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While the film industry has no direct educational pathway leading to it, education is an important factor to consider when working towards any career. All careers, including those in the film industry, require a person to have a certain degree of knowlege in order to enter the workforce.
When looking to get a degree, most students are told to go to USC, UCLA, or NYU. This makes sense as these are considered the best film schools in the United States. However, these are not the only options - in fact, they're not necessarily the best options depending on your circumstances.
So without further ado, let's explore all the different types of education available for filmmakers.
To Future Filmmakers Currently in High School
I'd recommend that all high school students interested in film to look into what opportunities are offered by your school. While film programs aren't super common at the high school level, journalism programs that include video production in their curriclum are becoming more popular. As someone who created news features and skits for my high school's YouTube channel, I am of the belief that any experience with a camera is good experience.
When it comes to post secondary education, there are three different types of schools that offer the best opportunities to film students, those being art schools, traditional universities, and community colleges.
Art School
The term "Art School" is somewhat vague, but it generally refers to schools which mostly or exclusively focus on the study of art. These schools may offer and/or require classes that don't involve art, such as math. Students' primary focus is on mastering their craft. This means that art schools are generally more likely to offer Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees as opposed to Bachelor of Arts degrees which require students to take a wider variety classes.
Art schools offer access to state-of-the-art equipment to their students. However, it's important to remember that this equipment comes at a literal cost. Art school is usually more expensive than traditional univerities in similar areas.
University of Kansas Tuition: $21,589 - $32,857 | Kansas City Art Institue Tuition: $45,000
Cleveland University Tuition: $16,307 | Cleveland Institute of Art Tuition: $33,527
University of Chicago Tuition: $27,979 | School of the Art Institute of Chicago Tuition: $55,485
Traditional University
While traditional universities are probably the type of schools you're most familiar with, that doesn't mean you should overlook them when choosing where to study film. After all, USC, UCLA, and NYU are all traditional universities which offer degrees in many different categories.
Again, these are not the only options for film students. Many schools across the US allow students to study film. When looking into traditional universities, remember: not all "film" degrees will be called that. Sometimes, what most people would think of as a film degree will be under another name such as "Cinema and Television Arts" or "Motion Picture Science". Also, not all universities with film programs offer degrees in film production. Sometimes, schools instead offer degrees in cultural studies. In these programs, students study film as an art form, but might not learn how to create films themselves. As a film student at the University of Kansas, a few of my peers are getting degrees in cultural studies, and while some of them are still involved in productions on campus, many of them spend more of their time writing papers rather than making films.
Another benefit of traditional universities is the opportunity to study disciplines outside of film. While most of us dream of finding success in the film industry, there is no shame in having a backup plan. Traditional universities allow students to get minors or double major. This not only offers students a better chance at financial stability, it allows them to become more well rounded. A degree in film can pair well with a minor in journalism, photography, or creative writing. You'd be surprised at the number of students I've met who are double majoring in Film and Psychology!
Tuition at traditional universities vary widely. The overall cost of a school is likely dependent on the cost of living in the area. Schools in expensive citys such as NYC and LA are usually going to cost more than schools in the midwest or southern part of the United States.
Community College
The words "community college" comes with a bit of a stigma. Many people view community college as a lesser version of actual college. You might be thinking "What could I possibly learn about filmmaking at a community college?". While most community colleges don't offer full film degrees, (although, Scottsdale Community College offers both an associate's in film as well as certificates in editing, screenwriting, and motion picture production) their benefits shouldn't be ignored. Take it from an alumni of Johnson County Community College, community colleges still have a lot to offer to film students.
For those who aren't familiar, community colleges are schools which don't offer full four bachelor's degrees. Instead, they offer two year associate's degrees and certificates. While community colleges offer a limited variety of degrees, many still offer some film classes. For example, I took my first three foundational film classes at JCCC. Earning a degree in Liberal Arts allowed me to explore different avenues which have helped me as a film student. I took classes in creative writing, video production, and marketing which I believe have helped me in my ventures at KU.
Community colleges are vastly less explensive than both art schools and traditional universities. Communities colleges don't generally list tuition in the same way as traditonal universities; they list the cost per credit hour.
Johnson County Community College: $105 per credit hour
Scottsdale Community College: $97 per credit hour
Santa Fe Community College: $54-$158 per credit hour
In my opinion, the main benefit of community colleges is that their classes can be transferred to traditional univerisities at a fraction of the cost.
When looking into transferring from a community college (or any school), I would recommend that you look at both schools' transfer guides. These guides are made to show students which of their credits will transfer and tell them what the equivalent class is called. Some schools allow students with associate's degrees to skip some requirements. This is why I was able to become a junior upon admission to KU despite not meeting every requirement that some of my peers did. I'd also recommend speaking to academic advisors at both schools as they can help you decide which classes to take based on how they will transfer.
Why Go to Film School at all?
Traditional education isn't a requirement to enter the film industry; the only requirements are experience and determination. However earning a film degree can provide many benefits such as:
1) Providing incentive to start and finish projects.
2) Allowing students to socialize with industry professionals.
3) Enabling students to create their own crews and foster life-long friendships.
4) Supplying students with equipment and software to create their projects.
5) Exposing students to job opportunities and industry connections.
And of course, at the end of your education, you'll have a degree which can be showcased on resumes and many projects for your portfolio.
Ultimately, the most important factor when considering education is you. When thinking about pursuing higher education, ask yourself "What types of environments allow me to learn the best?". If the answer is a classroom, continuing or returning to education might be for you!
