Is it stupid to only pick schools in CA if I want to go into film?

College Search & Selection
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<p>Hey everyone. So, I'm a junior currently and looking at colleges, much to my own dismay. I know I want to go into the film industry, don't know quite where yet though (producing/directing, writing, animating, etc), or maybe I'll go into the video game industry. So somewhere along the lines of electronic media.</p>

<p>Because of this, when I made my newest list (and boy has my list changes over the years), I made all of my schools with the exception of one be in California. But upon looking back, is this really a smart choice? I guess I kind of assumed EVERY school in California would have ties of sorts to various film companies and studios.</p>

<p>Chapman (Dodge)
Occidental
LMU LA
Pitzer
Pomona
CMC
SCU
University of San Francisco
Pepperdine
UW Seattle
USC</p>

<p>I live in Washington, and UW is our flagship school, so my parents are making me apply. But I know that USC has an amazing cinematic arts program, so that probably won't leave my list. Chapman also has a well renown program, so that won't be going anywhere.</p>

<p>It's the others I'm a bit iffy about
Pitzer/CMC/Pomona all have a 5C "film studies" program, but 1) I can't really find any notable film alumni, and 2) I don't know if that major is more of a critical analysis, or if they do learn production and writing and the such. But I know all three are well known in CA.</p>

<p>Occidental: They are in a good location, and I did see that they have some great internships at movie studios. But I can't really pick up on their alumni.</p>

<p>Pepperdine: Kind of a blacksheet on my list, but can't argue with results. They are a sponsor of the LA film festival. Other than that, good location....etc.</p>

<p>LMU LA: Supposed to have a top notch film program, right on the beach, seems pretty easy to get into, etc. They also seem to have a good alumni base. And a jesuit education cannot be called bad regardless of rank...these are people who value education.</p>

<p>SCU: Another jesuit school. Decent location, near lots of companies but only a handful of film companies (Pixar, Dreamworks, lucasarts, etc). Pretty easy to get into I think. Can't really find well developed alumni.</p>

<p>USF: Seems to have virtually no film alumni.....ya. But kind of same situation as SCU.</p>

<p>California seemed like the only place to go to college for this, because with the exception of NBC Universal and New Line Cinema (which isn't really major) are located in NYC. So I figured if I wasn't in California I really wouldn't have an opportunity to get internships and jobs and the such. </p>

<p>So, with this said, cany anyone help me out to pick some schools that could help me cultivate a future in film? I don't really want to apply to any pure film school like CalArts, because I wouldn't be able to pursue Japanese there.</p>

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<p>It’s not stupid at all if you have a chance in admissions and if California is where you want to be because you have to remember there are schools in New York that cater to your interests also.</p>

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<p>It’s not so much an issue of admissions. But rather does being located in California automatically mean a better chance of having connections into Hollywood?</p>

<p>I’ve heard Ithaca College has a world renown film program, but obviously it’s in the middle of nowhere New York, not even NYC.</p>

<p>Also I’ve heard Wesleyan Collgee in connecticut has alot of close alumni in Hollywood, the “Wesleyan film gang” I believe?</p>

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<p>^^^ Wesleyan University, and it’s the “Wesleyan Film Mafia” :)</p>

<p>As a Wes film major, I know plenty of people who went to LA to et internships over the summer, and more who got internships in NYC. </p>

<p>If you really want to work in Hollywood (not the only option for film BTW), then going to a good film school in LA will make things somewhat easier (you can get internships during the school year too, for instance). But I think a place like Wes or Ithaca will serve you better than a random school in Cali that doesn’t have a well-known film program, such as Pomona. </p>

<p>(That’s not to say you couldn’t make it work from a place like Pomona, but, IMO, that just being in Cali doesn’t give you as much of an advantage as having a well known program outside of Cali).</p>

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<p>lol thanks. I really wasn’t trying to be cute with synonyms…I honestly thought it was college/mafia, hahaha. Can you tell me where those people got internships, a couple of names per city?</p>

<p>And ya, I know hollywood isn’t the only option for film. But I want to be a part of the film industry (mostly california), maybe some television (more cartoon-stuff for TV though :), or less likely the video game industry (spread all over). But ok, I’ll take that all into consideration. Pomona College is a great college indeed, but I guess without a super amazing film program (and I don’t even know how much of it is actual production), it’d be better to fly the coup.</p>

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<p><a href=“and%20I%20don’t%20even%20know%20how%20much%20of%20it%20is%20actual%20production”>quote</a>, it’d be better to fly the coup.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>[cough] was that a reference to sagehens? :o</p>

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<p>I have always heard the two best film schools are the ones at USC and NYU. It seems as if everyone who wants to be a director or something makes one or the other their top choice.</p>

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<p>the creator of gumby went to pomona ;)</p>

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<p>as did one of the major writers/founders of star trek</p>

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<p>Hmm…try some New York schools as well? Like NYU…big on film also.</p>

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<p>If you’re serious about film, then go somewhere where film is done, where you’ll meet people in the industry that don’t teach in your school, and people who teach in your school who consult in the film industry. Go to a school where the passion for film is everywhere around you</p>

<p>If you’ve got the talent, the grades and the passion then it’s mostly going on in LA – at least moreso than elsewhere. And not all California schools are deeply involved with the film industry, or really have the depth of connections. But two are: USC and UCLA.</p>

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<p>You could look into Yale and NYU Tisch also… they both have amazing arts and performances departments.</p>

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<p>What about Columbia in Chicago for film? Is that a good school or not? I’ve done a little bit of research, but not a lot.</p>

<p>Also, what are some other good film schools outside of LA?</p>

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<p>Excuse me, outside of California.</p>

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<p>USC has an amazing program, but I hear it’s harder to get into than Harvard. Chapman also has an unbelievable program, but that’s difficult to get into as well. I’m kind of in the same boat as you, I want to be a film major and I think that California is the best place to be for film, too. I live in California though, so I’m kind of wanting to get out of the state for a little bit.</p>

<p>I’d definitely look into NYU and Wesleyan, among others. Living on the other side of the country doesn’t necessarily mean you will be less successful although the connections you can make in California could prove invaluable. I’d apply to the schools you’re interested in despite where they are in the country. Good luck :)</p>

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<p>Be sure to mention this the next time you see another “Berkeley is more prestigious than the Claremonts” post. Don’t hide your light under a bushel, Pomona people.</p>

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<p>bump bump bump</p>

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<p>I wondered if someone could explain the difference between say the Film studies program at UCSB and the Film program at say CSU Long Beach.</p>

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<p>Long Beach is more production-based. UCSB is film studies-based. Question is do you want to make movies in undergrad, or do you want to read about them and critique?</p>

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<p>Northwestern also has a Radio / Television / Film department…</p>

<p>[Radio</a>, Television + Film - Home, School of Communication, Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/departments/rtf/]Radio”>http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/departments/rtf/)</p>