<p>Hi, I'm a Senior at Kihei Charter High School on Maui, and I'm looking at school for Film Production. Anyone know any good schools? I'm mainly looking in Southern California area, but other recommendations are appreciated as well! My ideal school at the moment is Chapman University, I love everything about the school I've heard and read so far. If I get accepted into Chapman, I want to audition for the screen acting major, which is what I REALLY want to do, I love acting but would major in film production as it's also a passion of mine. :) Lets see, my gpa is about 3.67, I think. I'm not sure, because I've been taking classes at the college for dual enrollment, and I calculated my gpa myself. :P But yeah, I still have to take my SATs, I take them in october. Just to kind of let you know where I am at. I'm going to do all I can to raise my GPA next semester, it's low right now. But yeah, any recommendations for schools and anything would be great. :)</p>
<p>Any suggestions? I mean, their is USC, and UCLA, but any schools easier to get in?</p>
<p>Its tough to get into Chapmans film program as well, so have a backup.</p>
<p>Yeah, I know it's really hard to get into their film program. :P I was thinking about trying for their screenwriting major as well, if I don't get into film production, that way I can still audition for the screen acting major! And I love to write as well. :)</p>
<p>Chapman also has a brand new major in Digital Arts, starting up 9/08.</p>
<p>Oh wow, that looks interesting. I wonder what the admissions rate to get into that major is..</p>
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I wonder what the admissions rate to get into that major is.
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<p>Honestly, the Digital Arts major is so new (in its first year!), I think you could call in to Dodge College and ask that question. At least they might be able to say how many people applied for Digital this year, how many were accepted, if they intend to expand the number of spots next year. </p>
<p>A good question is: how many became digital arts majors because they couldn't get into their first choice major? That they might not share with you, but that's okay. You could still ask an opinion: would it be an advantage to apply to Digital as your first choice (if you feel most interested in the digital track, that is!). </p>
<p>On your app, will they let you rank-order Digital in an order of preference of all possible majors within Dodge, numbering l, 2, 3.? Or if you apply to it, does that keep you from applying to other Dodge majors? Stuff like that.</p>
<p>Of course, get a full description (probably online at their website) of what IS a Digital Arts Major!! What do they do? </p>
<p>I know that some students apply first choice to Directing, with Screenwriting major as their second choice. If you already know your greater passion is for Screenwriting, then SAY so on your app as your first choice for major. It just might improve your chances because it shows you are really motivated in that direction most of all. I'm applying that same logic to their new Digital major. You should ask them.</p>
<p>Ask it as a factual question about their department and % admit rates to various majors. </p>
<p>So don't ask it this way: "what are my chances to get in?" They can't know that until they see your application. Just get some math and numbers from them. </p>
<p>General wisdom: Before you call in to a school to ask, always first check their department websites, to be sure it isn't already answered there onscreen.</p>
<p>Well, first I would want to do Film Production, but admission rates are like 8% or something crazy, but if i didn't get into that the next best thing for me would be screenwriting, then digital arts. On the application it says to list your top preferred major, then the next one that you are considering. I wonder if they would allow me to have a third choice? I doubt it. Really, the major I would love to get into is screen acting, but you have to be either in the Dodge College, or in a theater degree to audition. But even if I didn't get into Screen Acting, I would still be happy with Film Production or Screen Writing.</p>
<p>I'm wondering if the form just hasn't caught up to the fact that there's a brand new major (Digital). I'd call them up and ask if you can express it as your Third Choice somehow on your application, even if you have to write it in somewhere. </p>
<p>If not, then weigh this: if you had only one "second choice" would you be as happy in Digital Arts as in Screenwriting? And if so, which of those two has good odds for admission. Don't put anything you wouldn't want to live with. If Dig Arts is furthest from your goals and dreams, don't put it because it might come true! OTOH, if you see Dig Arts as equal to Screenwriting in your thoughts now, and the school tells you they're very eager for new applicants, it might have better odds.</p>
