To Parents of Potential Film Majors

Parents Forum
1

<p>If your S/D is interested in an undergraduate film major, the options seem overwhelming at first. There are so many film programs at so many schools that it might make sense to help your student by making a matrix of sorts (oh no, another spreadsheet!) to help narrow the field. And the narrowing should, of course, be based on your student understanding his/her real interests and passions. Just choosing a school by name alone may get your student into a school which is not quite what was expected.</p>

<p>I'm surprised that there is no internet site which has such a matrix, but it can get complicated. Below, I will list some things to consider, and schools can be ranked based on these.</p>

<p>First pass: Is your student interested in studying film or in making films? If making films, then a production major is what you might want to look for.</p>

<p>An obvious thing to consider, but is sometime not apparent initially is whether the major is even open to undergrads. Some schools have critical studies as an undergrad film major, with film production as a graduate program only.</p>

<p>A huge thing to consider is whether admission to the undergrad film program is as a freshman upon entry, or whether it is only open in Junior year. A university may have hundreds of potential film majors, but will only accept 15-30 after spending 2 years in sort of pre-film limbo.</p>

<p>What kind of role does your student really enjoy? In high school it seems like everyone wants to direct, but in college you see people following passions in more narrow specialties. For example, interests may go to screenwriting or producing or the technical aspects or photography or audio production or.... many many other tracks. You may want a school that can offer opportunities in all of these areas.</p>

<p>What kinds of films? If the passion is to enter the business making studio films, you will want quite a different school than one who's passion is making quirky, independent productions.</p>

<p>How regimented does the student want to be? In some film schools, you will not own your productions; they become the property of the school. You will not be able, for example, to enter your film in a festival or competition of your choice. That decision will be the university's. In others, the films you make will be all your own. </p>

<p>Look at the resources and facilities available to the student. Most schools have lists of the equipment and studios and labs available. Look at whether these listing seem to be enough for the students to easily reserve, or whether it will be nearly impossible to reserve equipment/lab space when everyone will have a film project due on the same week.</p>

<p>And finally, check out the opportunities for making films. Is it study study study and finally in Jr or Sr year, make a film? Or will the student hit the ground as a freshman and be instantly thrust into the production fray.</p>

<p>Oops... one more item, which will be hard to check without talking to current students: What is the atmosphere/camaraderie of the fellow students? Is there a cut-throat competitiveness? Or are all of the students crewing for all of the others?</p>

<p>The schools are so different, and it takes quite a bit of digging to find the subset that would be a best fit. </p>

<p>So, as a parent, you may want to have your S/D ask themselves some of these questions.</p>

2

<p>Superb list.</p>

<p>Some more to add:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>If you want some of the non-directing aspects of a film school, how much better are the "admit" rates? At first, we heard answers of "8% admittance" to the film school. Deconstructing that, we learned that for screenwriting applicants (just one example), it's more like 25-30% of screenwriting hopefuls admitted; albeit the numbers are smaller...both in applicants and spots provided.</p></li>
<li><p>Are facilities open "24/7" and if not, then when? </p></li>
<li><p>What are the extra fees for production courses? (read the course catalogue online!)</p></li>
<li><p>Internship opporunities, visiting filmmakers, studying abroad...</p></li>
<li><p>Comraderie with other students on campus, or just socialize with filmers?</p></li>
<li><p>Any chance (realistically) to double-major in an academic subject?</p></li>
<li><p>BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts, a degree since around l960, well known in artistic circles but less so beyond...) or BA? And if a BA, how much is expected in General Distribution requirements. (don't cross those schools off the list either! Maybe a History course will inform your filmmaking.</p></li>
<li><p>If it's a BA "wait-around" program, can you get those courses at a less expensive school and transfer in by junior year, or do they strongly prefer their majors from within their own school?</p></li>
<li><p>Which majors should you declare if you have to wait the 2 years? (UCLA doesn't want declared "Theater" majors becoming their Film School people in junior year, because they want to see more academic diversification and foundation...I think I understood that right. S put down "English" as his major, on advice of the Film Department, which might have been wise or foolish, we'll never know (he got in elsewhere but not to UCLA).</p></li>
<li><p>What, if any, camera equipment is provided to students? </p></li>
<li><p>Relationship to the Theater Department for finding the actors. Does the department help or advise, do you cast via Craigslist, or what?</p></li>
<li><p>Financial aid policies.</p></li>
<li><p>Financial aid policies.</p></li>
<li><p>FINANCIAL AID POLICIES!!</p></li>
</ol>

3

<p>excellent additions... thanks. If the production courses are with film stock (vs digital), expect some hefty fees for some courses.</p>

4

<p>I've been researching film programs for the past year or so for our S (now a h.s. junior). One thing I have heard more than once is that at Chapman you can never get equipment unless you know someone in the equipment room. So, do you believe something like that when you hear it from a couple of people? Isn't that likely to be a problem anywhere?</p>

<p>I hadn't thought about the cut-throat vs. cooperative angle. Just thinking...if a student is out crewing for fellow students, won't they be likely to help him out, too (or am I being naive)?</p>

