FSU film school, hard parents, and I.

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
1

<p>For years, whenever anyone would ask me what I wanted to do when I grow up, I would always have different answers, depending on the time. Doctor? Lawyer? Businessman? Physicist? None of these answers satisfied me. However, as time moved on, I started to have an affinity for movies. Not Hollywood itself, but the function of what it does: make movies. I always dreamed of making movies, but only now do I have the desire and passion to make movies. </p>

<p>This does not sit well with my parents. Me? Really? They like to point out things that point against me already. The fact that I am Asian. The fact that I live in Orlando, which despite it's close ties with Disney, does not have THAT rich of a film tradition. The fact that I don't really have any familial connections to the industry.</p>

<p>Really, I understand them. It is a really hard road. But how much harder is it than medical school? Or law school? More importantly, how much more expensive is it? Why set me for pharmacy if I really don't wanna do it? </p>

<p>Cut to FSU. Why FSU? First, I live in Florida. This really helps in terms of tuition. While it would be nice if I could go to SoCal to study, I also have to make sure that tuition cost to explode and thus deter my parents from enrolling me there. Florida's Bright Futures Scholarship as well as the relative cheapness of tuition really helps. </p>

<p>By why post here? I need help in convincing my parents. Do you guys have any idea on the amount of open jobs and connections there are coming out of FSU? Should I expect a lot of tuition costs? When should I expect to finish my education? Is there is possibility of a dual major in film and another field of study? I know its a lot of questions, but I really would appreciate the help!</p>

<p>In terms of academics, don't worry. I have a 4.0 GPA unweighted and currently enrolled in the IB programme.</p>

2

<p>FSU has one unique thing that really sets it apart: each film school student is matched up with an alumnus who is working in the film industry, Not only do you get that mentoring, you also have a contact. See me post in the thread titled “LAC then Digital Cinema grad school?” to see what I said regarding goals and objectives of film school.</p>

<p>Be aware that most film “jobs” are short-term, project oriented and your first few gigs may not pay much. If you are good at what you do, and can get initial contacts for people to notice, I think the work is there.</p>

<p>FSU would be a perfect choice for you. Another argument to use for FSU is that anytime you change your mind or find out it’s not for you, you have all the choices of majors to change to,</p>

3

<p>4.0UW and IB are commendable… congrats. But when maddenmd and I surveyed and interviewed film schools for our book, we heard the same things over and over:

[ul]
[<em>] “We want people who can find new ways to tell new stories.”
[</em>] “We want storytellers.”
[<em>] “What we look for in applicants: Motivation, intelligence, and focus.”
[</em>] “An eagerness to learn and a devotion to working on film projects above all else.”
[li] “Evidence of strong visual storytelling ability, creativity, and entreprenuership.”[/li][/ul]</p>

<p>btw, here’s an argument for your 'rents: FSU says that their mentoring program "provides virtually 100% of the school’s graduates with meaningful work in the film and television industry within 12 months of graduation."</p>

4

<p>The application for the program has no portfolio supplement whatsoever. Advice: what should I do to show my involvement in film? Volunteer at the local film festival? Attend a film class over the summer? Make my own film anyway?</p>

5

<p>“In terms of academics, don’t worry. I have a 4.0 GPA unweighted and currently enrolled in the IB programme.”</p>

<p>Keep in mind that USC awards top candidates very generous scholarships. You may want to consider applying there as well as FSU as another possible option. USC does require a portfolio.</p>

6

<p>D and I went to visit FSU at the end of February. Every other Friday there is an infomation/tour especially for the Motion Picture school at 9 a.m. (contact and appointment info on their website). Plan to spend the whole morning there.</p>

<p>Admissions: The most important thing is your essay. You apply to Florida State and Motion Picture Arts by mid-October, and they read your essay as soon as you are admitted to FSU. They say they do not require a film portfolio because they are not as interested in what you have accomplished as in what you have the potential to become.</p>

