Summer Programs for Film

<p>My S went to Northwestern's summer Film NHSI program and loved it. He also graduated Northwestern with Radio/TV/Film as his major. Friend's daughter went to the Theatre
NHSI program and now is a senior at Northwestern. She has had a tremendous experience and has been accepted for the NYC Showcase in the spring.</p>

<p>3boys --</p>

<p>Did you on feel that going to the Northwestern summer film program helped his chances to get in? Were the faculty the same? The theater faculty was a bit different but the admissions people allegedly came to the shows they put on at the end of the program. Also, D got recommendations from the summer people so that helped. Was it the same for film?</p>

<p>Yes, I think the NW summer film program helped my son get in. A summer staff person wrote him a recommendation. However, only a few of the summer staff were on the regular NW faculty. The summer program was my son's intro to Film although he had taken some music recording courses locally while in high school. He is now looking for work in NYC but finds the Alumni network in NYC is not nearly as strong as the Theatre Alumni network. NYU Tisch was not his first choice as the high school media star has his sights set there.</p>

<p>3boys -
Of the 100 theater kids admitted last year, at least 20 were from the NHSI summer program. Was it the same for film? Did you S like the film program there? Its on my S's list</p>

<p>Some summer NHSI Film kids from my son's program were accepted to Northwestern in the fall but I do not know exact numbers. My S was accepted ED to Northwestern and liked the Film program. He also enjoyed taking some liberal arts classes. He liked the fact that Theatre kids acted in many of his student films plus he worked on some of their plays. He did a quarterly internship in LA; he liked the internship but it would've served him -- and others -- better if internships were in the senior not junior year. I don't know how strong the Film internship program is at the current time. Plus the Alumni network is there but not particularly helpful. Syracuse's Newhouse Radio/TV Career Services office was awesome (a few years ago). But my son wanted Film -- and at Northwestern. Good luck to your S.</p>

<p>Last summer I went to the RISD Pre-College program for Film/Video. I had the most PHENOMENAL time. Not only does RISD provide instruction in Film/Video, but you get a grounding in the arts world with foundations drawing, design, and art history, which were truly invaluable. They somewhat skew the foundations to better accompany your major: for example, the design program was mostly about aesthetics in film. Honestly, I didn't get along well with the Video teacher--but even with that you get access to great equipment and the backdrop of Providence to shoot in. RISD's program is similar to Emerson's in that you take classes from 9-4, one hour lunch break, with art history day being short (only 2 hours), and weekends off to enjoy providence. It's a 6 week long program that is thousands less expensive then NYU's summer program and is truly an invaluable experience. </p>

<p>Hope that was helpful.
link: RISD</a> : Rhode Island School of Design : PRE-COLLEGE</p>

<p>North Carolina School of the Arts. My son went there for two summers. A great experience.</p>

<p>My son is now a JR in HS .... went last year to NC school of the arts summer film program and loved it and would like to go back ...but I wonder if anybody had any other recommendations for summer programs that would complement what he did at NCSA. He is also trying to figure out where to go for undergrad. Hearing about others' experiences very helpful.</p>

<p>Know that school alone will NOT get anyone a job in the TV/Film business. An aspiring filmmaker must put in the work to develop and build his career. Nobody will care about the diploma. It's all about the work he can produce and the people he knows.</p>

<p>That said, no one can tell you what school is best for you. That's something only you can decide by knowing what it is you really want to do and finding the schools that offer curriculum to match. Once you've narrowed the choices down, contact each school and ask very specific questions about what they will offer in terms of curriculum that will help you learn what you want to know. BUT, you don't need school to learn most of these things.</p>

<p>If someone wishes to be a Screenwriter or Director, what you SHOULD do is begin writing on your own. At some point you should make a short film that will illustrate your ability to direct. It will be the combination of these writing samples and the short film(s) and your personality that will open up doors to directing commercials, features, and/or television programs.</p>

<p>The film/TV business is an art, but it is also a business. It costs a tremendous amount of money to create even the most modest of productions. For a successful career, you have to illustrate to investors that you will be an asset whose work will ensure a profit.</p>

