Film Education and Training

Secure your movie or television career with film education and training
By Nikki Davis Film education and training can lead to a career in film or television. You can easily find out more about film training by attending film school or taking film production seminars or programs.

The industry has changed so much over the last few decades. Continuing education and film training should always be considered even if you are a seasoned professional.

To determine if film classes are the right fit for you:

1. Determine your need. Are you trying to break into a film career, are you learning for a hobby or are you looking to supplement the knowledge that you already have?

2. What are your time considerations? Do you need to take film training courses online to fit your schedule, or can you commit to attending film production school full time?

3. Figure out what your budget is to be able to afford film training programs and classes. You are making an investment into your future, and hopefully it will pay out in the end.

Use an industry specific directory to find film classes

Skip Yahoo and Google, and go straight to industry directory lists of film schools. They are usually posted by date and are helpful in finding film classes close to you.
Try:  Check out a by state listing of US film schools through Education.org's FilmSchools.com. Find a long list of US Film Schools at the Internet Movie Database.

Obtain your film training through state school programs

Many state universities offer filmmaking departments and majors.
Try:  Check out the Division of Film Studies from the University of Utah. Find out more about the film school at Florida State University. Learn all about film studies at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington.

Look to a private film school pursue your filmmaking education

A state university program may not be a good fit for you if you are solely looking to study film education and training. By pursuing an education through an art school or institute you are minimizing the class requirements outside of the major, and you can concentrate more on your filmmaking endeavors.
Try:  Look into workshops and courses from the Bryn Mawr Film Institute. Check out the film school programs through the New York Film Academy. Look into the course curriculum at the Film Connection Film School. Find the School of Motion Pictures & Television through the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

• Look for scholarship opportunities through the learning institution of your choice, as well as through local and state wide programs.
• When looking at universities with film training, speak with both their faculty and their students. A school may be ranked as one of the best film school programs, but if their students don't feel that the experience has been rewarding for them, you might reconsider.