I don’t have lot of film experiences compared to some people that I know that got into film schools. Although I’m in this Broadcast class at school and contributed to several videos for broadcasting and few shorts for myself, I don’t think I have enough experience. If I’m giving a shot to USC UCLA Tisch and Chapman for film production major, would I have at least a bit of chance of getting in? I have decent GPA and ACT score, few (or the most I could get from my community) experiences in film production and activities. Would my admissions application help a lot? I really love filmmaking and am hoping to get into one of the listed schools. Speaking of schools, I’m also thinking of applying to Ithaca College, FSU, and Ringling but if you have suggestions on which film school I should apply to, I’ll gladly take that! (I heard Emerson, LMU, and Wesleyan were good but I’m not sure which ones I should apply to for good film prod)
I’m not up to speed on the particulars of most of the undergraduate film majors so take anything I say with that understanding. But I did attend UCLA as an undergrad and later as their grad film school. The first thing I would say is very few “film schools” that are also well known universities or colleges in their own right will really give you much hands-on film production experience. There are classes, but most of the experience comes from what you do outside of class either on your own as a student with classmates or by getting internships, etc. And absolutely NO ONE – this I can say with confidence – will hire you because you went to film school. They will hire you into production only if you have a great reel – which the school won’t do for you – or got ome attention at a festival with a short or if you used your internships to network and make great contacts that you use to get in the door, depending the the role you want. Even at the grad school level at UCLA, the decree means nothing. Being at UCLA is awesome for getting internships or meeting industry people, etc. But it’s not like an MBA – it doesn’t influence hiring.
With that in mind, you can take a heck of a lot of film school classes even if you aren’t a film major. So if you don’t feel you can get into the exact program, just apply umderdeclared. I toured Wesleyan with my son a couple years ago, including their specific film school sub-tour. A surprisingly number of talented industry people have come out of Wesleyan (not to mention the creative team behind Hamilton). The program itself though is mostly what you would call a “critical studies” film program – teaching film analysis, interpretation, structure as opposed to to production and editing. There are some limited facilities and equipment for production but it’s mostly to facilitate what students do extracurricularly. This is true of many “film programs.” There are schools that are very production-centric but they tend to be specialized film or visual arts programs as opposed to general colleges.
In any event, not trying to discourage you. I don’t want to under-state the value of being in an environment with other creative students or of the networking value of being at a film school. Just don’t expect them to teach you how to be a director or for your degree to get you a job. Good luck.
I was considering your suggestion as well… I think I will still apply to top schools and other schools in mind ( I will definitely try Wesleyan), but not gonna have too high expectations. Thank you for such a helpful reply!
As the previous poster mentioned, there’s a great deal of difference in Film School programs. Some of the ones you mentioned will not have you make an actual film the entire time you attend. Others will have you directing and producing so you do have a reel when you graduate. I would investigate that aspect thoroughly. I don’t have experience will all those you mentioned but I do know a little about a couple and the differences are stark. Know an NYU Tisch grad and they made 1 movie their senior year, and even that was required was optional. Know several FSU grads and they will work every job on a film set before graduation and make at least 3-4 movies (a doc, a directing short, a thesis film, etc.). FSU will also have you producing other students films, working camera, set design, even gaffing. They make you do it all so you are more employable. That’s not to say one is better than the other–there are lots of sucessful NYU grads–they are just all different.