I actually started an article about searching for a program but since I’ve found this article with all this information, I decided to post it here instead. This article is from Selfreliantfilm.com.

Part 1: Searching for a Program

It’s that time of year again, when current and former students start asking me about film schools — where they should apply, if I will write a letter of recommendation, and so on. Whether or not film school is right for an individual is a personal decision and I’m not going to reiterate the pros and cons of film school here. Instead, this two-part post aims to help those who have decided to apply.

This post will address some basic tips on looking for a graduate program in film production. The next post will provide some tips on the application process.

Where should I go to film school?

Well, that depends. What kinds of films do you want to make? Do you ultimately hope to work in or outside the industry? Where would you enjoy living? Until you can answer some basic questions about your personal goals, deciding on a film school is next to impossible.

Needless to say, it helps to have some idea about your goals before you apply. After that, begin researching the different programs that exist. The IMDB maintains a pretty good list of film schools. I think it’s smart to make your first initial research into film programs no less than six months in advance of applying.

Here are things to consider as you look at programs:

Location. Do you want to pursue your filmmaking in a place where you’ll be free of distractions, or do you need the stimulation of a city? Does the town or city have a cultural community that will allow your work to thrive? Will you be placing yourself thousands of miles from the place where you want to film your work? If you ultimately want to work in Hollywood you might want to aim for a California school so you can go ahead and begin building that network. If you want to work “regionally” (code for “outside LA or NY”), you should consider studying close to the place where you want to ultimately live, work, and film. (One important exception: If you want to teach filmmaking, don’t go to a school where you might want to ultimately teach. Many schools have explicit policies against hiring “their own” as tenure-track faculty.) One way or another, a school’s location is an incredibly important factor to consider.

Read the rest of this article.

picture by n55.dk