Hi everyone, so the time has come. To be honest I already have a pretty hefty spreadsheet with overall costs and overall scholarships. Also, I'm just finishing my very personal Pros/Cons list.
So I got accepted at Chapman for the MBA/MFA and at Columbia for Creative Producing. Now I need to decide between two very different programs, two opposite cities and two different everythings.
Some background: I'm from Mexico and applied as an international student(obviously). I majored in Communications and minored in filmmaking, for my minor I produced a short film that got into may film festivals. Since graduating I have freelanced, done directing, editing, DPing, PA, runner, shopper and so much more. Currently, I have a content manager role in a tech company to pay the bills.
I want to be a producer, the ideal dream is to come back to Mexico and create a content production company. I want to foster ideas from many Mexican creatives and find them a home, I also want to write and produce some of my ideas.
Some of my current Pros/Cons
Chapman
Pros
Dual degree, the MBA could give the tools to actually create a company in Mexico
Better facilities and equipment overall (I know equipment isn't everything, just saying)
Good Hollywood networking
Cons
Seems like an up and coming program(this makes me uncertain)
The Hollywood/Studio System may not be replicable in Mexico
Focused mainly in production
Columbia
Pros
NY independent films are similar to Mexico's films
Very prestigious school
Storytelling focused, more writing and being creative in different fields
It has a Digital Lab were lots of new ideas are being experimented
Cons
Less equipment and older facilities (couldn't find much online, this may be rumors)
More focused in personal dramas
Not much Business classes/training
All of this is my personal view of it, you are welcome to debunk and debate it. At the end, I will have to follow my heart and listen to my gut while doing some fact-checking in my spreadsheet. Nonetheless, I love what this community has done to the forums, so I really appreciate your thoughts.
tl;dr this is like Sophie's choice
So I got accepted at Chapman for the MBA/MFA and at Columbia for Creative Producing. Now I need to decide between two very different programs, two opposite cities and two different everythings.
Some background: I'm from Mexico and applied as an international student(obviously). I majored in Communications and minored in filmmaking, for my minor I produced a short film that got into may film festivals. Since graduating I have freelanced, done directing, editing, DPing, PA, runner, shopper and so much more. Currently, I have a content manager role in a tech company to pay the bills.
I want to be a producer, the ideal dream is to come back to Mexico and create a content production company. I want to foster ideas from many Mexican creatives and find them a home, I also want to write and produce some of my ideas.
Some of my current Pros/Cons
Chapman
Pros
Dual degree, the MBA could give the tools to actually create a company in Mexico
Better facilities and equipment overall (I know equipment isn't everything, just saying)
Good Hollywood networking
Cons
Seems like an up and coming program(this makes me uncertain)
The Hollywood/Studio System may not be replicable in Mexico
Focused mainly in production
Columbia
Pros
NY independent films are similar to Mexico's films
Very prestigious school
Storytelling focused, more writing and being creative in different fields
It has a Digital Lab were lots of new ideas are being experimented
Cons
Less equipment and older facilities (couldn't find much online, this may be rumors)
More focused in personal dramas
Not much Business classes/training
All of this is my personal view of it, you are welcome to debunk and debate it. At the end, I will have to follow my heart and listen to my gut while doing some fact-checking in my spreadsheet. Nonetheless, I love what this community has done to the forums, so I really appreciate your thoughts.
tl;dr this is like Sophie's choice