University of North Texas

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.