<p>Hey brutkowskiny, </p>
<p>Are you in production, screenwriting, or critical studies? I'm almost applied to columbia, but several of my film friends (in production) have told me not to go, because the core severly restricts film majors. They end up taking 80% critical studies, and 20% production. Just thought you should know...</p>
<p>Brutkowskiny, </p>
<p>I also noticed you applied to Brown. Did you know they do not have a film program? I was invited there for a weekend thing (tennis recruit) and found out they have no literal film major. Several students become studio art majors, and put their emphasis in film but they lack a film studies or production major (in fact, they only have five digital GL-1 camera's and final cut pro...compare that to NYU's 400-g5 AVID with panavision 35mm's and free telecine...amazing)</p>
<p>Yes I was aware of the situations at
both columbia and brown. I am still
looking for a well rounded education
which is why i would choose either of
these schools before NYU anyday, but
if I were into diving right into production
i would choose NYU.</p>
<p>Brutkowskiny, have you thought about Northwestern?</p>
<p>thought about it, ended up not applying becausee the chances of getting in were so close to that of columbia and brown.</p>
<p>I just got into northwestern...I think the chances are easier at NU instead of brown or columbia because NU looks for film majors. Good luck with those...I hope you get in. Film people are needed at the ivy league to shake up those electrical-bio-engineering people, or whatever they do...haha</p>
<p>Congratulations on your acceptance, Safia! I hope to see you at NU in the fall. :)</p>
<p>My son is a freshman in high school who is interested in filmmaking. He took a digital video course last summer and loved it. Since then, he shot one short film (pretty bad...but hey, it's his first attempt) and is working on 2 screenplays and shooting a documentary.</p>
<p>What is your advice for preparing yourself during your high school years for acceptance into a film school?</p>
<p>To timely:</p>
<p>Advice for your son.</p>
<ol>
<li>Make films</li>
<li>Crew on other people's films</li>
<li>Go every weekend to the movie theater and watch films.</li>
<li>Watch the films of the masters preferably in theaters, otherwise on DVDs Pay attention to the director's comments on the DVD.</li>
<li>Read about films</li>
<li>Get involved in theater. Act, direct, do technical work behind the scenes</li>
<li>Write, write, write. Scripts, poems, short stories, newspaper articles</li>
<li>Do photography</li>
<li>Join the local film society</li>
<li>Volunteer at the local film festival</li>
<li>Become a reporter or film critic for the school paper</li>
<li>Write school papers on film topics. My son wrote an extensive paper on America's Reaction to Birth of a Nation</li>
<li>Go to summer camps that have film programs.</li>
</ol>
<p>Basically, your son should immerse himself in art in general and film in particular</p>
<p>Printing your message, tsdad. Great stuff here! We are fortunate that our son is homeschooled, so he has some extra time to "play" with filmmaking.</p>
<p>My e-mailed is enabled so you can send me messages privately if you have any questions. At your son's age the process is more important then the product. </p>
<p>I strongly urge the summer programs. My son spent two summers, ten weeks, at the North Carolina School for the Arts immersing himself in film and with other teenagers interested/passionate about film.</p>
<p>Sorry about the numbering.</p>
<p>I'll go ahead and post here in case others are interested. Here is a concern I have about the summer programs. I'm worried about the influences our son would have there. When you read stuff about people in the film industry, it's pretty common to hear about alcohol abuse, drugs, sexual promiscuity, etc. Are there safeguards to protect the kids at these programs? What kind of kids do these programs attract (besides that they are passionate about film)?</p>
<p>Honestly, I was suprised by your question timely. When you say "film industry", do you mean "hollywood celebrities"? As for film programs...there is really no difference between film and any other art program with high school students in it. </p>
<p>I went to NYU last summer, in an extremely competive program (they take 5%...its insane). All of the kids there were strong academically but were still normal high school students (some date, some drank).</p>
<p>I'm interested in screen/television writing, and now that the acceptance letters have come in, I've decided to attend Berkeley (out of state) rather than NYU (Tisch Dramatic Writing) becaue NYU is not at all affordable. Will I still find good writing opportunities at Berkeley? Thanks : )</p>
<p>I'm not sure about screenwriting, but the film program at berkeley is not so good. I visited and interviewed, and besides a strong documentry angle, Berkeley lacks even the materials to have a strong program (the professor admitted that they don't have any film cameras, flat backs, or any linear editing at all...). But the commnunity of berkeley is increible and I'm sure the english department is too. Congradulations!</p>
<p>Would I be at a disadvantage when applying for grad school for an mfa (in screenwriting) if I didn't have more formal training at the undergraduate level?</p>
<p>Hmmm...well I only know USC and AFI for screenwriting at the MFA level. And the portfolio is basically you're ticket in, so...probably formal trying would help strengthen a portfolio...but you never know.</p>
<p>I have a question. I plan on going to film school for grad school. Do you think it would be best to attend USC for undergrad or Cornell? The reason I didn't apply for film school undergrad was because I want to study something else undergrad. I know that Cornell is a better school in terms of liberal arts than USC, but USC has the connections and would give me an early start towards film even in undergrad (even if I wasn't in the film program). Cornell is pretty isolated and I dont see much film exposure there. Wat do you think? based on that, should I go to USC or cornell?</p>
<p>To pursue a career in screenwriting, is it better to get a broad undergraduate education or go right into a preprofessional program such as Tisch ?? Another question too-is Tisch worth its pricetag? I mean, does it truly prepare you in a way that a broader education could not? I already know I'm going to pursue an MFA in grad school, now just wondering what is the best course of action to take in undergrad. . . Thanks a bunch !!!</p>
<p>Well, most kids who come out of NYU don't go to grad school so they save a **** load of money...if you're really set on going to grad school, pre-professional is probably not for you.</p>