Official UCSD - Visual Arts 2010

[fakeplastic]

They were talking about the film program at SB but were badmouthing the equipment and professors that were there.

interesting....

also vivaitalia you worked at the newport beach film festival, do you happen to know a person named either Erik Forssell or Jed Hernandez?

 

[vivaitalia]

I feel like I met someone named Erik Forssell while I was there...but I honestly can't match the name to any specific memory/face. Were they working it as well?

 

[fakeplastic]

yea I think Erik is the head of the Newport Film Festival he's bald and had glasses. He was my film prof. last year.

 

[fakeplastic]

Hey can someone tell me about the Oxford curriculum because i talked a friend who goes to ucsd and she had never heard of it.

 

[fakeplastic]

look at this.
http://www.facebook.com/topic....217869754&topic=3120
sorry if im turning anyone off but i feel that both schools are film theory. ahh..maybe i should go state but its too late to go sfsu because i never gave them my intent and the deadlines past. perhaps csun. i really dont know now.
We need someone whose in the UCSD Vis Arts department right now to talk to us.

 

[vivaitalia]

Originally posted by fakeplastic:
look at this.
http://www.facebook.com/topic....217869754&topic=3120
sorry if im turning anyone off but i feel that both schools are film theory. ahh..maybe i should go state but its too late to go sfsu because i never gave them my intent and the deadlines past. perhaps csun. i really dont know now.
We need someone whose in the UCSD Vis Arts department right now to talk to us.

Wow....you are really good at snooping around on the web! How do you find all these things. I really want to find similar things on Berkeley's program too. T

Anyway- The criticism's go along with basically everything my friends have told me about UCSD in general. The classes aren't really good, but there are a zillion opportunities for the students to do their own projects/research on their own. It just requires a very self-motivated student to do stuff on their own when it is not required for a class I guess.

 

[fakeplastic]

Wow....you are really good at snooping around on the web! How do you find all these things.

I didn't do that much searching, all i did was type in ucsd film program or visual arts and then it was on the first page...haha.

What do you mean by
"The classes aren't really good, but there are a zillion opportunities for the students to do their own projects/research on their own."

Do you mean that the equipment there is really good so you can use that or...? I hope they have at least the P2, some schools use the DVX and its just not the quality i want.
And when you say the classes aren't good do you mean that the teachers are bad or just no production and more theory? it cant be as much theory as UCSB can it?

 

[vivaitalia]

By the classes not being good, I've heard that classes in ALL majors are very general and not informative, and that it is mainly up to the student to teach himself/herself and decide to do individual projects, etc. I found out a little while back what equipment they have. I'll try and find out again so you guys could know too.

I've heard that there is a lot more opportunity to do hands-on production at UCSD but that it is up to the individual to pursue it.

 

[vivaitalia]

Here's what someone who is a current major there had to say to me:


"While the visual arts program here is a bit more production oriented than most, it is also much more experimental than narrative storytelling. I'm not sure what equipment you're accustomed to, but I was a bit disappointed by what is available at the media checkout lab so I ended up purchasing my own rig. As far as the classes, I have only taken two production courses because all the upper-divs are given priority to juniors and seniors, so I can't comment too much on them. But the ones I have been in so far have been enjoyable, except that many students don't know any of the technicals regarding filming, editing, etc."


And here is a link to the equipment which they will check out to those in the Visual Arts Media Major. http://medialab.ucsd.edu/equipment

Basically no HD stuff, and they seem to have a love of Sony. I personally prefer Panasonic. (especially the new HVX's. lol)

 

[fakeplastic]

Hmm I see, individual projects as in just make movies that aren't required for class. But they must have some projects that you have to make for class, if not I dont really get why they would call it that major.

Also their equipment is alright but its not great. Yea i prefer panasonic too, the P2 comes out really well. DVX is not bad either but a little grainy so you have to saturate colors more.

Since UCSB made the new Carsey-Wolf Center for Film, Television, and New Media looks pretty promising. I'm guessing they will have nice equipment too. God this is so hard to choose.

