Film Schools

Overview

If you are interested in making motion pictures, writing scripts, producing, or directing, you can hone your skills at film school. However, many successful people in the industry did not attend film school. Instead, they learned their craft on the film-making set, usually by starting their journey as a production assistant. If you want to learn about films hands-on, you need to be at a place where you get the opportunity to witness film production live.

Film school is an avenue for you to learn more about the industry and start making connections. Deciding on which film school to choose can be a tough decision because the options are limitless. You can study film at a graduate school, university, or any film or TV department.

Benefits

Unlike other fields, a course from a film school does not directly lead to a great job. However, there are a lot of benefits to a film school education. You may start as a production assistant and grasp concepts must faster than someone who did not attend film school. Learning the ins and outs of the film industry at film school will put you on the fast track. Another advantage is that you will get a chance to be under the guidance of many established industry people. Also, a lot of your classmates might prove to be valuable resources in the long run. Film schools mainly provide connections and resources that you might otherwise not have.

Costs

Film schools are, undoubtedly, quite expensive, irrespective of the type of school and the type of course you take. A year at New York University's film program will cost you over $14,000. The reason is that film making is inherently expensive. If you choose to attend one of the top film schools, there are chances that you will be in debt for a long time.

Schools

The top five film schools in the US, in no particular order, are Columbia University, University of Southern California (USC), Tisch School of the Arts, American Film Institute (AFI), and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). There are also many other good schools that are worth considering. If you want to get into the top schools, you must be prepared to face a lot of competition and take out a lot of loans.

Testing & Preparation

Generally, admission to graduate programs in film is not based on standardized tests, though some schools do require a decent score in Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). If you have a good score in SAT, it is advisable that you start your learning in any community colleges, gain knowledge and experience, and then transfer to one of the top colleges-this will save some money. Some colleges may even want to see samples of your film work, such as scripts or short films. People who intend to go to a graduate school for a film making course should opt for a relevant undergraduate course such as creative writing.

Financial Aid

There are not as many financial aid options available for film students as there are for those in the other fields. You can opt for the usual student loan that every student is eligible for including International Students Loan, Federal Stafford Loans, and Private Student Loans. Some of the film schools like the Los Angeles Film School and New York Film Academy also provide grants and loans to the students enrolled with them. You can, however, avail production grants when you are ready to produce your own films.