What's the AAC like?

Expensive.

Yes, expensive but out of all the film schools in the country, it ranks with having the most equipment than any of them.

The faculty is great, the city is totally in love with movies, and the there is great scenery anywhere you go!

I applied to AFI and NYU's grad program just about two years ago. I did this only with a degree in English and Film Studies from UNC at Wilmington, and with a reel that had two shorts on it, both shot on Mini DV.

First of all, NYU is strict, and they are critical with their application process. You must have a good reel for either of them, as well as some experience or knowledge in the field.

NYU flat out rejected me. Part of the rejection i would have to say was b/c I turned it in on the deadline date--not a good idea. the earlier you submit your work/application/reel the better the chance of at least getting to the interview process, which i did for AFI.

They liked my reel so much, that I think i got the interview from that alone(and possibly my statement on why i should go to film school).

As far as the Academy is concerned, if you have the money, you have no problem in entering the Undergrad program because of the Academy's open admission policy, but in any film school, it is the time and effort put into it that will determine the quality of work that you come out with upon graduation.

Now, that i have been here a year and going on my second, I am ready to tackle AFI again because I never passed their interview process. Since attending the Academy, I have learned vast amounts of technical knowledge that can now assist me with blowing the pants off the admissions committee of AFI in order to enter their grad program.

But that will be expensive too, so if you do decide to go to film school, and mommy and daddy cannot provide the $$$, then I suggest you build up your credit, so you can ask Uncle Sam for the money via Loans(federal and private).

If anybody has any other questions regarding film schools and grad programs, please email, but all i offer is advice, not promises.

and now the poll!!

What film school do you believe is the best??

I think the best $15 spent on an education in film would be buying Robert Rodriguez's book "Rebel Without a Crew". Don't go to film school to learn how to make YOUR films, go to film school to learn how to films make films like everyone else, to fit into the business and trade.
Don't let me scare you off from going to a prestigious film school, for I will be looking for a crew soon to make MY movies.
In Hollywood, they don't care if your a college dropout or have a PhD in film, rather they care how you tell a story.

Yes but the only problem with that method is... the book can't get you a well rounded education, connections within the film industry, or internships.

academy of art was the third school i attended and i really liked their equipment. being that the school not only caters to computer graphics, fine arts, and photography, it also caters to filmmakers and you have access to most of the equipment in all the areas of art. you can also connect with cg artists and add special effects in your piece.

because of the schools emphasis on new media, they are constantly updating the types of software and equipment they use.

now if you want a school that gets you some juicy connections i would suggest AFI or NYU. AFI is nice because it is in LA and everywhere you turn you are going to run into someone who has or wants some type of role in the filmmaking process.

good luck.

" I won't show you tonight what requires many hours of progressive and
scientific exercises to even begin to make itself visable; besides I
would need space and air, and especially a head of steam -- which I
haven't got."

http://www.lostheadfactory.com

quote:

---

Originally posted by monodynamic:
Don't go to film school to learn how to make YOUR films, go to film school to learn how to films make films like everyone else, to fit into the business and trade.
Don't let me scare you off from going to a prestigious film school, for I will be looking for a crew soon to make MY movies.
In Hollywood, they don't care if your a college dropout or have a PhD in film, rather they care how you tell a story.

---

I'm sure 1,000,001 failed Robert Rodriguez clones would agree with you.

It is a good book, but it's a book that has pretty much destroyed itself over the years. People seem to think that Rodriguez' rise to success is a good model to follow, when it's really the worst these days. Back in the early 90's it was novel for some young punk to go guerilla style and complete a remotely coherant feature (So novel, that la gente plunked down 2$2mil or whatever to see Mariachi). Now, just about every 20 something with an interest in movies has done it and nobody's gonna take notice. It's a saturated market.

That is not to say film school will cannonball you to success. The percentage of successful individuals out of some of the good schools (AFI, NYU, USC) is quite a bit higher than that out of the guerilla world, though.

You're absolutely right about it being more about who you are than what school you went to (Although these things do matter to many folks in Hollywood). Just be sure to pick up a variety of other books in addition to Rodriguez' if you want to go the guerilla route. Do me a favor and make sure you pick up one that deals more with the collaborative process, though. I've worked with around 15 directors as a cinematographer and the one's that didn't go through film school tend to lack on that end of things.

Nota "Elmer E. Achi" Mono

So what's it like at Illinois Valley Community College?
Expensive.
Whoops, I mean, not expensive. And there arn't any of those ego-centric filmschool types who wear those trendy Weezer glasses and talk about their "set medic" and "gaffers" while at Starbucks.

What school is the best? How about: It doesn't matter. Wait wait wait, don't get all crazy here. This isn't the movie god pointing at you message board kids going all like "THIS IS HOW IT IS BECAUSE I SAID SO, *****."

But look at Toast Dusters. That's from High School kids. That movie towers above about 99% of the crappy "Academy of Art/USC/NYU I was doing it so I could learn how to turn the camera on, so leave me alone cause I'm paying more than you are and I can't take immature comments about my bad movie" type stuff. Geeze man.

So one or two kids leave a bad review and you go off and start like 90 message replies trying to explain yourself. They should teach "how to take it like a man, *****" in those expensive film schools. They're charging enough. With those fees they should have goddamn Haley Joel Osmet looking A.I. robots giving you immature comments to harden you art school kids up.


You know, I guess nothing matters. There are lots of crappy directors who get paid well, and lots of good directors who are probably still working over at "Bob's Big Boy" in Hollywood, waiting for that break. But reguardless, neither of those two types make up petty excuses. "I made it so I could learn how to use microphone, so you guys shouldn't make fun of me! And if you do, expect some whiney message boards! I'm telling mommy on you!"

Sorry, this isn't an attack on you. This is an attack on message boards. People who write on message boards are stupid!

yes, I do.

Why?

Maybe because you never had your chance. Maybe because you only afford a community college education, or maybe because you never had the guts to take out a loan, and take life as a MAN, and leave your home, family, and friends to go 3,000 miles away to a state you never have been to but maybe have always dreamed of living in.

Maybe you were deprived as a child, maybe you can't put your balls on the line, or you do not take (intelligence) tests well, or maybe you are just plain stupid and the only thing you have is a computer, some porno mags, and enough free time to write stupid comments about the things you only dream of and wish for but never accomplish because you are to AFRAID TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS!!!

By the way, on the set, you will refer me to as Mr. Lalinde, and I take my coffee sweet, lots of sugar, lots of cream.

See you in the REAL WORLD!!!

Looks like somone's got a case of the Mondays =)

*asks neighbor* Do people say that it looks like you have a case of the Mondays?

neighbor: Sh*t no

I still have no idea what you are talking about.

quote:

---

By the way, on the set, you will refer me to as Mr. Lalinde, and I take my coffee sweet, lots of sugar, lots of cream.

---

You drink your coffee extar sweet?! Pfft, wuss.

No, no, I'm just kidding.


...Please don't beat me up.


--Alan

------------------
http://www.alandenton.com
------------------