Film Production major?

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
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<p>I'm a junior in high school and I am extremely interested in pursuing a degree in film production. I have attended film camps and I have made numerous short films and commercials, while still keeping my GPA above a 4.0 and participating in several extracurricular activities. My only concern is: I live in Alabama. Yes, Alabama offers wonderful college opportunities such as U. of Alabama and Auburn University (which is fantastic at architecture & engineering), but neither of these schools have good film programs. Therefore, I am either looking to go out of state to an A-grade film school that's affordable (like UNC School of the Arts), OR I am looking to double major in Film and something else at Auburn. </p>

<p>So what major would be good to pair with Film Production?
Also, what kind of job opportunities do Film Production majors have once they graduate? </p>

<p>ANY RESPONSE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.</p>

2

<p>When you get into school, work on as many films as you can - yours and those of other students. You want to bring a skill so that others WANT you working on their films. If you want to be a director, of course others won’t need that, but if you have excellent other skills (editing, color correction, art direction, casting, screenwriting, etc) you will be in demand. And, don’t forget - if you make yourself invaluable to upperclassmen, THEY will be your connections in the industry as they get jobs.</p>

<p>In which direction do you want to go? The arts side of filmmaking? Or the industry side? Do you see yourself as an independent filmmaker, or as a cog in the Hollywood film (or TV) “machine.” That decision will be a big determination on where you will choose for a school. No matter what the choice, you will find that “film” careers usually mean that you might be working on your own, freelancing from film to film. So, I think the best minor to look at as you pursue film production is Business.</p>

<p>Make sure you also look beyond pure “film” majors to include the other incarnations of filmmaking: Visual Communications, Media Arts and Studies, etc. Everything is digital these days, so you can make a career with a degree in Video Production.</p>

<p>Where you go to school will be determined by grades (you’re covered there), finances (look closely at what’s available scholarship-wise), location, and other factors. You’ve got to immediately think about future career success. THAT will be determined by your talent and drive, your skill set, and your connections in the industry. Those connections will come from the connections you make with the sophomores, juniors, and seniors even from your freshman year. You want to choose a school that has this “bootstrap” process for getting people into the industry. I’m not sure how to find that out, but it’s worth some research (Ask about the school’s presence in the industry; find out what kinds of jobs their alumni have. If their only successes are from the early 90’s or even a little later, then look elsewhere).</p>

<p>There are the Big-Name schools for film production and these have the ability to produce successful graduates, but the task of <em>being</em> successful is totally up to you. There are other programs that are not so well known, but still good and do have industry presence as well.</p>

<p>My son is at the moment working as a compositor on Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon, and he did the Media Arts major in the Honors Tutorial College at Ohio University. I thought the program was great, and they have a lot of former HTCers working in LA and in other film positions. PLUS, with a great GPA/ACT or SAT scores, they lavish a lot of merit money on out-of-state students. He had most of his tuition paid for for the four years he was there. It’s incredibly competitive; I just talked to the HTC Director for Media Arts yesterday and he said they are looking for two students to accept next year.</p>

<p>[Honors</a> Tutorial College - Media Arts](<a href=“Honors at OHIO | Ohio University”>Honors at OHIO | Ohio University)</p>

<p>Yes, I did say two students. The HTC only accepts 60 students a year across 29 majors - an average of two students per major. They also have a Film Production major, more of a fine arts approach to film. The Media Arts and Film people all seem to work together on each other’s films. It’s a very collaborative environment.</p>

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<p>DannyBoy- Being from Alabama might be an asset. I suspect it is an underrepresented state at many schools. If you apply with a great GPA and strong SAT’s or ACT;s you might get a second look coming from there. That might put you in good standing for scholarships. There are both need and merit based scholarships available. </p>

<p>If you want to go into film- try to think about what aspect might interest you. Certainly you go to school to find that out: but you can do some checking ahead of time to see how much certain professions pay. The rule of thumb is you should not take on more debt for a 4 year college experience than you will make in your first year out of school. So if you take on $50,000 of debt in 4 years, you would want a job that pays at least that amount for a first year salary. Having said that, I would urge you to follow your passions. If film is your thing: don’t settle for something else. Yes a double major can be great, but not if you are frustrated that you really want to be making films but are stuck in economics class. For a producer: business would be a great minor or second major. For an animator; an art degree or computer design degree, etc… but if you want to be a cinematographer…maybe that minor or second degree won’t work. </p>

<p>If you haven’t yet looked at Emerson College in Boston, take a look there. If you come in with a certain GPA and SAT scores they have an honors option that is significantly less expensive. AND… they have a GREAT film program.</p>

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<p>You want internships. Connections are key in this field.</p>

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<p>[Film</a> (BA, BFA) | Emerson College](<a href=“Academic Departments, Emerson College”>Academic Departments, Emerson College)</p>

