How to Pick a Film School

If you love everything about the movies, you may also be thinking about what it would be like to actually write a screenplay, work behind the scenes, direct a production, or even be a star. Like any career, of course, the more you know about your subject matter, the better your chances of success. When it comes to pursuing a job in today's competitive film industry, picking the right school can make all the difference in the world. Read on to learn how to pick a film school.

Things You'll Need

• A career plan
• Acceptable grades
• Research skills
• Computer
• Internet connection

Instructions

1. Define what type of film career you want to have. Undergraduate and graduate film programs at universities span a broad spectrum of disciplines. To make the best match, you need to decide whether your primary focus is going to be on the technical nuts and bolts, on cinematography, on the creative aspects of screenwriting and development, on performance and direction, or on film theory, criticism and history. The bottom line question is what you plan to do with your film education; specifically, to pursue gainful employment in the movie industry or just to satisfy personal curiosity.

2. Research where your favorite directors, producers, screenwriters, actors and cinematographers/technicians went to school. Subscribe to trade magazines and newsletters that will carry interviews about their careers and education. Film websites such as Internet Movie Database will also carry background information on professionals whose work and style you admire.

3. Participate in film-related chat rooms on the Internet. This is a great forum for getting recommendations from former or current students about which schools would best fit your interests, needs and budget.

4. Evaluate your time frame, including the amount of commitment you will realistically be able to make insofar as studying for tests, finishing your assignments, and working on special projects. Do you plan to be a full-time student and complete your degree within four years? Will you only be able to take a limited number of classes each semester in order to accommodate a job or family obligations? The answers you give to these questions circle back to Step 1 and the reasons you want to be in film school in the first place.

5. Review your budget, taking into consideration the cost of tuition, books, materials and transportation. Unless you live in/near Los Angeles, New York or another major city that is heavily tied into the film industry, it may be necessary for you to relocate in order to attend school. If so, your list of expenses will further include the cost of moving as well as the cost of renting or purchasing a place to live. There is also the emotional price of stress involved in leaving familiar surroundings and establishing yourself in a new environment.

6. Request course catalogs from the film schools that most appeal to you or review their curriculum, the credentials of its faculty, and the admissions requirements online at their website. If you are going to be transferring to the institution from another university or community college, you'll need to check how many of your existing credits will be accepted. Be thorough in your review of application requirements and the deadlines for submission. At some institutions, you may need to provide letters of recommendation from former instructors, guidance counselors or employers.

7. Investigate whether there are scholarships and financial assistance programs available at the schools that interest you. If you are hoping to land a film job right after graduation, don't be shy about inquiring whether the school assists its students with job placement referrals and internship opportunities at studios. It's important, too, that you check into what kinds of on-campus activities are available to complement your studies. Possibilities include film/TV clubs, newsletters and publications, student film festivals, guest speaker panels, among others.

Tips & Warnings

• In Step 3, be sure to query whether there are specific courses and professors that would be of benefit to your career plan. This is helpful information to have if your target institution requires you to submit an admissions essay on what appeals the most to you about the school and its film/TV curriculum. The more "insider" knowledge you can reveal, the better your chances of being selected.

• The combination of digital filmmaking and the proliferation of independent production companies throughout the country has also translated to a rise in the number of film programs, film camps and specialized summer sessions now being offered at universities and community colleges. This can be a bonus to prospective students who are unable to relocate to Los Angeles or New York. In addition, there are more opportunities for online instruction, especially in the areas of screenwriting, animation and computer generated imagery (CGI).

• If your interest in the film business is from the standpoint of becoming an actor, you may find better success in majoring in theater arts at a university rather than taking acting classes at a film school. The training is much more intense, not to mention that many famous actors and screenwriters actually got their start by acting in college play productions.

• Taking the plunge into film school can be a pricey proposition. If you're not sure whether this is something you really want to do, try getting your feet wet first via a summer stint at film camp, an online class, or even learning the basics of video production, sound mixing and editing at your neighborhood's local access TV station.

Resources

• Film Schools website
• Filmmaking website
• Internet Movie Database