What would be the best major if someone wants to puruse...

English can be good, a lot of people have done this. Tina Fey was an English major at UVA. Conan O'Brien was a Comparative Lit major at Harvard. Other writers have majored in Theater, History, Poli Sci, Psychology, Philosophy.

Studying great literature, history, foreign languages, philosophy, and psychology can be very helpful for your development as a writer. It's also tremendously valuable to get all the work you can in your college theater - acting, writing, directing, lighting, building sets, costumes. The more you know about the process of going from the written word to flesh and blood performance in front of an audience, the better off you'll be.

Standard advice for film school is to study another subject for undergrad, and then do graduate film school, once you've had a good academic grounding, some life experience, and you're sure this is what you want. I'm not saying this advice is good, just standard. Some people will do better going straight to film school. Some people will do better skipping school altogether and getting any job they can in the business. Waiting for grad school isn't a bad idea, but with the premium the business places on youth, it's possible to wait too long.

John Grisham was a Lawyer, Micheal Chriton a doctor, Wes Craven a high school teacher.

Of course the easiest way to get in the industry is to put yourself in situations where you meet and work with those who can further your career, or notice your talent, but that is no guarantee.

To write a screenplay takes some education, but mostly takes talent, practice and insight on what is marketable and entertaining.

"People asked me if I went to film school. I said no, I went to films." - Quentin Tarantino

You GOTTA love Quentin Tarantino

I know lots of people that went to film school and end up working in distribution or whatever even though they wanted to write or make films. Also know lots of people who didn't even go to college that are writing and/or making films. And vice versa. Guess it depends on who you are and what innate talents you possess and how dedicated you are.

If you love film, go to film school - you'll enjoy the process and you can major in screenwriting.

Jim Taylor went to NYU (grad school) and his writing partner/director Alexander Payne went to UCLA (grad school).

just for writing in general, psychology was the best. you don't need a masters degree in it, just some framework. i mean, if you don't understand people, how are you going to write great characters? i've always said that all the education in the world won't make you talented. competent hack, maybe. education certainly doesn't hurt, but there's no way to supplant talent no matter how much a person tries. with a little luck you can fake it, but that's just a house of cards. the great thing about writing is you can pretty much be self-taught if you can manage to live without critical analysis of a professor. to that i say thank gawd shakespeare didn't have a college professor, lol. i think college writing is good basically for the excercises you're forced into doing that you'd otherwise skip. i.e. getting your mistakes out now rather than later.

none of that's a good substitute for life, though, imo. if you want to be a machinist, take shop. if you want to be a souz chef, go to culinary school. if you want to be a writer, go live life and try to be as observant as possible.

I don't think there's any one way either. I took one course thru Gothem writers in NYC. It's good, but doesn't give college credits. Someone I knew a few years back, took 6 mos. of NYU film school and had to drop to go into film. I wouldn't mind taking an online UCLA extension course, it's helped someone who's in my workshop class. I heard University of Texas is good(Austin) and USC($$$$) and Berkly(cheaper) have courses. A friend is getting his masters in english,at the local college, but has a hard time with the concept of writing dialogue.

One of the best film schools, I must sadly say UNO was demolished in last week's great tragedy and the local college by me has reopened registration 2 and 1/2 weeks into semster to take some of those students in, though they don't have any film program here.

Being active in boards like this one helps. Thanx U guys!

A local workshop, if it can be found can be good, that is if everyone is willing to be consistant and do the work. I''ve been told it has improved my writing 180%, but I know I have a real long way to go.

OH! Quentin Tarantino started out in Ssh! A video store.

Well, if you want to be a writer the best thing for you is experience. So anything is better than sitting around your house.

If you want to be a screenwriter and you want to go to college then you may as well major in screenwriting. Why put it off? If you know what you want to do then why go to undergrad for 4 years then grad school for several more years?

But as everyone mentioned, there are different paths for everyone. Do whatever you think is right. If you're thinking about an English program and a fall back plan then you're probably not very secure in your desire to be a screenwriter. So you can major in English and write screenplays on the side. But you won't make the contacts and get the feedback you would in school.

I went to USC and I guess it's expensive. But just about everyone in Undergrad film has scholarships. Because to get into USC, you need the best grades. The screenwriting program at USC is very intensive. They take more classes than other people in the film school. It's a BFA. But at the end of the program, you get to actually pitch your script to a real executive. I believe that's how John Singleton sold Boyz in the Hood. But you are doing all screenwriting all the time -- so you have to make sure that's really what you want to do .

But if you want to make contacts I think only the top film schools are worth it.

English isn't a good back-up major if you're looking for secure and gainful employment. Most English majors have a tough time finding jobs and for the few lucky enough to be scooped up by the publishing houses, it's for near minimum wage salaries. My point of reference is NYU, so it's even worse if you're going to a school w/o the reputation. Either way you're not going to be rolling in the dough unless you go into a lucrative field, so if you're going to major in English you might as well major in screenwriting or film. At least you'll enjoy it more.

If you don't have a good financial situation (i.e. well off parents who will let you meech off them) then major in something that'll make you money like business, computer science, engineering, etc. Education is also good. For the time that they put in, teachers actually get decent pay, and you'll have lots of time to write!

I was a finance major and you definitely start off making more money than other college grads, so it's not a bad thing to study if you can make it through school w/o falling asleep. I wish I had the priviledge of just studying film but alas the rent must be paid and it ain't cheap!

These are the top rated screenwriting colleges according to US News and World Report for 2006.

