Hi there!
This would be the third discussion I’ll post for the day. I new you see and so far I’m liking what I have encountered in the forums.
Anyways, I want to hear some suggestions about prepping up for film school. So far, what I have in mind is taking an internship abroad before I apply to colleges, so I’d have the experience also the insights on how broad the industry is.
I don’t really have a specific college in mind but if you could suggest I’d also be glad to take it into considerations. I’m also open to studying abroad (just to let you know). My sister has applied in a program to study Business abroad which is why my parents ate truly supportive about me taking an internship.
What is your GPA, test scores, and your financial constraints for college? ie: how much can your parents afford to pay per year? That’s the place to start, re: film school.
Unless you are related to someone who works in Hollywood, you’re not going to find an internship, let alone one abroad, working on a film with no experience. Most internships are connected to school programs, ie: you must be enrolled in college to get them. You need to get into a school and then network internship opportunities (and job connections) from there. Have you made any short films/films for fun? Really that’s the best place to start, for any schools who accept portfolios/supplements with the application.
@proudterrier My GPA stands in a good 3.21 as for the financials, well both my parents are very open to sending us overseas for studies if that’s enough as a reference?
So your basically saying that I need to enter college first before taking up an internship?
Here are The Hollywood Reporter’s current list of the top 25 film schools: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/best-film-schools-2015-top-828483. Your GPA is a bit low for a lot of them (housed at competitive elite schools) and most of them are expensive, but regardless–peruse the list and look for schools that match your academics (GPA + test scores) as well as what you can afford. Going to a well-connected film school is the best way to get networked for industry jobs.
Actually, 3.21 UW opens more doors than the aforementioned 3.0. DS had 3.22 UW and 35 act and got accepted (with portfolio) to Syracuse, LMU, Chapman, Cal state north ridge, but in animation, not film prod.
For summer programs in film production, there are a ton of them. Some include Univs, arts colleges, private for-profit entities, etc.
Here’s a partial list:
nYU Tisch
USC
Chapman
Many traditional universities (can’t remember in northwestern has one)
Scad
sVA
Probably most arts colleges
Us performing arts with classes at UCLA
Interlochen
nY film academy
Socapa
Digital media academy
Id tech camp
The most competitive one is Tisch. The most expensive one is USC. I know 2 people who did Usc and they both got accepted to Tisch for college (1 for film prod, 1fot interactive games).
As for internships, most have disappeared after the swan lake lawsuit, even though the ruling got reversed in appeal or federal court (not positive which one). there a few internships and a ton of people want them so basically you need connections or networks to land them. Dd has had many, but she made the connections through HS (we live in LA) or college. I’ve heard of some experiences, like summer film programs, where you pay to attend and you make your films in Europe or Asia.
Oops, I was confusing your gpa with another poster.
With 3.21 your options would be
NYU – high reach maybe?
Syracuse, LMU, Chapman
Maybe BU?
Cal state university north ridge
Don’t know the gpa requirements for Emerson, Fsu or ucf.
Don’t know the gpa or portfolio requirements for the arts colleges.
@YoHoYoHo@proudterrier thanks for all the info! I appreciate it a lot especially the honesty. I didn’t know a 3.21 GPA is still low for film studies. Would it be wise then to try and apply for study abroad programs?
Do you want to major in film studies or film production? Film studies is watching and discussing films. Film production is making films. As for the gpa, it might be just fine for arts colleges. My kids didn’t apply to arts colleges so I don’t know their gpa requirements. There are lots of film prod programs that are not on the top 25 list that a 3.21 is just fine for. DePaul would work easily.
That’s a tough question there. That one I don’t particularly know but would you know if there’s a course that offers all those in one? Even study abroad would be fine. I’ll be looking for it as well @YoHoYoHo
@ready100,
Film studies major will have some production classes. Film production majors will have some studies classes. So you will be exposed to both for either major. It’s usually much easier to get accepted to film studies than to film production because more people want production and also probably because production is limited by the amount of equipment for the kids (cameras, sound studios, etc). The stickied link at the top to this forum lists all of the film studies programs. An example: Usc has both film prod and film studies (called critical studies) majors.
@YoHoYoHo thanks for all the info. I think Film studies is something for the nerdy film enthusiast (critiques and the likes of them?) and production are the hardcore ones did I get that right? I think I might prefer studies more. Athough Production seems more exciting still. I can feel the college pressure already.
Though I’d still want to have an experience in any of it abroad or something
@YoHoYoHo thanks for all the info. I think Film studies is something for the nerdy film enthusiast (critiques and the likes of them?) and production are the hardcore ones did I get that right? I think I might prefer studies more. Athough Production seems more exciting still. I can feel the college pressure already.
Though I’d still want to have an experience in any of it abroad or something
My son is applying to film schools right now. He has concentrated on more hands-on, smaller programs not in big universities. He is applying to MICA, Pratt, Columbia College of Chicago, Emerson, SCAD, Cal Arts, Lesley, MassArt, Champlain. He did two summer programs which I would highly recommend, BU’s Academy of Media Production (AMP), and SOCAPA in Vermont. He did intensive filmmaking at both. It also gave him a good idea of what kind of college program he wanted. Good luck!!
@BostonMomof3 - I totally agree with the “more hands-on… programs” approach. Many programs start making films right away. I suggest to your son that he realize that film is one of the most collaborative of arts and he should involve himself with as many student productions as possible in a variety of roles. Those colleagues and upperclassmen/women will be his network when he graduates. Also have him look for and participate in as many competitions as possible, especially time-crunch ones (“24-Hour Shootout”-type things) which will really hone the production skills. Finally, plan to make a mark. In Junior/Senior year, go fro broke with an independent production which will bring attention to himself in festivals, screenings, etc. That will go a long way towards getting recognition.