5

<p>timely,
did you try asking that question on the Chapman threads here (under Alphabetic listings of colleges - "C" obviously)
or some kind of student blog or livejournal from Chapman students
and if you learn how to do what I just suggested (blog, livejournal) can you post back here how that's done
i wish i could hear what current Chapman students are talking about, to get a sense of the school, as we're deciding right now (screenwriting) and don't know much having been unable to visit the west coast
good luck
your story put me in mind of an expression I know (not that you're a donkey! but it's just a parallel question about when to believe common wisdom...):
"If someone calls you a donkey, ignore them. If two people call you a donkey, think about it. If three people call you a donkey, buy a saddle."</p>

6

<p>Try reading the newly revised (April 2007) Film School Confidential by Karin Kelly and Tom Edgar. It focuses a lot of MFA programs, but it still gives an idea of the culture of the various schools. I know a current film student who said it was higly accurate.</p>

7

<p>Where my son is, it seems that everyone works one everyone's films. From the outside, anyway, it seems to be a very cooperative spirit. He's not in the film department (although he takes department classes), but he's actually in the video production dept of the Telecommunications school at Ohio University. They've had cameras rolling non-stop since he arrived (vs a friend of his who has yet to make a film). </p>

<p>Here's an argument for NOT going to film school: <a href="http://filmmaker.com/reviews.html&rop=showcontent&id=712%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://filmmaker.com/reviews.html&rop=showcontent&id=712&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>By the way, LOAFS is a good site (Library of Annotated Film Schools): <a href="http://filmmaker.com/reviews.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://filmmaker.com/reviews.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>And here's a review of Chapman: <a href="http://filmmaker.com/reviews.html&rop=showcontent&id=917%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://filmmaker.com/reviews.html&rop=showcontent&id=917&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>excerpt: "when most students are in class. Return times last about 2 hours in the middle of the day and for most of us that means class - with checkout times not much better. And the staff there (students hired through the school) - most, not all, but most are of no help whatsoever. They don't care about your project and why should they. Its a cut throat business. I'd suggest one of three things while at Chapman - get hired in the Gold Room, make friends with the people that work there or say screw it and just find some loaded collaborator who'll back your work and equipment with his own finances."</p>

8

<p>Hi OK here are my thoughts. I'm in the industry in NYC. The best skill to learn is to be a sound engineer or sound mixer, the ones who hold the boom mic, take care of the other mics, monitor the sound during the shoot. I don't know about in LA but here there is a need for sound people. </p>

<p>As far as film school, the thought behind not going to one comes down to if a student was given the money they would have used for film school, they could make their film.</p>

<p>There are really a bunch of different ways to go about it. Here's one:</p>

<p><a href="http://dovsimensfilmschool.com/homepage.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://dovsimensfilmschool.com/homepage.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>NYU and Columbia Film School have turned out some prominent film directors including Spike Lee, Kim Peirce, Todd Haynes.</p>

<p>Also, I did a student film for Brooklyn College's film school, School of Visual Arts and NYU, and I actually found the Brooklyn College kids seemed to know what they were doing the most.</p>

9

<p>Breindel, interesting that you mention the need for sound people. My S graduated Northwestern's Film program, had LA and Evanston sound internships plus two more general film internships during two summers in NYC.
However, he thought he'd have a tough time finding a sound job. He was undecided between job hunting in LA or NYC but definitely prefers NYC. However, right now he is in China teaching for a year of two so who knows what will be.</p>

10

<p>Hi 3boysnjmom,</p>

<p>Your son sounds very qualified for this market! He'll have a very easy time finding a sound job on NYC independent films. It seems there are more films than sound people. (I don't know what the market is for TV, but we have several TV shows he can also try applying to as an assistant--a few soaps, the Law&Orders, Rescue Me, etc.) </p>

<p>Does he know about mandy.com? Just go to mandy.com, click on "Production Jobs." Then click on "New York/New Jersey" and "Crew" and "Fully Paid."</p>

11

<p>Is there a spot for this on the specialized majors part of CC? You know, where there's engrg and medicine, MT, etc. (and now architecture). My S is enamored of all things artsy/musical and wants to be in the film industry in some capacity, but doesn't know exactly where and I can already see from this discussion it's pretty complicated for a novice (me). S is a jr now (for what, another month?)</p>

<p>Would this sound engineer stuff be good for a kid who plays the piano, sings (multiple all state), acts and spends too much time watching movies and on imdb? He's also good at math/science and is in honors/ap everything. Unfortunately, he's opting out of hs physics and taking music theory instead.</p>

<p>ps - S is opting out of physics cause everyone hates the teacher and he'd rather take another music class, not because he couldn't "do" physics. his school just isn't flexible enuf and he wants the music elective. he'll have 3 years of science, bio, ap bio, and chem.</p>

<p>If we could get this discussion moved somewhere where it won't get lost and could be easily accessed, I for one would be deeply grateful. Thanks.</p>

12

<p>I want to reiterate the importance of internships. You get to see how things work. You get to meet people. Contacts are extremely important in the film biz.</p>

