Latest Film School Reviews

This is a great program! Students take 14 filmmaking classes over the course of 4 semesters. The classes vary across different topics like theory, gear, learning software, production and writing/planning, etc. The professors are very open-minded to the needs/skill levels of each student and the ideas they have. They go out of their way to plan field days, trips, and invite guest lecturers to offer a holistic education. The program is well-known in the Bozeman community so its really easy to find experts and community-members willing to participate and offer support in projects. But there are much fewer resources and support networks when it comes to finding jobs and internships. I like how diverse the student body is in terms of academic background, artistic styles, and demographic. But its pretty male-dominated at the moment. Overall I love being a student in this program and highly recommend it.

Creative media is fine if you are driven as a filmmaker, but the school is not for artists, so you will be fighting an uphill battle if you do not want to work for a sports broadcasting company. I think most people in the school are happy with that, though.

The school is super affordable, especially if you do well on the ACT or are an in-state student. They will pay for your housing, and Alabama is affordable to live in compared to most, if not all, places outside the deep South.

I have never used the alum network.

I never worked on an internship at the school because I did not want to do TV or documentary work.

It is a mixed bag, with so many theatre kids bleeding into the film school. The collaboration is poor because they are kinda crazy. I would blame that on whatever was happening in the theatre building at the time. Be prepared to be a filmmaker, not a director. It is far easier to do more work than to depend on others here.

Coursework is whatever I would say it is not challenging because Alabama is afraid of giving students anything under an A. Take the independent study with film professors so you can make work for graduate school. If you want to work in the industry, get some gigs in Atlanta because you will not be getting any big jobs coming out of UA. Better making money and meeting people in Atlanta rather than working with people who will move back to a major city to work in their family's advertising company.

Okay, if you have read all this and still want to attend, find the film professors you want to work with and start working! If I had this knowledge at the start, I would probably have more directed short films than I already do. Go to Woods Hall and minor in art to build connections with the photo school.

Creative media is not a film degree; you have to make this place into a film school. If you do not have the resolve to do this, go to UNA (more structure and work with professors on projects they will direct), or, if you are an animator, USA (a great animation program in Mobile). That is all I got for you, and results will vary significantly from what I experienced. You will end up where you need to go, and you are the maker of your own destiny.

When I was 17 years old, I applied to a majority of the top film programs in the US for screenwriting. I got into USC, NYU, and Chapman (where I actually turned down a significant scholarship). To me, there was no other choice but to go with the number one option, as it had been sold as so to me so many times.

Unfortunately, USC is no longer what it once was. The professors there are barely working writers. If they are working, it's for something they wrote 15 years ago that was really good, or it's on the worst Network television show you can imagine. Like a reboot of Desperate Housewives set in space starring Jensen Ackles in drag (although that sounds much better than some of the slop these people are working on and selling their souls over).

Instead of exploring this medium through creativity and art, you are hammered into a mold and told to accept it. Writing is not for that. It's for a job. The end goal is a job. Okay, fine. I realized that's not what I want to write for so maybe this program wasn't for me. Except, you know, they should probably fulfill the "we're going to get you a job" aspect of it, right?

The part of the screenwriting curriculum that is touted around as what defines it as superior from other programs in the country is something called "First Pitch." It's when they rent out a ballroom at the Beverly Hills Four Seasons and essentially have you do speed dating with a bunch of executives, agencies, and management companies. It is the pay off for years of hardwork. USC WST will get you a job.

Just kidding! First Pitch is an absolute joke. Especially for BFAs. Nobody there cares about what you've spent the past four years putting your blood, sweat, and tears into. Nobody actually wants to be there because they have more important things to do. This is Hollywood, baby. Also, not for nothing, everyone is drunk. Literally everyone. And they don't even let the students order a drink. So you're just out there pitching your life's work to a bunch of dull-eyed assistants that were forced to go. It's genuinely soul-crushing, and the perfect amalgamation of my time there. Marketing my trauma as a reason I'm hirable and then having no one hire me anyway.

Afterwards, we were supposed to take all of those emails and the generals that the program gets us set up with and have our shot in the world that USC perfectly set us up for. Just kidding! No one takes you seriously there either. In fact, one of my friends who went into a meeting to talk about her writing got asked if she babysat.

