Film School Confidential Get in. Make it out alive.

1
Film School ConfidentialGet in. Make it out
alive.

• Tom Edgar Karin Kelly
• 2007

2

• Introduction to the Second Edition
• 1st edition was already ten years ago!
• During the course of ten years.
• The emerging of digital video as an accepted
  medium
• The growth of Internet Cellphone culture
• MFA in film may be what the MBA was not long ago
• Revolution of Documentary

3

• Film Schools and Hollywood A Brief History
• Film schools were campus jokes.
• Hollywoods best and most influential films were
  rooted in existential despair..(Think Bergman,
  Polanski, Kurosawa)
• In 1980 a pack of graduates from Southern
  California Film Schools got the chance to make
  movies. (Speilberg, Lucas)
• Their films became a hit, and so did the school
• The next megahit V.S. the low budget
• In general, you dont get to make a big movie
  until youve made a small one.

4

• Why go to film school ?
• Time
• Structure
• Freedom
• Guidance
• Contacts
• Insurance
• Teaching Credentials
• Community

5

• What about undergraduate film school ?
• Its great if youre going to college anyway
• But you may not be ready to make a film the time
  you get the opportunity
• Suggestion dont get both BFA MFA in film.

6

• What about the film schools that advertise in the
  back of magazines ?
• New York Film Academy Los Angeles Film School
• Just a short course about how to use a camera
• Best as a prerequisite

7

• What about skipping film school entirely ?
• If you want to be a technician, move to
  Hollywood!
• If you want to be a director, go to Film School
  or make your first outstanding feature yourself,
  by..
• Take some classes to write direct SHORT films
• Take some acting classes
• Direct a one-act play for the stage
• Watch as many great movies as you can
• Hire experienced crew be willing to accept
  their advice

8

• Why are there so many film schools anyway ?
• Personal computer has made it much easier to be
  creative
• During the gold rush, few of the gold miners
  struck it rich, but the businessman did very
  well.
• Schools that do not offer classes in filmmaking
  are at a disadvantage in attracting new students

9

• Four kinds of film school
• Industry
• Independent
• Experimental
• Documentary

10

• Industry Film School

11

• Independent Film School

12

• Experimental Film School

13

• Documentary Film School

14

• University of Southern California (USC)
• (209,508 ext. total cost - Industry /
  Documentary)
• 4 years curriculum in directing, 2 years
  curriculum in screenwriting, producing, or
  production
• Oldest Most famous film school in the U.S.
• Technically flawless, a bit soulless
• Best things the name, the technical training,
  better facilities, top-notch documentary program,
  well-prep. for Hollywood
• Worst things its a program about the
  technology and business of film any art that
  happens is usually incidental.

15

• New York University (most expensive -
  Independent)
• 4 years curriculum, est. total cost 216,740
• Very demanding, very concerned with storytelling
• Best things embodies the spirit of independent
  filmmaking, best facilities, graduate employable
  students with marketable skills, very
  prestigious, and living in NY can be a
  life-altering experience.
• Worst things The bill and the stress.
• 24 Arriflex SRs, 1 Arriflex 35 mm, 8 Panasonic
  DVX100s, 4 Sony PD150s, 6 Avid Media Composers,
  ADR Foley Mixing stage, large soundstage,
  recording studios, two large state-of-the-art
  theaters

16

• California Institute of Arts (CalArts)
• (most expensive - focused on experimental film
  animation)
• 3 years curriculum, est. total cost 165,370
• An Art School for creative, motivated individuals
  with a strong personal vision, techno-cool
• Best things small size funky attitude, great
  atmosphere to be creative, strong programs in
  dance / design / computer animation, connection
  with Pixars
• Worst things depressing town, too much freedom

17

• Florida State University (least expensive -
  Industry)
• 2 years curriculum, est. total cost 89,316
• More about learning through hands-on experience
  collaboration
• Best things Students get a lot for their money,
  graduate employment rate is very high, plentiful
  equipment, extremely active supportive network
• Worst things exhausting, no guarantee to direct
  a thesis film, a little bit too supportive for
  the real world

18

• University of New Orleans(least expensive -
  Independent)
• 2 years curriculum, est. total cost 53,720
• Very strong connection with drama program, not
  nearly demanding or fast-paced,
• Best things The price, The equipment is
  available when needed, Students could make a lot
  of film under a tight budget
• Worst things Hurricane Katrina has complicated
  things, and the faculty is not always around to
  help
• few CP-16 , Arri SR, 6 Panasonic DVX100s,
  plentiful light sound packages, 2 nice-sized
  soundstage, 7 Avid stations, Audio finishing
  Suite, Whisper room for Voice ADR

19

• More about the schools
• Visit filmschoolconfidential.net