Ernesto,

In your lifetime, you will probably have more than one career and more than one hobby. Why not start out at a local university with the basics, and spend all of your free time volunteering in any way you can with local videographers, newsstations, corporate businesses in their production department and local interest groups? You may find a unique role for yourself that you can't even dream of right away, but in the meantime you can work on a degree that will pay the bills while you explore this area of interest. As I am sure you see, this type of a creative endeavor can't always be classified with any specific degree. I think the more life experiences you have though, the better you will be able to elicit the range of emotions that a great video/movie always seems to do. From personal experience I can tell you that it is EXPENSIVE, but as more than one person has said, it isn't the equipment, it is the creator that makes the movie.

Happy exploring - you are young and the world is waiting!

Leslie

Even though I own a lot of the toys, I decided that film school would be better suited to me as opposed simply quitting my job and all-of-a-sudden making movies. I've been working in live productions (lighting, sound, etc.) for years, so I know that I have (or at least I think I have!) the right personality to survive in the film industry. But, I have no burning desire to be a writer, director, gaffer, driver, boom swinger, etc. all at once (like most indie film makers have to become). I went to film school so that I can meet people that'll fill in the skill gaps that I don't have or don't want to learn. I also needed a holiday, and in all honesty, uni is basically an expensive holiday.

My only suggestion is (and this may only apply to Australia), to take a year off once you finish high school. Get a job and get your hands dirty in the industry. Save some money. If you survive the year, then re-consider going to film school. If you feel you will benefit from going to uni, then go for it! At least now you have a bit of cash to survive. If not, the world is your oyster!

Just a little side note to the full question:

A student is a student, whether full or part time. In the little film class I attend we have a couple of people who take classes’ part time. Register for one class, and you qualify as a student, and are therefore entitled to the student prices for software and equipment. Maybe a big savings!

Mike

One of the biggest advantages to film school is networking with both professionals and fellow students (future collaborators, post-graduation), plus hands-on training and more. And the whole psychology, if you will, of being in a filmmaking environment. That really gets the juices flowing.

Plus, access to nice equipment and, most importantly, deadlines to get things moving and shaking (lord knows we all need those).

That's why I liked going to film school years ago, and why I now work with a Film School (www.palmbeachfilmschool.com) to teach the next wave of filmmakers the art and craft of digital filmmaking.

heath

I have done it both ways... learned it on the street for a while then went to film school. I went to THE film school (USC) so my experience may be different than others. Film school will not MAKE you anything that you are not. If you are an average talent, dont expect it to elevate you to greatness. However, if you are naturally gifted, film school can give you access to tools that will confirm your natural talent and elevate your abilities. This line of work in many ways, is driven by creativity and natural talent. Of all of the friends I made at film school 7 years ago, only 2 others are WORKING in the business.

All that being said, if you are going to go to college anyway... then why NOT film school? As noted by others, the connections you make are invaluable. If you can get into a premiere film school, that will actually get you thru doors that normally are not open. This is ONLY true of a handful of A list schools however. Going to a "b" film school can actually be a detriment in some situations because people assume that means you were not good enough to get into the better schools.... REALLY SILLY! Your work will speak for itself but you MUST have the connections to get your work seen.



ash =o)

My personal take is that many undergrads are better served by a good liberal arts degree (i.e. exposure to other things in life) and then take formal film education at the graduate level. Filmmaking is a collaborative art and it takes a certain maturity for a group of people to be able to swap jobs from film to film and still "be there" for each other.

That said, I'm also of the belief that if one truly wants to work in the film industry, they can do so without the benefit of a diploma. I myself dropped out of NYU after one year and have never had an issue--it's never even come up. I do recognize that I would have likely made some good connections had I stuck around longer (as Ash points out, certain schools are more likely than others to promote this) but ultimately I still stand by my decision, 8000 years later!

I think there are some great graduate or independent programs out there for those who want to go the formal route, and for those who don't, the advent of DVD's have made it possible for anyone to scrutinize a film frame by frame then listen to the director's commentary, watch behind-the-scenes docs etc...a real treasure trove and a pretty good film education right there. Not to mention resources such as this forum and the ready availability of digital filmmaking tools. It's a great time to be getting into this stuff.