I've heard better things about the MFA there, so take this from an undergrad grain of salt, but if I were to do my entire college experience over again, I would go somewhere I really loved and spend literally no money on it, then apply to a film school for grad school. My time at USC was mostly a waste where I met the most obnoxious Hollywood people that would stab you in the back if they found out it would get them a ten minute meeting with the CAA mail room. There were a few good eggs that I stick close with to this day, but I don't know what's in the BFA water there for the screenwriting program. Most are miserable, there were some really severe and dangerous mental health crises, and barely any of them have jobs in the industry. The ones that do either got them from their parents or are like the most snake-ass people you will ever meet.

Some people don't mind doing that whole song and dance, but it did make me not want anything to do with film and TV for several years. I ended up working with animals (where I weirdly made more industry connections than any of my time at school), and I got an assistant job through that.

Take with that what you will!

Hi! I’m Bryant Womack, Western Colorado University Class of 2025 and now faculty at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks where I teach undergraduate screenwriting and filmmaking.

There’s not a day that goes by I don’t apply my education from Western be it as a professor in my own classroom, or in my practice of writing screenplays and novels. I consider myself indeed fortunate to have had the screenwriting instructors at Western guide me in my career as both storyteller and educator.

The dedication of the screenwriting instructors at Western focus on craft, mentorship, and a collaborative structure that is both fulfilling and challenging.

Let me rephrase that - pursuing my Western MFA kicked me in the butt 17 ways to Sunday! However, the discipline, instruction, guidance, and belief my instructors had in me - and continue to give me - turned me into the best I can be, and it’s simple to understand why - because I was taught by the best.

Sure, you can say this review is coerced and/or staged. I get it. I thought similar when I applied at Western and read similar posts to other schools I’d been accepted into for screenwriting that boasted their programs. But, I committed to Western.

The reason? Simple.

Because the instructors at Western offer in-person classroom and mentorship interaction. Others schools offering online course work end up being asynchronous and detached from the student. That might work well for some, but the collaboration and personalized dedication to you and your work often gets lost. As an educator I see that all too often in asynchronous programs.

So, let me shout out to you the names, James, Mita, Kim, Liz, and Amy. Come to Western, and they’ll shout out a list of names in the industry to you, and when that happens, you’ll understand why Western is one of the best possible choices for your career in screenwriting.

Finally, aside from screenwriting, the personalized attention I received from my Western instructors and cohort made me want to be not just a better writer - but a better person.

Apply. Write. Be the best.

Go Mad Jack.

Bryant Womack
MFA Screenwriting
Class of 2025

CSUN's CTVA (Cinema, Television, and Visual Arts) program is incredibly underrated. The production program offers two pathways: film or television, with the option of pursuing either narrative or documentary. From there, there are four emphasis options that you'll have to choose from: producing, cinematography, sound, or editing. The program (that you apply to AFTER getting into CSUN) is 2 years long.

The program--at least for the TV option-- throws you into the thick of it. You'll start creating from the very beginning, with each semester focusing on a different medium of television, ending off with a whole semester (or two semesters for film) dedicated to the thesis project.

The professors are wonderful and the school provides you with a lot of resources. The alumni network is very strong -- not very many people attend CSUN's CTVA program, so it's always exciting connecting with those that have and are now in the industry.

One important thing to remember is that the program at CSUN is new and growing. While you'll have access to a lot of state-of-the-art equipment and cool workspaces like editing bays and soundstages (and a really cool brand new visual effects LED wall like the one used in The Mandalorian), it's limited compared to a school like USC or UCLA.

CSUN provides a good cost-effective and fun education that will give you the experience and expertise you need. Unlike USC, all of your work there belongs to you!!

The film program at UW Milwaukee throws a lot of undergrad students off by being more experimental focused, but if you approach it with an open mind there is a lot of personal and professional growth that can be found here. The staff, with very few exceptions, are all incredibly caring and intelligent people that want to help you grow as an artist. You will not find top of the line film equipment here, and there will be little in the way of helping you secure work if you do not consistently put yourself out there, but you will find a lot of great collaborators and expose yourself to new ways of thinking.

Hi! I'm a second year at UCR MFA Screenwriting.

Here are the basics - UCR paid me $3.9K a month for doing nothing in my first year, and the same amount in my second year for becoming a TA. Even in my second year, TAships are not time-consuming. You have an option to take a third year, which a lot of students opt in for.