Bennington College
Brigham Young University--Provo
Chapman University
DePaul University
Drexel University
Emory and Henry College
Loyola Marymount University
New York University
Ohio University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Pepperdine University
SUNY--Purchase College
University of Michigan--Ann Arbor
University of Southern California

The Complete Guide to American Films Schools and Cinema and Television Courses

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0140172262/qid=1126586817/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-6319124-5569641?v=glance&s=books


Film School Confidential: the Insiders Guide to Film Schools

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0140172262/qid=1126586817/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-6319124-5569641?v=glance&s=books

In the film industry, University of California at Los Angeles is considered very prestigious. California State (Los Angeles) also has good film major programs.As for English majors finding jobs, it's all up to the individual English major.

I do agree with Anna that you might as well go directly into studying film. But people like English majors and film majors can get other jobs outside publishing and film if they want to. And keep in mind that jobs that require degrees do not necessarily pay more than jobs that don't.

If you're working at a high end restaurant or bar, you could be making hundreds of dollars in tips a night. There are restaurants where dinner costs $300 (or more) and where a drink could cost you $11 or more. The standard tip is 15% (I'm speaking about New York, but I'm sure Los Angeles is similiar). So if you work at one of these places, you'll do quite well, and a lot of writers and actors do because of the flexibility.

Also, administrative assistants in Los Angeles and New York start make from anywhere between $10 to $25 dollars an hour, depending on experience, typing speed, and the industry they work in. You don't have to have a degree to be an administrative assistant (all it means is that you're a secretary). I've known plenty of writers of all majors who worked as administrative.

So you don't have to get a career job. You can just get a job that pays, and there are plenty out there.

For those who like manual labor and blue collar jobs, well, some of these pay well.

A lot of entertainers also have gigs in hotels, on cruise ships, etc.

I know some people put in the minds of young people that you're supposed to major on X and definitely only work in X, but very often things don't work that way. So if you're really interested in film, major in film, and if you have to get non film work to pay the bills and eat, there are plenty of options.

You don't say where you are in the South. There are major film programs at state schools in north Florida (Florida State) and central NC (NC School of the Arts). I've worked on hour drama TV crews with grads from both schools, so I can say that grads from these schools can and do get real jobs in the biz. I haven't met any writers from these schools, though I'm sure there are some.

If your main interest is writing, you might try UVA in Charlotsville. It's at or near the top for English, and has a good theatre program as well. Worked for Tina Fey, might work for you.

All these schools will be tough to get into, but long odds and limited openings are something you'll have to get used too if you want to work in the business. Short of these four year programs, a community college with a good working theatre program might be your best bet. Combine English and writing courses with as much theatre and TV production experience as you can get.

You might try taking some online courses from UCLA extension, or going to Los Angeles and taking them there. The courses are $345 per class if you take them there, and $495 if you take them online. That's the cheapest I've seen.

www.uclaextension.edu

Get good grades, and there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to transfer into a degree program (the extension program gives a certificate, not a degree. but the classes are for regular college credit).

D'oh. Alabama. Maybe if you spelled it out in big red letters, I might catch on. Then again, maybe not.

And I should have said that not all universities determine admission strictly by grades and test scores. For arts programs, like the one in NC, there may be opportunities to audition for admission with one's work. Call around, explore their sites, talk to people who are already students there, and people in your local arts community.


I've heard good things about Valencia Community College, in Orlando. Worth checking out. They may have internships and other opportunities to work with Disney.

http://valenciacc.edu/asdegrees/documents/FilmProductionSequence-05.pdf

Other FL comm colleges:

http://www.fldoe.org/cc/mindstowork/degrees/communications/fpt.asp

There are numerous community colleges in the So Cal area that offer good film programs. Cost of living is quite high here, though, and cheap places to live are usually in dangerous neighborhoods. Depends on what you're looking for.

You can get more info from the guidebooks in my earlier posts. I haven't heard anything about CC film programs in NC or GA, but there are probably some available, especially in Atlanta or the Winston-Durham region.

San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley are all nice areas in Los Angeles and are all comparatively cheapand safe. So are the downtown (yes, there are a lot of homeless there but it's no big deal) and Hollywood areas. Los Angeles doesn't get really expensive until you get to the Westside (UCLA is on the Westside). However, you can do what most people do. Get a roommate or roommates and you're set.

Yes, all the accredited universities in Los Angeles that offer film majors have dorms you can live on. And it would be a lot more convenient for you in terms of getting to class. And you wouldn't have to worry about screening your roommates.

As an added bonus, if you're a student at an school in Los Angeles you'd be able to intern at the studios, production companies, or agencies. That's a great way to get your foot in the door.

UCLA . GO BRUINS!

Aldenard said:

Ok, I'm leaning more towards good colleges that can offer screenwriting/film majors around the LA area, so I could get to know people in the industry more. I'm not very familiar with the geography of California, (as far as which part of LA Hollywood is on, ect.), though. Could anyone recommend me some good schools in and around LA?

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First of All, there is NO FILM industry in HOLLYWOOD. PERIOD.

The film industry is concentrated mainly in San Fernando Valley (the Valley you always here them talking about in movies taking place in Los Angeles). You have several studios there (Warner Brothers, Universal, Disney). The Westside of Los Angeles has a lot of production companies, the major agencies, and 3 studios (MGM, Sony Pictures, and Fox). UCLA is on the westside, in Westwood (which is right next to Beverly Hills).

CSU (California State University) has two Los Angeles locations. One is near downtown, and the other is Northride, in a city in San Fernando Valley.

Loyola Marymount University is also on the Westside of Los Angeles.

Back to Hollywood, not only did the film industry basically leave Hollywood along time ago, their last radio station closed. Mainly these days Hollywood is just a tourist attraction because of the Hollywood walk of fame, places to shop, and nightclubs.