This is specifically reviewing the Cape Town campus - I can not speak for the other.
AFDA is great at marketing and they are in the business of selling dreams. I spent three years there for my undergraduate (but heard similar issues within MFA students), and although I don't regret it (as I made amazing friends) part of me do wish I attended an institution that would have challenged me more with pushing the medium of film rather than conforming into a supposed structure that will be the yellow brick road to a successful film (yes, this school says f** it to all the established screenwriting structures, made up their own and force their students to use 10 beats in 2 minute films).
I've always thought that education should be a place where one is taught how to challenge the world and the thing that is being studied. This is not AFDA. You are taught to think in a box, and if you at all attempt to step out of it you get penalized.
The positive, however, has been the amount of team work that is required. Filmmaking is teamwork, and AFDA is about 3 years of just teamwork and a lot of practical experience.You can a lot of technical training and experience - and it undoubtedly has some of the best equipment in South Africa (for film schools). One or two of the faculty members are extremely passionate and do what they can within the constricted system to make your studies worth it.
If you want technical experience and build work friends and can afford it, it's not terrible. However, if you want to learn to think go to Wits or UCT and do what you can to intern and work in the industry on the side.
Affordability: For South Africans it is quite expensive
Alumni: It's extensive because they have a million campuses and are the oldest filmschool in the country.
Campus: Could be better.
Career Assistance: Cute.
Facilities: It's decent.
Professors: One or two gems.
Scholarships: Uncertain - but heard it's not very good.
AFDA is great at marketing and they are in the business of selling dreams. I spent three years there for my undergraduate (but heard similar issues within MFA students), and although I don't regret it (as I made amazing friends) part of me do wish I attended an institution that would have challenged me more with pushing the medium of film rather than conforming into a supposed structure that will be the yellow brick road to a successful film (yes, this school says f** it to all the established screenwriting structures, made up their own and force their students to use 10 beats in 2 minute films).
I've always thought that education should be a place where one is taught how to challenge the world and the thing that is being studied. This is not AFDA. You are taught to think in a box, and if you at all attempt to step out of it you get penalized.
The positive, however, has been the amount of team work that is required. Filmmaking is teamwork, and AFDA is about 3 years of just teamwork and a lot of practical experience.You can a lot of technical training and experience - and it undoubtedly has some of the best equipment in South Africa (for film schools). One or two of the faculty members are extremely passionate and do what they can within the constricted system to make your studies worth it.
If you want technical experience and build work friends and can afford it, it's not terrible. However, if you want to learn to think go to Wits or UCT and do what you can to intern and work in the industry on the side.
Affordability: For South Africans it is quite expensive
Alumni: It's extensive because they have a million campuses and are the oldest filmschool in the country.
Campus: Could be better.
Career Assistance: Cute.
Facilities: It's decent.
Professors: One or two gems.
Scholarships: Uncertain - but heard it's not very good.