Between NYC and L.A., you're in a great area, Charles. I'd recommend film school especially to those in areas that have small film communities, or next-to-non-existent. If nothing else, to meet others and learn. And access to gear. (A good film society that may provide networking, education through lectures, and more could be a possiblity.)

heath

I couldnt get into film or art school and I always had problems with art teachers, or courses being cancelled when I was eligible etc. School and art never worked for me. It didnt stop me from pursuing things on my own, but there are times I wondered how I might have benefited if I had been in a school where networking was possible. But that's assuming you would meet people you could work with. If you can get into a good US or Toronto school with networking value-then great.

When I contemplated going back to school to take computer graphics, people working in it said it was better to get the software and do it yourself--because ultimately the employer is going to look at your demo reel.
Art related fields have an additional problem--what you do in high school counts for nothing in higher education(at least it didnt count when i was there). With science or english--you continue on in university-the previous knowledge has weight there, but with art, you are almost expected to start from scratch.

And then there is the problem of art field teachers who are only teaching because they couldnt earn a living at their chosen field. Some of them take pleasure in trying to discourage others(I know of some doozy examples).

Whether you go to school or not you should be doing things outside of class.

Even with a liberal arts education--for Pete's sake, read outside of class. I read tons of classics on my own because we werent exposed to them in school.

And then there is the problem of art field teachers who are only teaching because they couldnt earn a living at their chosen field. Some of them take pleasure in trying to discourage others(I know of some doozy examples).

I have a huge problem with that. I am among many teachers who have done well in filmmaking, even some below-the-line jobs. To say that we are like that is absurd. There's always exceptions to the rules, but I don't subscribe to the "if you can, do; if you cannot, teach" philosophy.

heath

Didnt say it was a general rule--just that I encountered it and know of people who did as well. I remember one case where a university music teacher called a student an as*hole in front of 200 students. Real confidence builder. I had a film teacher who showed us his commercial work in class then lamented that his career didnt amount to much and he was learning to accept it(nope).
Another one kicked in a classroom door because his students gave him a petition saying they werent learning enough in class. Over the years I have met people who have similar anecdotes.
Maybe its a phenomenon restricted to Canadian schools on the West Coast. It definitely exists though.

Is there a Film School in Austin besides the one at UT? Such as a Full Sail type school?

I believe ACC has a course if your interested.

I live in Houston too and will be attending UT Arlington film school but want to transfer over to UT Austin.

I really dont know about Full Sail or other programs like it in the area, but if all else fails give these guys an email or call

http://www.austinfilm.org/afs/Contact.php

I believe ACC has a course if your interested.

I live in Houston too and will be attending UT Arlington film school but want to transfer over to UT Austin.

I really dont know about Full Sail or other programs like it in the area, but if all else fails give these guys an email or call

http://www.austinfilm.org/afs/Contact.php

All I saw them offering was an Intro to Radio and Television class.

oh sorry i thought they had a course.

Austin Film Works

http://www.meticulouspictures.com/afw/html/index.html

From our very own Steve Mims.

I'd be scared of a film class at UT..the theatre program was so large you'd watch the teachers and some lucky students in class on a monitor in the hallway...yikes...

I went to College of Santa Fe (for theatre and photography). They have a good film program and feature films are regularly filmed in the soundstage on campus...not great movies but movies all the same : All the Pretty Horses, JC's Vampires, Wild Wild West, etc while I was there....

Paul

Austin Film Works

http://www.meticulouspictures.com/afw/html/index.html

From our very own Steve Mims.

Thanks. I'm in the course. Went to orientation Tuesday. Looks like fun.

Are you guys (still) at school there?
I'm also studying at KASK. Just finished my first year succesfully..
Have to say, it's a nice school, and i like the fact that you're constantly busy with actually making movies!
They do tend to push their students into a particular style of filmmaking, but hey..

That is the thought that has been running through my head lately. I really dislike my job and know that I do not want it to be my career. Currently I work at a Computer Repair/ISP as a IT Professional, we're the only place in a small town. I have always regretted not going into film school right out of high school. I'm 22 now and currently volunteering with a local production company based out of Durham. Also I am working on editing a documentary that I am being paid for nicely.

