I'm Going For It!

I decided to go for it! So, I applied and I've been accepted into the MFA in Digital Cinema program at National University. Digital Cinema is just a fancy way of saying digital filmmaking, btw. The program can be done in person at the Los Angeles campus, or via online learning, but online students have a month-long residency at the LA campus in July of the second (academic) year of study. So, I guess it qualifies as a low-residency MFA program? The first academic year of the program focuses on screenwriting. The second year focuses on film production, and the third year is all about the thesis (a short film).

At any rate, everything's all set and I start my first class on July 9th called "Narrative Structure in Film". It's 4 weeks long, and from the description, it seems like a pre-screenwriting course that preps for Screenwriting I, which is the next class. Most of the classes in the Digital Cinema program run 4 or 8 weeks. NU's usual class schedule is one class every 4 weeks, but because this program is specialized they had to stretch some of the classes out. But, I'll still only be taking one course at a time.

The price is right, and I'm excited about this new chapter in my life! :banana:

 

Filmmaker,

Congratulations on selecting your degree choice. I know that choosing the right program make all the difference and I'm sure you'll benefit from the education in the long run! Keep us informed on how it's going and let us know if you need any advice. We're here to help!

 

Congratulations on your decision! The best of luck to you!

 

You're gonna have a blast!

 

This looks really cool congrats!

I have a buddy that graduated with his undergrad in Mass Comm, has been floor directing at a news channel for several years in a high population city and is looking for a change. He keeps thinking the MBA route, but I'm not sure that's a good fit. Something like this might be right up his alley. Any other suggestions? These courses look awesome BTW.

 

Thank you, all! I'm soooo excited. I bought my textbook today!

 

National University has a M.A. in Digital Journalism. The Web is where it's at, now, and the program prepares grads to be one man bands (see below). With a Mass Comm background, he can even segue into Social Media. That field is exploding and if he pairs his Mass Comm with Marketing, he'll be able to make that work in a lot of ways, too. I picked the brain of the Executive Editor at Technorati, Don Martelli (he was so nice and helpful!), and he told me that last part about Mass Comm and Marketing. If I think of anything else, I'll post.

The goal of the Master of Arts in Digital Journalism will prepare learners to become dynamic new media professionals capable of using emerging technologies to generate, create and disseminate news and analysis in a competitive, fast-moving global information environment. The program, to be taught entirely online, will link new media practitioners internationally with each other, and train backpack and video journalist "one-man bands" who are hotly in demand in the new media marketplace.

 

Congratulations! You can do it!

 

Thank you, edwardlynch!

 

Well, I spoke too soon. NU accepted me into the graduate school as a Digital Cinema MFA student, but the program also requires a separate application and an interview with the head of the program. Because of how everything was done by NU, I thought the program application and interview were just formalities.

However, I had my interview today and the thoroughness of it makes me think that it's not just a formality. No worries, though, because after the interview (it took over an hour) the head of the program told me he would be glad to have me in the program! Yaay! :laugh2:

 

Can I ask how this program is going for you? My husband is really interested in screenwriting and he's looking into schools that offer masters degrees in it, or that have a specialization or focus in it. He's going to do the bachelors in Film and Media Studies with a concentration in Screenwriting at ASU Online, but ASU doesn't offer anything online in this area for a master's.

 

I also found these while doing a search for online screenwriting programs. I think they are a good, cheaper way to get the UCLA name attached to your portfolio, learn a lot, and come out with (hopefully) at least 1 good screenplay. I plan to show this to my husband and see what he thinks.

UCLA Professional Programs

UCLA Professional Programs

 

My nephew is interested in working in Film in some capacity. He's currently a junior in high school but is taking most of his work at the community college. What are some good schools he could be looking at and what other things should he be doing right now to prepare for a career in Film?

Thanks!

 

I know ASU offers an online BA in Film and Media Studies. Is your nephew wanting to go online or in person? Because ASU has a few different offerings if he goes in person. National University has an online program, and I believe SCAD and Full Sail do, as well. So it depends on what he wants to study, what he wants to end up doing, if he wants to be campus or online, and which school he pics. UCLA also has the online certificate that I posted earlier, as well.

 

Ok, I found a TON of links. I have absolutely no idea which is better or worse (that's up to you to decide) but I will offer up what I found. Some of the programs are online and some are campus based. I'm offering up both since we don't know if your nephew prefers one over the other.

SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design):

SCAD > Programs > Motion Media Design > About

SCAD > Programs > Television Producing > About

SCAD > Programs > Visual Effects > About

SCAD > Programs > Dramatic Writing > About

SCAD > Programs > Film and Television > About

SCAD > Programs > Production Design > About


Full Sail University:

Film Bachelor's Degree : Full Sail

Show Production Bachelor's Degree : Full Sail

Digital Cinematography Bachelor's Degree : Full Sail Online

Media Design MFA Degree : Full Sail Online


ASU (Arizona State University):

https://webapp4.asu.edu/programs/t5/majorinfo/ASU00/HIDGCFBA/undergrad/false

https://webapp4.asu.edu/programs/t5/majorinfo/ASU00/FAFLMBA/undergrad/false

https://webapp4.asu.edu/programs/t5/majorinfo/ASU00/LAFMSBA/undergrad/false

https://webapp4.asu.edu/programs/t5/majorinfo/ASU00/FAFPRBA/undergrad/false

https://webapp4.asu.edu/programs/t5/majorinfo/ASU00/LAAMPCMAS/graduate/false

https://webapp4.asu.edu/programs/t5/majorinfo/ASU00/LAFMSMLS/graduate/false


Hope this gives you a good base for starting your search. I'm sure there are more out thee, like USC, NYU, and UCLA but I don't know if the sticker shock on those schools would be to much. Anyway, good luck!!