<p>Sounds like you are meant to put Director as your first choice! To thine own self be true :) I suspect people who only put one first choice (Director) want to express how strongly they desire this.</p>
<p>It's such an interesting issue. I'll start a new thread on it in this forum.</p>
<p>Another school to consider is the Berkeley Digital Film Institute in Northern California. It's a new school but it's crazy excellent in digital technology for film producing and directing. You learn everything from screenwriting to acting. Check it out: berkeleydigital.com</p>
<p>I've heard that Loyola Marymount has a pretty good film program, but I don't personally know anything about it. Maybe someone else here is more knowledgeable? It's a private school so I would imagine it's relatively expensive, but it's in a reasonably nice part of Los Angeles (not too far from LAX).</p>
<p>I looked at Loyola Marymount, they have a good program, it's as expensive as Chapman, but Chapman has better financial aid. Better program too, but I'll probably apply to Loyola as well. :) Does anyone have any suggestions for getting into the film production major at Chapman? I'm taking classes at Akaku, which is a public access tv station here on maui, I'm taking classes for Final Cut Pro, and Field Camera so I can get certified to use their production facilities and equipment. I actually got involved in this because I woman from the rotary came to our school with a scholarship type thing to fund a student interested in film to produce a short piece about something in our community, and so they are helping me pay for the classes and everything. Will this be good for my application and everything? Any other things I should get involved in? I live on an island so there really isn't much I can do, but any suggestions would be great!</p>
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Will this be good for my application
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<p>Absolutely, because it shows you respond to new opportunities and get training to see them through. Shows initiative.</p>
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Any other things I should get involved in? I live on an island so there really isn't much I can do, but any suggestions would be great!
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<ol>
<li>In the coming year, when you watch films, think about some that influence you and figure out how they work and why you like them. Become a critical viewer, in other words, and learn to express it in paragraphs in your mind, beyond just "it rocks" or "it doesn't do it for me." Break it apart - is it the screenplay, the cinematography, the film editing, technical effects, acting? How did the director put it all together?</li>
</ol>
<p>It's the same way good writers read great literature, to learn from it. </p>
<p>You probably already do that.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Get your hands on any camera and make some 2-5 minute films. Don't worry about the camera quality. Stephen Spielberg started in his backyard, just borrowing his dad's old 8mm camera, and editing in some old footage of planes somehow, to tell a story on film. </p></li>
<li><p>If you don't have a camera, write screenplays on your computer. In some schools, you can submit a screenplay instead of a video. They can teach you a lot of technical tools at college, but want to know whether you can tell a story.</p></li>
<li><p>In school, notice every class where Storytelling is involved. This could be when you're reading something for English, or if you have a teacher who uses stories a lot to communicate. Also watch what happens around you among friends at school, over time, as an unfolding story. </p></li>
<li><p>Keep a notepad in your pocket and jot down any good phrase or single sentence you hear someone say, just to notice dialogue and how people really talk. </p></li>
<li><p>If you have a still digital camera, take lots of photos this year, beyond the usual "my friends at parties."</p></li>
<li><p>Listen to all kinds of music, including some of the greats of film, like John Williams. Open up to classical music, world music, no limits at all. Really broaden your familiarity. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Remember "Brother, Where Art Thou?" Everyone got so excited about the Appalachian music, but it had been around for years. The same thing happened when "Bonnie and Clyde" came out. Maybe you'll be the one to bring in Hawaiian music - I guess there are all kinds, but I don't know any of them.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Try to do any class assignments through film. For example, if a government teacher asks you to interview someone in town, see if you can put the interview onto film instead of just writing it up. If you know an English teacher to approach, see if you can do one paper as a film instead. Time management: just be aware it'll take longer to make any short film than to write a mere term paper. Don't be a film perfectionist for a school assignment in a random subject area, is my advice. Not worth wrecking your GPA to do it.</p></li>
