Latest Film School Reviews

You get what you put in - BA
Reviewed by: Alumni
Degree: BA/BS/BFA
Pros
  • Contacts
  • Experience
  • Kit Bookings
Cons
  • Lack of equipment
  • Lack of networking
  • Lack of space
  • No experience on controlled sets
  • Many students per cohort
Met Film School (London) is all about how much you put in as a student. No one is going to make life easy for you, especially because is horrible at organization and communication. However, Met will provide interesting coursework, especially in the BA. You will learn and gain experience if YOU want to, because Met will only give you the blueprints of your academic growth. No reading, or barely movie watching in class. For the amount that the students pay, they should at least finance a part of the grad films, but no!
Affordability
2.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
4.00 star(s)
Campus
2.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
2.00 star(s)
Coursework
3.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
2.00 star(s)
Professors
3.00 star(s)
Scholarships
1.00 star(s)
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University of North Carolina Wilmington- A Writing School disguised as a Film Production one
Reviewed by: Alumni
Degree: BA/BS/BFA
Pros- Location is close to film industry
- Practical Classes are useful to indie filmmakers.
- One will learn how to write good essays about film.

Cons- Writing is pretty much ALL you DO! The amount of filmmaking classes that are required is fairly minimal compared to the amount of lecture classes that will inevitably demand a seven plus page essay per class.

- The Film Curation is weak. It's either a heavy-handed drama, or a disturbing art film. "Vertigo/ The Godfather/ Seven Samurai/ Lawrence of Arabia/The Maltese Falcon" was not on any of the screening blocks of the classes I took.

Seventy five papers+less than five film projects+ frustrating curation+ job market that doesn't care that I wrote 75 essays= One Angry Man
Affordability
4.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
3.00 star(s)
Campus
5.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
3.00 star(s)
Coursework
4.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
3.00 star(s)
Professors
4.00 star(s)
Scholarships
3.00 star(s)
Anonymous does not recommend this film school!
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frosty_red_raider
frosty_red_raider
You wrote 75 essays in a film program? That's rough. Thanks for the review.
The Anti-Hollywood California Film School
Reviewed by: Alumni
Degree: BA/BS/BFA
Pros
  • Experienced and dedicated faculty
  • Teaching outside of a "Hollywood" system
  • Theory that educates you on global film practices
  • Theory that educates you outside of white male Hollywood
  • Dynamic range of courses
  • Did I mention the faculty and professors
Cons
  • Transportation/parking
  • San Francisco's lack of affordability for housing
  • President Mahoney
  • Funding
  • Facilities being a touch outdated (it is a CSU)
**I will preface this review with the caveat that I entered in the fall of 2019 and finished in spring 2021, that was my choice, many students deferred because of COVID-19, but my review still stands with a high regard of this film school despite COVID-19.

My faith and trust in this film program solely lies in the faculty and staff and their dedication to helping the students, especially the undergrad seniors, try to finish out their final year with some work to show for their time at SFSU despite a university that completely denied our access to equipment, facilities, and classes. I'm not sure how other people's experiences were in film school around the country or even in other parts of California during the beginning and height of the pandemic, but the Bay Area was an incredibly strict and restrictive area for trying to control COVID. This isn't me complaining about this, but giving context as to the hurdles that myself and fellow classmates had to deal with in order to have a fraction of the education we were still paying for and were promised. My issue was that there was no give, for many months, on the school's allowance for undergrad film students to have access to equipment because it would encourage filmmaking, which encourages gathering, even though we were completely remote by March 2020. It never sat right with me, but thankfully the professors and staff of the Cinema program at SFSU fought for us constantly, and for that I will always be grateful because the school gave in and allowed certain classes to resume (remote) and allowed those classes access to equipment. If it weren't for them I wouldn't have and award winning and festival presented short film under my belt.

Now as far as the program goes, yes, it is a state school so a lot of emphasis on writing and theory is necessary to graduate, but during a normal school year you have access to taking production classes that fit whatever tract you are pursuing: if you want to be a director there is Directing Actors, Visual Directing, Advanced Fiction Filmmaking, etc. screenwriters can choose from Adapting the Screenplay, Writing for Short Films, Feature Screenplay, etc. editors have multiple classes to choose from for editing, there are also sound classes a plenty, not to mention the great faculty that have experience and classes for experimental filmmaking.

SFSU also boasts a robust variety of faculty and professors, some well known filmmakers have worked there (Cheryl Dunye worked there for years before going back to working in the industry) and speaking of which SFSU is the type of school where you'll learn who Cheryl Dunye is, or Julie Dash, or Patricia Cardoso, or Charles Burnett, etc. and their contributions to film and an approach that may be more relatable to a diverse body of student filmmakers that aren't just young white men. Queer cinema and studies is also largely supported and backed by amazing faculty who work in the Bay Area and support the queer community within that work. The take away for me as a black woman that went to this school was that they put an emphasis and importance on educated well-rounded filmmakers to know history that isn't just Scorsese, Coppola, Howard, or Spielberg. It's always why it's quite anti-Hollywood because the film history is rooted in showing the flaws of Hollywood from the perspective of who history has notoriously left out in this country. This shouldn't be revolutionary, but required knowledge. Also if you want a Cinema and Media Studies background, the variety of courses you can choose from are very impressive.