Currently I have all of my equipment, all bought with my own money. It's not the best but it does the job. I've got 2 Sony TRV900s that are used to capture straight to a laptop, Roland Edirol R-09, Rode VideoMic, along with two editing PCs. I have access to a crew and actors....the only thing I lack is the ability to do this often. With film school I know that I'll be working on something for sure. I currently have two projects in pre-production and still editing this documentary that I'm confident will spread my name. Upon talking to some family members tonight I just realized that I really really hate that I never went into film school and I'm just really not sure what to do right now. Yes, I know this is a internet message board but I feel this is my only outlet of unbiased attention. So please, what do you think? Go to film school, or stay independent??

If you went to film school, would you still keep a full time job?
If not, how would you pay for school, or support yourself while in school?
Once you graduate film school what would you do that would earn a better living than you are making right now?
Just a few things to think about.

I have a good friend who went to NY Film Academy last year (in NYC) for a 3 month course of studies and she really learned a lot. I visited there and it seemed like a cool place, small enough to get to know everyone personally. I believe they offer all kinds of long and short term programs, and have a lot of students on a part time basis who have "day jobs". They also offer a program in Hollywood with Universal Studios. http://www.nyfa.com/

I don't know what schools you're considering, but maybe you could try a part-time program for starters just to see if you like it?

I wouldn't be able to keep a full time job, i'd definitely have to look for some kind of part time job.

As far as supporting myself for school I would have to apply for grants and/or get financing.

I would hope with the film degree I could start working on sets. I know that I probably won't get anything right off the bat but I think it'll be better than the measly $10/hour I make now as this dump working full time.

As far as the school I'm looking at, it is here in North Carolina. www.pccfilm.com

I definitely wouldn't be able to afford a nice school like The School of Communication Arts or UNCG.

I'm 19 and in film school and I have to tell you I HATE IT.

I am already working for a advertising company making commercials professionally and I own a small time video production company that I make these commercials through. I have been making movies and short film from the time I was about 12. I'm fluent with Avid, Premiere Pro, Final Cut, After Effects, Maya and many many more programs.

I am considering dropping out of film school because I am learning NOTHING, and the stuff that is taught is 90% of the time wrong. I don't want to bad mouth my school but I go to UCF in Orlando, FL.

My professors will often bring up hypothetical situations that a film maker might find himself stuck in and give a solution to the situation. However like I said 90% of the time they are either wrong, they don't know about new technology that can help creatively, or they give a solution that will put the production WAY over budget, but hey "That’s what the pros do".

I have also found that any kind of formal education stifles your creativity. The people that have to go to school to learn, and think they can learn everything in school often never get into their desired field and never use their degree for what they wanted.

I am a big fan of learning on your own, because when you learn on your own you tend to find new more effective ways of doing things.

I would recommend you read the book “Rebel without a Crew” by Robert Rodriguez. Grab a camera, get some friends together and make a few short films. If you enjoy it, keep doing it and TRUST ME, you will learn more by doing it then you will by someone showing you one way to do it. There is no one right way to do anything, but college will try to tell you there is.

Best of luck

Alan, slow down, you're 19... Yes you have skills and it sounds like you've learned a lot on you own. Trust me you'll do that your whole life. The technology is always changing and we all have to keep up or kids like you will take our jobs. LOL... Look I went to a 4 year university, got a degree, had a blast in college and as much as I didn't like my classes I got a lot out of the whole experience. I too was working in my field while still in school and often times ended up helping teach the class I was in.

Take school for what it's worth, finish, get your degree, and enjoy it while it lasts, there will be plenty of work for you when you graduate.

Alan, sorry that you're disappointed with your classes- but it's a sweeping generalization to say that "any kind of formal education stifles your creativity." Many, many acclaimed and successful filmmakers received formal education. If there's one thing I learned in school, it's that the only thing that will stifle your creativity is yourself.

At the film program I went through there was more emphasis on writing, film theory and experimental filmmaking than I wanted at the time. Funny thing is now, the academic study informs my work more and more because I saw films and encountered ideas in school that I NEVER would have been exposed to otherwise.

In the academic world and in the professional world you'll run into people who are set in their ways and insist their method is the right one. You don't have to take their word as scripture, but you can learn something from everybody. Your education- formal or informal- is what you make of it.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I understand where Alan is coming from in a sense. I of course have not received the formal film training but can understand that "formal education stifles your creativity". To me I'm just thinking of the stress of quitting a full time job and trying to find some part time job that probably won't pay enough. However I do understand that by going to school I will find people that share the same passion I do and people that want to make films when they're not working or in school just like me. I will be able to make contacts and work on actual sets. Two of my friends attend this school and have worked on several paid sets, they of course still maintain a part time job.

