Columbia MFA Screenwriting and Directing Questions (2 Viewers)

[mkom]

Hi! To anyone who has completed this program or is in the middle of it. How much do you feel the technical lacking from the school? Do you feel it as a hindrance or is this overstated?

 

[Zeno]

I’m a Columbia University MFA graduate, and I hesitate to generalize, as the experience is highly subjective and depends on individual needs. That said, I found their emphasis on understanding storytelling, rather than focusing primarily on equipment, extremely valuable. Their approach prepares you for the long term by grounding you in story first, with the tools serving that purpose.

They do provide very solid technical instruction as well, it’s just not the center of the training. As Eric Mendelsohn, head of the directing program, puts it: they are “future-proofing” you. No matter how the tools evolve, you’ll know how to tell a story. With AI increasingly entering the process, that feels especially valuable.

There are, of course, programs that lean more heavily into the technical side, but that’s usually explicit, for example when applying to a cinematography track.

If you’re interested, check out my Q&A on Columbia, there’s more detail there:

Article 'Zeno (Columbia University MFA '24) on Inspired Storytelling and Unlocking Networking Opportunities (Part 1)'

After earning his Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies from UC Santa Barbara in 2003, @Zeno undertook various projects in the industry that paved the way for him to attend Columbia University School of the Arts. In 2024, Zeno graduated from Columbia’s film program with a Master of Fine Arts in...

• Alexa P.
• Nov 15, 2024
• 17 min read
• Category: Film Student Interviews
• best film schools columbia university columbia university soa east coast film schools film school mfa interviews life after film school mfa 2024 screenwriting top film schools in the world

 

[buffchick]

Hi! To anyone who has completed this program or is in the middle of it. How much do you feel the technical lacking from the school? Do you feel it as a hindrance or is this overstated?

Hi! I am currently in my second year of the MFA and I do think it is true that the technical is put on the back burner. However, prior to coming to Columbia, I attended an undergraduate film program where the technical was emphasized more than the story. For me, attending Columbia was a very strategic move to enhance my storytelling skills. I have learned so much invaluable information about writing and storytelling that I believe I wouldn’t have gotten at the other major film schools. Columbia is known as the “story school” after all. Additionally, I know the program is currently trying to implement technical workshops outside of the classroom with the people who run the school’s production center. For instance, they ran a Song FX6 workshop last week. If you feel like the technical is a make or break for you, maybe Columbia isn’t the right school. My goal is to be a TV writer, so Columbia was a no brainer. I hope all that helps!

 

[sgreina]

I’m a Columbia University MFA graduate, and I hesitate to generalize, as the experience is highly subjective and depends on individual needs. That said, I found their emphasis on understanding storytelling, rather than focusing primarily on equipment, extremely valuable. Their approach prepares you for the long term by grounding you in story first, with the tools serving that purpose.

They do provide very solid technical instruction as well, it’s just not the center of the training. As Eric Mendelsohn, head of the directing program, puts it: they are “future-proofing” you. No matter how the tools evolve, you’ll know how to tell a story. With AI increasingly entering the process, that feels especially valuable.

There are, of course, programs that lean more heavily into the technical side, but that’s usually explicit, for example when applying to a cinematography track.

If you’re interested, check out my Q&A on Columbia, there’s more detail there:

Article 'Zeno (Columbia University MFA '24) on Inspired Storytelling and Unlocking Networking Opportunities (Part 1)'

After earning his Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies from UC Santa Barbara in 2003, @Zeno undertook various projects in the industry that paved the way for him to attend Columbia University School of the Arts. In 2024, Zeno graduated from Columbia’s film program with a Master of Fine Arts in...

• Alexa P.
• Nov 15, 2024
• 17 min read
• Category: Film Student Interviews
• best film schools columbia university columbia university soa east coast film schools film school mfa interviews life after film school mfa 2024 screenwriting top film schools in the world

This is very encouraging because it aligns with my own philosophy about storytelling. Your insight was very helpful

 

[mkom]

I’m a Columbia University MFA graduate, and I hesitate to generalize, as the experience is highly subjective and depends on individual needs. That said, I found their emphasis on understanding storytelling, rather than focusing primarily on equipment, extremely valuable. Their approach prepares you for the long term by grounding you in story first, with the tools serving that purpose.

They do provide very solid technical instruction as well, it’s just not the center of the training. As Eric Mendelsohn, head of the directing program, puts it: they are “future-proofing” you. No matter how the tools evolve, you’ll know how to tell a story. With AI increasingly entering the process, that feels especially valuable.

There are, of course, programs that lean more heavily into the technical side, but that’s usually explicit, for example when applying to a cinematography track.

If you’re interested, check out my Q&A on Columbia, there’s more detail there:

Article 'Zeno (Columbia University MFA '24) on Inspired Storytelling and Unlocking Networking Opportunities (Part 1)'

After earning his Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies from UC Santa Barbara in 2003, @Zeno undertook various projects in the industry that paved the way for him to attend Columbia University School of the Arts. In 2024, Zeno graduated from Columbia’s film program with a Master of Fine Arts in...

• Alexa P.
• Nov 15, 2024
• 17 min read
• Category: Film Student Interviews
• best film schools columbia university columbia university soa east coast film schools film school mfa interviews life after film school mfa 2024 screenwriting top film schools in the world

thank you Zeno! This is very helpful!

 

[mkom]

Hi! I am currently in my second year of the MFA and I do think it is true that the technical is put on the back burner. However, prior to coming to Columbia, I attended an undergraduate film program where the technical was emphasized more than the story. For me, attending Columbia was a very strategic move to enhance my storytelling skills. I have learned so much invaluable information about writing and storytelling that I believe I wouldn’t have gotten at the other major film schools. Columbia is known as the “story school” after all. Additionally, I know the program is currently trying to implement technical workshops outside of the classroom with the people who run the school’s production center. For instance, they ran a Song FX6 workshop last week. If you feel like the technical is a make or break for you, maybe Columbia isn’t the right school. My goal is to be a TV writer, so Columbia was a no brainer. I hope all that helps!

Thank you! This is super helpful. I'm deciding between Columbia and a school in the UK. I've also been trying to consider the funding landscapes for young/emerging artists in the states v europe and how that may play a factor. Have you also found Columbia to be helpful with navigating funding and getting situated post-grad?