Film Schools & Online Degrees
Film school offers students many opportunities for creative and professional exploration. Success in the film industry depends on an individual’s talent and network, but film school can be a great help in expanding a student’s vision and helping them get the professional and internship experience they need to stand out. Students can major in many different areas while gaining hands-on experience through internships, independent and group projects, extracurricular activities and opportunities found through the school or through the community. Whether you decide to enroll in a special art or film school or participate in a film department within a campus-based or online school, you will find that a degree in a film-related discipline can help you make contacts, learn technical and creative strategies and give you the opportunity to grow and experiment with your talent.
Students have many choices for getting an education in filmmaking, directing, screenwriting, acting for film, producing, editing and cinematography. They can sign up for individual classes from a community college or vocational school to sharpen their skills in a particular area or supplement their existing knowledge of film and the industry. Other students may choose to enroll in workshops or evening classes from an acting school or film school. This strategy can also be helpful for meeting potential partners and starting new projects. Those who want a more comprehensive educational experience can enroll in a one, two, or three-year associate’s degree program, a four-year bachelor’s degree program or even a graduate program. Students can get a well-rounded education from an associate’s, BA or MA program, which will feature general academic courses as well as film-specific courses. BFA and MFA programs may also be available, depending on the school. These programs can be found through a school’s film and theatre department, communications and film department, or within a digital, photography or design department.
Film schools that only offer film and film-related degrees are generally more intense and competitive but can give students the best career tools, internship experience and contacts base. Some of these prestigious film schools also offer the most variety in electives, majors and specializations. Areas of study include animation, photography, cinematography, film acting, TV and film production, digital film, broadcast journalism, filmmaking, directing, documentary filmmaking, and much more.