Right now the only constraint that I find for myself and my film making is the people to help out with my projects.

There are lots of good points being made pro and con film school here.

As far as a film school degree leading to or being necessary to get paid work on "real" sets, that's something that is generally not true, unless the contacts you made while in school were what got you in the door in the first place. It is unusual that making a cold call or going for an interview to work as a PA will be any more successful simply because you have a degree--as a matter of fact, a lot of people prefer NOT to hire film school grads for entry-level work because they have a reputation for having an attitude that they are "better" than the requirements of the job at hand, being it sweeping the floor or running errands etc.

I went to NYU film and dropped out after a year with a lot of the sentiments that Alan shares now. I went to work right away as a PA and was shooting small projects on the side, and got a job at a production company as the staff shooter/editor a couple of years later. The rest--well, my IMDB listing can speak to that.

Considering who I was and where my focus was at that time, I really wouldn't have had the patience to sit in a classroom of any kind for four years, and in fact I never returned to college (and working in the film industry, not possessing a degree has never been an issue to date). However, in the vein that Mark and Benjamin have described, it is the experiences and knowledge gained in college that may well inform your future work and interests and aesthetic for the rest of your life. My advice to young people is often to study art or liberal arts as an undergrad, and if they really want formal education in film to then go to one of the specialized programs such as the Rockport Film Workshops or AFI where you will have access to working professionals in the film industry who are keeping up with the fast-changing world of production because they are actually in it.

These days, I'm tempted to think that a substantial education in film can be had by reading a lot, studying films on DVD (and listening to commentaries) buying a camera and NLE system and just making as many films as you can. Every city now has tons of folks doing just that, and the internet has connected everyone to share results and techniques via sites like this. But if your desire is to work up the ranks of the traditional industry, just get out there and talk your way into a production company to get PA work by being friendly, eager to do anything and persistent without being annoying; then once you are in, use your common sense, anticipate, be pro-active and pleasant and you will be hired back. But use whatever oppportunity you have to watch and learn how everything works, from the structure of production to whichever discipline interests you the most (I learned many of the essentials of lighting from observing the DP's on the jobs I worked on as a PA).

I think it's intersting how many comments there are about film school's stifling your creativity. I went to film school and I didn't go there to learn to be creative, I went to learn the equipment. Creativity is something you have or you don't have, and no school can teach it to you.

My opinion as someone who went to school: a big "it depends." And it depends mostly on rather or not you can finance it. If you have the money and time to spend, and want to go, then go for it. If not for the techincal know-how, then for the networking. It's great to have teachers and students to bounce ideas off of and ask questions to. If you don't have the dough, don't go. Like I said, the main reason I went was to learn the equipment and I'm sure I could have done the same by taking the thousands of dollars in tuition and investing it into some equipment.

I went to film school and stopped after 6 months.
Everything I know now comes from the internet, self study, books, and making films.

It's different for everyone, for some it works, for other it doesn't.
But I had the feeling I was making THEIR films, and not my own anymore.
And I learned A LOT more spending one week on the set of another self-taught filmmaker then in my 6 months in film school.

My advice would be: think carefully, don't let me or anyone else decide for you, BUT also think about instead of putting the money to a film school, putting it towards equipment or just to make your film. (Also be carefull not to get in financial trouble!)

As Charles Papert here said (and he can know it!), nobody in the film industry asks you for you degree. They just want to know if you deliver the goods or not.

I took a few film making courses then stopped. I think I recieved the most benefit from photography courses that taught composition and style. The rest was self-taught.

Regards,

Alright so I believe that I've made up my mind. After contacting the school and finding out that they aren't offering any night classes that apply for what I would like to learn I am going to stay independent. They only offer classes based on the volunteering from the teachers around their other jobs or something like that. Yeah, I've got no idea either as to what they meant. But yeah I was going to go in mainly for the grip/electric courses. I really want to learn lighting but I think I'm going to buy up some books for myself and just learn on my own.

