I am currently A Sophomore in High-school, I've been doing stuff with theater for as long as I can remember and I've been doing alot of stuff with film for the past three years. I definitely want to go to school for film but I'm not completely sure what part of it yet, I want to be a director but thats more of just a dream and I'm really worried that I'd never be able to make it as a Director just because there's so much competition. I know I want to do something in film but I'm not sure what yet... any suggestions?

Also I plan on going to undergraduate school with a major in film production, and then either a double major or a minor in something else just so that I can become more well-rounded and so that I'll have something to fall back on... I also plan on going to graduate school... I've heard from some people that if you're gonna go to graduate school for film that there no reason to go to undergraduate for it.

The under grad schools that I'm looking at right now are:

Academy of Art U
American U
Boston U
Champlain C
Chapman U
Denison U
Emerson C
Hampshire C
Ithaca C
Loyola Marymount U
Mass C Art
Northwestern U IL
Point Park U
SUNY Purchase
Syracuse U
Webster U

I live in New Jersey so It would be hard convincing my parents to let me go 3,000 miles away to california but I have about 2 years to work on that. and I just don't like NYU even though they have a great program there's just so much of the school that I don't like. If anyone has gone to any of these schools or knows anything about them...or other schools that I should consider, I would greatly appreciate your comments.

I know that was a lot but there's a lot going through my mind right now.

thank you,
Mike

If you want to be a director and you work hard at it, you probably will be a director...you may never be famous, and you may have to supplement your income with other work, but just because there is competition doesn't mean you won't be able to make films. Also keep in mind that everyone thinks that they want to be a director, but many people realize that they like a different aspect of filmmaking even more, often cinematography or screenwriting.

As far as going to graduate school......it is really up for debate, and i am sure that many people will tell you different things. One thing to keep in mind is that a bachelors degree in film may be a disadvantage for getting into some graduate schools. Another important thing to consider is that you open up a few new options for you, most notably AFI and Columbia. As for whether or not going to undergraduete film school is a waste of time, it is also up for debate. I personally believe that most MFA programs are superior to any undergrad programs for various reasons, such as very focused, specialized curriculum, and the wide variety of students who get accepted to them.

I personally have decided to hold off on film school until I get my BA, but there are many factors to consider when deciding what is right for you. Luckily for you, you have a few years to figure out what you want to do.

If you do undergraduate production, you will not be able to do graduate production. You MIGHT be able to get in to a producing are screenwriting program, but it would be rather unnecessary.

The argument over BA vs MFA is mostly irrelevant, because it comes far more down to personal choice. Yes, graduate programs tend to be better (though they are nearly identical to most corresponding undergrad programs), but do you want to wait that long? And do you want to pay an additional $150,000 - $200,000? That's where the choice comes in.

And as for making it as a director...the general consensus I've gotten (from professors and directors) is that the ones who make it are the ones who really keep at it. As Evan said, you may never be famous, but if directing is really what you want to do, you'll be able to do it.

quote:

Originally posted by Evan:
If you want to be a director and you work hard at it, you probably will be a director...you may never be famous, and you may have to supplement your income with other work, but just because there is competition doesn't mean you won't be able to make films. Also keep in mind that everyone thinks that they want to be a director, but many people realize that they like a different aspect of filmmaking even more, often cinematography or screenwriting.

I completely agree. you just have to be aware that not all directors are Hollywood directors, and that there are many types of film....

If you are sure at this point that you will want to go to grad school as well, then i would take a wider spectrum off classes in undergrad that would give you a taste of all professions in the field, and then focus in grad school .

http://www.mychordspace.com/

quote:

Originally posted by Cinematical:
If you do undergraduate production, you will not be able to do graduate production.

That is not even slightly true, not even a little bit.

I know people in all disciplines who studied/majored in film in the MFA program this year.

It seems redundant, to me at least, but it is in no way a deal breaker.

Me, I say you go get the BA in what you think you want to fall back on, sprinkling some film classes in each semester...most schools have at least a few to offer. Work on any film you can wherever you are, make your own on the side. If you feel you need it, then consider grad school.

