<p>I've done some more research (yes, again - I can be pretty tenacious) and one thing I found out worries me a bit: It seems that film schools emphasize graduate studies. Whenever I read news about a student receiving an award, it's a graduate student. If there's a discussion about a movie made in the school, you can be sure that the director is a graduate student. And almost all famous alumni from prestigious film schools (such as many well-known sound designers that graduated from USC) went to the schools as graduate students. And most rankings seem to be concerned with graduate programs as well.</p>
<p>Therefore, my question is: Are graduate programs of higher quality? Or, a little exaggerated: Is it even worth to go to a film school as an undergraduate? What's your opinion? Discuss!</p>
<p>Oh, and I'm aware that I'm overgeneralizing. But there is some truth to it.</p>
<p>I do not know squat about the movie industry, but it seems to me you can work in the industry in a variety of positions: screenwriter, casting, directing, cinematographer, editing, etc.</p>
<p>Which appeals to you?</p>
<p>Graduate students with undergrad degrees in film would likely have accomplished demo reels and working familiarity with whatever it takes to work on a set, etc.</p>
<p>Regardless, I would guess that an ability to demonstrate the ability to tell a story with visual media to be the most important quality. You could write a script and develop a storyboard of photographs with attention to quality of lighting, point of view, etc. Can you write dialog? Can you describe an environment? Can you write/tell a story? </p>
<p>I don't know what it takes, but have you researched what undergraduate level backgrounds successful graduate students come from?</p>
<p>I would look at these examples that you've found and see what they got their undergrad degrees in as well, instead of just looking at their graduate degrees. Will you be able to get into a great grad program such as USC's if you don't major in film during undergrad? I honestly don't know, that's something that varies accross disciplines and even schools which offer the same majors, whether or not they are open to grad students coming from different backgrounds or not.</p>
<p>awelex,
In terms of graduate vs. undergraduate film programs, it's really a matter of personal preference as to whether a student should attend one or the other. Students can choose to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts, for example, and then apply to grad school for film - but then there isn't a guarantee of admission, since, generally speaking, the grad programs tend to be smaller in terms of the numbers of students matriculating, whereas in an undergrad program, there are usually more students applying, but then there are many more students who are being accepted - so that is one way to look at it. Also, in some programs, the undergrad and grad programs are quite similar - so they can be repetitive. Also, it is not true that as an undergrad film student/graduate, the work of the individual is not well-regarded or award-worthy - there are actually students/grads at the undergrad level who do, in fact, receive either nominations and/or awards from major film industry professional organizations.</p>
<p>i've researched this a LOT as well and you are right on the money. The general consensus i've seen is that undergrad in film is usually useless. Go for a grad degree. </p>
<p>We've probably read a lot of the same stuff: Lot's of director and producer bios on wikipedia, alumni information from all the top film schools, backgrounds of people that have won film festivals, etc.</p>
<p>I can't remember who said it, but the quote was something like "you'll learn more from one month on a set than you will from 4 years of undergrad" </p>
<p>My suggestion: get a degree in something you like, move to LA and pursue film, then go for broke (grad school) if you love it.</p>
<p>willpower102,
An undergrad film degree can certainly be worthwhile - I actually know many film students/grads (including my own two), who are pursuing film as a career and are doing very well.</p>
<p>Honestly, you dont need to go to college to be in the film industry and that's coming firsthand from students I know and people in the industry.</p>
<p>My kids chose to go to a univeristy with a highly regarded, excellent film program along with studying many academic subjects, pursuing amazing internships and incredible study abroad programs, because they wanted to get a well-rounded education, and they (along with their classmates) have been quite successful.</p>
<p>^^^ exactly. The undergrad work definitely won't hurt, but it's not as imperitive as it is for someone who wants to get into engineering. There are plenty of positions for grips & other entry level where you will learn A LOT. The feild is more open to any range of degrees.</p>
<p>Study the programs at the schools too. You will see that a huge portion of undergrad work is technical training you could get from work experience. The real asthetics and psychology of the art is what the grad programs lean towards.</p>
<p>A well-rounded undergrad college education studying various subject matter in depth is helpful in terms of making intellectually-stimulating independent films with an artistic vision. These are the films that actually make a person think and analyze what they're viewing. My S was able to accomplish this by focusing not only on the technical aspects of filmmaking but also pent some quality time taking courses and working with professors in specific academic fields.</p>
<p>Another option to consider is going to a regular liberal arts college (LAC or within a university) with a good film/film studies (or even media studies) department. My own school, Wesleyan, comes to mind, as well as Vassar and Columbia (and I'm sure there are other schools that fit here as well). You'll get less technical training in a film studies program, more emphasis on analyzing films, but that can still be useful, and, more importantly, you'll also get a chance to double major/minor in something else, take lots of other classes, etc. etc, just like any other major at such a college (and I know Wes, at least, and I'd imagine the others, have a large alumni base who'd be more than happy to give you internships where you'd be able to learn on the job, so to speak).</p>
<p>Just a thought! Kind of a comprimise between not doing film in undergrad at all, and devoting yourself to a film school.</p>
<p>Wesleyan makes sure each and every film studies graduate has a contact in the industry before they leave campus. Other universities, including some of the better known ones, either send their undergrads out on their own or hand them off to "finish" their degrees in graduate school. It all depends on the program.</p>
<p>That hasn't been the case at the school that my kids attend(ed). Not only have they been able to get amazing internships, but they've made many contacts in the industry, and have had the opportunity to not only work on their own projects but also work with Academy Award winning directors, producers, screenwriters, etc. The networking possibilities have just been endless, and being in nyc (the hub of independent cinema) has been very worthwhile.</p>
<p>No one really knows where the film industry is headed, with the advent of YouTube, the decline of theaters, the rise of video games, etc. I would encourage someone to go an overall strong school with a fairly strong film department, where they are getting a good general education in addition to their film education. I also think the key is a balanced program, both theory/history and production. Many programs fail to achieve this, even some of the top ones. I know film graduates of third-rate schools in Ohio who have moved to NYC and are more knowledgeable about film history/theory than their colleagues who went to Tisch. Honestly, that's pretty embarrassing. The real key, though, is connections, as people have said. I'm in a film program at a top school with an amazing alumni system, in both Communications and in general, and that's probably what will make the difference for me.</p>
<p>All I can say is, don't blame Tisch. Maybe it was actually the students themselves. I have two kids who were/are at Tisch, and that certainly hasn't been the case for them. Remember, it's also about the passion that each individual student gives/brings to the program. Both of my kids have been/are able to succeed quite well from their programs (and also during their college years in terms of receiving recognition), and their classmates have, as well.</p>
<p>nyumom, I was happy to hear about kids graduating from a film school and being employable. :-) Can you share what type of work they went into when they graduated?</p>
<p>timely,
The employment status of the recent grads have been quite varied, from working for major studios and production companies (both in LA and NYC) in many different positions including production assistants, art coordinators, assitant to producers, set design assistants. There are also studens who are working full-time for production companies and studios (either large or small) in the areas of publicity, marketing and distribution and film development. Some grads are working on their own independent film projects, but at the same time are employed as editors, graphic designers, etc. The list goes on and on. My S is working on his own independent projects, but is also teaching, doing freelance work, and is also working on projects (both films and literary) that involve industry professionals, including professors.</p>