If you're tight on cash, I would 1) not recommend applying to school for screenwriting because it's not worth it - you can practice it by joining local writers groups/fellowships, or 2) apply to either Northwestern or UCR. I chose UCR because of its proximity to LA - I knew that, as long as I made the effort to drive to LA three days a week, whether it be for networking opportunities or for internships, it wouldn't make a difference whether I chose LMU, USC, or UCR. This proved to be true, knowing my fellow MFA screenwriters from other schools.

To give my program some credit, they are starting a new mentorship program to connect industry folks to UCR students based on our scripts. So it's getting better.

The classes are okay. The few screenwriting professors we have are all older white men for now, until they hire a visiting professor in spring 2026 for the TV comedy class. I usually take 1-2 fiction seminar classes because the fiction professors are so smart and great at their book choices, and a screenwriting class. The cohort is a nice group of friends, and they give great feedback. Riverside is also a very quiet and peaceful location to write while not worrying too much about rent. (I pay $950 for a newly built 3BD 2.5Bath.)

At this point, I take most of my learning out of my part-time job, writing gigs, and an external TV writing workshop. UCR is a good way to keep yourself fed and read some great novels, while getting feedback for your script in classes - before you go out into the job market.

Feel free to reach out for any questions! I love chatting with prospective students.

Overall, my experience at UCI for my Film and Media Studies BA was a positive one. The FMS department is considered part of the school of humanities, and UCI very clearly gives more funding priority to the STEM programs but the professors and students I was able to connect with really made the experience worthwhile. The offered courses are very engaging, though I know personally some folks didn't agree on some core required FMS classes. There's a major emphasis on theory and studying media and its history rather than actual production (I was there for two years and only took two classes related to actual production), but I think this is what set me up for success in my graduate applications as I feel other film production focused programs can lose that connection to the academia of film. I learned a lot, had a lot of fun, met a lot of great people, and came out with a solid foundation for film and with a much better grasp on how history (within film and otherwise) informs the industry and world today.

Overall, I loved my Howard film experience and wouldn't trade it for the world. Above all, it trained me to be scrappy and gritty, which are valuable traits to have in such a cutthroat industry. That being said, I think Howard needs to do more to bring its film school up to the level of other programs. Howard has a long list of notable alums, and I'd be willing to bet that more than half of them are successful entertainers and filmmakers. Yet, the school doesn't pour nearly enough money into its film and fine arts programs compared to its business school, for example. If you're looking to expand your network, learn how to grind with limited resources, collaborate with peers that look like you, and just get a basic understanding of how film works-- go to Howard. But if you're looking for a hardcore bootcamp that's going to make you into a technical master by the end of the four years, maybe try another program. It's hard to endorse or oppose Howard one way or the other-- ultimately, it's about what serves your needs and interests, how willing you are to pursue opportunities outside of class, and how much you can afford to pay.

The Howard University TV/Film Production program is one I would recommend to any young black filmmaker trying to discover their voice while surrounded by like-minded individuals. The program is what you make it. If you want a well-rounded and rigorous experience, then you can have that by putting yourself out there and creating projects with your peers. But if you want to coast by doing the bare minimum (showing up to class and doing the work), then you can do that as well. Howard was my first and only choice when it came to schools because I was aware of what the school had to offer. And although it was a bit intimidating at first, I was able to find an abundance of opportunities, while also building upon my filmmaking skills.

I am honored to be writing this review for Western’s graduate program in Screenwriting, but I am really writing a review for the Graduate Program in Creative Writing as a whole.

I cannot recommend this program enough, truly. It’s hard to describe just how much I learned and am still learning! I graduated with my MFA just this past July (2025) and am already seeing my hard work pay off. Let me repeat an important part of that sentence once more… “hard work”.

This program is not for someone looking for an easy way to “get their masters degree online”. This program is for writers, artists who are looking to master their craft and build an understanding of how to navigate the even harder reali-life industries. This program is for folks who take writing seriously and look forward to nerding out each week. This program is for the voices that don’t feel like they belong anywhere else. And, yes, this program is for those who looking for hard, but oh so rewarding, work. Who said getting your masters was supposed to be easy?

Let me tell you, sewing these seeds will lead to a bountiful harvest. I graduated just over 6 months ago and have already been selected in three screenplay completions, I have a reading planned for my thesis script, and I’ve had the opportunity to meet with some producers. Me and some other alumni have even started our own weekly writing group to continue sharpening the tools we learned at the GPCW!

The faculty are experienced, knowledgeable, and superb writers themselves. The leadership are gracious, supportive, and open to your feedback. The curriculum is fast-paced, challenging, and worth every stressed out second you give it.

