I was accepted at both Loyola Marymount University and Chapman University in California. I will be majoring in Screenwriting but dont know which has the better film school. Anyone out there have any ideas?
Though neither is regarded as one of the top film schools, I would go with Chapman. The new facilities look like they have promise, and, most importantly, it is much closer to Los Angeles that Loyola Marrymount, which should be one of the key factors in making your decision. No matter what people tell you, the film industry really only happens in LA, and one way or another, if you do end up pursuing this seriously, you are going to need to be in LA, if not near by.
Hope this helps!
I’m no expert here, living in the metro Washington DC area faaaaaaar from CA, but LMU is IN LA (Just see its address) and Chapman is darn near LA (20 minutes drive, maybe) located in Orange, CA (near Anaheim). In this case, do not base your decision between these two schools on geographic location. BOTH are in or very near LA. (Maybe the above poster is thinking of one of the other Loyolas in different states.)
The Hollywood Reporter, an industry trade magazine, came out with its film school rankings last summer. Top 25, and both Loyola Marymount and Chapman’s Dodge School of Media are on the list.
Oh and LMU is very definitely in LA. We toured the campus. Chapman is pretty close by. Both programs have excellent reputations. A former Warner Bros. Exec just recently joined Chapman’s staff at Dodge as a prof.
LMU IS in LA. I work there. Chapman is in Orange County, which is about as far from LA as it gets. We are on a bluff with the LA basin in front and the ocean in back. Not bad digs. You should visit the campuses and make your decision after you spend time with the students and faculty. Two of our film school grads directed major Hollywood motion pictures this past summer. One of my graduate assistants just landed an internship at Nickelodeon. Chapman may have its merits, too, but I only know something about LMU. It’s a great university.
Totally check out both schools in person and find out what recent alumni are doing. Distance to Hollywood, Burbank, West LA is 20-40 min from LMU and 60-90 min from Chapman but it basically doesn’t matter because those distances are travelled daily by many So Californians. I have not visited either, but my impression, from what people have told me is that you would get jobs from either place, both places are good, LMU may have had a film school for a longer amount of time, but Chapman’s facilities are AWESOME, similar to USC, NEW, and they are pouring in a ton of money in marketing, faculty, and building an awesome program.
Post your question in the section of College Majors – Video and Arts (something like that). You’ll get a lot of opinions and insight there.
Both schools are wonderful, both are LA-Industry close. You will need to visit and tour to know which one is the best fit for you. And do go to the Visual Arts and Film forum here on CC, as suggested. Do a search there and read the sticky threads. You will find a ton of info there on both programs.
Congrats!