Unfortunately, the equipment and facilities are a little dated, but they have stepped up in buying newer cameras and they try their best, again it's a state funded film program in the most expensive city in the state. Transportation can be tricky, especially if you don't live in San Francisco, mainly because the school is on the outer edge of the city. Driving and finding parking can be a pain but it is doable. Getting to the school through public transportation is also a pain but the school provides you with a discounted Clipper card for BART and SF Muni, and there are buses dedicated to dropping you off at campus from Daly City BART the are free, it's just a long commute. And yes, San Francisco is very expensive, I couldn't imagine being 18 and trying to move here, so if you can get campus housing your first year and meet people to live with later in something affordable I wish you all the best. SF and the Bay is very unique and special though, and many students gravitate here because there are communities that are fully supported here more than other parts of the state and country and you can't really put a price or measure on that. The career assistance post-graduation is hard for me to navigate or comment on because they offer the CSU Media Alliance and other apps for jobs, but the industry in the Bay Area is very limited but not impossible, it just depends on what you want to do. I did get an internship my senior year with a company based in L.A. but that was also something that could happen because of the pandemic. If you have a true desire/tract in something and you become close enough with any of those professors, keep in good contact with them because I've seen them help many students with jobs or opportunities in the Bay Area and L.A.

If you're looking for an inexpensive program that can help you figure out what direction in film you would like to take, or a program that offers a variety of classes that help you focus on your specific tract in filmmaking, SFSU is a great pick. You'll be supported in any community you identify with and can feel comfortable knowing you're in a program at a school that understands how far the industry still needs to go but will show you who has helped push the industry forward, and it doesn't have to be in the Hollywood system.

Also something that seems to be important is that they do not take any ownership of the work you do. They also have a fairly competitive school film festival every year highlighting all the work from students selected in a very diverse film festival with decent prizes.

If you want a school where you're touching a camera immediately your freshman year and never stop, this might not be the school for you. If you want the hands on experience of film school while also learning a true history of American and world film and watching films you may not ever see in other programs down south, this may be a great choice for you.
Affordability
5.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
3.00 star(s)
Campus
3.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
3.00 star(s)
Coursework
4.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
3.00 star(s)
Professors
5.00 star(s)
Scholarships
4.00 star(s)
Anonymous recommends this film school
One member found this helpful.
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Geared to essay film and experimental art rather than industry film training
Reviewed by: Alumni
Pros
  • Creative environment
Cons
  • Key tutors lack professional film industry experience
  • Disorganised productions planning, and lack of variety of collaborators in different crew dept roles
The screenwriting tutor was an experimental art/essay filmmaker and without a professional background in drama. These days the course is ran by experimental art tutors rather than filmmakers with industry backgrounds. There is disorganisation with regard to production crewing, budget allocation and too many aspiring directors, and no aspiring producers. Too many productions greenlit without resources to fulfil the quota. Would benefit from more practical, hands on cinematography workshops. The course was shortened to one year which is not long enough to study each aspect of film as it endeavours. To write, develop, produce, shoot and carry out post. Whilst doing advanced academic papers alongside without much practical relevance. The standard of shorts could be improved.
Affordability
3.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
2.00 star(s)
Campus
4.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
2.00 star(s)
Coursework
2.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
4.00 star(s)
Professors
2.00 star(s)
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Excellent University, Small but Healthy Film Department
Reviewed by: Alumni
Degree: BA/BS/BFA
Pros
  • Theory + Production
  • Excellent Professors
  • Happy Student Life
  • Most Beautiful Campus on Earth
Cons
  • Small department
  • Small alumni pool
My recommendation: don't go to Vanderbilt just to major in film. There are many more schools out there with much more robust and lively film departments than Vandy's. If you'd like to take on Cinema & Media Arts as maybe a second major or minor (like what I did) then it could be the perfect.

That being said, the professors are top notch and the courses are extremely interesting. I learned so much in my undergrad career even though I only decided to do a CMA major starting in my junior year (I already had two other majors at the time and the department was very helpful in making sure I met all grad requirements.)

The program is split pretty much down the middle when it comes to theory and production. So if you hate lectures but love being behind the lens (or vice versa), probably not the right fit for you.

Being a top private school, Vanderbilt costs $$$$$. Luckily, the school has a wonderful GRANT assistance program that helps students with financial need afford tuition with no need to repay loans. But, if you and/or your family are paying out of pocket, geez Louise. It's a lot.

Again, the department is very small, one of the smaller majors at Vanderbilt. Which has its pros and its cons. You get to know your professors well and likewise, they'll help develop your voice as a storyteller over those four years. But at the same time, the alumni network is comparatively miniscule which can be a hindrance in career assistance and mentorship upon graduation.
Affordability
3.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
4.00 star(s)
Campus
5.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
4.00 star(s)
Coursework
5.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
5.00 star(s)
Professors
5.00 star(s)
Scholarships
5.00 star(s)
ChiaFettuccine recommends this film school
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BA Theatre Program
Reviewed by: Alumni
Degree: BA/BS/BFA
Concentration: Theatre
Pros
  • Excellent faculty
  • Beautiful facilities
  • High funding
  • Professional connections
  • Talented students
  • Technical theatre
  • Incredible Libraries
Cons
  • Identity Politics
  • Popularity Contest
  • Self-importance
  • Bad Musical Theatre Program
  • No Career Guidance
The NU Theatre program accepts about 50 girls and 50 boys annually. It is a BA program, so you are able to take classes outside of your major, and many people do. The majority of the students are type-A, and many have an inflated sense of their own importance. By contrast, the majority of RTVF students appear more laid back, because it is a less competitive program. Theatre and RTVF don't have a ton of crossover, although in recent years more crossover courses have been baked into the curriculum. It's very difficult to take Theatre classes as an RTVF major, whereas it's not too difficult to take RTVF classes as a Theatre major.

