<p>Wesleyan compares very favorably to the “big name” schools - there’s a reason the alumni network is called the Wesleyan Film Mafia. </p>
<p>[THR’s</a> Top 25 Film Schools List Revealed Gallery - The Hollywood Reporter](<a href=“THR’s Top 25 Film Schools List Revealed – The Hollywood Reporter”>THR’s Top 25 Film Schools List Revealed – The Hollywood Reporter)</p>
<p>This ranking has USC #1, UCLA #4, NYU #5, and Wesleyan #7. Right up there with the “big boys.”</p>
<p>The program is not a pure technical major - a lot is theory based, but there is also physical hands on work - the new film studies building has a production wing - [About</a> the Building, Center for Film Studies, Film Studies - Wesleyan University](<a href=“http://www.wesleyan.edu/filmstudies/centerforfilmstudies/index.html]About”>http://www.wesleyan.edu/filmstudies/centerforfilmstudies/index.html)</p>
<p>The various rooms are named by the donations from the famous alumni (Michael Bay, Joss Whedon, etc.)</p>
<p>In other words, it’s a comprehensive film major where you learn how to make films, how to tell a story, and all the little things that make a good film great. The number of famous alumni from Wes is pretty indicative of the strength of the program.</p>
<p>The website [About</a> the Major, Film Studies - Wesleyan University](<a href=“http://www.wesleyan.edu/filmstudies/major.html]About”>http://www.wesleyan.edu/filmstudies/major.html) has a pretty good description of what it’s all about.</p>
<p>The accompanying Cinema Archives have the papers of big names, including Clint Eastwood and Martin Scorsese - both of whom have visited campus and are good friends with the department Chairwoman and Film Goddess Jeanine Basinger.</p>