I am in college right now, but not for film. I've always planned on being a director, and I decided to major in journalism first, so I would have a backup plan, but now I'm really thinking that I'm just wasting my time. So, I may be switching to go to a film school.

Does anyone know if there are any good film schools in Chicago? Or any film schools that are relatively close to St. Louis?

Being from Chicago, I would know that the only schools worth looking at our Columbia College in Chicago and Northwestern (but I haven't heard great things about the Northwestern program). Columbia College is great for cinematography, but it's practically open admission, so there's a larger population of...ignorant people. (that is a generalization of course, believe me, Columbia has produced some good stuff, especially some films on this site, but there's also A LOT of crap that gets made, trust me, I've seen a lot of it).

depaul has a new digital cinema program, they offer a B.A. and a B.S. so its not really "film" exactly, but it sounds interesting. then again the only info i really have comes from them and one student that ive talked to.

im also considering columbia (i cant get into northwestern), but the whole open admissions thing might be too hard for me to overlook. plus ive heard mixed reviews.

Art institute offers film but using the pass/fail system for undergrads, it is a far better school for grad students. Believe it or not, university of illinois at chicago has a decent film and video program for undergrads