<p>Hi there,</p>
<p>Over the past years I've developed a real interest in film--both from an academic perspective and a practical perspective in which I'd really love to direct something one day. I'm wondering what are the top schools in either the US or the UK for undergraduate film programs which focus more on an academic aspect than a technical aspect.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>USC and NYU for sure</p>
<p>also try UCLA</p>
<p>wesleyan for academics and networking.</p>
<p>Wisconsin</p>
<p>I second the vote for Wesleyan. We have one of the best film studies (as opposed to film production) programs out there. Also check out Vassar and Columbia, as well as the other ones mentioned here (although I thought USC was more production oriented?).</p>
<p>Depends on what type of film you're interested in. If you want to simply STUDY film, a school with a good film studies program (ie: Wesleyan) will be great. However, if you're looking to become a director/producer, it would be a bad choice. If you're serious about going into industry (Hollywood) filmmaking, USC is THE BEST option. Period. UCLA also has an excellent program though, that is extremely well-regarded. Also, there is an excellent and competitive film program at Chapman University in Orange, CA. It's an up and coming film school -- yet to produce any "star" directors (like George Lucas was for USC) -- but I hear their facilities and program are amazing, and it's only a matter of time before Chapman gains the type of reputation it deserves.</p>
<p>NYU also has a good program, but keep in mind that most NYU film graduates don't end up working on industry movies. An NYU degree is great though for more alternative film making, like for film festivals, etc.</p>
<p>UCLA is unlikely because it only accepts 15 transfers and 15 UCLA students</p>
<p>:) I guess, it depends on what you mean by directors:
Wesleyan directors:</p>
<p>Michael Bay - ("Transformers")
Miguel Arteta ("Ugly Betty")
Mike White ("Year of the Dog")
John Turtelaub ("While You Were Sleeping", "National Treasure" I&II)
Zak Penn ("The Grand")
Paul Weitz ("American Pie")</p>
<p>Wisconsin Directors/Producers</p>
<p>Michael Mann (Last of the Mohicans, Miami Vice, The Insider)
Jerry Zucker (Airplane
Jim Abrahams (Ghost)
Andrew Bergman (Blazing Saddles)
Stephen Burrows
Ben Karlin (Daily Show)
Walter Mirish The Magnificent Seven,” “In the Heat of the Night,” “West Side Story,” “The Apartment
David Zucker (American Carol, Naked Gun )
Terry Zwigoff (Ghost World, Bad Santa)
Erroll Morris (Gates of Heaven (1978)
Vernon, Florida (1981)
The Thin Blue Line (1988)
The Dark Wind (1991)
A Brief History of Time (1991)
Fast, Cheap and Out of Control (1997)
Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. (1999)
The Fog of War (2003)
Standard Operating Procedure (2008) </p>
<p>Hollywood</a> Badgers - Connecting Badgers to Hollywood</p>
<p>Man, those are some pretty weak lists!</p>
<p>
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However, if you're looking to become a director/producer, it would be a bad choice.
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</p>
<p>Actually, Wesleyan is known for having a Wesleyan Mafia in LA. I'm not going to claim the alumni network is as extensive as the USC one, but it is pretty gosh darn good, and our film studies program turns out TONS of people who work in the industry. This Vanity Fair page gives an overview of some (though by no means all) of Wes's movers and shakers in the film and TV industry: vanity_fair_180.jpg</a> (image). If someone wants to study film academically as an undergrad, and also hopefully work in the industry, Wes is a great place to be.</p>
<p>Also check out Oberlin. I have friends doing film studies there who really like it.</p>
<p>"Ghost" was one of the highest grossing romance films in history.(Over Half a BILLION.) It was made for $22 Million. That's ROI.</p>
<p>USC, Chapman, UT-Austin, FSU</p>
<p>oooohhhh, impressive!</p>
<p>That's why they call it the movie business. It's all about the $$$$. Anyone thinking anything else should not even bother going to Hollywood.</p>
<p>About the comment on USC being more production-oriented. Actually, there's a variety of options for USC undergrad. The Critical Studies track admits 75 freshmen, vs 50 admitted to Production. One nice thing about Crit Studies is that students have to take at least some production classes, so they get experience that is both academic and practical.</p>
<p>Wisconsin is known for film studies/critical studies, but I'm not sure if that's at the undergrad as well as graduate level. Florida state and U Texas too, but they have very small programs IIRC.</p>
<p>Okay, thanks guys, the suggestions are great. However, just a couple things. Of the schools mentioned, Wesleyan, NYU, USC, and Oberlin interest me most. One of the things I'm looking for in a school is for it to be located in a city, however for schools as good and interesting as Wesleyan and Oberlin...I can really overlook this. However, are there any other film schools that are primarily academically oriented in cities?</p>
<p>Full Sail University is a two year college in Florida that offers a film program. I know a girl who is going there. Don't know if that interests you at all, but they specialize in media stuff, like video games and film.</p>
<p>Yeah, Full Sail would not be something that would interest me, I want a real school with a full liberal arts curriculum, the ability to double major, study abroad--the real package deal.</p>
