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What college should I go to, to be a Movie director

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Daniela’s Answer

Hi Peyton,


Prospective movie directors can find training through film and production programs, which are offered at the associate's, bachelor's and master's degree levels. Each degree program allows students to work on individual projects and introduces core movie director topics, such as screenwriting, directing, editing and cinematography.


Educational Requirements:




  • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film
    Film degree programs often confer a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), and these programs teach students about filmmaking through four years of education. Several schools offer programs, which focus on film direction. Students learn filmmaking history and techniques. Their education often focuses on the elements of successful filmmaking, including plot, character development and style. Film criticism is also covered, usually through reading and discussing the works of acknowledged experts in the field. Common courses include screenwriting, cinematic storytelling, film language, film history and movie editing principles.




  • Master of Fine Arts in Film Directing
    Advanced directing programs, such as a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Film Directing program, offer students the opportunity to take part in several aspects of film production. This includes everything from editing to cinematography, as well as digital and sound effects. These 3-year programs often feature a professional internship opportunity, which is invaluable for contacts and career development. Common courses include script development, directing seminars, directing techniques and production theories.




How to Select a Movie Director School


Some common concentration areas include screenwriting, camera operation, editing and directing. Additionally, a senior thesis film may be required to complete a bachelor's degree.


Consider the following when looking for movie director schools:



  • Prospective students should also take into account the quality and amount of equipment a film department has to offer.

  • Also, a prospective student should ensure that there is an abundance of film cameras, lighting equipment and editing stations for use.


10 Schools with Movie Director Programs:




  • Arizona State University : 4-year, Public




  • Miami Dade College 4-year, Public




  • University of Minnesota - Twin Cities 4-year, Public




  • University of Central Florida 4-year, Public




  • New York University 4-year, Private




  • Florida State University 4-year, Public




  • University of Southern California 4-year, Private




  • Boston University 4-year, Private




  • George Mason University 4-year, Public




  • University of Iowa 4-year, Public




Sources: http://study.com/movie_director_school.html
http://study.com/articles/Film_Director_Educational_Requirements_for_being_a_Film_and_Movie_Director.html


Success and big projects in your professional journey!
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Jeremiah’s Answer

The truth is, while you can learn a lot in college, the most important thing you get out of film school is experience working on projects and contacts in the industry. Since you can get experience making films utilizing filmmaking groups on social media, forums, and local meetup type groups -film school is not necessarily the best choice for some people. If you are self-motivated, your money may be much better spent on simply funding your own projects and learning by doing. That's what I've done and it's made me a much more adaptable filmmaker, since I've had to learn how to do just about everything on set.


Having a degree will not get you work in the film industry. On no set that I've worked on have I ever been asked about formal education, other than out of curiosity (and I've worked on films starring Nicolas Cage, Elijah Wood, and Kevin James, to name a few). They only care about experience, work ethic, showing up on time, not complaining, and the ability to do your job well. None of those things are exclusive to film school. The best thing you can do, if you want to be a director is direct films. I recommend reading Robert Rodriguez's "Rebel Without a Crew" for inspiration and to see what that looks like in actual practice. Also, google his 10 Minute Film School :)


However, if you do decide that film school is a path you would like to pursue, the best thing I can recommend is to go to film festivals and watch short films in the "student" category. Pay attention to which schools produce films that you consistently enjoy. Chances are if you love the films coming out of a particular school, it means their program could be a great fit with your style -and directing is all about style and vision.
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