Yes there are many great books out there (you can look it up in our 'Read About it'- forums here) and also dvd sets with Hollywood Camera work things. I haven't read or seen both of them, but I heard many great things about them. I think a lot of learning to light is also just experimenting.
I wish you the best,

I'll be sure to check out that section Mathieu, thanks!

Maybe you're thinking too big? Traditional schools are a big commitment in terms of time & money. Smaller, shorter workshops might be closer to what you're looking for. Keep your day job, and just take some vacation days.

As Boyd mentioned, the New York Film Academy has shorter sessions you could sign up for. And I've heard really good things about the Maine Workshops (http://www.theworkshops.com/).

Since this is a frequently asked question, some other threads on the topic...

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11156

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10208

If the teachers are as hopeless as you say they are, how are the other students? Do you feel you have good competition amongst your comrades? Is there anyone you see as likely to excel in the industry post-graduation?

Robert at my school there seems to be no self motivated students other then myself. I have found that most people like the idea of "being in the movies" and not actually making them. Most people want to be an actor or director or producer but don't want to actually act, direct, or produce.

This discussion has actually inspired me to drop out of film school. I am going to business school instead. I figured having a business degree will help me get financing for projects I want to do make in the future. I have loads of connections with investors so this seems to be a good education path for me.

I would definitely recommend taking as many business classes as you can. One of my biggest regrets from my university education was not taking more business electives.

Also, any sort of "How to start a business" seminars. There are some in my area provided free by the local business development corporation, which is funded by the government. I'm sure there is an equivalent to this service everywhere.

You can never learn enough about the business side of things.

Whil I don't work in the industry anymore, I did work for a major market ABC affiliate for a number of years. I had over 50 people I was competing against for a job there. My reel of my productions is what got me hired.

So some thoughts if I were in your shoes, with the experience I have:
1) Are you gaining contacts that will be in the business during your career? If not, find another school. A lot of business is done thru connections. These folks are the ones who will typically get you your first job. Beware though, if you are immature or a prima donna in school, they will sink you before you get started. Don't be a jerk.

2) If your school is not fulfilling the needs above and you have no other options, then focus on getting what you can out of it. Think about it. What do you NEED to be a successful director or producer?

I will suggest project management, sales ability (to line up capital), budgeting, accounting, some finance and understanding of the filmaking process as well as the technical aspects of filmmaking. Add to that the connections to people who are where you want to be.

There is always a search for fresh talent, but it takes far more than a creative ability. It takes discipline & focus to take an abstract creative idea and turn it into a finished product. This is what separates the successful from the not.

I doubt the creative can ever be taught, but the strructure of taking the wild-eyed creative and slotting it into the constraints that a movie would require is a talent unto itself. This is sharpened by the above skills. There are thousands of aspiring filmakers out there - what separates the successful from the not? That is what you should study.

Wow thanks for the great replies everyone. I really appreciate it!

As far as what I was intending to do with the school, I just wanted to go and beef up on the technical skills of lighting and other grip work. I really wasn't seeking a degree. Right now I am working with a production company based in Durham NC called Eno River Media Productions, as was mentioned before. With that I have many contacts in the field and ample opportunities in the future I'm sure. The company is non-profit right now and we are just about to move into our first ever office/studio. All of the people that work with the company are volunteers, both graduates or current students of film school and independent film makers such as myself.

In this business nothing can replace the experince you get out in the field, it's what's going to get you future work, period. However if school is a possibility I feel that you can learn a great deal there too. A combination of both is always best. Granted when you're woking on a job no one's going to ask you "Who is Marconi and what did he invent?" I'm just saying that school has it's benefits too.

I don't mean to sound cryptic but I believe when certain things gnaw at you sometimes you should do them if for no other reason than to realize you do not need to do them.

That's a great observation Matt, I agree!

Now there's another aspect which I don't think has been mentioned here. I got an MFA degree in scenery/lighting design at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh many years ago. Now I could have learned all the same things on my own, and it would have been a perfectly valid approach. However being a student in a high-powered program meant that I had to compete with a lot of other really talented people and there's a huge lesson in humility right there. If you're presenting your work alongside of others in a classroom setting you learn a lot of the nature of competition in the arts world, which can be brutal. I thought I was pretty hot sh*t at 22 years of age when I went into that program. But very quickly I learned there were a lot of other talented people out there - some who were a lot better than me - and I was going to have to work really hard to hold my own.