The majority of the theatrical productions put on annually are put on by StuCo, the student theatre coalition, which is essentially a bunch of student-run clubs with varying funding, with internally-elected student boards making the decisions on who will direct, produce, and act in the shows. This means that you have to be social and volunteer to help on student productions to have a chance at directing a show, and it helps a lot if you want to act, too. If you don't figure this out early in your time at NU, it's much harder to work on shows. If you have other social interests, i.e. Greek life or sports, you're pretty much screwed and it's unlikely you'll be performing a lot within the StuCo system. All shows at NU are extracurricular, so you'll be in rehearsal from 6-10:30PM or later multiple days a week after class, and you won't get school credit for it. RTVF has a similar system with student boards like NUWFA and Studio 22, which give some of the largest student film grants. For Theatre majors, the holy grail is to be cast in a TI show, which is a show put on by a local professional, Theatre MFA student, or NU faculty, in any of NU's largest/nicest theaters.

All in all, I learned a lot at NU, really enjoyed my classes - especially historical theatre, puppetry, and technical theatre classes - and loved certain professors. I did not come away with any deep faculty relationships, even with my acting teacher. The campus politics can be really aggro, but that's so many liberal arts colleges these days. It's particularly bad in the Theatre program. It's freezing cold for most of the year, but you get used to it. There is a strong nose-to-the-grindstone mentality and a lot of people there take school super seriously. It's generally not a very laid back or chill place. But, like any other program, it's what you make of it, and it's a very well-respected school.
Affordability
1.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
5.00 star(s)
Campus
4.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
1.00 star(s)
Coursework
5.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
5.00 star(s)
Professors
5.00 star(s)
Scholarships
3.00 star(s)
Anonymous is undecided about recommending this film school
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B.A. Film and Media Studies - Review
Reviewed by: Alumni
Degree: BA/BS/BFA
Pros
  • Online
  • Friendly Faculty
  • Curriculum is comprehensive
Cons
  • Not a con, but don’t go into this program thinking you’ll learn practical filmmaking skills
  • Curriculum is not especially rigorous
My experience with ASU started in their Biochemistry and Biomedical Engineering program. Transitioned into Film and Media Studies after facing severe anxiety about my future in laboratory settings (sacrificed too many mice).

The Film and Media Studies program covers a ton of ground conceptually: histories, practices, laws, and politics. Additionally, the program includes a decent amount of time spent on learning and applying critical theories to films and film genres.
Affordability
5.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
4.00 star(s)
Campus
4.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
4.00 star(s)
Coursework
5.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
5.00 star(s)
Professors
5.00 star(s)
Scholarships
3.00 star(s)
ewheeler0906 is undecided about recommending this film school
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C
Coco24
My understanding is that the BA is more theoretical, which may explain the lack of hands-on experience. Did you look into the BFA or have a chance to do projects at the MIX center? I know these are relatively new, but I was extremely impressed by the MIX center and it seemed very hands-on.
The Fixer-Upper of Film Schools
Reviewed by: Alumni
Degree: BA/BS/BFA
Pros
  • Seasoned Faculty
  • City of San Francisco
  • Diversity
  • You Own Your Films/Scripts
Cons
  • No Emphases
  • Poor Funding
  • Lack of Campus Life
  • Antiquated Equipment
For a while, SFSU sat on the Hollywood Reporter's Top 25 Film Schools hovering around 20 to getting knocked off in 2021. It was the only CSU -- CSUN recently joining the ranks -- on the list for a longtime, making it the most prestigious yet cheapest 4-year university option on the list. This is a public school of cinema over 40 years old and while it has plenty of character developed over that time, the facade remains the same.

Two things for all prospective undergrads: this is a bachelor of arts program and a hybrid film program. The former means you will have to complete GE requirements like any major at SFSU -- every UC and CSU will require GE's; it is part of your degree and you just have to accept it. Unless you transfer or have preexisting credits, you will not start the film program until your sophomore year, where you can only take the CINE 200 pre-requisites (Intro to Filmmaking + Lab, Intro to Cinema Studies, & Film History I & II). That brings in the latter: this is a hybrid program and the faculty stress the importance of learning theory as much as learning production. You're not watching Tarantino or Scorsese or Coppola. The 400 Blows, Do the Right Thing, and La Jetée are the building blocks, and from there you dive into Ingmar Bergman, Park Chan Wok, and Lucrecia Martel. That's 3 theory classes and only 2 production classes your sophomore year -- and you don't even get to rewatch Pulp Fiction?! The imbalance of classes and lack of classic film study causes many to drop off/transfer halfway through their B.A., but the diverse selection of films will build your perspective and strengthen your filmmaking abilities -- just know this is what you're signing up for beforehand.

