<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>I'm going to graduate from the University of Florida with a Bachelor's of Science in Telecommunications Production (i.e. Television Production) and I'm going to be applying to a wide range of film schools as well as 3D Animation/Visual Effects schools across the country in the Spring 2014 and the Fall 2014.</p>
<p>My question is in regards to the difference between the Stark Program and the MFA Film and Television Production. Can any current students or Alumni tell me what the major differentiating factors between these programs are? Would it be redundant to do the MFA Film and Television Production program because of my Television Production experience? Also, are there assistanceship type positions available at the SCA to help students pay their way through the program? Any help or input here would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>Thank you,</p>
<p>16:9</p>
<p>Hello, I’m a film undergrad but a lot of my friends are in the grad program so I’ll try to answer your question as best as I can!</p>
<p>Major differentiating factors between Stark Producing and MFA Production?
The Stark program focuses almost solely on training you to become a producer. I don’t know anybody in that program, but I’ve looked in on some of their classes and they do a lot of stuff that’s more business-oriented like pitching. MFA Production is a bit more general, you learn how to direct, produce, edit, etc, and I think most people specialize in something specific like editing, sound, directing, whatever interests you. You also make a thesis film. It’s a good opportunity if you need more material for your reel or practice in the various roles on a film set.</p>
<p>Would it be redundant?
Hard to say… a lot of the people I know in the MFA Production program did their undergrad degree in something unrelated to film, many of them came from science backgrounds. A lot of them also came from film majors at schools that didn’t have a conservatory-esque film school like USC’s (they were just part of a general Arts/Humanities/Liberal Arts type program, etc). If you go on SCA’s website you can see the required courses for both programs. I don’t know much about U Florida’s film program, but it’s not like FSU’s is it? If you’re looking to make a lot of short films and develop a skill in a particular area of film like directing, editing, etc then I think the program could help you. I think USC’s film programs are similar to FSU’s (and NYU’s, Northwestern’s) in the way that the film school is kind of separate from the university and the majors aren’t just part of the Liberal Arts College.</p>
<p>Are there assistanceship-type positions?
Yes, most production classes have a Student Assistant (kind of like a TA) who has either taken the class before or has a lot of expertise in that area. Undergrads and grads can both do this, and they pay pretty well.</p>