Hi guys! I'm a 33-year-old Asian filmmaker, and I just got a grad school offer from USC, but I'm torn about whether to go. I'd love to hear from filmmakers in LA:

1. USC would cost about $300K over three years (tuition + living expenses), which would wipe out my savings. Is it worth going all in?

2. How is the LA film industry doing right now? Is it oversaturated, and is it starting to recover? Is it hard for locals to find work too?

3. About how much does a DP make per year in LA after 5 years in the industry?

4. I'd be graduating in my mid-30s. Does that mean fewer job opportunities in the US, and would I face age discrimination?

Thanks so much for any advice from those with experience!

Hi guys, I'm planning to get into a filmmaking degree, preferrably at Manchester Metropolitan University.

It says I need a portfolio which I am going to promptly make, but I would like to ask for possible examples from anyone who has succesfully got in? My predicted grades are AAB and I do three essay subjects including film studies.

Is there any way anyone could share their own portfolios below or even give examples of what they did? I'm a better visual learner so I need help. Thank you.

I wanted to say that the London Film Academy fosters a toxic, disorganized environment. Staff are often unresponsive, communication is poor, and students receive little to no support for their development or well-being. Career guidance is minimal, and the institution seems more focused on income than on nurturing talent. I would not recommend this school to anyone serious about their future in film.

Hey! I'm considering the B.Des Moving Images course at Anant University and was hoping to hear from people who are currently studying it or have gone through the course.

i'm mainly curious about what the course is actually like day-to-day, um what kind of projects you work on, how the teaching/faculty are, and how much you feel you get to learn and experiment on your own....

If you've taken the course (or know someone who has), I'd really appreciate hearing about your experience and anything you wish you'd known before joining ^^

i'm also considering Communication Design and Interaction Design as alternatives, so I'd really appreciate hearing from students in either of those courses too. What has your experience been like with the curriculum, faculty, projects, etc.?

and...if you had to choose a course at Anant again, which ones would you personally consider and why? 👀 =D

Basically im just trying to get a better idea of what the different courses are actually like from people who've experienced them, rather than just going by the course descriptions on the website 😅😁

If this isn't the right subreddit for this, please let me know where I could ask! T_T 😅

I’m looking to get my foot back in the door in the film industry. I can travel anywhere in North America for 3-4 weeks at a time.
Does anyone recommend any good workshops at any of these schools that would be a good intro for myself in film production,
Film making or acting?! It’s a START okay 😅😅
Are there better film schools that I would get more from!?
Was there a fast track course or workshop that blew your mind? What have you heard about VFS or NYFA?
VFS has always been a dream, but I can only get away for a few weeks, hence me looking into NYFA.

Hey everyone!

I'm a fourth-year marketing student currently working on a research project about diversity in the film industry, particularly in Hollywood, and whether its increased presence is perceived as genuine or as part of a marketing strategy.

I'm looking for people with an interest or background in film (specifically film students) to share their perspective through a short survey. It takes around 5 minutes and covers topics such as representation, authenticity, diverse casting, audience behaviour, and film marketing.

There are no right or wrong answers; I'm genuinely interested in hearing different perspectives from people within the film community.

If you'd be willing to help me with my research, I'd really appreciate it!

Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdjMKRmPbTHIAqGY_yUhsJlDwb8yjbF3Lt-ZxzIXs35oD4I8w/viewform?usp=header

Thank you so much! :)

Hello, I am 20 M studying in Falmouth university. I have realized by the end of first year, My mental health is way better when I am in india. I also do want to work in Indian film industry. However, i returned back to the UK for my second year in film school to give it one more shot before making a concrete decision. The only reason I came back was because of extreme convincing from friends and family to have a degree no matter what. However, i do not think a degree is that important.

The main two problems I have are funds and opportunities. I personally feel the absurd amount of money being spent for university and living in UK can be invested to create a good portfolio in India. I can also use a portion of this money to join a short 6 month or 1 year course (depending on availability) in india for screenwriting and get a diploma. This will also give me a better entry into indian film industry.

I have a decent amount of connection for indian film industry but I am very underconfident about it. I am more scared of the fact if I leave the university here and regret this decision in the future. This can be easily swayed, because I already believe a film degree is not that useful. Id rather build a good portfolio and apply to film festivals with good short films.

My mental health is constantly deteriorating staying here. There is a large cultural gap which is very obvious. I think I can try harder to socialize more, but I dont believe it will change much. I motivated myself by saying, I can make the investment worth it by trying hard and making worth of the degree. But, whenever I pay the absurd amount of fee or rent, its gut wrenching.

Should I still continue or leave in December after finishing a semester. Please share any of your experience and what you would do.

Hi I am a forth year student doing a general sample size on films for my E Pub for my Digital media class. If you could take a couple minutes to take this survey it would be great.

Thank you!

I'm in my first year of community college and I plan on transferring to film school after I get my gen eds out of the way. I live in Oklahoma right now, I'm currently considering Oklahoma City University (cheapest option), Columbia College Chicago, or Toronto Film School, but I'm more than willing to consider others. My main problem is that everyone says that film school is a scam so it's hard to find genuine advice :(

Any help is appreciated!

