<p>Hi everyone! I'm new here.
I'm a high school sophmore, and began the college search a few months back. I've been acting ever since I was about six years old, and I know that it's what I want to major in. I'm very interested in film acting as opposed to theatre, and I know that many college's acting majors are more theatre-oriented. I was hoping that maybe people would have suggestions for schools with strong, reputable film-acting programs? My other interests are directing/film production, advertising, and psychology.</p>
<p>My top (dream!) schools right now are:</p>
<p>University of Southern California
Emerson
UCLA
Ithaca
Cornell
NYU</p>
<p>Any and all help or advice is greatly appreciated! Thank you!</p>
<p>Oh! In case it matters, I currently have a 3.75 GPA, haven't taken the SAT's since they changed (took them in 7th and 8th grade as part of the Johns Hopkins Talent Search, and scored decently) and next year i'll be taking 3 AP courses, 2 Honors, and a Drama Major. </p>
<p>I've also been a Screen Actor's Guild member for the past 8 or so years.</p>
<p>While I don't know any reputable acting programs that teach exclusively film acting...USC, CalArts, Tisch @ NYU, and Purchase have a lot of opportunities for students to work on film acting and on other collaborations with their film schools.
CalArts in particular has a program called Flixus where you can opt to work on several films instead of plays each semester. I believe this is available every semester. Actors can not only act in the films but also take part in the creative process. There was an actor-director duo I met there who were planning on starting their own production company together.</p>
<p>Yes I would definitely look at CalArts...not to mention its location is relatively close to LA, so there are many film connections to be made...The school is very small and does not advertise itself much, but it is one of the top acting schools in the country...Ed Harris, Don Cheadle, as well as a lot of filmmakers (Tim Burton I believe) went there.
Oh and I love Tennessee Williams too btw... :)</p>
<p>do you plan on working while going to school? (and by work i mean booking jobs) if that's the case, cross UCLA off your list-they will not let you work professionally until you are done with the theatre program. that was one reason why i did not audition at UCLA because i talked to them when i was in their summer acting institute and was investigating colleges for freshman entry (i have a very similar background to you!) and in fact i graduated HS early, went to a CCC at 17 and will now transfer to USC this fall due to flexibility issues with work (i actually was accepted to a non-acting major even though i applied to the theatre school in second position and will pursue a musical theatre minor in addition to a major in french). a few friends of mine who book a lot who were in the UCLA program were basically told to choose between the major and professional work.</p>
<p>USC's theatre school is quite flexible, and i know they offer acting for film/television courses. if you are definitely going to be working, the BA program is a lot more flexible in that you can take professional leave whenever necessary. the BFA program requires you to not work your freshman and sophomore years, but you can take professional leave when necessary during junior/senior year, but you have to maintain a B- average (the BA program just tells you to maintain passing grades.)</p>
<p>ksbr27- thank you so much for that info! I had no idea, and it's important to me that I have the option of working while in school.</p>
<p>timley- Thanks, I had never thought Chapman before. Although it seems like you have to first be admitted to the school and the theatre department, and then try to be admitted to that program? I'll look into it!</p>
<p>you are very welcome! the ability and flexibility to work while attending college has been a big aspect of my whole college selection process, so i'm glad to be able to help out another fellow young actor :)</p>
<p>My daughter is a spring admit to USC in acting. Several of her agent's client's attend SC and the audition/work situation does seem to work itself out.</p>
<p>If you look around the screen acting world at people who are very successful, they tend to come to that success from two directions: either they are very good looking, well-connected, and lucky people who got some decent breaks, OR they are well-trained actors.</p>
<p>If you want to be a good actor, even on screen, your goal should be to attend a top tier acting program, and top tier acting programs teach theater. Are there different skill sets required for theater acting versus film? Of course. However, going through a rigorous classical training program will give you all the tools you need to do film work. Typically, it's just a matter of learning the technical tricks of the trade on film. And many high level theater schools (mine included), offer acting for the camera courses in the 3rd or 4th years.</p>
<p>Also, no training program worth its salt is going to be wild about the idea of you leaving your classes for 2 or 3 months at a time to shoot a film, or even about you skipping class to go to auditions. </p>
<p>Acting is a life-long profession. You don't retire. You need skills to work for the rest of your life, just like anyone who learns a trade. Take four years away from your professional endevours to go to college, get some training, and be 10 times the actor you'd be otherwise.</p>
<p>My suggestions:
Juilliard
NCSA
CMU
Minnesota/Guthrie
Boston U
USC
Rutgers</p>
<p>Actually, CalArts has an exchange program with Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama...don't rule that out! </p>
<p>Our son is halfway through his three year BA Acting program at Royal Scottish Academy and LOVES it! He attended Interlochen Arts Academy and auditioned there. His acceptance came before many of his American schools (CMU, waitlisted). He has been very impressed with the training in accents, voice, singing, dance, microphone work, performance (stage), camera, fencing, movement, etc. He has found the program to be enriched by guest artists from London (Nadine George) and France (Francois LeCoq-LeCoq School) as well as master classes (Richard Attenbourgh, James McEvoy, Robbie Coltrane-Comedian & played Hagrid in the Harry Potter series). There are usually only 5 Americans accepted yearly and each class of 20-24 students are from all ages (many UK students attend other specialized acting program to qualify for acceptance). RSAMD acting program takes a mix of International students and builds on their existing skill level, rather than "molding or remaking them" into their image, unlike typical four year acting programs in the US, which our son is learning from his former classmates at Interlochen. Glasgow has put a lot of money into the ARTS with museums, art galleries and five major theatres. There are 5 universities in the city and numerous film students from RSAMD and Glasgow University audition Royal Scottish actors for their media work. He knew of no limit to the number of times a student could audition, In fact, he has a classmate who auditioned 5 times and is now in a BBC series coming out this year.</p>
<p>Interesting thread. Do you think USC’s program is better than Chapman’s new program? So, you can’t apply as a freshman. Is this something that’s just the last two years of the program? Ty</p>