After your pre-requisites, you will be able to take upper-division film courses. There are more theory requirements: a graduate writing requirement (GWAR), the critical studies course + seminar, and 3 film theory classes of your choice. Yes, it is a lot of theory. If you know your way around the class schedule portal, you will still fit in plenty of production. The highlights include 16mm cinematography -- one of the most hands on classes and allows you to work with ARRI super 16mm cameras; projects in film editing -- Professor Pat Jackson is a legend in her craft and shows editing classes aren't the same as YouTube tutorials; and producing and financing films -- Professor Brian Benson runs a yearlong bootcamp in producing films and assures you exactly why you went to film school. The main two problems with the production courses are the limited tracks and antiquated equipment. 16mm & digital are the only two cinematography courses offered by the school -- an advanced lighting technique class might pop up a semester if they have the faculty. There are no tracks that you can follow; you are receiving a general film degree in production and theory (B.A. in cinema.) The thesis program is 36 students per year... (18 in the yearlong program and 18 in the spring semester program). Barely any students graduate with a thesis film unless you are one of these 36 or you actively shoot a thesis film outside of class time. Second, the equipment is fine -- just fine. The C-100's work great for any class project, but you can only check out equipment if you are in a production class. Do not be expecting to check out equipment your freshman year. Sharegrid will be where you rent the majority of your equipment from. After completing all of your requirements and taking enough production courses, you will have earned your degree.

While this review is quite expository, I had a positive and excellent time at this school, so here are some straight up pros. San Francisco... You are in one of the most beautiful cities in the world -- a city which allows students to permit locations around town for free. On top of this, the program itself is $7,000 (IN-STATE) a year and features no supplemental application, making this an easy backup school since no extra work is required. Plus, you own all films and scripts produced in class -- a hidden caveat to many of the large private film universities around the US. This school's emphasis on diversity and fringe filmmakers will broaden and strengthen your creative ability and knowledge.

In conclusion, SFSU School of Cinema has been treated as the public-west coast version of NYU and that is not too far off from the truth. A visuals over substance school whose out-of date facilities can set back the often incredible faculty and differing perspectives passing through. Most of you who end up going to SFSU will have no other options -- often due to cost of tuition. If you go here, do not worry. You will find the right group of filmmakers and you will make the most out of your CSU-budgeted public program. It really is the most fixer upper of all the film schools, so just have fun while you're there.
Affordability
5.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
2.00 star(s)
Campus
3.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
1.00 star(s)
Coursework
3.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
2.00 star(s)
Professors
3.00 star(s)
Scholarships
3.00 star(s)
Anonymous is undecided about recommending this film school
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CalArts Film/Video Undergrad
Reviewed by: Alumni
Degree: BA/BS/BFA
Pros
  • You're making films starting your first week
  • Freedom to explore whatever you want
  • Faculty that are committed to having regular meetings
  • A diverse student body
  • Supportive of interdisciplinary projects, however you must initiate it
  • Many unique resources you won't find elswhere
Cons
  • Too expensive
  • Faculty are running out of steam
It's primarily an art school, with the resources of a film school. Some moderately up-to-date equipment, a lot of super rare analog equipment you won't have a chance to work with elsewhere.

Some faculty positions are constantly in flux, such as the Cinematography position, they can't seem to get it right. The sound department seems very robust, everyone in there is highly skilled. The animators are amazing, take some of their classes (Experimental Animation, not Character)

Have an idea of what kind of filmmaker you want to be and write it down somewhere before attending - there's a ton of amazing work being made or attempted here, but some find they're caught in a popularity contest instead of staying true to themselves. There's the potential to mold any experience you want out of CalArts, truly, but it will take self-initiative. Particularly if you want to be making narrative films - and if so, befriend the MFA Film Directing students, they are narrative focused.
Affordability
1.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
2.00 star(s)
Campus
4.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
2.00 star(s)
Coursework
4.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
3.00 star(s)
Professors
4.00 star(s)
Scholarships
3.00 star(s)
Anonymous recommends this film school
2 members found this helpful.
Last edited by a moderator:
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A
alexisryu
Are they at least generous with financial aid?
Excellent Program: Bad Politics
Reviewed by: Alumni
Degree: BA/BS/BFA
Pros
  • Great Faculty
  • Doc Films
  • Fire Escape Films
  • Small Class Size
  • Close Professor - Teacher Relationship
  • Survey Courses (History of Cinema, Documentary Production, etc)
  • Excellent Events
Cons
  • Expensive as Hell
  • Extremely Rigorous
  • Chicago Winters
  • Ultra Conservative Admin
  • Limited Production Oppurtunities
I want to start this off by saying I got an amazing education from the University of Chicago. It's one of the top schools in the country for a reason. More specifically, the Cinema Studies Program is diverse, engaging, and perfect for anyone who is looking to learn about film from a historical and theoretical lens. There is essentially no production component to the program, so your opportunities to make films are pretty much on you. That being said, there are great student run programs for filmmaking that have tons of funding from the university, and access to pretty good equipment.

My gripe about my experience is that...I am a wealthy white man. This school is really great for wealthy white men. It is really, REALLY tough to be a student of color, or a woman at this school. Controversies galore, I can only say re my comment about the admin, that UChicago is investigated almost yearly for Title IX violations.

The academics are amazing if your willing to put yourself through one of the most intense and unforgiving environments for learning in the country, and the school has a lot of amazing things going for it. But I cannot stress enough that this school is very, very hard.
Affordability
1.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
5.00 star(s)
Campus
5.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
4.00 star(s)
Coursework
5.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
4.00 star(s)
Professors
5.00 star(s)
Scholarships
5.00 star(s)
tomkristensen311 is undecided about recommending this film school
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A Positive Perspective
Reviewed by: Alumni
Degree: BA/BS/BFA
Pros
  • Engaged Professors
  • Production Resources
  • Warm and encouraging environment
Cons
  • Not very hands on
  • Location (for narrative filmmakers at least)
AU is a bit of a diamond in the rough in terms of Film BAs. Well, maybe not diamond - but one of the lesser gems. I had a great experience at AU and within my major but I struggle to agree that I went to "film school". The film program has a lot of excellent professors - as well as some okay ones - but there is a real disparity amongst students and what they want to achieve with their degrees. I mean that in terms of drive as well as future goals. Traditionally more focused on docs, there has been a trend towards narrative films within the program. There were some growing pains as the faculty realized their student body was pretty 50 / 50 but they seem to be moving in the right direction. The program definitely has a distinctively indie feel.

