film school confidential get in. make it out alive. tom edgar & karin kelly 2007
TRANSCRIPT
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Film School ConfidentialGet in. Make it out alive.
Tom Edgar & Karin Kelly2007
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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
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Film Schools and Hollywood : A Brief History
• Film schools were campus jokes.• Hollywood’s 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 don’t get to make a big
movie until you’ve made a small one.
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Why go to film school ?– Time– Structure– Freedom– Guidance– Contacts– Insurance– Teaching Credentials– Community
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What about undergraduate film school ?
• It’s great if you’re going to college anyway
• But you may not be ready to make a film the time you get the opportunity
• Suggestion : don’t get both BFA & MFA in film.
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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
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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
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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
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Four kinds of film school• Industry• Independent• Experimental• Documentary
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Industry Film School
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Independent Film School
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Experimental Film School
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Documentary Film School
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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 : it’s a program about the technology and business of film; any art that happens is usually incidental.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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More about the schools
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