<p>I'm getting ready to start school in the spring, but I'm going to be attending a local Community College. Right now, I'm thinking about majoring in Visual Communications - Video Production. I'm really only worried about one thing, how hard is it to transfer as a film major? I didn't do too well in high school, I had around a 2.5gpa. I also didn't take the SATS, but I love film and want to turn things around. After I'm done at my local school and I'm ready to transfer, do you think it's possible for me to get into a good film school? If I try hard and do well? I thought this will give me a chance to get together a portfolio and fix my grades/gpa. If this isn't possible, I think I may just go the business route, probably accounting.</p>
<p>Anyone here a film major? Just wondering what this major is like and how the work is? Also how you like it and your plans for the future? How are the internships? Just wondering if their are any good careers in filming/movies? Other then the obvious, actor, producers, etc.? Are degrees like this basically worthless? or can they provide good jobs in the industry? Where are you going to school?</p>
<p>Cliffs/ TL;DR
-Didn't do well in high school (2.5gpa)
-Interested in Film as a major
-Going to local CC for Film Productions
-Will it be possible to transfer to a good/well known film school if I do well at local cc?</p>
<p>Im not a film major..but I can give you some advice.</p>
<p>To your question of whether or no you can transfer into a good film school; It depends on the calibre of the department within the school. First of all, if you want to transfer, you're going to need to take some form of standardized testing. The fact that you dont have any SATs or ACTs will allow any school to deem you ineligible to apply. You can either take the ACTs or SATs, or accumulate enough credits at your CC so that colleges dont consider your HS GPA and Standardized testing scores. The number of credits for that point is probably going to be different for every school. As I just said, your HS gpa can be over ruled by your CC GPA, but you need to do very well. If you were at a 4 year university, a decent GPA that would allow you to transfer effectively would be a 3.3 and up, but since you are at a CC, you should try to get atleast a 3.7 and up. Now, all of that info I just gave you is the basics for transferring to ANY SCHOOL and ANY DEPARTMENT/MAJOR. </p>
<p>As for Film, I know that USC has one of the best if not the best Film studies program in the world...George Lucas went there. They always send their students to the best Film production and Computer Graphic/design companies. Although, I heard their portfolio for admissions is quite demanding. </p>
<p>I think the first paragraph was very unnecessary, but eh, just some advice for you I guess.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info! I plan on trying my best and doing the best I can so I can transfer out to somewhere that matters. Could I just take the SAT's towards the end of my 2 years at the community college and use those scores when I go to transfer? I've heard USC and NYU are the top film schools, but do you really think they would accept someone coming from a CC?</p>
<p>I have a feeling there aren't going to be tons of highly successful film makers browsing the CC forums, so I would see if you find someone in the specific field you're interested in, and ask them some of these questions about the nature of the work (or maybe try contacting the film department at X school with some of these questions). Maybe try looking online or at the library for books about the career. Now, I don't know anything about the film major specifically, but I think most of the fine arts majors place heavy emphasis on audition/portfolio/essay..though some schools may still require SATs and a good GPA. I would find some specific programs you're interested in, establish communication with some of the schools, and try and figure out what would make you a more competitive applicant.</p>
<p>You are getting some good advice so far. I would also suggest you look in the College Confidential section under Other Majors for a subforum called "Arts Majors."
To find it, click on "discussion home" (top left of THIS page). Scroll down below all the colleges and so forth until you hit an area called "Other Majors" or maybe it's "Special Majors." On that list is one called "Arts Majors." Click on that. It has a lot for film and visual artists. (Others in that subforum are for Music Majors, Musical Theater Majors, and a few more.) </p>
<p>In Arts Majors, read the recent threads with film in their title. Also use searchwords to read some old threads, for example, search under "film" or "application" or "competitive" to get an idea. To search, once you're already in the Arts Major subforum, type a word into the box called "Search This Forum" == use the blue button (top right of page). </p>
<p>Much good luck.</p>
<p>If you are not feeling that becoming a director or screenwriter is for you, there are some other majors in film that could be good also. For example, look up Chapman University/Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. They have added a new major just this year (to their other ones) called Digital Arts, which I think relates to computers and special effects. You'd be working on a team with someone else's film, and that might be more appealing. The technical skills can be obtained and you don't have to be, y'know, Martin Scorcese to have a career!</p>
<p>Community College is exactly the place to prove you have the work ethic and ability to complete tasks. Work ethic and teamwork are really important as a skills for anyone working on an actual film. Take it a step at a time; enroll in the CC, choose courses you can get your head around, then bust your socks off to make the grades. Tell your friends you moved to South America for the term (no not really, you need friends too!) Good luck.</p>
<p>P.S., I'll copy this thread over in that forum, too so you can see if there are responders there.</p>
<p>There are lots of good film schools and programs out there and you are not the first kid to not do so well in hs and them turn it around in college. I would start looking at some of the requirements for the schools that you think are interesting, even call their admissions office or dept. and find out what you would need to do. Some to look at outside of NYU and USC which are highly competitive would be Chapman U, Montana State Bozeman, North Carolina School of the Arts, Denison, try googling film schools you'll be surprised at what comes up. Good luck</p>