<p>Wondering which is better</p>
<p>What are you looking for - filmmaking or film studies? Cal has a tradition of film studies, i.e., the philosophical, political and aesthetic aspects of film culture. The Pacifica Film Archive at Cal is a first rate research facility but there is no substantive film production program at Berkeley. UCSB also has a top notch film studies program, perhaps with more production options but compared to UCLA’s film production program, neither is significant.</p>
<p>Film production… how could film studies possibly help me to get into the film making industry? @agincourt</p>
<p>Film studies is not the most direct route to getting into the film making industry but you did not state that as your objective in your initial question. So your first task is to learn to communicate more clearly. Second is to be grateful when those that have something to offer you do so.</p>
<p>No Cal - SF State has a solid film production program
So Cal - UCLA best public option; Cal Arts, Chapman both strong, and of course USC is top notch </p>
<p>Well my options are cal berkeley or santa barbara, so Im wondering which school would best help me break into the film industry @Agincourt </p>
<p>@jspits, there are two general schools of thought on preparing for a film career. The first is to go with vocational training, the second is to become broadly educated before narrowing down to career details. Your choices certainly are better suited to the second option. Both UCB and UCSB can provide an excellent undergraduate education. You could learn a great deal about the aesthetics of film, the great film directors and historical film trends. You also could pick up practical knowledge on the side working crew for student films, indie films and studio/network pictures that are shooting nearby.</p>
<p>“Breaking into the film industry” can mean anything from acting on camera to working as an agent or producer. Film production majors work with equipment and focus mostly on production and post production (editing, FX, etc.). But there are plenty of fields outside of production - producing, management, pr, story development, writing, etc - that can be taught and studied outside of “film school”. A variety of skills come into play: a knowledge of contracts, story structure, personnel management, personal communications and sales techniques (persuasion), media marketing, etc.etc all can be exploited in film/tv careers and all can be developed outside of film classes, per se.</p>
<p>Personally, given the above, I would opt for Berkeley because of the SF area, its cultural energy, the numbers of film production projects and the access to film programs and screenings and the other universities nearby. But UCSB has the advantage of being closer to LA which is where the industry is centered and where you could tap into what’s going on at the universities and projects there. But listen - what I would do and what is right for you are different and I can’t offer you anything more than what I would do as the particulars of your life, your family, your personality, etc are unknown to me.</p>
<p>Both UCSB and UCB have plenty of graduates with non film majors who then get into film and do very well as directors, actors, producers, etc. For example, Carl Franklin majored in history long ago at Cal, became a TV actor, segued into directing, took an MFA at the American Film Institute in LA then made ONE FALSE MOVE, DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS and lately he directs episodes of HOUSE OF CARDS. </p>
<p>At basis, pick the school at which you would prefer to spend four years and don’t stress. No school determines one’s success. There is no one road to get to where you want to go but I would advise you that wherever you land, write and write and write. If you can create content, you create power.</p>