Now I'm not saying that this is right for everyone, but competition with other talented filmmakers in a top notch school might provide an incentive to excel which you wouldn't find on your own.

...but then again, there are many, many competitions and festivals out there these days, some of which you can buy your way into (48 Hr. Film Festival being one), not to mention online challenges, which can certainly inspire humility when you think your submissions "rocks" until you see the other ones that people have done!

For the two chaps who are specifically interested in the grip/electric side of things, try to get on some high-end shoots or get a part-time job at a local g/e rental house. You'll spend many grueling hours loading trucks or humping feeder, but you'll get to know the standard tools of the industry, and if you keep your eyes open on set you'll see lighting techniques in effect that are likely to be much more sophisticated than you will find on an indie shoot that is working with shoplights and china balls.

Learning by doing is great, as long as you have the right influences around you.

It's a great time to be getting involved in filmmaking.

Another option if you want some real experiece from some of the industry's best, Attend the N.P.P.A workshop in Oklahoma. It's a working classroom, and to be honest you'll learn more there than in your traditional classroom.

I agree with Boyd, competition in school can be very rearding, no matter what type of classroom you choose. I too found out very quickly in school that I was not as good as I thought I was. No matter what route you choose the best thing I can recommend is to be humble and a sponge.

I'm 19 and in film school and I have to tell you I HATE IT.

I am already working for a advertising company making commercials professionally and I own a small time video production company that I make these commercials through. I have been making movies and short film from the time I was about 12. I'm fluent with Avid, Premiere Pro, Final Cut, After Effects, Maya and many many more programs.

I am considering dropping out of film school because I am learning NOTHING, and the stuff that is taught is 90% of the time wrong. I don't want to bad mouth my school but I go to UCF in Orlando, FL.

My professors will often bring up hypothetical situations that a film maker might find himself stuck in and give a solution to the situation. However like I said 90% of the time they are either wrong, they don't know about new technology that can help creatively, or they give a solution that will put the production WAY over budget, but hey "That’s what the pros do".

I have also found that any kind of formal education stifles your creativity. The people that have to go to school to learn, and think they can learn everything in school often never get into their desired field and never use their degree for what they wanted.

I am a big fan of learning on your own, because when you learn on your own you tend to find new more effective ways of doing things.

I would recommend you read the book “Rebel without a Crew” by Robert Rodriguez. Grab a camera, get some friends together and make a few short films. If you enjoy it, keep doing it and TRUST ME, you will learn more by doing it then you will by someone showing you one way to do it. There is no one right way to do anything, but college will try to tell you there is.

Best of luck

I have to say, this is one of the most inspiring posts I've read on the Internet and I wholeheartedly agree. When I went to college, my professors where academics who had very little passion for being successful or creative. Working at the "institution" meant job security and freedom from market forces... something I saw as a cop out of sorts.

When you find someone like Travis that has the passion and the "curiosity quotient", that far exceeds a formal education in any background.

I go to film school at the University at Buffalo. The one positive aspect of film school is that it motivates you and forces you to get projects done, and also helps you develop your creative process. Because lets face it, its incredibly difficult to get motivated on your own. I received my associates in TV production and in theory that could have been enough to get my foot in the door, however I wanted more. I enjoy film school, even if my school is a bit on the artsy side, I enjoy it nonetheless. I say if you can find a decent program that you can take part time and still work your full time job go that route. I think the education mixed with hands on experience is very important.

Hi all,

I am considering applying to film schools as a grad student in the fall, is anyone currently going to film school, or know anybody who is?

If you aren't motivated on your own enough to go out and make a movie, then maybe you could find a better use for that film school money.

Since this is a frequently asked question, some other threads on the topic...Thanks for pointing that out, Robert... I've merged together a couple dozen film school discussions into one big 'ol thread, which is what you're reading now.

This old mega-thread seems like a good place to ask this... I have a director friend in Europe with a nice resume in live theatre and opera who is interested in getting more involved with film. A couple years ago she spent several months taking courses at New York Film Academy (http://www.nyfa.com) and enjoyed it. I visited back then, and it seemed like a nice place.

She's now considering returning for more studies, but is also interested in the Digital Film Academy in New York: http://www.digitalfilmacademy.com. I don't know anything about this place myself - anybody else have an opinion?