<li><p>Extra-curriculars: Is there a school play or musical? Maybe you can make them a trailer and put it up on the school website to help advertise it. Or see if you can film a rehearsal, and sell the video to anyone who attends the play that evening (built in market). If you're not finished in time, take orders..but do not fail to deliver!!!</p></li>
<li><p>Try to make a wordless short film where something happens.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>These are some great suggestions! Thank you very much for taking the time to write this list! Some of these things I do already so it was great to see that my efforts are not worthless! I have a pretty wide taste in music and stuff, I love to search for hours finding artists from different places with new sounds and such, and the school play idea is a great suggestion, but I am an avid actor as well and I'm in all the productions, but maybe I could still do something? I'll see. :) because of the classes I'm taking I will be able to use their professional equipment and facilities to make some stuff, and they will broadcast it on the public access channel, so that's pretty cool I guess. Thanks again, I really appreciate it. :D</p>
<p>I'll second paying3tuitions' suggestions for branching out into different creative areas. You will need to submit a resume of your creative work to Chapman (and most other film schools), so it would be great to have some different kinds of things on there.</p>
<p>Screenwriting isn't necessarily easier to get into at Chapman than film production. When we took a tour there, our guide told us that there were a lower percentage of screenwriting applicants accepted, but others have heard the opposite, so I'm not sure. I do know that they accept about 100 film production majors and about 25 screenwriting majors. I don't know about acting for film, but I expect it will be super-competitive.</p>
<p>Your grades should be fine. That's about what my S had (unweighted), and he got in (film production). His SAT score was 1420/2160. He had some good ec's related to film and had entered some short films in festivals and won a couple of awards. </p>
<p>Awards are good because it is an outside evaluation of your work, so try to enter some work in writing contests, photography contests, or film festivals. Just as a little tip on that....shorter is usually better. Some youth film festivals/contests require films to be 5 minutes or less. Also, make it shorter and really work on artistic value and storytelling. Please....don't do one of those movies of your friends making up "hilarious" dialogue as they go. :)</p>
<p>Somebody told me that UCLA is a good film school, but I don't personally know that myself.</p>
<p>I'm actually wondering the same thing you are because I'm also interested in film production as well.:)</p>
<p>Well, their website says film production has admission rates of 1/12 while screenwriting and most other majors in the film school were about 1/8. But yeah, good tips! Thank you. :) We have a county fair in october and I'm thinking I will submit some art pieces and essays for that. Try and win an award or something. I've been working with creative stuff all my life, and writing but I never put anything in a contest. :P Also I think there is a literary magazine I might be able to get some of my stuff published in. I'll look into it for sure! Thanks. And good ideas about the short film, I will look into any film festivals! </p>
<p>mzpennylane, since I'm out of state, getting into UCLA is almost impossible. You need like a gpa of 4.3 to even be considered if you are out of state.. :o It's pretty crazy. And you have to wait till like your junior year or something to apply to the film school or something ridiculous like that.. :p</p>
<p>Keeping us on-track with the thread title, I just went through and we've named 5 schools so far. The OP had heard of 2 so this is good progress:</p>
<p>UCLA (Univ of Cali Los Angeles)
USC (Univ of Southern Cali
Chapman U./Dodge College of Film and Media Arts
Berkeley Digital Film Institute (in Northern California)
Loyola Marymount</p>
<p>Any others to list? -- Keep it to California, so the thread works on topic</p>
<p>LMU i think is the safest bet in terms of admissions. You should be into the school with a ROUGH guess of like 3.3 1100 SAT. Then the film school itself simply requires an additional essay no experience. But its a very very strong program. If you don't get into the previous 4, definitely go there. It's the weakest one there I think (except maybe for Berkeley I don't know about it though) but it's still very solid and it is in L.A. so ya got your contacts</p>
<p>Yeah, Loyola looks pretty good, I've been looking into it a bit. I'm glad I have a few schools I'm looking at now. :)</p>