| As someone who’s attended two of the top | | | | day one. The resources that are at the |
| film schools in the world, NYU and USC, I often get | | | | student’s resources tend to be greater than in |
| asked a simple question: Is it worth going to film | | | | the undergrad programs and the projects that are |
| school? The answer actually can’t be answered | | | | undertaken are more in depth. For instance, in the |
| in a yes/no fashion as it really depends on multiple | | | | undergrad program the ‘Senior Thesis’ |
| factors regarding the individual student considering | | | | project is a short film of between 15-30 minutes in |
| attending and what they hope to get out of the | | | | length that the student writes, directs and leads a |
| experience. This article aims to address some of | | | | crew of peers in producing. This is a fairly common |
| the major points that one should contemplate when | | | | “thesis” at most of the top film schools. |
| considering a film or cinema school education. | | | | Graduate schools vary greatly however. Some do |
| The first distinction that one should understand are | | | | a similar ‘short film’ approach while others |
| the differences between attending an undergraduate | | | | encourage the students to make a feature film. |
| or graduate film/cinema program. Undergraduate | | | | There are some programs, such as Columbia |
| programs combine the general liberal arts education | | | | University’s Masters Program that are actually |
| requirements that are necessary to receive a | | | | more than two years and that combine directing |
| bachelor degree along with major specific classes in | | | | along with writing into an overall Graduate thesis |
| film and television. Usually the first two years are | | | | involving the creation of feature length scripts and |
| predominantly liberal arts while the junior and senior | | | | films that can be entered into competition. |
| years include mostly major concentrated classes. | | | | The goal of undergrad and grad programs differ as |
| Some programs start with film related classes earlier. | | | | well. While both types of programs can train the |
| Both USC and NYU start the beginning film student | | | | ‘technical’ skills of an aspiring |
| off with some film history as well as either video | | | | cinematographer or cameraman for instance, |
| based (DV) or Super 8 filmmaking that progressively | | | | graduate programs tend to groom their students to |
| leads to more sophisticated film classes in later | | | | make films that can be entered into the festival |
| years. | | | | circuit and garner notoriety and attention for the |
| Graduate program on the other hand vary more | | | | filmmaker in hopes of his either getting his film |
| widely than the undergrad programs in scope, length | | | | ‘picked up’ or him gaining representation by |
| and type. Graduate programs mostly consist of two | | | | a talent agency. |
| years of in depth film and television coursework from | | | | |