What kind of education do you need to get into the film business? Do I really have to go to USC or UCLA?

Question

I've been planning my college road map and even though a place like USC and UCLA would be great, I'd much rather stay in the cal-state system money-wise.

Answer 1

Although I understand you wanting to save money and stay with a state school, I attended one of the top film schools in the country Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara. It is more expensive, but I found that the education and the hands on experience you gain is far better than other schools that just offer a film program.

www.brooks.edu

The school also helped me get connected to the right people in the industry for what I wanted to do and also helped connect me with people overseas (I now live in Prague, doing freelance work.)

Good luck!

Answer 2

Whats wrong with NYU? they have a GREAT film program there! I think Iowas State also has an outstanding film program..... I get the money issue, but going to a second rate film program will not help you in the long term as you will probably end up at NYU or Iowa for your masters/PhD anyway.

Shop around... sometimes there are scholarships and grants that will help with the finances.

Answer 3

Your college education is an investment on your future, so don't get cheap about it.

Depending on what you want to do in the film industry, there are lots of different ways to go about this.  My brother-in-law is an in-house attorney at NBC Universal.  My sister-in-law is a top executive assistant at NBC Universal.  I know one Cal alum who does DVD distribution for Fox and another who produces American Idol.  None of these people actually majored in film but they are all in the film industry.