13

<p>I googled sound engineering and found U Michigan has a dept of performing arts technology in its School of Music, Theater and Dance that looks awesome. Also found a book called "The Muscial Engineer: A Music Enthusiast's guide to Egineering and Technology Careers" that looks pretty good too (publ. date March, 2007), author Celeste Baine.</p>

<p>A lot of what came up on google was trade schools, not colleges. Besides Michigan does anyone know of any other 4 year degree programs? I think I saw one at U of Miami in Fla. Do you really need to go to college for this, or (god forbid) is a cmmty college or trade school really all you need in this field?</p>

14

<p>So I'm on the subway the other day, and I see a poster for the NYFA. So, what do you think? (I am cautious merely because they have a .com web address as opposed to a .edu address.)</p>

<p><a href="http://www.nyfa.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.nyfa.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

15

<p>I can only comment with reference to the Tisch School of the Arts, and in terms of their Film program, it's fairly intense but very rewarding. The students that are in the program seem to find their niche, and they crew with each other on their individual film projects. Tisch also has amazing study abroad programs which adds to the benefit of being able to study and make films in a university setting along with having the conservatory/production training. Also, the film industry is still a business, whether it's in So. Cal., New York, etc., so taking internships and learning how to network is a large part of the education.</p>

16

<p>I'm not sure NYFA is an accredited college. See if they grant a degree (B.A. or B.F.A.) or just a certificate that you've completed their program.</p>

<p>They train hands-on. I think they devote all their time to hands-on work and not courses, but I could be wrong...</p>

17

<p>Mercymom,
Sometimes you can find discussion of film related subjects under the "Arts" degrees section.</p>

<p>NYFA is not a university...it's a trade school. That's not necessarily a bad thing, just something to know. I found this (one person's summary of the reviews of NYFA found on filmmaker.com) that might help some. You can read it here: <a href="http://complicationsensue.blogspot.com/2006/07/where-to-get-some-hands-on-training.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://complicationsensue.blogspot.com/2006/07/where-to-get-some-hands-on-training.html&lt;/a> . The following is an excerpt:</p>

<p>
[quote]
I have read about 50 reviews of NYFA from <a href="http://filmmaker.com/reviews.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://filmmaker.com/reviews.html&lt;/a> . (There are only two reviews of DFA on filmmaker.com, both blandly favorable but uninformative.) It appears that in 2001-2002 there was a small propaganda war about NYFA on filmmaker.com, with some writers claiming that NYFA was trying to manipulate the site to its own advantage. About 75% of the NYFA reviews I read are marked “recommend”, although even a number of those say things that make me uncomfortable about the school, so I doubt they’re purely propaganda. There was much interesting information in those details. I can’t really agree with harriet’s comment in the present blog that the “consensus on NYFA” was “sucktown”, although in the end (for a number of reasons) I’m not inclined to go to NYFA. It looks to me as if the program can sometimes be very good, but that the quality of one’s time there will be greatly affected by chance. </p>

<p>One common complaint about NYFA is that projects are done by groups of students, and it’s difficult to have a good experience if one doesn’t happen to get put into a good working group, while the nature of NYFA’s admissions policy prevents it from being selective. There are also complaints about how disorganized the school is, and I have already experienced that while dealing with the staff — I was invited to come in to observe a class that was not in fact taking place in the building at the scheduled time, and the person who invited me failed to call back as agreed and evidently just vanished after our initial contact. </p>

<p>Other complaints on filmmaker.com involve the fact that NYFA does not help with job placement, which I consider a dubious issue. A more serious matter is the claim that NYFA’s equipment for the intensive film courses is out of date and not always in good working order. But because I am someone in middle age and mid-career hoping to add film to my existing interests, I am most likely to work in digital video, and so complaints about film cameras and editing tools are off the point for me.

[/quote]
</p>

18

<p>mercymom -- My S who majored in film and specialized in sound design at college was into music performance and music technology at his high school. He took some sound design courses at the local community college and the prof, not knowing he was in high school, encouraged him to do an independent study. His college, Northwestern, actually offers a certificate in sound design (joint program I believe with physics, engineering, music and film). My son took some of the sound courses but did not actually enroll in the certificate program. Only a few of these specialized courses are offered each trimester. At Northwestern, the film program is collaborative -- film majors all work on each others' film projects and the theatre kids often act in the films. My son also did the sound for several of the Drama kids' plays but he prefers doing sound for film over live sound for theatre.
He really enjoyed his time at Northwestern but is uncertain about how "employable" he will be even though Breindel says he should be able to find jobs.</p>

19

<p>what if you want to be an entertainment lawyer or agent and youw ant to double majorl in cinema studies and something else..for example at NYU and COlumbia there are cinema studies majors..would it be worth majoring in that for these particular professions..considering that film school is not right for me becuase i do not want to make films but instead be involved in production and the business and legal aspect of them..do you recommend a cinema studies major at either of those universities for my professions..</p>

20

<p>I am no expert, just the mom of a h.s. senior who hopes to get into film school. I do not think a cinema studies program would be all that helpful to you. You might be better off with a business finance degree or something like that. Have you looked at USC's graduate program in production? <a href="http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2006/schools/cinema/stark.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2006/schools/cinema/stark.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>