<p>I have my own notions However .</p>
<p>Id like to see what you others think.</p>
<p>Come on; lets list em!</p>
<p>USC for sure.</p>
<p>i dont know about top ten, but people in film and hollywood always talk about the "Big Four"... UCLA, USC, NYU and Columbia ( i think columbia, i could be wrong about that four, i know that its four and that 3 of em are UCLA, USC and NYU...
george lucas went to USC, the Olsen twins go to NYU, just remember that spieldberg didn't get accepted to any of them (so if you dont get in, that means your a total failure and could never make a good movie</p>
<p>USC and Tisch(Nyu)</p>
<p>Los Angeles School of Film.</p>
<p>I heard Savannah College of Art & Design was up there but I'm not sure if there is any validity to this.</p>
<p>I'd say UCLA, USC, NYU</p>
<p>From anecdotal evidence, I agree with the top 3 - 4 that people keep mentioning. but since OP asked for top 10, let me suggest a couple of others (not sure, but perhaps others in the know will confirm or correct):
U of Michigan
Florida State
Boston University
Penn State</p>
<p>From the old CC archive:</p>
<p>"I highly recommend that you obtain the following 2 books, which give excellent information on the pros and cons of a film education: </p>
<p>Film School Confidential, by Karen Kelly and Tom Edgar. The focus is on graduate schools, but the introduction reveals a great deal about a film degree and the film industry. </p>
<p>The Complete Guide to American Film Schools and Cinema and Television Courses, by Ernest Pintoff. Here you will find a listing of all colleges that offer some kind of film program. In addition, in between each state chapter there is an essay by someone in the film industry, giving their takes on the industry and the training and background required (or not required). </p>
<p>Both books are available through Amazon."</p>
<p>There were quite a few discussions about film school on the old CC. You might want to do a message search and read them. There's also a current discussion of film schools under College Majors - Arts Majors where this thread really belongs :)</p>
<p>I would add C of Santa Fe, Chapman and FSU, in addition to the standards (NYU,UCLA, USC, Penn State). Also one of the SUNY schools is supposed to be really good.</p>
<p>There are very few amazing programs. Not more than 4 or 5. Definitely Columbia, NYU, UCLA, USC. Maybe Northwestern. Then you have some good but not amazing programs. Like Wesleyan, Michigan, UT-Austin and Florida State. </p>
<p>So, if I had to rank them, I would say:</p>
<h1>1 NYU, UCLA and USC</h1>
<p>significant drop</p>
<h1>4 Columbia</h1>
<h1>5 Northwestern</h1>
<p>significant drop</p>
<h1>6 UT-Austin</h1>
<h1>7 Florida State</h1>
<h1>8 Michigan</h1>
<h1>9 Wesleyan.</h1>
<p>I know I am missing many good programs. I am not that knowledgeable about film schools.</p>
<p>Columbia? As an undergraduate its almost impossible to get into any production courses before junior year. Even then, undergrads are restricted from top levels...On the other hand, the graduate program is increible, however I don't think this translates to undergrads because of the nature of film school. Their cinema studies are excellent though (still pyschoanalytic though...which is almost archaic). </p>
<p>For me, I'm looking for the perfect balance between production and theory. There are excellent workshops out their that will teach anyone how to operate arri's on 16mm or 35mm...but, I'm more interested in storytelling side of film. So here are my favorites: </p>
<p>1 NYU (Tisch) /USC (CNTV)
3 Harvard
4 Northwestern-School of Comm.
5 Wesleyan
6 U of M (where I'm currently taking two film classes as a dual enrolled high schooler)
7 Yale
8 UT-Austin
9 Art Institute of Chicago</p>
<p>Ohio U, North Carolina School for the Arts, Emerson, Ithaca. For undergrad, I wouldn't put Columbia on the list. UCLA's program is small and doesn't really start until your junior year.</p>
<p>Rochester Institute of Technology has a film/animation program. They are a little off the beaten path (Rochester, NY is not LA or NYC) but they are part of one of the three best schools of photography in the country. I don't know for sure, but I imagine they receive some support from hometown company Eastman Kodak. They also have the advantage of one of the best historical film collections in the world at the George Eastman Museum of Photography. There is a film series at the museum, they have a gala award ceremony every year for some accomplished filmmaker/actor (they actually come to Rochester for it) and a summer film festival for new work at local theaters. I think they are strong in film restoration and preservation. Several students have won national awards for their filmmaking work.</p>
<p>I've posted here before about Northwestern's Film/Radio/TV program for undergrads in its Communications School. I guess NW ranks below
USC, UCLA (I believe you apply to enter the major as a sophomore), and
Tisch. Northwestern offers a combination of liberal arts courses together with film theory, history and production. My S is a student there and just completed a 3 month internship in LA; this was run by the school. He found his own summer internship in NYC last year. In addition, the NW film students often have theatre kids act in their films and the drama kids have the film students help with sound, lighting, etc. for their plays. It's been a wonderful experience for my S and his friends.</p>
<p>Northwestern has really coming along, however they shoot mostly on miniDV and HD...only three or four film class (please correct me if I'm wrong). One reason I like usc, nyu, harvard more, is their emphasis on 16mm (and even 35mm at usc). I've done a lot of HD/DVcam/MiniDV stuff and am ready to move until real film.</p>
<p>Safiamilke -- I think you're right about Northwestern having only a few classes that shoot on film. I thought my son told me more schools are moving that way. What about professionals?</p>
<p>A few others not yet mentioned:
California College of the Arts
Loyola Marymount College (Calif)
Chapman University (Calif.)
Emerson (Boston)
The College of Santa Fe
Ithaca College
SUNY Purchase
Florida State
University of Pittsburg
Boston U
Syracuse U</p>
<p>Its so much easier and cheaper to shoot on video, it makes little sense for small assignments to be shot on 16mm. However, for shorts and screenplay calling cards, it is an advantage for the filmmaker. No matter how good HD is, nothing at this point can subsitute for the look and film of real film (and the hassles!). </p>
<p>And, you're right that most schools are moving towards video. Thats not really the way I want to go...</p>
<p>Safiamilke -- Good luck finding a program to match your needs. I know someone who finished Harvard's Visual Arts Film program a few years ago. She now is in a Film Studies PhD program. Is Harvard's emphasis on Film Studies? I know Penn now offers Cinema Studies as a major
(previously it was a minor only); Penn also has a few production courses.</p>
<p>A friend of mine is going into film and he is going to Northwestern next year which is supposed to be an astounding program
He also mentioned interest in NYU and USC</p>