<p>Thousands of aspiring filmmakers graduate from the 700+ worldwide filmschools every year and only a scant percentage of them are able to claim that the film industry provides them with their primary income. And only a very small percentage of those ever get to direct a film. And only scant few of those get to direct more than one movie in their life. So the odds are extremely small that an aspiring Director will get to do this for a living. Not impossible, but definitely very difficult.</p>

<p>You must be sure that your scripts are as good as they can be. Then, you must work to get them noticed by an established and reputable agent. Most professional Producers and studios will NOT even consider looking at unsolicited material. It MUST be submitted by an Agent. That affords the studio/Producer a measure of legal protection and it gives you a level of credibility (that someone else has recognized your talent).</p>

<p>So, if you wish to be a Writer and/or Director, you should start writing today. Don't wait for school. To get started, there are a couple of resources that I HIGHLY recommend you read. They are listed below.</p>

<p>If you do choose to go to filmschool, find one that offers the classes that will help you learn the skills that you need the most. </p>

<p>Research the schools and then contact them with questions regarding your specific situation. If possible, contact alumni to find out what they thought of their education.</p>

<p>If you wish to work as a crew member in one of the crafts, such as camera or editing, school isn't really necessary. What is more important is that you get out into the working world to experience production directly. You'll be learning on the job plus you'll be meeting working professionals. The industry works almost exclusively on a word-of-mouth basis, so it is all about who you know and who knows you and what you can do. No one will care what school you went to or what you studied. It just doesn't matter. What matters is that you know what you're doing, that you are a pleasant person to work with, and that you meet people who will see the value in having you around.</p>

<p>..Countless number of books and websites that may be able to help you. Here are just a few to get you started!</p>

<p>Film Scriptwriting, Second Edition: A Practical Manual, by Dwight V Swain</p>

<p>The Movie Producer: A Handbook for Producing and Picture-Making, by Paul N. Lazarus</p>

<p>
[quote]
No one will care what school you went to or what you studied.

[/quote]

I know that's true, but one thing film school does is give you the opportunity to meet and work for people who are in the business. That way at least you have the opportunity for them to find you valuable and potentially hire you when you graduate. My son is a film student at Chapman, and they have really good opportunities for internships there. I'm sure it's like that at most other film schools, too.</p>

<p>It seems like many of the films that win awards at prestigious film festivals are those produced by graduates of university film schools, but I don't know of any numbers on that. Of course there are always success stories like the screenwriter for Juno, who had no formal training.</p>

<p>The thing I like for our son about him being a film major, is that he is getting a college degree. He will be employable even if things don't work out as he hopes in the film industry.</p>

<p>SOME filmschools give the opportunity to work with professionals in the business, but not all. What's really important to understand about the film industry is that degrees don't matter. What truly matters is who you know, who knows you, and what it is you can do. It's really that simple. Not a single person will ever ask your son where he went to school or ask to see his degree. If they do, it still won't really matter. Word of mouth recommendations are how this industry works.</p>

<p>Saying that, you are 100% correct in saying that a degree IS important. While it isn't necessary for an aspiring filmmaker to have a college degree, the University experience will provide your son skills that he will use in his pursuit of a film career.</p>

<p>If your son is interested in Directing and/or Screenwriting, learning the "language" of film is definitely important so SOME film classes will be valuable. BUT, he will be far better off as a storyteller if he has a background in subjects like Literature, History, Political Science or anything else apart from film. A "Film degree" is essentially useless. The skills he will learn about the physical process can be learned in other ways that cost so much less than most filmschools. </p>

<p>So, as you consider that he will be "employable" with a degree, he will benefit much more if he has a solid background in finance and business than with a film degree. By all means, he should take film classes, but the major itself shouldn't be film. The problem with most filmschools is that they teach a bit of process but ignore the realities of what life is really like and how to build a viable career. It is important to know the mechanics of how a film is made... but if an aspiring filmmaker can't sustain a viable living, then all that film theory might as well not exist. </p>