That said, if you are someone who wants to be on film sets regularly, this may not the place for you. There are opportunities for students to do great work but there is not a lot of consistency. Some students never touched a camera until their senior year while others were excellent with cameras - and they all took the same requirements. The same can be said for networking, getting internships, etc. It's there in theory, but takes some extra effort. Surely COVID-19 and online courses impacted this but there is definitely a lack of follow through overall.

I will say, I found AU to be a pretty well-rounded degree. Housed within the School of Communications, students take other SOC curriculum and all SOC students are required to declare a minor. Upon graduation, I had a lot of hirable skills within media production and related industries like PR and graphic design. AU itself may not be a big name within the industry but if a student applies themselves to the coursework, it can definitely be a rewarding degree.

What ultimately hinders AU for certain filmmakers is its location. DC is an incredible city but for narrative filmmakers, it is not ideal in terms of internship opportunities and jobs. Going to AU will not break you into the film industry - but it will could help you become someone with the ability to do so.
Anonymous recommends this film school
One member found this helpful.
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CalArts Film/Video Undergrad Experience
Reviewed by: Alumni
Degree: BA/BS/BFA
Pros
  • They have knowledgable faculty
  • Extensive film/video library collection
  • Access to visiting filmmakers with opportunities for one on one workshops with them.
  • Collaboration between undergrad and graduate film students is frequent.
  • Interesting array of film classes. Undergrads can take graduate level classes for credit.
  • Undergrads are assigned a film/video faculty mentor throughout their time at CalArts.
  • RED RAVENS are available in the cage to borrow for film shoots
  • Consistently working on new films/work
Cons
  • Faculty can be more diverse
  • Tuition is expensive
  • Further removed from Los Angeles
  • Tuition raised every year
  • Very limited scholarships
CalArts' Film program is known to be more experimental; however, I wouldn't say it focuses solely on art-house cinema or experimental cinema, but presents it in the curriculum as a method of filmmaking. I learned a lot of filmmaking theory while at CalArts through watching making films and dissecting the filmmaking styles I liked and disliked. It was a formative 3 years for me that taught me a lot about filmmaking and the filmmaker I wanted to be. I would highly recommend this program to those who want to do narrative work as well! They have great equipment and mentorship opportunities.
Affordability
2.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
4.00 star(s)
Campus
4.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
2.00 star(s)
Coursework
5.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
4.00 star(s)
Professors
5.00 star(s)
Scholarships
4.00 star(s)
Anonymous recommends this film school
2 members found this helpful.
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An affordable option if you're willing to dedicate the time to teach yourself.
Reviewed by: Alumni
Degree: BA/BS/BFA
Pros
  • Low cost program
  • Decent equipment and facilities
  • Cleveland has a decent film scene
Cons
  • The older faculty isn't knowledgeable
  • Alumni network is virtually non-existent
  • No internship opportunities
  • Lack of diversity
I graduated from CSU's film program right before they revamped it to include a BFA option. I was mostly interested in screenwriting and that wasn't really an option at the time so I took the one screenwriting class offered and then took playwriting classes in the English department. My biggest critique of the program at that time was that there really weren't that many classes to have a well-rounded education in film and they mostly taught film as a trade, so you'd learn how to be a camera operator at a sports event as opposed to how to be a really good director of photography.

They had pretty decent equipment but none of the instructors were knowledgeable about how to use it, in fact they would at times use the equipment for their own personal projects and I thought that was annoying. That said, if you wanted to go to the equipment cage and play with the equipment and figure everything out yourself, they were okay with that at the time but that may have changed since they revamped the program. I ended up working in the equipment cage and got really good with a lot of the lights (cameras never were my strong suit). The other cage employees also had a ton of knowledge about the equipment and could teach you more than the faculty they had at the time. But some people may really like being able to use the equipment and figure it out for themselves. They also had a pretty good editing bay with Adobe Suite and Avid, you could sign up to use the computers and teach yourself to use all of that software and be pretty damn good at it if you wanted, a lot of students did that.

The faculty was kind of a mess. Most of the old faculty is still there and I think that's unfortunate because the older male faculty members really weren't good instructors. They had the energy of guys who didn't make it and were falling back on teaching, which sucks because you want people who are really passionate and knowledgeable about teaching. They also played favorites a lot, and usually, that benefitted the white male students. You'd often times learn more with a younger adjunct, I was happy to see that the new program promoted some of the former adjuncts like Maria Gigante and Sal Cardoni to faculty, they were both really good instructors and I enjoyed taking their classes.

The program itself wasn't very diverse when I went. Almost all of the teachers were old straight white guys, except for one white woman. I don't think that that has changed too much if at all. So if you're not a white guy, you might not feel seen. And there was an incident where one of the male students said some pretty homophobic stuff to me and it was brushed under the rug because the male faculty members vouched for him. It happened in my last semester but it definitely soured me on the program. Those faculty members still teach there so that's something to be wary of.

The best aspects of the program to me are how affordable it is, if you're an Ohio resident it's dirt cheap and almost everyone there was covered with grants and scholarships. You're not gonna leave with a ton of debt. So even though the faculty and curriculum weren't great, you could in theory go to the program for nothing or next to nothing, spend time learning how to use the equipment in the cage, and teach yourself how to be a pretty good director/cine/editor by the time you leave. If you're good at learning that way, you'd probably like the program.

