New York Film Academy

[Adavier]

Well seems as though I will have no luck on that website..Newho do any of you on here know of any good screenwritting schools,..ect Im thinking about attending New York Film Academy when i graduate this year,but i just want to see what else is out there.. I mean I saw plenty other schools but they did or had very short reviews.. So if you know a good 1 drop me some Links or name ;)

[joecalabre]

If you want to go to college and get a degree (in screenwriting) I would support you whole heartedly, but if you want to shell out a lot of money at a place like NYFA and end up with some knowledge but no degree, then I would have to say that your money is best spent somewhere else.

Can you learn from NYFA? Sure. I'm sure you'll get some tips, but it's not the same as a four year (or longer) college experience. I put NYFA in the same boat (learning wise) as buying a few dozen books and practicing you butt off.

A producer doesn't care whether you went to Columbia or some community college in the Midwest. the only thing an agent or producer wants to see from you is a good quality script. Sure, a degree on your resume may look nice but it won't open doors-- only your work will.

Now I am not advocating everyone drops out of school. College has many things going for it. You will definitely learn a lot and make some contacts/friends,etc... But if given the choice between NYFA and NYU you can guess where I would recommend you go. Sure it's more expensive than a six week course but if it is your chosen career path, then you must best arm yourself.

That's my take.

As with most of these posts, I'm sure a debate will follow...

[incrediculous]

Adavier,

I know nothing of New York Film Academy. However, only last week did I file early withdrawal from Vancouver Film School, NYFA's Canadian competitor.

I liken the VFS experience to NASA space camp. Space camp is built for kids who dream of becoming astronauts. Their parents are willing to pay big bucks allowing them to live that space fantasy for a year. And, they do learn a little about space during their stay. But, none of them ever become astronauts. The space camp curriculum is more constructed to fulfilling fantasies than it is to developing the skills and craft.

Their marketing was deceptive - recruitment advisers persistently and unrealistically exploited the excitement of hollywood. The program coursework valued a needlessly busy schedule over actual edification of craft. Admission selectivity was non-existent - I had classmates who could not distinguish between adjective and adverb!

As I hear NYFA is similar to VFS, I'm going to assume the worst and caution you against going. Eight months ago I received the same warning I now give you from the entire Done Deal forum population.

I ignored it, but I'm an idiot. Luckily, you don't have to join me in that regard.

I would have been better served pursuing an MFA in English. That would have actually meant something.

[maestrowork]

If you are serious about filmmaking, got to NYU or ULCA or USC... if you can get it, that is.

[Hamboogul]

There are only four film schools that are respected for screenwriting. By respected, I mean a proven track record of filmmakers/screenwriters who came out of the program and the degree provides some cache to those whose job is to reject query letters or scripts.

And those are NYU, Columbia, USC, and UCLA. That being said, having a degree is film is not a pre-condition to breaking into Hollywood nor does having a degree guarantee you a job.

[maestrowork]

And not getting into any of these schools doesn't mean you're doomed. Spielberg couldn't get into USC, but look at him now.