I am 16 (in grade 11) and live in northern british columbia. I want to go to film school or training of some kind but dont know where to at least apply. Ive heard good and bad things about Vancouver Film School. Do u have any suggestions or advice. Could really use it. Thanx
HS

That film school you talk about is strictly technical from what I hear, dealing little with actual film theory and film as art. You learn how to work cameras and operate equipment mostly. One of their tests is to set up a camera from scratch WITH A TIME LIMIT.

Film schools all have different philosophies on how they teach film. Some just teach hollywood style narrative, which can be boring and plain filmmaking, relying on the screenplay for kicks. Plus you're not guaranteed to make it in hollywood.

Then there are film schools that teach film as an art, and how to use the media to it's fullest possibilites and make a great FILM with great use of sound, editing, and all as an art form.

Just find out what you want and apply, and look at the projects that come out of there if you can.

Also some schools own your films, so watch out for that.

If you are willing to move to Toronto to go to film school, there are some good ones. I am in the Sheridan College Media Arts program. It teaches a bit of television along with filmmaking. It is mainly a technical program but there are film theory and appreciation courses. We have a lot of equipment at our disposal for making our own films as part of the program. The media arts program just spent over 1 million dollars this year on a new television studio, making it one of the best educational studios in Canada. We also have good connections with the film industry in Toronto, we have graduates at many of the top companies in the city.

Other Universities or Colleges with film programs:
Ryerson, they have a good program but it is extremely difficult to get accepted
Yor University, mainly a theory and appreciation program
Humber College also has a program, I am not sure what it is like

Anyways I hope this gives you a bit more insight into what you are looking for and ideas of where you could go!

Oh I forgot one thing, the Media Arts program or Sheridan College does NOT own any of your work that you make. Just so that you know. I am not sure about the other programs, but I haven't anything that would indicate that they would own it.