Cleveland has a pretty good film industry because of Ohio's film tax incentive. A few movies shoot in Cleveland every year and you can find your way onto a set interning if you really try. I had to do it for myself because the school didn't have any sort of internship connections but maybe that has changed now. The lack of any internship opportunities or career development within the program at the time meant that almost none of the alumni went on to work in film. This means that the alumni network is pretty much useless and that's a huge detriment to the program.

The last thing I'll say is that if you want an undergrad basis and you know that you're going to pursue an MFA later, this program is good because the classes were so easy that you'd leave with a really competitive GPA and a decent portfolio from having access to the equipment (again, if you teach yourself how to use it).
Affordability
5.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
1.00 star(s)
Campus
3.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
1.00 star(s)
Coursework
2.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
3.00 star(s)
Professors
1.00 star(s)
Scholarships
5.00 star(s)
xa_rms_x_does_not_recommend_this_item
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You Get What You Put In
Reviewed by: Alumni
Degree: BA/BS/BFA
Pros
  • Equipment
Started the program off with an intro film professor who had no desire to help me learn. A lot of classes you need to get through before you can do "real" classes. Can be frustrating because I would have to take Radio and TV (live broadcast) classes when I only wanted to work on film.

Film analysis and history classes are excellent. Learned a lot from watching a lot of films and talking about them in a discussion setting.

The last year was incredibly rewarding: I wrote a feature script in Advanced Screenwriting, directed three <10 minute shorts for Intermediate Film, another two <10 minute shorts for Directing Film, directed a TV episode for their network, wrote/directed one of the 10ish projects (<15 minutes) for Advanced Film. The only annoying thing about the last year is that I felt like those were the classes where they get you to really meet your fellow students, when I feel that should be something they do at the beginning of the program.

From what I've heard, you have more creative freedom here than University of Texas, Austin. But UT has a better alumni network and I know plenty of film friends who still work together that met at UT, whereas I don't talk to anyone from UNT, nor do I know anyone that is still in the film industry.

My advice: put in the work on your own, collaborate with people, stick to your vision. Some professors may not understand your work, but in the end, if you stick to your artistic guns and make something people can connect with, it will be a good film, and they'll understand it in the end.
Affordability
5.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
1.00 star(s)
Campus
4.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
2.00 star(s)
Coursework
3.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
5.00 star(s)
Professors
4.00 star(s)
Anonymous is undecided about recommending this film school
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Studying film at SAIC can be a challenging choice.
Reviewed by: Alumni
Degree: BA/BS/BFA
Pros
1. amazing facilities and equipment. (it's a private art school-they are rich)
a.Red Scarlet and Steadicam for several higher-level classes and MFA students.
b. Tones of BlackMagic. if you are enrolled in any film course you can check out.
c. Have the chance to shoot on literally film film. I remember it's 16mm. Can also check out the film camera. You can also buy super-8 at the media center.
d. Lighting equipment are also amazing. there are old/traditional ones like Solar Baby, also new LED ones. Enroll in any course in the department can check out most of them.
e. plenty rigs & tracks
f. two shooting space
g. Every computer in the advance editing room uses Alienware. Private editing suite for advance courses and MFA students.
h. the film department has a professional cinema
i. Free apps, like Davinci.

2. Amazing professor and TA (if you can enroll in their courses). Professors are nice and not remote, treat you as a friend.
One of my TA's film showed at Canne Film Festival. One of my professor's film showed at Berline Film Festival. however, they are always busy, so be very active and let them know about you and your work. Also very helpful for your recommendation letter.

3. very free and open, make whatever you want. It's an art school. There is no formula for making great work. (several years ago, there was actually a pornography class, but it's gone)

4. thesis work can be shown in professional cinema in downtown Chicago

5. The school owns one of the best art museums in the US and it's free for SAIC students. Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Pollock, Warhol... Great resources to develop esthetic.

Cons
1. It's an art school, not a film school. not much connection to the industry.

2. expensive. but it's easy to get the scholarship

3. easy to get lazy, no pressure. if you only want to pass the course and don't want to work, you can make a piece of shit and bullshit about the theme of your work, this can work. Your classmates can be one of them.

4. classmates might be troublesome if they are the type of person I mentioned in 3. They won't say anything at the critique. If they are your crew, wish you are strong enough to finish your work on your own.

5. if you're not interested in art at all, don't come, or this place will make you crazy. there're at least 4 required art history courses, so a lot of art history papers are waiting for you. and people here, most of them are artists.

6. no campus. The school has several buildings at the center of downtown Chicago.