Getting into UCLA would have made life so much easier, no choices, just go.

 

[Oquendo]

Getting into UCLA would have made life so much easier, no choices, just go.

I'm with you there...this past year-and-a-half I had been dreaming of UCLA, but now I am just confused and really stressed. My biggest fear is realizing I made the wrong choice on the first week of school and then going back to CC and trying to transfer next year, lol. Then coming back on this site for '11 transfers

Ideally, I would get "production" at CSULB, but if I went there, I wouldn't dorm, and I don't like driving 1.5-2 hours each day(because of traffic). Plus, the fact that I'd let money dictate my education frustrates me (it's only 5k a year!!!)

I really wish both schools would be more specific as opposed to being vague in their course outlines.

This kind of helped me, but just list out the things that you really want out of college and then pick the college that matches up the most with it.

Personally, I want:

1. Equipment. Lots of it. I am extremely self-motivated and I genuinely enjoy shooting, editing, recording sound, writing, etc, so getting "taught" stuff like this isn't that big a deal since I learn better by hand.
2. Freedom to work and not being tied down creatively.
3. Access to internships.
4. College experience - independence, meeting new people, having fun, finding inspiration, learning new things, etc.
5. A film/media related job on the side (cameraman, grip, editor at a local tv station or something) that would teach me and give me something I can put on my resume.
6. Film Festivals to apply to!

CSULB gives me: 1, 3, possibly 5, and 6
UCSD gives me: 1, 2, 4, and possibly 3
UCSB gives me: 1, 2, 3, 4, possibly 5, and 6

While it seems UCSB is leading me, UCSD offers more classes as opposed to UCSB's "one-production class requirement", plus, they have one of the top theatre departments in the nation (so getting actors won't be a problem).

I am getting really angry now! I really just want to submit my SIR and so I can relax.

 

[vivaitalia]

Originally posted by Oquendo:
My biggest fear is realizing I made the wrong choice on the first week of school and then going back to CC and trying to transfer next year, lol. Then coming back on this site for '11 transfers

I hear you. If that happens though...it happens. You can't prejudge or predict the future. And that part about not letting money dictate your future is important too! I went to a private school my first year and took out tons of loans to pay for it because I thought it would be worth it. It was awesome and I don't regret it, save for the fact that I chose a school that only had 4 or 5 courses in film. If you weigh your options at one point and decide that an alternative option might be better (which I did), then you can always change your path (like I did).

Everything seems so dramatic at the time, but after everything is over, you realize that its all just part of life and that life goes on no matter what. Find comfort in knowing that you can change your path at anytime. I always feel the pressure of having/wanting to just get out and do stuff (especially just to earn money rather than racking up debt on my education) but I know that it will all end up being handled in the long run.

I don't know if that makes you feel any better about making a choice...hopefully it does. I totally agree with you on being able to just submit an SIR and relax though lol.

 

[fakeplastic]

yea i wanna get this **** over with.

gah.

My options are UCSD,UCSB,UCSC,CSUN.

I never sent anything to SFSU so thats over.

I saw the CSUN senior project film trailers and I was really impressed, amazing production value.

The only thing is that I would be a pre-film major and I dont really want to take all these pre-reqs. And the location of Northridge doesn't really move me.

ah...choices,choices,choices, one tough call to make.

 

[fakeplastic]

haha i didnt know that this website cant have swearwords

 

[Oquendo]

hey vivaitalia, did you apply to any csu's?

plus, we should all give it our best interest to soak as much info on their program at UCSD this saturday!

 

[vivaitalia]

Nah...I didn't apply to any CSU's, though I am kind of wishing I did as a lot more CSU's offer majors in Journalism, Creative Writing, and Film, whereas few UC's do. lol

the good thing about the UC's however, is that nearly all of them qualify for "Happiest Students" type lists in all of those weird ranking places (Princeton Review, US News, college prowler, etc.). And they do all seem to provide a pretty awesome life.

