Hi there.
I`m a high school student now and I want to be a director.
Which college in southern california can you recommend?

Huh?
Since when did you have to go to college to be a director?
:confused:

Uh...
I don`t know, but. I think there are things which you can`t learn by yourself.

Uh...
I don`t know, but. I think there are things which you can`t learn by yourself.

With determination, you can learn anything by yourself! I don't have any school recommendations for you though.

Serjus, of course you can go to school to be a director. You don't go to film school because you dream of becoming a grip!

He wants to know schools, lets be helpful.

Oh...ok. :D

Hmmm...souther CA? Well, there's the USC School of Cinema and Television
http://www-cntv.usc.edu/

Also, http://www.imdb.com/filmschools has a big listing of film schools, and a section of schools in CA.

With determination, you can learn anything by yourself!
Of course you can. But it is easier to find out someones experience then to make mistakes leraning by yourself.
And you can start "making" contacts and relationships with filmmaking people over there.
So, what about film schools?

Actually, I`ve meant colleges.
I think 2 years of colleges would be enough to start my career.

There's a few 2 year degrees out there. Try Columbia College (Hollywood, and Chicago, however, I think they are unrelated), New York Film Academy, Full Sail (Florida).

indietalk, thanks a lot!
I am checking Columbia College (Hollywood) now!

I hope you are able to find one you like! I would love to go back to school now and study film...unfortunately, I have a career and family...time is fleeting. Go learn with a fervor!

Thanks, I`ll try to!

What do you all think about IAFT (http://www.**************/)?
The location is really wonderful, but I don`t know anything about it.

USC is supposed to be the best (if you can afford it), but really you are in a great area. I'm sure most decent sized colleges in Southern California will have a comprehensive film program. UCLA is supposed to be really good as well.

Oh, thanks.
Is it really neccesary to spend four years studying?
Or 2 year college program is enough?

There is no specific formula for getting a film/video education. Some are self taught. Others do the school route and go either 2 or 4 years. I like to say, it's what you bring to the table that matters.

I did the four year school thing. I felt that it made me more well rounded because understanding filmmaking is great, but I think you have to look outside filmmaking to find life stories. (I find that Hollywood has become too canabalistic with sequels, remakes and remakes of TV shows because many filmmakers don't know anything outside of their filmmaking world.) Having that four degree could help you later if you need a "real" job to pay the bills while you develope film projects and pay off either student loan debts or credit cards that paid for new gear. The number one reason for film school is the contacts. A lot of the work I got starting out was through film school buddies.

I've been out of undegrad film school for over 20 years (man, I'm old) and was chatting with a fellow student who's now a film professor and we made the realization that about 10% of those who go to film school actually end up staying in the biz 10 years later. Some just think it looks like fun and when the tons of work starts (12-16 hour days, weeks or months of pre-productions, and the search for money) they run for the door. Other's just can't deal with the small finanacial return and lack of schedule starting out gets others out. Some years are great and some years you're barely making it. I've been flat broke more times than I like to count when projects have crashed and burned at the last minute. It['s a hard life and you have to want it more than about anything.

Film school is what you bring to it. If just take the standard classes and churn out projects that just get you through, then you'll get what you deserve. You have to go beyond the circulum and push the limits. Make sure the school you pick allows you to go that extra yard.

Scott

Scott, thanks for your answer.
I really appreciate it

You may also want to look into certificate programs.

What`s that?

http://www.scps.nyu.edu/departments/certificate.jsp?certId=914

Ok, I have a computer based TOEFL at 233, I have already written my motivation essay and soon I`m going to apply. I even got that amount of money.
My first target is still Orange Coast College. But I think I should apply several film schools...
Certificate programs sound like too pro for me. I need to get standart film education and to make some contacts while studying at film school.

It comes down to whether you want a Bachelor's degree or not. It's always nice to have one to fall back on

My first step is 2 year college program.
After that I would decide what to to next: transfer for BA (UCLA) or to start working on my films. It depends on what would I get into that college.

The day before yesterday I was accepted at Orange Coast College. As they say on their site, they are #3 in transfers to UCLA.
Santa Monica College is a good choice, but you need to have someone in LA county to take care about you unless you`re 18 yo. I`m 16 and I know nobody in LA county. SMC is #1 in transfers.
But which college is #2?

Hey, just wanted to say congratulations!

I dont know anything about Orange Coast, but I think you're going to like it at UCLA.

thanks!