New to it all

[Bree]

I just graduated high school and I was ready to go to Indiana University of PA to study Anthropology when I changed my mind. I think I might transfer after a year and I'm trying to find a good school. However, I have no portfolio since I'm knew to this (at least the technical aspects). I really want to go to CA and have found a few places that don't require portfolios- Columbia College Hollywood and Academy of Art University in San Fransisco. Money is definitely an issue, though. Does anyone have any advice for schools? Should I try to go somewhere closer before going out to CA? But if I do that I'm afraid I'll never get there. Any advice is welcome and needed!!

 

[Bree]

I just graduated high school and I was ready to go to Indiana University of PA to study Anthropology when I changed my mind. I think I might transfer after a year and I'm trying to find a good school. However, I have no portfolio since I'm knew to this (at least the technical aspects). I really want to go to CA and have found a few places that don't require portfolios- Columbia College Hollywood and Academy of Art University in San Fransisco. Money is definitely an issue, though. Does anyone have any advice for schools? Should I try to go somewhere closer before going out to CA? But if I do that I'm afraid I'll never get there. Any advice is welcome and needed!!

 

[pinnedowngirl]

Why do you have to be in California? You don't have to study in California to get a good education. More and more states now are offering film programs that are actually pretty good. If money is an issue, you'd be better off trying to find a more local community college (or whatever) that's more affordable. I took a few classes at a community college in Oklahoma City that were terrific. All my teachers worked in the industry (Hollywood and otherwise) and gave great hands-on instruction. Just do your research on potential schools.

 

[Baloo]

no. if you want to build connections and find good jobs straight out of school, come to CA. there are so many good schools here in the LA area and in san fran.

the best ones in the la area are usc (expensive as hell) and ucla (moderately expensive but still not too bad).

i go to csun (cal state northridge) and it is one of the most inexpensive schools in the la area to offer a degree in film. in recent years it has also become one of the best schools in the area - ranked in some areas higher than usc. if you come to school in california, you will begin to make connections while youre in school and by the time youre done, you will already be lined up with a job.

 

[pinnedowngirl]

So, basically.. you can only make films (or learn to make films) in California?

 

[Baloo]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> So, basically.. you can only make films (or learn to make films) in California? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

basically, yeah.

um... i dont ever recall saying that. however, there is a reason that some of the best film schools in the country are in ca, and that is because they are close to the industry; plain and simple. there are other good universities not in ca- but the ones here are right in the middle of it all, and as i pointed out, it has its benefits.

 

[Forsakenproductions]

A lot of people are sayin ghtat Arizona and Texas are becoming pretty big too. Texas is supposed to be the next big one. (That's just what I heard from talk, don't know if its true though).

 

[pinnedowngirl]

*THE* industry is not only in California. I'd hate to see what would happen if all the films came out of that one location. The way you talk about it, just makes it sound like you think that's the only way to "make it". I've never been to LA, but I would imagine that you would barely be able to walk ten steps without running into an aspiring filmmaker, and that really makes one person's chances very slim of getting their foot into someone's door out there.

I think if you have the passion for this business that it doesn't matter what school you go to, as long as they are teaching you the right things about the different aspects of filmmaking.

 

[pinnedowngirl]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Forsakenproductions:
A lot of people are sayin ghtat Arizona and Texas are becoming pretty big too. Texas is supposed to be the next big one. (That's just what I heard from talk, don't know if its true though). <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've heard the same things about Texas. Austin is pretty big for filmmaking and I've seen a lot of related job opportunities in Arizona.

 

[Hoeks]

come to new york

top 1 filmschool in the country, and one of the coolest places ever

yea, im a fanboy..but seriously, worth a look.

 

[NotaMono]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by pinnedowngirl:
The way you talk about it, just makes it sound like you think that's the only way to "make it". <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think his point is not that coming to California is the "Only way to 'make it'", just the easiest. I'd agree with his assessment.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by pinnedowngirl:
I think if you have the passion for this business that it doesn't matter what school you go to, as long as they are teaching you the right things about the different aspects of filmmaking. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I would mostly agree with that, but it is an over-simplification. If you wish to make a career out of filmmaking there is certainly a benefit to being in a city with a healthy film industry (L.A., N.Y., Austin, Toronto etc...).

I went to school in San Diego (Only 1.5 hours from L.A.), and while I don't feel that has harmed my overall career path, it wasn't a great aide in getting things started. Best to move where the food is.


Hoeks.....

.......

.........

...........

How was Prague?

Nota "Off for Europe in 2 weeks!" Mono

 

[Baloo]

put it this way: if you stay in the booneys all your life youre going now where.

youre eventually going to have to come out to california (or maybe new york) anyway- you migh as well get there sooner than later because once youre there you can begin to plant your roots.

im not saying itsa the only way you can make it, but once you graduate from texas or florida or wherever, youre going to want to come to ca-- and youre not going to know anyone.

you start off here working with people in school who are going out into the industry with you, you are going to know a few people. all it takes is one connection.

 

[Hoeks]

ohh prague was amazing. I will write a little article about it this week. I am sorry that I did not write anything but I was so stressed out. It was a LOOOOT of work

 

[pinnedowngirl]

Wow.. it seems a little close-minded to think that there isn't an industry in any other place in this country. Good luck with that..

 

[Baloo]

if you pursue a career in film, id like to see you try and stay away from california and still be successful.

 

[Hoeks]

of course there is a film industry that is not in cali. Yet, if you are interested in bigger productions, LA is the place to be. The independent filmer is in New York but I hear more and more people talking about how difficult it is to make money there...

 

[angefong]

...and just to add to that...it is somewhat a rule of thumb that the location of where you go to school is important for your career (i would say more importantly for grad school)...bc it is in school where you set up your network, and more often than not, those folks will stick around the area as well. plus the industry is def. in LA ...

Notamono - how is ur progress on the afi movie list...i have not STARTED on my usc list...

 

[robyn]

you can check out boston university's film program in their college of comminucation if you are trying to stay on the east coast. that is where i went and i had a great experience there.

 

[Chris W]

I went there too. I enjoyed it.

There were actually quite a bit of opportunities in Boston for film for me. WGBH, post-production houses in Boston, and of course Avid Technology is pretty close by.

BU has a great program. Their professors are what makes the school - and it is part of a huge campus so it's not just you and all the film geeks. Not a bad thing though.

-Chris
Studentfilms.com

 

[robyn]

also BU's film school has been really trying to keep up with the technology of today's filmmaking. they purchased a bunch of new avids for everyone to edit on so everyone gets the chance to learn digital editing. the school also allows you to focus on screenwriting, production, or film studies, whichever interests you most, so you are not forced to take a lot of classes in things you arent as interested in