Latest Film School Reviews

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.

I started this program a few years ago. Based on the good reviews and the school’s proud claims, I expected I would receive a great education. However, soon after starting, I realized this was not going to be what I imagined.

Our editing classes mostly consisted of watching free YouTube tutorials—resources I could have easily accessed on my own. The program often promotes outdated Hollywood practices that are no longer relevant, discourages creativity, and pressures students to make the most basic films. Equipment training is minimal: you receive only a brief introduction to heavy, outdated gear and are then expected to figure it out with classmates. As a result, many students were injured. A few in the class above me even reported long-term spinal pain from accidents.


Be mindful that this is a very physically demanding program. If you are not physically prepared to carry heavy equipment constantly, you will still be forced to do so. Students are also expected to drive large grip trucks, often on little to no sleep. I am honestly surprised there haven’t been more accidents, considering students are frequently asked to drive over an hour after already working 13-hour days.

The program is even worse when it comes to mental health. Many students struggled with anxiety and depression throughout their time there. The information on the school’s website is also misleading. After graduating, I reached out to alumni, and almost all expressed disappointment. They said they received no meaningful support after graduation. From my own class, many no longer work in film-related fields or returned to the jobs they had before earning their degree. So, I don’t know where the “96% of graduates work in the industry within one year” statistic comes from—it seems outdated at best, if not completely fabricated. Graduates are offered no career support, and most are funneled into entry-level production assistant roles—positions that many people obtain without a degree, let alone a master’s education.

On top of all this, the school claims ownership of student films and even takes prize money from awards, despite graduates often being in desperate need of those funds. I know two students who were forced to give up their $10k awards at a time when they were already struggling to start a new life after graduation. While the program does cover production costs for short films, it comes at the price of stripping new graduates of both their creative and financial rights.

The only real advantage I see is that tuition is cheaper than most film schools if you’re a Florida resident. But in the end, you get what you pay for.

First off, let's talk about the pros to attending Chapman. The weather is great all the time and if you come here, you avoid that good for nothin snow back east. Disneyland is just around the corner and if you're lookin for a little bit of expensive fun, it's got you covered. The campus is absolutely beautiful as well while you're being surrounded by students who also (hopefully) love film.

Now let's talk about the cons, and trust me, there's a lot in the editing program.

The editing program is taught by one professor, unlike other programs such as directing and screenwriting which tends to be taught by multiple professors. Not so bad to have one editing professor right?... right?... Well there's a lot of problems with him and the way he teaches his class so if you don't like him, you simply can't switch.

For example, when I was in undergrad learning editing, I had a bunch of computer classes that taught me various programs on how to become a better editor and when I went into Chapman, I expected that this program was going to be similar. However, the editing program isn't taught with computers. You just simply show up to class, sit on a couch, and watch movies while the editing professor tells you on how to edit better. There's no hands-on learning, no using a computer in his class, it's purely learning by auditory learning. However, you do get to edit student projects and he'll give you auditory feedback on how to make them better.

In terms of his personality, if neuroticism is on a scale of 1 to 100, he's at least an 80+, while his agreeableness is below a 30. This translates to a highly competitive guy with a bit of rough edge around him and the kind of guy where if you disappoint him, he will give you an earful of negative talk and is not the kind of guy to give second chances either. For example, after one student did bad on an editing assignment, the teacher called their work completely incompetent and told them to their face that they have no talent. That's the kind of guy this professor is.

This isn't really a pro or con but if you decide to attend Chapman, you should definitely have some experience with editing film. This really isn't a school to cater to beginners.

I really like it, I'm glad I was able to get in, and the learning process is great. I've made a lot of friends. Basically, everything I've ever dreamed of is here.

I honestly think the experience of attending Prague Film School will vary depending on the attendee's skill level, situation, background, outlook, etc.

