Study Overseas

HOLLYWOOD, CA - If film school was the first step through the looking glass for the rebellious cinephiles of the 1970s and 80s (George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, David Lynch, Spike Lee and Lars von Trier all went), then a new generation of storytellers have honed their moviemaking on their own: studying old DVDs, shooting on a digital camera, editing on a personal computing, and uploading their shorts onto YouTube in their pajamas.

But in order to turn a hobby into a career, to really learn the art and craft of filmmaking and take these skills to the next level, an increasing number of budding visionaries from both the U.S. and elsewhere are turning to undergraduate and graduate film schools to help make their dream a big-screen reality.

With over 600 colleges and universities in the U.S. offering programs in film studies, an eclectic mix of new choices enable tomorrow's artists to get the skills they need to attack one of the world's most competitive marketplaces. Gaining experience in the major areas of production (writing, directing, producing, cinematography and editing), grads can launch their careers career in secure, academic environments that act and feel like mini-Hollywoods.

"Location is an important consideration when choosing a film school," writes Jan Bone, author of Opportunities in Film Careers. "If you go to school in New York or Los Angeles, you find 16r professional communities and higher end productions."

While there is no formula for success, writing a strong "spec" script ("spec" meaning something written on the "speculation" that it will sell) or directing a well-received short film that hits the festival circuit are ways to make it. The right internship can make a difference too.

"My internship has opened up a lot of doors," says Los Angeles-based editor Mary Clavering, who worked for actor/writer/director Robert Townshend's production company. "Not only has it taught me discipline, but it has also helped me grow as a storyteller and given me a mentor for life."

The vast majority of the major studios, TV and film production companies, film festivals, and talent agencies offer internship programs that fulfill requirements at a variety of schools.

"The internship is especially important for international students who cannot always get paid compensation for their work if they aren't a citizen," explains Andrew Kesler, Dean of Students at Columbia College Hollywood, a four-year private film school located in Tarzana, CA. "It gives them a great opportunity to network and build relationships for the future when they can earn money."

The alumni network also becomes a key component of life after graduation, as classmates often hire fellow classmates. And because film careers can be so lucrative, successful alumni become essential for a film school's development campaign. Last fall, USC alumni George Lucas gave his alma mater a $175 million donation to build a new film school facility.

"I wanted to send a signal to all the universities that have film schools," Lucas tells Reuters. "This is like the law school or the journalism school or the architecture school. This is an important part of our society and needs to be taken seriously, and hopefully this will get their attention."

As the next generation of storytellers prepares to take over the helm, such a gesture will surely reverberate throughout the film community... and, these days, that means more than a few classrooms.

David Harris is the Marketing and Outreach Coordinator at Columbia College Hollywood, a 4-year undergraduate film school located in Tarzana, CA (http://columbiacollege.edu). He is a graduate of the American Film Institute's masters program in screenwriting.