Excellent advice on researching a film school...

[digmedia]

<p>I just found this on the internet:</p>

<p>Guide to Selecting and Evaluating Undergraduate, Graduate and Professional Documentary Training Programs</p>

<p>While the author, Mitchell Block, is speaking about documentary filmmaking, I think that his list of what to question and look for is spot-on for general film schools as well:</p>

<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.documentary.org/content/docs-may-be-hot-going-pro-aint-easy-guide-nonfiction-training-programs-north-america]Docs”>http://www.documentary.org/content/docs-may-be-hot-going-pro-aint-easy-guide-nonfiction-training-programs-north-america]Docs</a> May Be Hot, But Going Pro Ain’t Easy: A Guide to Nonfiction Training Programs in North America | International Documentary Association<a href=“look%20partway%20down%20the%20page”>/url</a></p>

<p>An example of his advice:

Making a great final film-school film should be your goal if you want to be a director. Many of the portfolio films are out of sync with what the industry and nontheatrical markets are producing, acquiring and distributing, and what the film, television, cable and professional industries are honoring in terms of awards. It’s not the budget or the technology that’s important in a student film, but how compelling and moving it is. The Student Academy Awards and College Television Awards are dominated by a handful of schools. Clearly, these schools are doing something right, so focus on the programs where student work is winning major awards, and when you talk to the students, find out which faculty members are making a difference. It’s not the program as much as the instruction.

</p>