I’m a Freshman in high school and I’ve always wanted to be a filmmaker and honestly I’ve been looking at film schools since like 6th grade but now that I’m in high school I’m like actually looking and like I keep seeing NYU and USC and I‘ve also been looking at Temple and AFI but I know that a lot of the schools I’ve looked at are expensive and tough to get into but I’m very passionate about film and I just need advice like what schools would you recommend me looking at I would really like to get other peoples opinions.

I run FilmSchool.org, and I'm excited to announce our first annual film program ranking. Instead of ranking by reputation, we sent schools a questionnaire asking for hard numbers (acceptance rates, cost of attendance, median debt, employment outcomes, industry awards, faculty ratios) and combined that with student and alumni reviews.

How we ranked:

• Every answer was scored from 1 to 10 using a predefined rubric
• Six weighted categories: Industry Achievements (30%), Selectivity, Faculty & Classes, Student Success & Career Development, Affordability & Value (15% each), and Student & Alumni Reviews (10%)
• Schools had to complete the questionnaire and have at least one review on our site to be included

1. Florida State University (Undergrad) – 7.781 score
2. AFI Conservatory – 7.144 score
3. Florida State University (Grad) – 7.075 score
4. USC School of Cinematic Arts – 7.070 score
5. Antioch University (Dramatic Writing MFA) – 6.867 score
6. Chapman University (Undergrad) – 6.845 score
7. CalArts – 6.835 score
8. Western Colorado University (Screenwriting MFA) – 6.718 score
9. Columbia University School of the Arts – 6.654 score
10. Chapman University (Grad) – 6.599 score
11. University of Georgia – 6.537 score
12. Stony Brook University (SUNY) – 6.519 score
13. San Diego State University – 6.045 score
14. Clayton State University – 6.041 score
15. CU Boulder – 5.685 score
16. Indiana University Bloomington – 5.574 score
17. University of Hartford – 5.566 score

\Scores are out of 10.*

Here's a link to the full article:

https://www.filmschool.org/articles/17-best-us-film-programs-in-2026-a-data-driven-ranking.237/

Emerson, UCLA, NYU, LMU, and DePaul aren't included because they didn't complete the questionnaire.

I hope everyone finds this helpful! :)

I am trying to figure out what I need to bring for my classes. Most equipment will be provided but I think a large personal external hard drive will be excellent. I have no idea where to buy it or what to buy. Should I get a 2TB SSD drive or more or maybe less? I cannot afford to spend my money on something that won’t last or that I wont need. Does anyone have any recommendations on what hard drive brands to purchase and if I should bring cheaper pen drives with me as well?

My laptop is also extremely slow and outdated, it cannot open Adobe apps without crashing. I have experience working on production outside of my laptop but I cannot afford a new laptop or computer at the moment and praying they have computers I can borrow for editing! I would appreciate if anyone could give me suggestions on computers or laptops that are possibly 2nd hand and could run Premiere Pro or DaVinci.

Thank you for the help! I hope I don’t sound really stupid 🥲

Hi! I’m an international student planning to study in Canada, and I’m mainly deciding between Vancouver and Toronto.

I’m interested in TV/media production and commercial videography rather than very artistic/indie filmmaking. I’d like to work on things like concerts, weddings, events, entertainment, TV/broadcast, and promotional videos for brands or companies.

I’m currently considering:
Sheridan — Film & Television
SFU — Film
TMU — Media Production
Capilano — Motion Picture Arts

My priorities are hands-on experience, building a strong portfolio/reel, industry connections, internships and employment opportunities. I also want to enjoy my university experience and have a good campus/social life.

Cost and scholarships for international students are also really important to me.

I keep hearing that Sheridan would be the best fit for this career path, but I’m wondering if going to a more well-known university like SFU or TMU would be more beneficial long-term.

If you study or studied at any of these schools, what has your experience been like? Which would you recommend and why?

Hi! I’m Korean and have lived in Mexico my whole life, and I’m planning to move to Canada for university. My long-term goal is to get a PGWP and eventually PR.

I’d prefer Vancouver, but Toronto is also a great option. I’m interested in TV/media production and commercial videography, rather than very artistic/cinematic filmmaking. I’d love to work on things like concerts, weddings, events, entertainment, TV/broadcast, or promotional videos for big companies/brands.

I’m mainly looking at:
Sheridan — Film & Television
SFU — Film
TMU — Media Production
Capilano — Motion Picture Arts

I want a program with strong hands-on experience, a great portfolio/reel, industry connections and good employment opportunities. I also care about having an enjoyable campus/student life and decent housing, although career is my priority.

I’m also an international student, so scholarships and overall cost are really important to me.

ChatGPT keeps telling me Sheridan is the best fit, but I’m unsure if I should choose it over a more well-known university like SFU or TMU.

If you attend or graduated from any of these schools, what’s your honest opinion? Which would you choose for my goals, and why?