<p>Program: Emphasis on commitment, collaboration and being a filmmaker. (For example, “Do you want to be a cinematographer, or a filmmaker who specializes in cinematography?”) Basically, they say that after finishing your degree at FSU, there is nothing anyone can ask you to do on a film set that you will not have already done. Collaboration: everyone works on each other’s films. Professors spend hours one-on-one and two-on-one helping students work on specifics of their projects. The day we were there we visited a room where a professor and two students were finishing the sound editing/sound design on a film (sorry if I’m choosing the wrong vocab–not my field!). When someone asked whose film it was, theirs or another student’s, it turned out the film belonged to a student who had left the program–but they wanted to finish it so it could be screened the following week because so many students in the department had worked on it, and everyone wanted them to be able to show their work. So very committed. Commitment: must work through two summers (after sophomore and junior years–1st year and 2nd year are the names there), work on films 24/7. Expect to work every weekend. </p>

<p>Everything everyone has said on these posts about having a mentor after finishing school–true, emphasized.</p>

<p>Very competitive. This year there were 259 initial applicants, of whom 176 got all of their materials in by the deadline. Forty-eight students were selected for interviews for approximately 20 spots (they were still interviewing when we were there). Thirty students in each class–approximately 20 freshmen and 10 transfers. You could also attend FSU and try to transfer into film the following year. Freshman year is mainly liberal arts requirements and volunteering to work on others’ film projects. Sophomore year is called “First Year” in film because it is when film gets intense. Of the 2 students in that sound editing room, one had gotten in as a freshman and the other on the third try. The “third try” student attended FSU and volunteered to work on many film projects while re-applying again and again.</p>

<p>Try to arrange a visit. It was wonderful. We drove up from the Tampa area (we were visiting relatives) and it took us 4 1/2 hours each way. Very worthwhile.</p>

7

<p>A few thoughts, from the parent of a film school applicant.</p>

<ol>
<li>It IS a tough industry to find work.</li>
<li>Those with drive, talent and ambition will usually rise to the top.</li>
<li>If you find a job you love, you never “work” a day in your life.</li>
</ol>

<p>These are the reasons we support our sons passion for this industry. FSU is a VERY competitive program as far as admissions go. USC is even more so- But I think you should apply to all of the programs that interest you. Some have very generous financial aid and merit aid packages.</p>

<p>My son has received admission to several schools with merit aid packages ranging from 1/2 tuition, to a possible full tuition (waiting to hear on that one!). We never expected any of those: so it was a very nice surprise to be offered those scholarships. Note; these are MERIT, not need based, which could add even further to the package.</p>

<p>As far as Asian: they are many up an coming Asian filmmakers. You would not be alone. As far as family connections: you will make connections at film school, as good as family connections.</p>

<p>As far as "harder than med school (my training) or law school (my sister in law) or pharmacy (my good friend), it is not harder- or less tough. They are different. BUT in those fields you have a fairly guaranteed income which will start in 6 figures (usually over 100,000) for most of these professions. For film, you might start in the 25,000 range. Be sure you are willing to live on those numbers for a while if you choose this route.</p>

<p>Those with specialties in film (director of photography, directors, special effects etc) or a lot of talent will make more. A few will become very wealthy, but only a very few. BUT>>>> very important… this is NOT a way to get rich or even a guaranteed minimum salary for most people.</p>

<p>If you choose this road, you choose it for LOVE not money. And if you work hard and have talent, you should end up with some of both. </p>

<p>This is the argument for your parents: This is my dream, and I need to follow my passion.</p>

<p>One last thought to this very long post: I had a prior career, went all the way to get a PhD, then decided at that late stage to go back to school and get an MD. Did I ever regret that long path to where I am? No, I have a passion for what I do, and am glad I am in my field. So, just in case you chose wrong, you can always go back and try again. No avenue is ever closed unless you are not willing to take that turn.</p>

<p>You can explain that to your parents as well.</p>

8

<p>Well said Madded MD. I agree.</p>

<p>Cost of tuition: USC offers ½ off of tuition if you are a NMSF and list USC as first choice on the NMSF form. Cost is $58K - $21K = $37 K per year. I mention this because of your strong grades. </p>

<p>How to make movies: There are posts by Madded MD and others on how to do this and other things to try. Please check out other posts on cc. Buy a cheap recorder (your phone or a flip), get Filmmaking for Teens: Pulling Off Your Shorts, play around, make films. Also get Lights, Camera, Application to learn more about the film schools.</p>