It's been ten years since I graduated from Emerson College, but overall it was a good experience. I was a transfer, so most things I disliked came from that (living off campus and struggling to meet people). The biggest pros of Emerson are its student orgs and its post grad network. Student orgs like Emerson Channel and Emerson Independent Video are great for gaining on set experience and meeting people. There are also always loads of student film productions to work on. One of my biggest regrets is not getting more involved. There are, admittedly, a lot of egos in these groups, but likely no different than any other film school.

There is a lot of talk of the Emerson Mafia, and yes it is a pretty reliable network of alumni that can be helpful post grad. I personally have hired alumni on sets because they will know for sure what they are doing. On one set that I was assistant directing, an Emerson alum camera assistant I suggested hiring saved the shoot from our cinematographer and director's ineptitude (she actually knew how the equipment worked - crazy I know). Basically, going to Emerson will not guarantee capability, but it has a great track record of it.

I have heard some complain that the classes could be more useful, but I did not have that experience. I gained a lot from my writing, directing, and media studies classes in particular.

The biggest drawbacks are the cost, and honestly the students themselves. This may have just been my crop of peers, or even just the nature of film school, but there was an uncomfortable competitive nature among the students and large egos. Many of the students come from wealthy backgrounds, were nerds in high school, and felt accepted and entitled enough to form cliques and alienate other students. I felt judged when I did not know an aspect of filmmaking. Cinematographers had a tendency to usurp directors on sets, writers took out their insecurities on other writers in class, some students think they know better than the teachers, and it would not be film school without pretension. This is not to deter anyone from choosing Emerson because of this. I may have just had bad luck, and a lot of it could have been on me. I did make some good friends there, and every alumni I have bumped into since then has been cool. I just want to be transparent about my experience.

Overall, Emerson is a great film school. There are plenty of avenues to gain experience, the post grad network is useful, and Boston is a fun town to live in. It is possible to meet chill people and good friends, but Emerson film students have a reputation for a reason. My biggest piece of advice; do not be afraid to fail and or look stupid. Everyone is there to learn. The most successful film students welcome feedback even when it hurts. Do not let other students get you down. Remember that everyone there is in the same boat wanting to be seen as an untapped creative geniuses. Secret is; everyone can be given the right tools, support, and drive.

Some non religious folks like myself find themselves on the fence about attending a religious college. I found one artist in res/teacher to be particularly problematic. She'd present pseudoscience as science fact. I just don't think this is appropriate at a university. You might also have a difficult time if youre more liberal. Try to stay away from controversy in any attempt at making art....at shu. I was impressed how one professor pushed back against the religious themes in our work, explaining that it could alienate those who are not religious. Also, the artist in resident picked her friend and student to help with a project over everyone else. They'd go out to the bar together after every class. She finally asked everyone else out on the last day of class after a complaint was made because of the cost of the class.

Syracuse has a beautiful campus and great atmosphere. Also, the alumni & professor connection is great. Just the fact I graduated Syracuse has gotten me my first job, first feature as a DP, and many other career opportunities.

I attended PFS in the fall of 2025 and had an incredible experience. The knowledge, friendships, and experiences I gained during my time there were invaluable and gave me more confidence in entering the industry.

PFS offers two intensive, hands-on programs: Acting for Film (ideal for students with a theater background who want to move into film acting) and Filmmaking (where students get to learn about every component of the filmmaking process). Students receive consistent on-set experience, high-quality footage for reels and resumes, and rigorous instruction focused solely on their craft. The resources and equipment are incredible, and the international environment adds a unique global perspective. Both the city and school environment are also incredibly safe and supportive, which, coming all the way from the United States, was such a relief.

In the acting program, you start with a few weeks of classes (film acting, Meisner, voice, physical acting, improv, etc.) before having a week off from classes for shooting. You then return to class for another few weeks before having another production period, and so on. The balance of classroom time and hands-on work was beneficial in developing knowledge and honing skills practically. In class, you’ll do a lot of mock self-tapes to get in the rhythm of analyzing scripts and shooting audition sides, allowing you to experiment with different preparation processes. Something I recommend that acting students take advantage of is shooting their own short film at the end of the semester. It is a great opportunity to write yourself a role you’re excited about and take on the same responsibilities that the filmmakers take on. You then have the opportunity to screen your short at the end-of-semester screening, which is very exciting.

