or you simply cross USC, Loyola, Chapman, etc. off your list. These are all over $50k per year.</p>

<p>Action Item: Go tomorrow to your CC counselor and start asking how financial aid works. If you are unwilling to follow the financial aid steps or you feel you won’t qualify then delete all the private schools from your list as that’s a waste of time.</p>

<p>Reality Check 2: Colleges want motivated ‘switched on’ kids that have proven their desire to succeed. Unfortunately you have not proven this. Colleges will look at your academic track record as an indicator of your motivation. So we need to fix this and the only way I know how is through community college. But which one? California or Minnesota?</p>

<p>Reality Check 3: Moving to California to go to CC is an expensive idea. Santa Monica CC would be my first choice so let’s use that as an example. You would pay out of state tuition and fees of about $10,000 per year. You would have to pay this for at least the first year and possibly longer. Of course you also have to factor in living expenses and L.A. is kind of expensive. Room and board would be maybe $15,000-ish. How would you pay for all of this?</p>

<p>Here is a link to SMCC’s road map to out of state students: [Out-Of-State</a> Students](<a href=“http://www.smc.edu/apps/pub.asp?Q=1135]Out-Of-State”>http://www.smc.edu/apps/pub.asp?Q=1135)</p>

<p>Action item: **Do some web searches on how to become a California resident. ** I think you’ll find that you have to prove that you’ve lived here for longer than one year. Every OOS student has tried to find ways around this and all have failed. </p>

<p>Because of the above I think your number one option is to stay in MN and reenroll in your CC. I’d like to see you complete 4 semesters there with a GPA of at least 3.0. Can you find a way to self-motivate? Can you get A’s?</p>

<p>I see two paths for you at the MN CC: general studies classes that will transfer to a 4 year college; or completing the MN CC film production AA degree. Both of these are good goals. Good grades in either of these areas will lead to more and more open doors for you. Take LOTS of english classes. Creative writing, screenwriting, English 101, etc. As mentioned above write, write, write! </p>

<p>Action item: Start a daily journal. Write a 10 page scene this week and then rewrite it next week. Google ‘character study worksheet’ and start building characters you can put on the shelf for later use.</p>

<p>While at MN CC I want you to get A’s so don’t worry about taking a light course load. This isn’t a race so as long as you are on your track and moving forward then you’re fine. A high GPA over three years is way better than a low GPA over two years.</p>

<p>Reality check 4: The barrier to entry for making movies is dropping daily. For about $500 you can get an entry level video camera and editing software (go here –> [Creation</a> Engine: Education Discounts on Software](<a href=“http://creationengine.com/]Creation”>http://creationengine.com/)) for your computer and this means you can start making movies today. Why not start now? </p>

<p>Action item: Take your 10 page rewritten (:)) script and have some friends act it out while you film it. Upload it and edit and post them on YouTube. The first few will look like crap but who cares? Eventually this will lead to submitting projects to film competitions.</p>

<p>So there’s my advice:

  • Stay in MN and go to your CC;
  • Get A’s;
  • find out about financial aid;
  • write like crazy;
  • start making movies today.</p>

<p>Best of luck,
Wheaty</p>

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<p>Oh I forgot one thing.</p>

<p>You mentioned that you failed everything in your attempted 2nd semester. Something happened and it all blew up. Okay, stuff happens. But this will hurt you and I’d like to see you try to get this erased from your record. So, tomorrow I want you to go to your CC counselor and explain what blew up and ask that the whole semester be expunged. It’s probably unlikely but I feel it’s worth the effort. Your reasons will need to be very compelling. Give it a shot.</p>

<ul>
<li>Wheaty</li>
</ul>

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<p>Wheaty-
Yes I can get a’s… Part of my problem was I didn’t know what I wanted to do and was completely unmotivated in my classes; I had no direction. Eventually I didn’t know why I was in school and like I said, I had 2 jobs at the time so I let school fizzle out which was obviously not good. But that’s my situation and thanks for taking the time to give me realistic advice… I think staying at my cc for now is definitely the best idea. Because no matter what I’d have to prove I can stay in school and get good grades before I transferred anywhere. now I just have to decide if I should complete the aa degree at the cc or could I even start my film degree there then transfer to a cal school? I guess that’s where articulation agreements come in. But yeah, thanks again! :)</p>

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<p>Or would I be able to finish the aa degree at my cc then transfer to a university and finish a bachelors in another 2 years??? assuming I get kick ass grades and possibly some kind of scholarship and assuming I got accepted anywhere???</p>

<p>Oh and I think the only class I didn’t fail that second semester was my film history class;) I think I got a B. Which is crazy because i had stopped going to school.</p>