<p>UNCSA (not great for liberal arts though- really more conservatory-style), USC, though I'm personally really interested in UNCSA- have their own 'film village' of sets, they pay for all your production costs, provide all equipment you need, etc. (and the campus is absolutely amazing)</p>
<p>Going with that, though, I'd heavily advise against NYU, based on what I know. I've been told from friends who have gone there for film that it largely favors the rich, giving students little to no money to actually do their films. If you want costumes, sets, etc., be prepared to pay for it out of your own pocket. IIRC, same goes for paid actors. NYU's reputation has a lot to do with the students who were able to afford to go there in the first place, then able to afford to do their own film work. If you've got lots of money, though, go for it.</p>
<p>Good thread. Keep those famous directors/composers coming. Very useful references. Here are a few more I have found:</p>
<p>John Williams, UCLA, Juilliard
Elliott Goldenthal (Across the Universe), Manhattan SM
James Horner (Beautiful Mind), RCM (UK), USC, UCLA
James Newton Howard, USC
Philip Glass, Juilliard (after Maths & Philosophy at Uni of Chicago)
Howard Shore (Lord of the Rings), Berklee CM Boston
Alan Silvestri (Forrest Gump, Van Helsing), Berklee CM Boston
Jerry Goldsmith (Star Wars, Star Trek), USC
And a golden composer for many:
Hans Zimmer (Dark Knight, Frost/Nixon, Gladiator, etc... etc... 100+), Self-taught!!</p>
<p>I'm actually applying to USC for the Business degree with a concentration in cinema (basically a degree in film/television production). However, I have many friends interested in studying cinema in college, whether it be acting or directing. My school was named the #1 fine arts school in the country by the Kennedy Center this past year, so we do carry a good reputation, especially for a public school. The kids I know have applied to schools like Yale, USC, NYU, Brown, Northwestern, and Emerson. For the last three or four years, our top actor/actress has gone to NYU, but I don't know if that's necessarily the best place to go. That's all I know. Good luck with your search.</p>
<p>Brown is excellent, but more for film studies/theory type work and theater. Our film production side is far less developed-- it's just not how our department developed, which came out of French and German rather than Visual Arts or Theater when it emerged.</p>
<p>FWIW, if you want to make movies, the only way to get anywhere with it is to create a lot of material all the time and have it out there for consumption. The degree is nice and can be important, but you've got to do 100% of the leg work by keep making movies all the time, period.</p>
<p>This is a list of recent award winners or nominees for major awards....</p>
<p>Academy Award
John Knoll Visual Effects
Academy Award
Robert Elswit Outstanding Cinematography
Academy Award
Jason Reitman Outstanding Direction</p>
<p>MPSE Golden Reel Award<br>
Erik Aadahl Best Sound Design in a Feature Film
WGA Award
Lisa Alden Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
MPSE Golden Reel Award
Richard Anderson Best Sound Editing in Feature Film Animation
WGA Award
Judd Apatow Outstanding Writing for an Original Screenplay
Independent Spirit Awards
Jeffrey Blitz Outstanding First Feature
WGA Award
Bettina Bradbury Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Serial
NAACP Image Award
Theordore Braun Outstanding Documentary
ACE Award
Norman Buckley Best Editing in a Series for Commercial Television
WGA Award
Chad Creasey Outstanding Writing for a New Series
DGA Award
Tony Croll Outstanding Direction for Reality Television
ASC Presidents Award
Richard Edlund
NAACP Image Award
Rick Famuviwa Outstanding Writing for a Motion Picture
MPSE Golden Reel Award
Tim Farrell Best Sound Editing in Sound Effects
NAACP Image Award
Stephen Flick Best Sound Editing in Long Form Television
Golden Globe
Russel Friend Outstanding Television Series
MPSE Golden Reel Award
Sharyn Gersh Best Sound Editing in Music (2)
MPSE Golden Reel Award
Avram Gold Best Sound Editing in Long Form Television: Dialogue and ADR
Golden Globe
Brian Grazer Outstanding Production for a Motion Picture
WGA Award
Robert Guza Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Serial
MPSE Golden Reel Award
Daniel Hegeman Best Sound Editing in a Feature Film
MPSE Golden Reel Award
Rick Hinson Best Sound Editing in Animatied Television
MPSE Golden Reel Award
Patrick Hogan Best Sound Editing in Dialogue for an Animated Feature Film
ACE Award
Leslie Iwerks Best Editing in a Documentary
NAACP Image Award and Golden Globe
Garrett Lerner Outstanding Television Series
MPSE Golden Reel Award
Jon Mete Best Sound Editing in Sound Effects
Golden Globe
Shonda Rhimes Outstanding Television Series-Drama
WGA Award
Melissa Rosenberg Outstanding Writing for a Dramatic Series
Golden Globe
Bryan Singer Outstanding Television Series-Drama
MPSE Golden Reel Award
Addison Teague Best Sound Editing in a Feature Film
WGA Award
Aaron Thomas Outstanding Writing for a Dramatic Series
Golden Globe
Jennifer Todd Outstanding Production for a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical</p>
<p>The suggestions have been great, and keep them coming! However most of them would all be put in the high-match and low-reach to high-reach category. Are there any other good schools that are a tad less selective?</p>
<p>Chapman, from what I've heard, sounds like it has a great program. However, I'm worried that the university focuses almost exclusively on the production side of film, and that there would not be the ability to double major in say, Film Studies and History or Film Studies and Philosophy.</p>
<p>Chapman does have a good, but small and growing Film Studies program. The deadine has passed though. Being in Orange County and a stones throw from LA would meet your criteria.</p>
<p>What schools do you recommend for a strong student - 2150 SAT, 4.0, lots of extracurriculars who wants liberal arts but also wants to study film production?</p>