<p>Applying to film schools: A surprising few number of film schools have a portfolio requirement. If you have not made many films and since your grades are high, this will probably work in your favor. Evaluation of talent and creativity is more subjective, so it makes it very difficult to know if you will be accepted at schools which evaluate a portfolio.</p>

<p>Jobs: Yes, a pharm, physician, lawyer will make over $100K when they start work. A film production major will get a job as a production assistant and make $25K per year. While the former jobs are steady, the film industry job may last only as long as the project lasts, so you may have to continually look for new jobs.</p>

<p>The direct path is boring: Tell your parents that you can major in film prod and minor or get the required pre-pharm classes at same time. You try to do the film gig for a while. If it does not pan out, then switch over to the pharm gig. The direct path is boring and it can always be changed. It’s easier to do film first and switch to pharm because it is harder to go from the higher wage to the lower wage (pharm to film). Actually, I know a lawyer who started writing scripts then wrote and directed a major hit feature where the actress won an Academy Award. Also there is Michael Crichton and actor Ken Jeong. So actually, I guess you could go either way: from film to pharm/med/law or pharm/med/law to film. You are never locked into one path as long as you have the guts and energy to make a career change.</p>

9

<p>Other comments: “Hard road”: The hard road for med/pharm etc is during school with all of the studying etc. The “Hard road” for film is while you are working, trying to keep finding jobs, make connections etc.</p>

<p>Cost for med school/pharm school (4 yr undergrad+ 4 yr grad school tuition) etc is higher than a film degree (4 year undergrad only).</p>

<p>Majors: film production major and pre-pharm requirements as elective courses!</p>

10

<p>I noticed most of you did not pursue a career in the film industry. Would it be possible to do a double major or at least take enough classes for pharmacy school in case the film gig does not work out? As far as I can see, I can really pursue any career I want in terms of ability to pass the classes.</p>

11

<p>You could probably do a double major, but not sure about pharmacy. Isn’t it a long program? 5 or 6 years?</p>

12

<p>Honestly this is crazy talk! Sure pursuing both is possible with a lot of hard work but why would you do it. You will end up sacrificing one or both fields in terms of time and energy. </p>

<p>Prereqs for pharm school are the same as for premed are they not? Super cut throat competitive reqs in physics, ochem, calculus, bio, general chem, etc along with all the other masses of premed students. Labs are long, extracurriculars necessary and the time commitment for classes doesn’t exactly allow to much for anything else. </p>

<p>Pursuing film is also a huge time commitment of shoots on weekends, crewing for fellow classmates, studying films, art, visiting museums, writing critical essays and not usually something you balance with electives in ochem. doable if you seriously want both, but imo not good as a “backup” as you will find one of your pursuits will end up with the short end of the stick. </p>

<p>If you are seriously passionate about getting into film you really want to be putting all your time and energy into it. If its your passion you will find your way into it, maybe not as a director but there are so many other jobs behind the scenes. </p>

<p>I’ve known too many Asians whose parents pushed them down the path of engineering, or med school. In the end they always find their way back to their true passion, whether it be art, writing, film, music or engineering. Just trying to save you the pain of wasted years and money ahead of time.</p>

13

<p>What’s wrong with taking an OChem class as an elective? </p>

<p>Based on the OPs high school grades, I would think that it is doable for the OP. Plus OP gets to do what OP wants (film) and appease parents until more infomation is gathered (by either OP or OP parents). </p>

<p>I know premed requirements, and they are probably similar to prepharm: 1 yr math, 1 yr physics, 1 yr bio, 1 yr chem, 1 yr ochem. Assuming semester school, this is 10 classes spread out over 4 years. Since OP may have APed out of some of them already, this may be 1 class per semester as an elective.</p>

<p>The classes are “cutthroat” because the biochem majors and molecular bio majors are trying to fit those classes in the first 2 yrs of school so they can finish their major or upper div classes in the last 2 yrs of school. Space it out over 4 yrs, and then as a senior, you are in a class with a bunch of freshmen and the class is easier for you.</p>

