Pretty much as said in the title. I’m making my college list and I can’t really tell from the information online which schools are mostly Musical Theatre focused and which ones are good for film/tv acting. I want to go into the latter, so I definitely don’t want to go into a program that’s going to be theatre-focused. I also cant really visit many schools because theyre all over the place and I’m based in NJ.
Maybe FSU, DePaul or SCAD (Atlanta). They have excellent film schools. Typically film programs are always looking for actors.
If you apply to film programs or BFA programs please realize that their acceptance rates can be very, very low. Especially compared to the overall acceptance of the college or university.
This is not my area of expertise. I highly suspect, however, that programs for screen actors are similar to programs for music performance or musical theater majors insofar as it is important to apply widely and at a range of selectivity levels for the major as the majority of programs require an audition for acceptance.
This source shares information on the number of degrees in a particular field that were awarded in 2022. It uses the information from IPEDS/the National Center for Education Statistics from the federal government.
I looked up the Cinematography and Film/Video Production major and took a snip of the schools that graduated the most majors in 2022. You can continue to scroll down the list on the link above, but I strongly suspect that those schools have acting programs that focus on film rather than (or in addition to) traditional theater or musical theater (which is usually its own category anyway).
If you share more about what you want in a college (budget, size of school, geographic preferences, importance of things like athletic enthusiasm or Greek life, etc.) along with a bit about your background, folks would be happy to help brainstorm possibilities.
BFA acting programs will generally have a mix of acting for the screen and acting for the stage. S21 who attended UNCSA that had a primary stage program had screen acting programs several times a year. Pace has a good program that is focused on screen acting and I agree that USC also has a program. The BA acting programs that you mentioned will not give you much screen acting. I believe that there are not many other programs that concentrate on screen acting.
Your list of schools is fine but the best way to learn is to get on a set. Any set. Doing anything. Being in an area with a good film community helps. Areas of the South like Atlanta have become hotbeds for film.
Although it doesn’t offer a stand alone major in screen acting, Loyola-Marymount can be a good backup in L.A. Courses from their Theater Arts major can be combined with courses in their Film & Television Production major. A big plus is that they are well connected in the industry.
Be prepared for an audition at a place like USC.
Check out SUNY Purchase College. It is a top drama school! It has a BFA simply in Acting. All kinds of acting. Acting for the Camera. Live Acting. No Musical Theater. Just Acting. Its proximity to NYC and connections within the TV and film industries make it an excellent choice.