Here is mine:

Expenses
I am an American who had never traveled outside of the country before coming to PFS. In the United States, it is very expensive to attend a university out-of-state for a reasonable price. The tuition price was ultimately less than it would have been for me to attend an out-of-state university for a year, so it was a good option for me. I was also using it as a gap year and not coming from partner study-abroad programs at Oberlin College, Northwestern University, or Sarah Lawrence College. In general PFS would be considered too expensive for what it offers. Before arriving in Prague I had not known of the general cost of public education in the Czech Republic. However, the tuition of this certificate program is similar to that of private, English-speaking universities in Prague such as Anglo-American University.

The school provided flat accommodation is also expensive. I wish I had done better research and opted to find my own student accommodation, which can go anywhere from $200 to $800 a month. You can't get anything nice with those prices, but I recommend choosing that route instead. The thought of trying to find housing in a foreign country sounded like a daunting task but it is actually quite easy if you know where to look. School flats are around $1,000 a month, which again sounded reasonable to me at first until I came to Prague and saw how cheap you can get some places here for. Although the flats are expensive, they are indeed very nice places and situated in great neighborhoods. I lived in Žižkov first semester, but moved to Karlovo náměstí second semester to be closer to school. Gorgeous locations with lots of things to do. One thing though is that they are situated in regular flat complexes and neighbors can complain about noise and usage of the elevators for moving equipment.

Production costs mostly fall onto one person, the director of the film. Filmmaking is expensive, and the costs of location, actors, costumes, props, transportation, craft services, outside crew hiring, and additional equipment rental quickly adds up. I've seen people make their projects with no-budget, and others with a big budget.

Teachers and Curriculum
This is the part of PFS that I think can most be improved on. Classes are around 2.5 hours each, with several classes in a day. The quality of teachers is very inconsistent, and there are some more than others you get more out of. Some teachers were not willing to go into the super technical aspects of filmmaking like codecs, color science, etc. Camera and lighting classes consisted of looking at examples of a certain technique and trying to recreate it. While it was super fun coming up with on the spot scenarios to practice with, these classes ultimately get too repetitive. Equipment protocol and crew protocol were the most valuable to the production phase of the semester. The elective classes are not taken seriously, and the optional Czech class was a Q&A on how to say certain words in Czech. Teachers and staff are mostly alumni of the school.

Production
This was my favorite and most note-worthy portion of PFS. They told us in the beginning we would be working on a lot of films throughout the year, and they were not kidding. This is an intensive program, with 12-hour long shoot days and even some overnights. I had the opportunity to explore every crew position, and even found a favorite one I could specialize in. Teachers are not hands-on during the actual filming, which is a positive and negative thing. Students organize and coordinate crew amongst themselves, which can often get hectic and stressful. If something goes wrong during a shoot, which it very much does most of the time, it's hard to get help. I thoroughly enjoyed every set I got to be apart of. It's stressful and hard work, but ultimately so worth it. A lot of students choose to hire outside equipment, crew, and actors. As a director casting actors for roles, the small pool of actors in PFS's acting program is sometimes not suitable. Some are not native English speakers and may have accents that don't fit your story. There is a large emphasis on cinematography and directing, which leaves editing and sound to be a bit neglected. Some older equipment shows wear and tear, but for the most part works okay. The school computers and software installed are not super updated, and has caused me some problems. It seems like this does get better with each new batch. I can't speak to the second-year, documentary, or acting programs.

School Environment and Culture
Every member of the staff, admin, and student body are welcoming kind individuals. In general, the school is well organized and ran via Alice platform. Students are comprised of a wide variety of nationalities, ages, and backgrounds. I loved learning about other cultures than my own. I have met such interesting people here and made life-long connections. School appointed events such as parties and screenings are held at nice venues.

TLDR: FAMU is probably better quality, but PFS is surely not a complete scam. Fast-paced, intensive, with loads of hands-on set experience. I do not regret attending PFS, but it may not suit everyone depending on your circumstances. I am personally someone who whishes for super technical theory knowledge, but I didn't quite get that here. In closing, PFS is an experience I will never forget.