Best colleges for film students

The film industry is glamorous, exciting, dynamic and inspiring. There is little doubt that the bright lights and fame of Hollywood can offer great careers from acting to directing and writing to producing. But breaking into the industry is no small task. It takes hard work, great networking skills and a solid background. Film school is a great way to get moving in the right direction.

The best film schools in America are those surrounding Hollywood and Los Angeles. The American Film Institute is widely regarded as the best specialized film school in the country and has an incredible list of notable alumni. This two-year program is highly selective and highly specific, but will surely land you an incredible career upon completion. If you want more of a balanced education, USC, UCLA or Chapman just across town offer a larger student body, less specialized courses, and more options should you decide that film is not right for you.

What many applicants don’t know is that there are plenty of other schools outside of California that have sparked great careers for titans of the film industry. New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts offers unique classes taught by former directors and actors such as James Franco, Martin Scorsese and the Coen brothers. Another New York college known for its film program is Columbia University’s Art School. The New York schools will offer a vastly different educational experience than those in California, as to be expected between the friendly East Coast – West Coast film rivalry. Other great film schools include Wesleyan University, Emerson College, the University of Texas at Austin and UNC’s Art School.

Be sure to prepare adequately if you plan on applying to film school. Admissions officers will want to see a very strong background in reading comprehension, writing and language skills. If you are trying to break into acting, you will need a superb background in drama and performing arts. If directing or writing is more your thing, try to wow admissions officers with your creative essays. It never hurts (and you may be required) to also submit your work in the form of short YouTube movies or a portfolio.

If you decide film school is right for you, you could be on your way to becoming the next superstar actor, writer or director. Go for your dreams and study hard. The sky is the limit!