UCSD keeps looking better to me, but I still have no idea where I'll end up.

 

[fakeplastic]

quick question for transfer admit day.

so i'm planning to be there at 9:00 and go to the welcome sessions, then college sessions at ERC. Then I feel like i'm done. Does this sound right? I wanted to checkout the Visual Arts department to see what it was like but i dunno when or where I would go to do this. Also do you know around what time everything should end? I've gotta finish a paper due at midnight on sat.
thanks

 

[Oquendo]

Originally posted by fakeplastic:
quick question for transfer admit day.

so i'm planning to be there at 9:00 and go to the welcome sessions, then college sessions at ERC. Then I feel like i'm done. Does this sound right? I wanted to checkout the Visual Arts department to see what it was like but i dunno when or where I would go to do this. Also do you know around what time everything should end? I've gotta finish a paper due at midnight on sat.
thanks

damn, dude. i wish i hadnt got out from work last night at 3am and then went to sd at around 8 (yeah...no sleep!), because they had a visual arts lecture thingy and it was at center hall at 1:15. i was actually looking for guys/gals that fit your descriptions, lol...

anyways, im making this short because im about to go to work: ucsd almost sold me. almost. their program is actually very hands on and they offer 24 hour editing labs.

my impression from the handouts they gave us:
production - 67-75%
theory - 25-33%

the reason why i estimated the percentages was because in addition to your major courses i,(not sure about the rest) will have to do two additional classes (its sounds pretty cool, though) - practicuum, where we have a "personal" project that we pitch and have to finish. there aren't really any guidelines besides the pitch and it gives me a reason to make a film! but you could definately do production for that. the other is cat125 which i kinda zoned out on, but it was basically a public speaking/writing course.

ill talk more tomorrow, when i get my head straight and take my mom out for mother's day. but UCSD is playing the "ex-ex-girlfriend" routine with me: we break up, then go back together only to break up again, but now were still "talking"

but i still need to see ucsb and probe what's up with their program.



hey vivaitalia, were you there? i was also at the sixth college presentation at 1045.

 

[fakeplastic]

i was at ERC for the 10:30 lecture but didn't know about the Visual arts program lecture, but I wish I could have gone. It sounds good though.

Oh and by the way im still stuck at UCSD, Im in the gym while i write this and writing a paper at the same time. Long story short, I got dropped off here and I'm waiting to get picked up.

But Oquendo thanks for the info, really helped. especially because i couldnt make it to the Vis Arts lecture.

p.s.
the one thing about UCSD that bothered me is that, its really big and i kept on getting lost. but overall the campus is nice.

 

[vivaitalia]

Hey fellas.

Yeah...I was at the UCSD thing. Man...that campus reminded me of a resort! did anyone get a tour of the transfer housing at The Village? Holy crap- I could see people trying to transfer into UCSD purely because of how amazing the housing was with full ocean views! I still am in awe!

The campus is huge and I would for sure need a bike to get around. It was bloody beautiful though! I spent my time trying to find real students to talk to, and I got a pretty good idea of the college: they are extremely studious around midterms and finals, but otherwise they seem to go out and have fun. Also of interest: I ate at the Eleanor Roosevelt Dining Hall and it was pretty good. lol

I was at the Sixth College presentation at 10:45 too. I wasn't that turned on/impressed by it, but it doesn't look like there is really anything special about what college you get into. I think it is more of a freshman thing, because as I see it, the only thing that I would "need" to do for Sixth is that Practicum and Cat125. My dad came along, and I told him that there were probably some people from this weird online forum there- haha...but I figured there was no way I would be able to identify anyone by the way they speak/type. lol


anyway, I actually don't think the school did a good job selling itself (meaning the speakers they had) but the students and campus really sold themselves to me! I could most definitely picture myself there as it seems extremely laid back, and the number one surfing school! haha

any btw...not to offend any girls on this board, but ****- every single UCSD girl I saw blew me away. (not that I'll let that dictate my choice......)....(maybe...)