<p>Is it safe to assume that if a school is good in "film" that it is good in all areas of film--specifically screenwriting? If it's not, does anyone here know any schools that are known for screenwriting? I know USC has a specific major for it, but any others?</p>
<p>It appears that FSU has a graduate program in writing - a 'writing slot'. </p>
<p>This is a partial response from FSU on the number of slots they have per year:</p>
<p>'We have 25 freshman slots, 5 transfer slots in the BFA program, and 24 production slots and 6 writing slots in the MFA program.'</p>
<p>As to number of apps, here's the response:</p>
<p>'We receive over 500 for the BFA program.'</p>
<p>I cannot reconcile any differences and am not trying to - this is what they emailed to me when I asked. The Assistant to the BFA Directors is the one who responded.</p>
<p>what about Notre Dame? does anyone know if their film and television program is any good?</p>
<p>UW Milwaukee is supposed to be very good for film</p>
<p>
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UW Milwaukee is supposed to be very good for film
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</p>
<p>Correct. The program here at UW-Madison is pretty good. At the graduate level it it totally oriented towards media studies, no production. </p>
<p>Here is a very interesting graduate program for people who want to combine social action with media: <a href="http://www.newcollege.edu/media_studies/%5B/url%5D">http://www.newcollege.edu/media_studies/</a>.</p>
<p>My son is interested.</p>
<p>I know I joined this discussion really late but.... TSdad made a comment that FSU only pays film costs for the student who wins their senior pitch. I don't know what they do for BFA, as I have not looked that up. As for the MFA program if you go to their site you will see that they pay film costs for ALL film students. No student has to pay for the cost of their thesis in the MFA program. I have not checked the BFA, but I would assume it is the same.</p>
<p>First, I am a graduate of NYU’s Tisch, Film and TV so perhaps I can give a little insight into my experience. NYU certainly is a good film school in that it has decent equipment, knowledgable professors, powerful alumni, and talented students (for the most part). But I think what really sets it apart is the city that it is located in. You would be hard pressed to find a landscape as rich and interesting for filmmaking as New York City.</p>
<p>With that said, going to NYU does not promise success in the “real world” of filmmaking. It is true that some of the greatest filmmakers did not go to film school, or did not even get in. It is also true that most of my learning came from working on films with professional crews. If you do not have the money or the grades to go to film school, I would recommend trying to get on set with different productions. You will learn just as much and actually make money! For those of you going to film school, it can be a really profound experience if you work hard (and other cliches). </p>
<p>In regard to this thread, I would agree with the obvious three: NYU, USC, UCLA. Part of what makes these schools so great is that they are in New York and Los Angeles. Plus you will come away with a degree from a school that has merrit outside of the film world (which is important if you want to teach so I’m learning).</p>
<p>I was recently on the Chapman University campus in Orange, CA. and was blown away by their facilities. Apparently, they have some major donors and their new facilities (sound stage, editing rooms, etc) rival anything I saw at NYU. And although it is not in Los Angeles, it is pretty close. For that same reason, I think Columbia in New York is also a good choice. I’m sure there are other great film schools, but these are the five I am most familiar with. </p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Thanks for bumping a very old thread.</p>
<p>I think FSU’s film school will prepare you like no other school in the world!</p>
<p>Yes for film studies UW Madison blows the doors off the rest of the Big Ten and is in the top 5 nationwide. Incredible archives and faculty. Production not so much.</p>
<p>what about schools with more avant-garde as opposed to run-of-the-mill film industry programs?</p>
<p>I think when people say top film school they are referring to “Film (and TV) Production” yet many are plugging their schools Film STUDIES department. This clarification should be made very distinctly because a film critic/screenwriter is worlds apart from what a grip or gaffer does. There are lots of great “Film Studies” colleges but besides a couple of classes are very different majors. Media and animation are also very distinct majors from film besides a few fundamental classes.</p>
<p>The best F/TV PRODUCTION, Animation, and Media film schools are Vancouver Film School and NY Film Academy which run about 50 grand a year.</p>
<p>kmazza:</p>
<p>I think you are confusing above the line and below the line jobs. When production is mentioned here it generally means directors, editors, producers, or cinematographers. It doesn’t mean the technical trades like carpenters or electricians. Also the top film schools like USC, NYU, and UCLA excel in film studies, writing, and production. Plus they are real academic institutions where nascent filmmakers can received the education in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences that they need in order to make films that accurately reflect the human condition. Graduates of technical schools will know where to place the lights and camera but they may not understand the human context that the writer is trying to present. Some studies majors find that also to be a fault of production majors.</p>
<p>Hey Everyone,
So I am looking into going to film school after undergrad and I want to apply for good schools. But I also want to prepare for not getting into the top ten tier schools. What are some ones with good programs that might have a little easier access?</p>
<p>What state are you in? Almost every state school has some kind of film program.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Full Sail University</p></li>
<li><p>San Francisco Art Institute</p></li>
<li><p>New York University</p></li>
<li><p>San Francisco State University</p></li>
<li><p>University of Texas – Austin</p></li>
<li><p>Florida State University</p></li>
<li><p>University of Southern California</p></li>
<li><p>University of California, Los Angeles</p></li>
<li><p>Ohio University</p></li>
<li><p>American Film Institute Conservatory</p></li>
<li><p>The Art Academy</p></li>
<li><p>Boston University</p></li>
</ol>
<p>[Best</a> Film Schools - Top 12 Film Schools--FilmSchools.com](<a href=“http://www.filmschools.com/articles/top-12-film-school-rankings.html]Best”>http://www.filmschools.com/articles/top-12-film-school-rankings.html)</p>
<p>Well I am origianlly from central Ohio, but I go to school in Chicago, and Im doing a semester in DC. So I am willing to travel. I am just looking for schools that might not be in the top tier so I can apply to more</p>
<p>It depends where you want to live. There are great schools all over the country. The East coast has got NYU and Columbia. Definitely top notch. The west coast has USC and UCLA not to mention many others. The key is to get started and not necessarily go to one of the top 10 film schools. Almost every school has some kind of film program, so just get started. Sometimes it is better to be a big fish in a small pond when you are getting started. [Top</a> 10 Film Schools - Best, Los Angeles, California, NYC, New York, Florida, Texas](<a href=“http://www.top10filmschools.net/]Top”>http://www.top10filmschools.net/)</p>
<p>David:</p>
<p>Look at Ohio University in your own state.</p>
<p>Northstarmom:</p>
<p>I don’t how that list you cited was chosen, but I noticed that there appear to be ads for the two top schools listed. Just saying.</p>
<p>Any list that doesn’t have USC, NYU, and UCLA as the top three in the US is not really to be trusted. </p>
<p>And, btw, nothing wrong with doing film studies as an entree into the industry especially if you go to a school like USC that allows/requires you to take courses in production and writing. Take a look at the video here: [USC</a> School of Cinematic Arts - Programs Critical Studies About](<a href=“http://cinema.usc.edu/programs/criticalstudies/about.htm]USC”>http://cinema.usc.edu/programs/criticalstudies/about.htm).</p>