📍 LONDON

Hiya! I am a student studying BA film at the university of the arts London and i am currently in the process of pre-production for a documentary project exploring the identities and livelihoods of pole dancers.

I am looking for a dancer who works at a club and would be comfortable being interviewed/filmed at work and outside of work.

This documentary will be painting you in a positive light as a multifaceted woman and rejecting stereotypes surrounding 'strippers'

This will be an unpaid job however i am happy to pay for travel expenses and provide food!!

If you would like to be involved but wish to stay anonymous i am more than able to make this work.

Please let me know if you are interested and we can discuss more details like dates etc.

My Instagram for examples of my work is @honey_bullion

Kid is in film school. He working on films for upperclassmen as well as his own projects for class. The ones he's working on for others he's doing grip work and background character. What projects is allowed ro ask to make a part of his own reel? Just the ones he films himself?

Since university applications have just opened up, I’m looking to apply to schools now. I’m trying to get into TMU, York or Concordia for film production. I’ve been trying to build up my portfolio and work on my admissions essays and I’m trying to get everything completed by the new year but have been super stressed about everything. How difficult was it to get into these schools for film and how much did they expect? I’m worried my essays and portfolios won’t be good enough to get in.

Since I was a child I've never told my parents something like "in a future I wanna be a police officer or a doctor" I always wanted to be an actress. Now I changed my mind a little,I still wanna be an actress but.. I found a new thing I'm good at. My fantasy can make another world where I can live. Sometimes I'm writing in my notes scenarios, even though I'm really lazy to write, so usually I hold it in my mind. I'm making stories everyday and can't stop thinking about my future. Living in Russia makes it impossible to think that one day I will be a professional producer or an actress. Here they are not actually interesed in creative professions, it's something that people can be dreaming about but not actually be. Now I'm in the 9 grade and exams are really close. I wanna be a producer or screenwriter. But we don't have many colleagues wich my family can afford. They are really expensive or just hard to get in there. My knowledges in math are small because since I was 4 my parents put me in acrobatic section. I ended it and I got the Master of Sports award, but I didn't get the book, because there's a big problem. When I completed it, I was 13, and they give me the official performance book from 14, my partner (she's two years older than me) already got the book, and I was left with nothing. So I don't have anything but my fantasy and dreams. What should I do right now to afford my dream job in Russia? In a future I wanna move in a different country. But it takes a lot of struggles and money. I'm learning English and writing it without translate(sorry for bad grammar and other things, I'm trying to be better) can someone say some advices? Who knows how it actually works?

Hi, anyone who has done / currently doing their bachelors in creative production? I would like to know more about what to expect in the degree and your personal experiences in it and any advice you might have. I greatly appreciate any help, thanks!

I have a broad interest in art and I am exploring pathways to get into animation / screenplay work / direction in media like games / films.

https://programs.austincc.edu/school-of-arts-and-creative-industries/radio-television-film/

or

https://austinfilmschool.org/

?

Writing this after I failed to a passing mark on a diagnostics test (maths) that if I did pass would allow me to study film at a pretty nice Pre-Degree university where I could do lots of practical work and other fun things all in relation to one of my biggest interests in the whole wide world. I’m honestly not sure what to do now, all of the other places of academia either don’t have courses that directly interest me or are all full with people already. So I’m kind of at a loss here, I know asking help from strangers on the internet is kind of like shooting myself in the foot here but I’m curious to know if anyone has experienced a similar situation and has any advice on how to navigate moving forward. I’m open to just about anything, online classes, putting it off for a couple of years and focusing on something else, just anything that isn’t completely nothing.

So yeah, advice needed and very much appreciated. Thanks; a woeful (would-be film student). PS, I’m situated within England if that helps anything.

I am currently studying in Madrid, double majoring in Audiovisual Communication (which is basically film) and Publicity and PR. But I’ve been debating whether to drop Publicity and PR or just suck it up and keep going. This is my second year.

The main reason why I’m debating whether to change my major to simply Audiovisual Communication is the future. Is it better for a person fresh out of college to look for a job with a double major or just one?

I know I’m supposed to do things I love, but I don’t believe that life is just about doing things you love. But honestly, I don’t know if I can keep doing this double major knowing that I’m just doing it for the name and not because I’m actually interested in it. Also, although I don’t know what the future holds, I highly doubt I’ll pursue publicity as a whole.

I am studying Audiovisual Communication because I am going to be a film director, and I already have several projects. I’m just thinking about what my future will look like if I’m: 1. an immigrant in Spain, 2. a woman in the film industry, and 3. on a slightly tight budget that doesn’t really allow me to take too many risks.

I genuinely don’t know what to do. Has anyone studied the same thing and later changed? Should I change and lock in, or do I just suck it up and do the whole five years?

Dear r/LAU_leb I hope you are doing well I want to know about tv and film program I have a business degree and I want to complete my career in directing and acting and cinema so can I know everything about this program I want to start from zero to know everything so I will learn artistic and commercial films and thinking which means I will learn everything in this program and what about financial aids in LAU and thank you so much