It's what I did and it worked out fine...wrote a script, made a few films, got into USC.

Keep in mind that is all strictly my opinion.

Except for the "BFA equals no MFA." That's the truth. Esp. in production.

I mean doing, for instance, a BA Cinema-Television Production major, and then attempting to do a MFA Directing major. I don't know of a single instance where someone has done that - although, that may be more because the programs are essentially the same and it means paying twice for the same education.

But, if you SWITCH focuses (ie, production to screenwriting) - well, that seems more workable. But in all my talks with MFA students and the MFA admissions people - at least at USC - they've always strongly discouraged doing BA production if you want to do MFA production.

As I said, in my opinion it's redundant, but it's not impossible. I wouldn't even call it unlikely.

I know plenty of people that did not "switch." They start in production, stay in production. Plenty of people in every discipline went to UG film school.

This goes with the whole "what major should I have to get into an MFA program" thing, and the truth is, any major will do. The majority of people have other academic histories than film, but there are enough UG film students across all MFA programs at USC to prove that it's actually not a huge no-no.

I do agree that a BFA from USC SCA will keep you from an MFA at USC SCA, though!

;-)

Even undergrad production? I could get, for example, someone doing the Critical Studies program (which is technically the same major at USC), and then doing MFA directing - heck, I'm thinking about trying that - but it's certainly news to me to hear of someone doing a directing focus in UG and Grad. I suppose there isn't any written rule about it, but it's just the feeling I've recieved from graduate admissions.

Yes, JB. Undergraduate film production. Not at USC, though. Other universities across the country and the world.

It happens. Perhaps the school had limited courses, or the student felt they did not learn enough.

The people I'm currently thinking of, though, had years of gap between their UG graduation and beginning their MFA. Several were double majors as well.

For the record, I majored in AV communication, which is similar to my school's Film and Digital Media program, and got in. Another two friends from my alma mater also majored in F/DM ...one goes to Chapman now, and one got into AFI and Chapman this year as an editor.

It happens.

There is no "preferred" major to get an MFA at most schools, just as there are no "banned" majors. It just tends to work out that *most* UG film majors don't see the need to continue schooling.

I agree. It's rather redundant.

But in the same breath, I would go through a producing or production design MFA after I finish screenwriting in a heartbeat...that is, if I wasn't going to be 31 when I graduate...and only if it were free!

;-)

Ok, I think I get where a lot of our disagreement is coming from. I'm thinking of the big film schools - USC, NYU, Chapman, Emerson, etc.. I would think those would be less likely to do undergrad and grad. Someone coming from smaller programs, or schools not traditionally known as "film schools", would probably be much more apt to do MFA production (and the admissions officers would be more apt to admit them). The point is that the undergrad degrees at "film schools" are essentially the same as the corresponding graduate degrees, while at non-"film schools", this isn't nearly as true.

Still, I suppose my absolutism is misplaced. There certainly is no concrete rule - but there are tendencies when dealing with the "film schools" (the discussions of which populate this board).

You really only need grad school if you plan on teaching. Nobody in the film industry cares about your degree anyway.

Yeah, I've found that to be true as well. It's more about experience, which can be obtained in a number of ways cheaper than grad/film school. And if you're forming your own production company then the experience doesn't matter as much as getting funding (since you're your own boss) - though you'd usually need to make a first film in order to get funding in order for people to trust you with their money. That's where internships or good vocational programs come in!

quote:

Originally posted by Josh:
You really only need grad school if you plan on teaching. Nobody in the film industry cares about your degree anyway.

Actually, there is a statistically better chance of "making it" out of Grad school than out of undergrad. Now, this could be for many reasons - I'm sure many undergrad film students decide to persue other careers, and Grad students are simply older and therefore tend to recieve more trust - but a graduate film degree generally seems to signal a higher 'success' rate. It is certainly not just for teaching (unless you're going for Critical Studies - in which case it is just for teaching). Nobody cares about your degree, but they do care about your skill level. Graduates get the best professors, guidance, and equipment in a more focused education - it's a sad, sorry fact of the educational system.