7. Freezing winter. little chance to shoot outside in winter, because the battery will die and the snow can cause overexpose.
Affordability
3.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
5.00 star(s)
Campus
2.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
3.00 star(s)
Coursework
4.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
5.00 star(s)
Professors
5.00 star(s)
Scholarships
4.00 star(s)
Anonymous recommends this film school
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Excellent Online Courses, Lame Admin
Reviewed by: Current Student
Degree: Certificate
Pros
  • Some of the best teachers I've ever seen.
  • Meaningful information,
Cons
  • Admin isn't sure who is full time and who is online.
I have an MFA in TV production that I haven't used in 30 years. I took the one-week film making course to morph from TV jargon to film and update from analog to digital. Some of the professors were the best I've ever seen. The course only required a one to two-minute unedited film project, but it inspired me to do a nine-minute film I uploaded to YouTube, and it got me recognition from local independent film makers. I then took the 15-week Screenplay Story and Structure course and completed two complete outlines of movies. I have now entered the second 15-week course and hope to have one script ready to produce locally and another for marketing by April. I think NYFA is well worth the money if you're serious about film making and ready to put your time and energy into it. The administration, however, leaves much to be lacking. I could not enter the first course ontime because they wanted me to prove I had a high school education, even tho my application showed an MFA. The second course used info from my first course and went smoothly. But now they've updated their info entry system and seem to be more worried about my skin color than my qualifications to continue. I don't understand why they are doing this, but I hope they straighten it out soon.
Anonymous recommends this film school
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Chris W
Chris W
But now they've updated their info entry system and seem to be more worried about my skin color than my qualifications to continue.
You can update your review to reply to this so you remain anonymous... But I'm sorry what? That doesn't sound right. You mean they're asking for your race? That's pretty standard on things but it's illegal for them to use that information for discrimination purposes.
RISD BFA in Film
Reviewed by: Alumni
Degree: BA/BS/BFA
Pros
  • Great professors
  • You can take classes at Brown
  • You can take classes in other majors/disciplines
  • Great student body that's full of super hardworking, kind, creative people
  • Beautiful campus
Cons
  • it's expensive
  • You don't start taking film classes until sophomore year
  • More documentary and fine-arts/experimental geared (might be a pro for some folks)
RISD's film major (called Film / Animation / Video) is split into three tracks: Animation, Live-Action (narrative and documentary), and Open Media (which is experimental and installation work). I did the Live-Action track. The Animation track/department is excellent. Live-Action was pretty good when I was there and seems to have gotten better since then. I loved my professors and the classes I took. RISD is a school that cares about traditional academics - you're required to take a bunch of liberal arts classes, which they have a great offering of, or you can take some of them at Brown.

You have to apply with a portfolio of artwork because you aren't applying to a specific major and you spend your first year doing "foundation" classes, which is a mix of English and art history classes and three studio classes a semester, which are Drawing, Spatial Dynamics (basically just sculpture), and Design.

The live-action track has some great professors and pretty good equipment considering the size of the program (small). Access varies based on what year you're in (seniors get priority). I will say that when I attended, they do teach you narrative filmmaking, and you can take directing classes, it does feel more like an art school and less like a traditional film school/program. It is great for documentary filmmaking, animation, or fine art, but it's not an industry school. It was a great place to develop a style/voice, learn the basics of filmmaking, and explore different concepts. I definitely left with a sense of being a jack of all trades, which is great in some ways because it opens up a lot of weird, cool opportunities, but in other ways, you might leave feeling like you're not really prepared for any real film job.

The culture there was really serious, but really grounded. I loved going there and living in Providence.
Affordability
2.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
4.00 star(s)
Campus
5.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
4.00 star(s)
Coursework
5.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
3.00 star(s)
Professors
5.00 star(s)
Scholarships
3.00 star(s)
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Disappointing
Reviewed by: Current Student
Degree: MA/MFA
Concentration: Cinematography
Pros
  • Cheaper than prestigious LA or NY film schools
  • High end facilities
  • Discipline specific degrees offered
Cons
  • Seems to admit anyone/desperate for students
  • Poor coursework
  • Feels more like a TV school than a film school
  • Could be a lot shorter program
I studied in the MFA cine program for one year and deferred due to the corona virus, but decided not to return to the program, mainly due to disillusionment with the quality of the classes.
The first semester, everyone is required to take a class called "Story". To be blunt the class was kind of a joke. It involved reading stories like The Tell Tale Heart and the Oedipus myth, stories which basically every high school American is exposed to at some point. The homework was also pretty mind numbing and reminiscent of high school busy work, which makes you wonder why graduate students are being subjected to it. Furthermore, why are cine students forced to take an acting class their second year?

The only classes that I thought were useful were the ones specific to my discipline--cinematography. And that's the problem with Chapman's MFA program for production-- it should actually be a condensed two year degree like AFI. I would have loved to have taken all the cine classes, ignored the rest, and graduated much sooner and cheaper, but unfortunately that's the con of a curriculum that's predetermined.
Based on my experience of the program it's designed more for students who haven't had much prior production experience.

Unfortunately, I don't think Chapman does a very good job of preparing those students who do have less experience than others. The first semester cine students are required to make a project called a 3-2-1, yet are given pretty much zero instruction in the very basics of lighting. Two cine students dropped out right after the first semester because they realized it makes no sense to pay all that money for lessons that weren't even given. People go to film school to be taught and instructed in an organized way, not to figure everything out on their own. That's what YouTube is for. During the second semester, lighting was finally covered in more detail... after over 20K had already been spent by every student.

The philosophy at Chapman is actually that students are supposed to get most of their hands on practical knowledge by volunteering on student sets. Which is fine. That's why I dropped out. Because why pay money to work on sets when I can work on sets for free without paying? And that's the problem. The students I've worked under certainly know things that I've learned from, but there's no way of knowing what it is you don't know unless you actually have an experienced professor teaching you. Maybe more of that happens in the second year, but I didn't care to risk all that money to find out.