<p>What filmschool can offer is access to equipment and some professionals, if he attends the very few schools that offer that kind of access. You'll find those primarily in Los Angeles and New York City, although there are excellent programs in North Carolina and Florida too. </p>

<p>If he is serious about wanting a career in the film industry, he needs to begin learning on his own (starting with some of the links I've provided) and then begin writing (if he is a writer) or directing short films. It is all about what he HAS DONE and who knows about it that matters most. Not the degree.</p>

<p>There is a book. I presume the poster is also the author of this guide.</p>

<p>What I Really Want to Do On Set in Hollywood: A Guide to Real Jobs in the Film Industry by Brian Dzyak</p>

<p>I operate a wonderful program at Sarah Lawrence College that focuses on storytelling as the way of making good films. Every student makes a 5-10 minute film, very good overall. Also, the faculty is top notch! The program is a 5 week deal and the students can stay on campus. checkout their site at The</a> International Film Institute of New York. You can also go directly to <a href="Http://www.slc.edu%5B/url%5D"&gt;Http://www.slc.edu&lt;/a>. I am the Director of the program and can attest to the quality of what we do.</p>

<p>UCLA two week film camp</p>

<p>Has anyone heard anything about this film camp? It is through US Performing Arts Camps but is on the UCLA campus and apparently uses UCLA film professors as lecturers.</p>

<p>Does anyone know of any that a graduating senior could do?
I know NYU's is only for sophomores/juniors. I am graduating this year, I already applied to college, but I wanted to do a program (maybe a shorter one?) to see if film is something I'd really be interested in, since I have NO experience and I'm going to have to declare my major after freshman year at any of the art schools I applied to.</p>

<p>Hello,
My high school aged daughter is interested in going to summer film camp in 2010. She has taken classes in video production at her HS, has collaborated on 6 films or so and wants to learn more. She applied to NYU Tisch, but unfortunately, got waitlisted. For plan B, would like to know any opinions on other film schools below. We would love to go to USC, but found the $10400 + boarding price tag a bit too steep. We live in Los Angeles, and would prefer a school in SoCal to offset travel costs, but willing to board.</p>

<p>Any thoughts on:
SOCAPA at Occidental College: looks like they do NOT have the advanced class in Los Angeles
UCLA Summer Arts Camp <a href=“http://legacy.tft.ucla.edu/artscamp/clas…[/url]”>http://legacy.tft.ucla.edu/artscamp/clas&#8230;&lt;/a&gt;
same as US Performing Arts at UCLA
NYFA
Columbia College Hollywood</p>

<p>Any other programs in SoCal worth looking at?</p>

<p>(can’t do Innerspark:missed deadline for this year ><)</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for any advice!!</p>

<p>It’s not in SoCal, but my daughter attended Emerson’s summer film program (in Boston) last year.</p>

<p>I can provide more info if you are interested.</p>

<p>For the graduating senior, USC offers film school classes as part of their regular summer school program. I think that anyone over 16 can enroll in those classes for college credit. The kicker is that these classes are extremely expensive, a la college tuition for however many units. You might want to make absolutely certain that the units will transfer to whatever college you’re going to attend.</p>

<p>If you are looking for a great summer filmmaking course in New York check out the reviews for the International Film Institute of New York:</p>

<p>[Int</a>. Film Institute of New York Reviews | Studentfilms.com - Film School and Filmmaking Forum](<a href=“http://www.studentfilms.com/threads/int-film-institute-of-new-york-reviews.20278/]Int”>http://www.studentfilms.com/threads/int-film-institute-of-new-york-reviews.20278/)</p>

<p>My son attended SOCAPA in New York City last summer and due very much to SOCAPA will be attending NYU Film School starting in the fall. He went to SOCAPA with some interest in the movies but with no real experience. He came home after three weeks with a love of film, the desire to make it his life’s work, and an 8-minute film that became the basis of his NYU application. </p>

<p>His high school does have a film program, but they were unable to get the kids to produce in four years what SOCAPA was able to do in three weeks. Needless to say, his film teacher was really impressed by the SOCAPA film program. His grades and scores did not make him a shoo-in for NYU, so we have to believe his film was an essential part of his application.</p>