<p>Agree about Emerson College, if your family can afford it.</p>

6

<p>I want to be a director, so I feel like Film Production is the path I should take. And my family isn’t “poor” (I know you guys didn’t say that, I’m just addressing it) but it’s just NYU, USC, etc. are so incredibly expensive. And if I got in, I could go to one of these places but I just wouldn’t have any money left over to get an MFA or grad degree if I wanted to because I would have spent it all on undergrad tuition. </p>

<p>Lastly, what have you heard of Arizona State’s film program? </p>

<p>(thanks for the responses by the way; they’re all very helpful)</p>

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<p>DannyBoy, Have you considered Chapman University? You may have a better chance of getting an excellent need-blind merit aid scholarships there than at NYU or USC. Chapman has one of the best film programs in the nation; Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. They have their own film production company; Chapman Entertainment. You’ll have better advantages and opportunities at Chapman than at many of the other institutions. It is highly competitive to get in, but definitely worth looking into especially if you plan on an MFA or grad degree. Hope this helps and good luck! [Chapman</a> Entertainment - Dodge College of Film and Media Arts](<a href=“http://ftv.chapman.edu/about/chapman_entertainment/]Chapman”>http://ftv.chapman.edu/about/chapman_entertainment/)</p>

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<p>Yes, with your grades, you have a great chance at the big ones.</p>

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<p>DannyBoy: You may not need the graduate education. The training at the undergrad programs (the best ones at least) prepare you well to work in your chosen field. Often those that go to grad school are people who came to their love of film after receiving another degree. They did not get the full film school experience. It is my understanding that few who go to “film school” as undergrads need to go on to grad school to do what they want to do. For directing, consider USC, NYU, Chapman, LMU, FSU, UT-Austin, Emerson, American (if you like political and social activist projects), and CAlArts, as a staring place for where to look.</p>

<p>I have no personal knowledge of Arizona. But I did look it up. It appears their program teaches digital only (no film), and has both film studies (appreciation, understanding) as well as production courses. Questions to ask them: where do their graduates go. How many are working in the industry from the last few graduating classes, do they promote student work at festivals, and how many actual films will you get to DIRECT and Work on during your time in the program?</p>

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<p>We just looked at Drexel in Philadelphia with my DS who is also a Jr. He was amazed by the number and variety of electives you can take. They are a co-op school. The man in charge of the equipment room is amazing, and pulled out all of the different cameras you would be using and explained them to the 4 kids in our group. The recruiter showing us around even opened the door to a class in progress and the prof talked to us for a while. Very impressed with their program and also the way it was presented to us.
Reasonable merit scholarships too!</p>

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<p>I’m going to post this in every one of these threads. Go to film grad school, and learn something else in college, so you will have something to say in your movies.</p>

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<p>^What destiny says is actually pretty common and sound advice from some of the best professionals out there. Having a broad, liberal arts background as an undergrad is a real advantage in terms of developing your “voice.”</p>

<p>However, some kids develop their artistic vision/voice at a much earlier age. The OP sounds like he or she’s had an abundance of work-to-date and still handily manages a strong academic performance. Some truly gifted youths are called to early specialization, and really can go further faster in a concentrated and portfolio-only environment.</p>

<p>If the OP has won any regional awards or had some external validation of his or her talent in this field, my main recommendation would be to look for programs that are talent-based, competitive admits because the poster will need to be working on teams and with like-skilled peers. With high stats, the poster should not rule out substantial merit at some of the top programs – so should plan to apply to all of the programs to see what happens (plus a financial and academic safety, which may not be one in the same.) </p>

<p>Depending on the OPs strengths (eg. is your strength story? DOP? Editing) would dictate different related majors. Eg. if writing/directing is an end goal, than writing/English as an undergrad pursuit develops the skill with long-form narrative. If above-line production is the goal, then a business/managerial program is a good cohort. If the technical aspects of production are more interesting to him/her, then sound engineering is a good cohort.</p>

<p>Best wishes in your search.</p>

<p>PS – I am guessing with a name like DannyBoy you are a guy, so forgive my pc “his/her” but I do know a girl named Danny ;)</p>

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<p>destinyhelp: I totally agree that it is really important to have something to say in your films. And, if school was less expensive or free, I might agree with you that having a broad liberal arts education first might be best. Given the high cost of college these days, not everyone will be able to afford both an undergraduate and a graduate education. At the current costs of upwards of 50,000 a year (for a private school with room and board), either you need a lot of financial aid, need to be wealthy or take on a lot of debt to afford an education. Sure: there are state schools that are great, but unless it is YOUR state, you are still paying out of state tuition. That factors in to my saying not everyone can swing both an undergrad and a grad degree. I am a fan of the undergraduate film schools that require a liberal arts education in conjunction with the film courses. Some of the top schools (two examples USC, NYU) also have top notch liberal arts. If you are admitted to one of those, you might both learn to make films and to have something to say!</p>

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<p>maddenmd, if that is the case, then I just wouldn’t study film. Film is something you can easily learn on your own. The appeal of film school is time to work on your craft, and to make connections. It’s not the end of the world if one can’t afford it.</p>