The second, and possibly most important, issue that I believe holds Chapman back is the quality of the students they admit. Networking is a huge part of film school, so if your classmates aren't that special, then you're in trouble. I'm not speaking about my fellow cine students, but mainly the quality of the directing students. Many seemed to have a working knowledge of cinema limited to Marvel and Christopher Nolan. Which I guess is fine if you want to try to make films like those. Others liked to spout trite and poorly reasoned regurgitations of the latest pop woke tropes, which I suppose is also fine if you want to direct Coke commercials. But if you want to make meaningful independent cinema... well, there weren't too many unique, truly authentic voices to be found in that bunch.

I know someone who attends AFI, and based on what I've heard the gulf between the quality of students at AFI and Chapman isn't very close. The resumes of the AFI students knock those of the Chapman students out of the park. Many have already shot, edited, or directed a feature, and many have legitimately impressive connections (connections are definitely not required to gain admission though). If you want to surround yourself with people very likely to be successful, you'll have a much better shot at AFI.

Demographically, most of the students in the whole graduate program (not just MFA cine) are white or international Chinese students. A very small percentage are black, and I'm not really sure what accounts for this disparity other than that Orange County itself has a very small black population, and black students probably prefer attending programs in LA where there is a much bigger local black population. The high number of international Chinese students makes networking somewhat difficult, as there can unfortunately be a bit of a language and cultural barrier. This group is kind of cliquey, probably because it streamlines things for them to work with those who speak the same native language. But they're also very good at connecting with fellow Chinese students at the other big schools like USC and AFI.
Honestly, I don't like referring to Chapman as a film school. They are currently phasing out all their film cameras, and much of the interest and excitement attending students have appears to be focused on digital TV production more than anything else. It is definitely not a cinema lover's school, although I was lucky to meet a few like minded people there. While I was disappointed overall, I'm glad I went for the one year I did. I learned some things I didn't know about cinematography before, and made some connections with people I will be working with in the future. But for those who want the best MFA experience, I suggest looking elsewhere.
Affordability
3.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
3.00 star(s)
Campus
5.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
1.00 star(s)
Coursework
2.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
4.00 star(s)
Professors
2.00 star(s)
CineEye does not recommend this film school!
10 members found this helpful.
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ItsMeMore
It's true that AFI is the cinematographer's school. A friend of mine has lectured at AFI a few times because of his lighting experience, but I wouldn't necessarily discount Chapman from offering exposure to other students that may become successful. It's admittedly frustrating for technically proficient students, especially when seeking a masters in film, to have to take slower steps when ready to run. That certainly wouldn't be the scenario with other art forms such as music - one would certainly expect proficient camera operators just like pianists or composers, but the film industry is weird one. Many successful current directors and cinematographers wouldn't know how to place a light, operate a camera or even write a scene.
Only a fool would miss this opportunity
Reviewed by: Alumni
No filmmaker is so great that Carl Haber cannot help them improve and explore the full extent of their potential. I have had the pleasure to take a handful of courses from Carl at RIFS and in addition to being one of the most interesting and kind people you will meet in your life, Carl is boundlessly generous with his over 40 years of industry wisdom, and picking his brain is a true gift for anybody interested in cinema. Before taking classes with RIFS, I had already completed film school and worked on every type of project from music videos to shorts to feature films and commercial productions, and I have never felt more confident in my ability as a creator than with the knowledge I acquired from RIFS. The courses I took from Carl have given me clarity in the process and made me comfortable pushing the boundaries of what I thought I was capable of. Carl believes in his students and advocates for them to the utmost of his ability. If you want to become a better filmmaker, you would be foolish to leave this opportunity unexplored. 10/10 stars, full endorsement from me.
Affordability
5.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
5.00 star(s)
Campus
5.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
5.00 star(s)
Coursework
5.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
5.00 star(s)
Professors
5.00 star(s)
Scholarships
5.00 star(s)
Not Worth Your Time
Reviewed by: Current Student
Degree: MA/MFA
Concentration: Cinematography
Pros
  • Brand new and state of the art equipment
  • Kind and accommodating equipment room manager
  • Diverse student body
Cons
  • Terrible communication between faculty and students
  • Directing track held on a pedestal above other tracks
  • Understaffed and inexperienced faculty
  • Complicated and frustrating equipment policies
  • Administrative red tape and bureaucracy halts real meaningful progress
  • No real access to Steiner studios and the lot beyond “campus”
  • Unreasonable and asinine covid-19 policies
Illustrating everything that is wrong with this school would take over an hour, and I have neither the time nor patience for that. To avoid being redundant, I would read the other one star review for Feirstein, as it paints an accurate picture of the amount of chaos and the lack of clear communication that happens at the school every day.

Many of those problems existed before the covid-19 pandemic, and have since been amplified by it. Waiting to get a reply from the Feirstein admin for project approvals can take up to a week, often with projects being given a red light or canceled the night prior to a shoot (after considerable time and resources have been spent in pre-production). Furthermore, different faculty members will give different answers regarding to whether you’re allowed to film, which makes the whole Feirstein experience feel like a joke. I understand that the school is fairly new, but that doesn’t excuse the appalling level of miscommunication and lack of communication.

The price of tuition might seem alluring compared to other well known film schools, but the price does not justify the terrible experience, and in the end you’ll probably end up spending more money renting and acquiring gear because your shoot got cancelled last minute, or if they decide to withhold certain pieces of equipment they promised you for some reason.
Affordability
4.00 star(s)
Alumni Network
1.00 star(s)
Campus
3.00 star(s)
Career Assistance
2.00 star(s)
Coursework
3.00 star(s)
Facilities & Equipment
4.00 star(s)
Professors
3.00 star(s)
Scholarships
2.00 star(s)
Anonymous does not recommend this film school!
2 members found this helpful.
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