14

<p>@ Giveme reason:
If you are pre-pharm, if it is like med school, then you can major in ANYTHING, as long as you complete the pre-requisites for pharm school.<br>
Here is an example of the prereqs for pharm school at College of Pharm, U of Florida.
[Admission</a> Requirements College of Pharmacy](<a href=“http://www.cop.ufl.edu/education/student-affairs/admissions/admission-requirements/]Admission”>http://www.cop.ufl.edu/education/student-affairs/admissions/admission-requirements/)
Thus, you major in film and then for your undergrad electives, you take your pre-pharm requirements. So, yes, your electives may be Organic Chemistry instead of “The philosophy of happiness” (a class at USC - Madden MD!).<br>
If the film gig doesn’t work after a number of years, then you may have to take a refresher course or prep course for the Pharm admission test (PCAT according to website), and hey if you did the film thing for 5 years and it didn’t pan out, then you might have to retake some of the prepharm classes if you forgot it so much that the prep course isn’t enough for the PCAT.<br>
Even if you decided to apply straight to pharm school from undergrad, having a major like film will definitely make you stand out from the other Pharm school applicants. When art or art history majors apply to med school, the med schools are very interested. It makes the body of med school class more interesting than having a bunch of bio majors.</p>

<p>Also, don’t double major. Just take the pre-pharm requirements. Why would you want to add a second lame bio major when you could major in FILM! </p>

<p>My disclaimer is that most of my info is based on being an MD (physician) and not a pharmD, but I assume it’s similar, but I am not positive without doing extra research on the nuances of pharm school.</p>

15

<p>@ givemereason:
The prudent thing to say is that you should talk to the counselors at FSU film school and talk to some of the FSU students in the film prod major and get a sense if it is possible to take a elective class like OChem or Physics if you are taking a standard film prod load.</p>

16

<p>My son was just accepted to fsu film - beginning sophmore year, it is only film classes for 2 and 1/2 years straight including summers - no time for job or anything but film as you help work on everyone else’s films as well, not just your own and have to be available. Freshman year is to work on required classes that you don’t already get credit for thru AP or IB from H.S. and then whatever you don’t finish the first year, you have to wait and finish the last semester of your senior year when you are done with film.</p>

17

<p>No there’s nothing wrong with taking ochem as an elective but it works only if the OP is truly interested in that area even without any consideration for pharm school. Film is a very time consuming pursuit with plenty of work outside of class. It is a hard industry to get into and a passion and drive is required. A drive that shouldn’t be held back or gimped by a backup plan the OP isn’t even interested in. </p>

<p>If one is truly interested in pursuing film there are many aspects that need to be mastered that are not taught in class. A filmmaker needs something to say, a point if view, which is often found when taking the many liberal arts classes outside the film program.</p>

18

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<p>pumpkinking doesn’t have millions of posts, but the ones I’ve seen are gems. The advice is spot on and the quote above is so true.</p>

19

<p>FSU is probably the best bang for your buck when it coms to film school. You won’t be able to double major bc there is no time! It is a very rigorous program. You will be able to minor in something, though. The FSU alum are prepared for the industry, and are able to get jobs. </p>

<p>However, FSU is EXTREMELY hard to get into. I got into Emerson, Chapman, USC, NYU, SUNY Purchase (which is another film program with only about 20 kids per grade), but not FSU film. So if you’re interested in film, apply to other programs, and you can probably get scholarship, especially with those grades!</p>

<p>There is normally no reason to get your masters in film if you already went to film school for undergrad, so you should be finished with your education in 4 years (FSU is 3 1/2, but 2 1/2 years are devoted to the film school). Another option is to do your undergrad in another field and then get a masters in film. Lastly, if you really want to do film, but your parents won’t let you go to film school, there are a lot of people who think film school isn’t even necessary, and that its better to break into the industry by working on sets. </p>

<p>As for your parents, you can tell them that a film degree can be used for other careers bc essentially in film school you’re also learning about time and team management, budgeting, and writing. There are also some film programs that allow you to double major ( one example is Northwestern, but I’m sure there are others). And if anything, you can always go to law school :P</p>

<p>Here’s a list of other good film school (the rankings not all that important):
[The</a> 25 Best Film Schools Rankings - The Hollywood Reporter](<a href=“http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/25-best-film-schools-rankings-215714]The”>The 25 Best Film Schools Rankings – The Hollywood Reporter)</p>

<p>Good luck! Though pretty different than medical or law school (as far as stability and certainty goes), film school, like in a lot of other cases, is what you put in!</p>