As part of the filmmaking program, you have the opportunity to take on different crew positions so that you leave with a well-rounded understanding of all of the different aspects of creating a short film. Filmmakers have access to industry-standard equipment, so projects have a more professional-looking product than many student films from other institutions.

What sets PFS apart the most is that you learn through doing. As both an actor and a filmmaker, the opportunity to be on so many sets (I got to be on around 30 sets) is unique to PFS. While there is so much to learn in the classroom, the experience of being in an on-set environment teaches so much that simply can’t be taught in a classroom. As a filmmaker, you’ll learn so much about the dynamic of a crew, scheduling and logistics, and stylistic choices. As an actor, this is an opportunity to apply all the character-preparation work you learn in class, learn about the importance of working in tandem with the crew, and experiment with portraying a wide range of characters.

Leaving PFS, I’ve fully realized my passions and feel even more excited to pursue my career. In addition to many new friendships, I now have a network of talented creatives from across the globe that I am eager to work with again in the future. I highly recommend PFS to any aspiring actor or filmmaker, no matter your level of experience. The Prague Film School community is so special, and I feel truly grateful for my time there.

It is extremely high value for the money, especially compared to film school. YMMV, but IMO the money you would spend on film school is better spent on making films to build your skills and portfolio. This curriculum tells you exactly how to do that.

The school asks you to invest in equipment, but if you have any doubts just try it out and watch some of the videos before buying cameras etc. I only bought equipment after I was confident that this curriculum could give me the skills to be able to make my own films if I did. If you don't like the curriculum, you're only out <$100 (and I think you can get a refund). If there's even a chance that you can get what you want out of a film school for $100/month + ~$12k in reusable equipnent, that's probably worth investing in for a trial.

A note on the other reviewer who said "all the info is on youtube for free." He's not exactly wrong. However if you're like me, you don't know what you don't know, so you'll never find it without a curriculum like this. For example, I could use reddit to learn that lighting is more important than the camera for production value, and I can go to youtube and google "how do I light a scene." But I would never know to also look for videos about light meters, gray cards, gels, etc. I wouldn't know to look for a video specifically the relationship between my camera settings and and the lights on my set. If you follow this curriculum step by step, you end up with a short film at the end. I'm not confident you can say the same about a self-directed youtube experience - but if you can, sure go for that.

I just wanted to make a film. At least one no matter how B-Quality it might turn out. I was just going to buy a cheap camera or use my phone. I ran into some videos online that led me to this school. I was dreading the thought of taking lessons and possibly sitting for hours of listening to nonsense. I didn't know what online school was all about but I took a chance thanks to the kindness of the school leader. The courses turned out to be incredibly easy to understand, very casual in a good way and extremely helpful. The teacher has been very communicative every time I had a question. Because of these courses, I now have knowledge of software and hardware that I would have never learned on my own and my short film turned out to look way more professional than I have ever dreamed. You are taught everything under the sun. Not only that, but I have confidence of creating more than one film. I can create several. I am very thankful for this school and the teacher. One of the best experiences I've ever had. I totally recommend it.

It's been few days since I started taking lessons and I really liked the lessons they are not too long easy to understand and navigating through these are very easy the community is diverse and we can learn while interacting with different people.

I’ve been involved in this online film school, and it’s genuinely been a standout experience. The course is self-paced and extremely well-structured, with clear communication and a highly supportive community. It’s helped me refine my storytelling and deepen my technical skills, and I’ve already been able to apply what I’ve learned directly to my filmmaking career.

The alumni network functions a bit differently than a traditional in-person program. While the global reach is a major advantage, it naturally makes spontaneous meetups or hands-on collaboration less common. For me, this hasn’t been a drawback, and as the school continues to grow, I expect its community circles to strengthen and naturally create more opportunities for in-person meetups.

Overall, it’s a five-star experience in terms of clarity, support, and practical impact.

An online “school” with no accreditation or legal accountability, promises “something no other school guarantees” which is just that you make a short film. Most film schools also guarantee you make films so this is a false statement. It would likely be better and certainly cheaper to just learn the same stuff from cheaper online platforms like Lynda, skillshare, or masterclass where at least the person teaching probably has some real experience in the industry especially given that success is self-determined in this course and those. Has a single “instructor” who has a BFA from a for profit university who itself got in trouble for defrauding accreditors about the success and training they provided. All that to say by any legitimate program standard they would not be allowed to instruct. Think long and hard about spending money here.