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.
