Hi everyone! I have a lot of dreams and goals, but perhaps the biggest one so far is being able to study at Vancouver Film School. If Im lucky and talented enough, I hope I get to sell enough scripts to pay for the year and join the screenwriting program! However, I don't know if this is the best path. What do you think about studying screenwriting at a school? And do you recommend another institution?
Screenwriting : Studying screenwriting at a school by Julio Torres
Other topics in Screenwriting:
Check out Trending Discussions
Register / Log In
2 people like this
Doesn’t seem much of plan If the plan of paying school tuition is by selling screenplays. In this field, Employers don’t ask for school degrees.
As for attending film school, there are lots of pros and cons, especially in a pandemic era. USC & NYU are the two most prestigious film schools here in USA. AFI in Los Angeles is more a specialized school. AFI has a two-year screenwriting program. All three schools are about the same cost, $50-$60,000 per semester. Now, physical campuses are closed, downsized attendance.
I agree with Dan M on this - you've got the cart before the horse.
The right film school, like AFI or the New York Film Academy can help you by introducing you to the right people upon completion. Almost everyone I know who graduated from their programs is working in a decent level. Not necessarily screenwriters but in general. There's a connection to the professional community from certain schools. So the question is whether Vancouver Film School will do that for you.
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder is a great resource for anyone teaching themselves to write screenplays. Once you understand the basics, I'd read Writing for Emotional Impact by Karl Iglesias. When I say "read," I mean really, really study. Go over his points again and again until you understand them, mark up the book with a highlighter, make notes in the margins. Then I'd join a screenwriters group. You can learn a lot critiquing other writers' work.
Gustavo is correct. For connections Film School is good. I went to USC grad film. Fun to say you went to school with an Oscar winner. But nowdays at these prices, I'd say save your money. MIT has a FREE film history course online. For screenwriting get your hands on un-produced scripts and read your eyes out (play producer in your own mind) till you get a handle on what's good writing and what makes a good commercial movie. I just went in my files and counted 25 Energy Ent. scripts I've read alone.
Glad to hear about your desire to attend. If you need some funding for it, scholars4dev.com , scholarships.com ,fastweb.com, and filmdaily.tv .
1 person likes this
I haven't. I bought a few books, read some screenplays, and got to work writing. I think where there is a will there is a way. But youll definitely have a better starting point than someone who didnt go to school for it.
1 person likes this
Hi Julio, thanks for reaching out and for your nice wishes. I studied communications with a specialization in filmmaking at Concordia University in Montreal. In my humble opinion, university can be a great place to make connections, but the best way to become a better screenwriter is to write as much as possible!
I went to The Seattle Film Institute. It cost me a lot of money. And the screenwriting course was basic. Only when I left did I get the instruction I needed (books, workshops, ISA Craft Course, etc.) I never sold a screenplay based on the screenwriting course work from film school. I've heard of film schools that focus solely on writing and directing. That may be an alternate avenue to explore.
If your goal is to be a paid screenwriter than it takes a lot of work/rewrites. Getting feedback, doing table reads and then going back to re-writes are great steps to take.. So, I agree with previous posts. Keep writing and re-writing. Maybe join a virtual, screenwriting group.
very intresting