 

Here's more that I found. Hope this helps!!!

National University:

National University • Associate of Arts in Digital Media Design

National University • Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media Design

National University • MFA Digital Cinema Program, National University, Master of Fine Arts Digital Cinema

National University • Master of Fine Arts in Professional Screenwriting Program

UCLA:

https://www.uclaextension.edu/Pages/ProgramDetails.aspx?reg=CF007

https://www.uclaextension.edu/Pages/ProgramDetails.aspx?reg=CF543

https://www.uclaextension.edu/Pages/ProgramDetails.aspx?reg=CF544

https://www.uclaextension.edu/Pages/ProgramDetails.aspx?reg=CF545

https://www.uclaextension.edu/Pages/ProgramDetails.aspx?reg=CF541

https://www.uclaextension.edu/Pages/ProgramDetails.aspx?reg=CF503

https://www.uclaextension.edu/Pages/ProgramDetails.aspx?reg=CF513

https://www.uclaextension.edu/Pages/ProgramDetails.aspx?reg=CF546

https://www.uclaextension.edu/Pages/ProgramDetails.aspx?reg=CF504

UCLA Professional Programs

UCLA Professional Programs

Hope this helps. Anyway, good luck and tell your nephew to enjoy making movies!! Oh, and remember me when he's famous. LOL

 

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to respond! I didn't get any notification emails (fixed that), and actually found out about the updates to this thread when I saw the title linked in another thread about online art schools, LOL.

Well, the program WAS going very well. I've enjoyed the courses I've taken so far and maintained good grades (3.4 GPA), but the pace of the courses at NU have proven to be too much for me to handle with active Lupus (Systemic). Unfortunately, I'm going to have to withdraw - as I'm typing this I'm waiting for my Advisor to call me back to begin the withdrawal process.

National University's academic calendar is non-traditional. It doesn't run on semesters, quarters, trimesters, etc. For students who won't be using federal financial aid this won't matter (self-pay, 100% VA education benefits, employer reimbursement). But, for federal financial aid purposes, an academic year at NU is considered 36 credits or 8 courses (normally 4.5 credit hours each). Courses for most majors (grad and undergrad) at NU run for 4 weeks, and run back-to-back... a day or two after one class ends the next one begins, and students roll through like that until they are finished - the student's advisor pre-enrolls them in every class in the major once admitted, and it's full steam ahead until graduation. Under this kind of calendar, there is no such thing as part-time enrollment.

NU is great for people who are healthy enough to keep going like the Energizer Bunny, LOL. Unfortunately, that's not me. I thought the one-course-at-a-time format would make NU doable, but the accelerated pace doesn't work well with the randomness of Lupus complications - things literally change from day to day, and sometimes drastically. Doubly unfortunate, for me, is that the program at NU is the only online graduate film production program available in the entire U.S., so that means I'm going to have to pick something else to major in. I'm also going to have to only consider schools with traditional 16-week semesters. Part-time attendance (no more than two classes at a time) is a given.

Is your husband interested in the MFA in Screenwriting or the MFA in Digital Cinema? At NU, they are completely different programs. The Digital Cinema program requires three Screenwriting courses, whereas the Screenwriting program allows for a few electives from the Digital Cinema program. If he wants to concentrate in film/video production, right now NU is the only option in the entire U.S. for an online graduate program. If he wants to concentrate in screenwriting, he has many more online options open to him, from dedicated programs to concentrations within graduate Creative Writing programs.

Honestly, though, your husband doesn't need a graduate degree in Screenwriting (or Film Production) if he doesn't intend on teaching at the college level. A bachelor's degree is fine if he wants to be a screenwriter on a TV show, work on a film/TV production crew, or do something similar. However, I would say that if he's not sure whether he wants to teach college or not, he should go for the MFA because having a terminal degree is the only way to ensure that teaching at a senior college will be an option open to him. A MA/MS with 18 hours in the relevant subject is what's required for teaching at a community college, but since it takes an extra year at most, usually (depending on the school), to get the highest degree available in the Studio/Performing/Visual Arts, I say he should go on and knock it out of the way while still in "student mode" and be done, if at all possible.

 

My husband is looking at the MFA in Screenwriting because he really wants the terminal degree. Also, have you looked into SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design)? I posted several links on page 1 of this thread. Maybe they could be an option for you. I know you're pain with Lupus. I was diagnosed with it when I was 16. I, too, have SLE. And I know how brutal it is.

 

I'm actually surprised that an MFA in screenwriting can be even done online or even part time. I know in CA UCLA, USC, and lesser known Chapman have really good programs.

With that being said I think the MFA in screenwriting and the MFA in creative writing are very cool degrees.

 

SCAD would be lovely, but the tuition is very high and it's unlikely that I would get a substantial scholarship or institutional grant. Current tuition for part-time enrollment breaks down to $701/cr undergrad and $726/cr grad. That's just too steep for me and I wouldn't be comfortable taking on that kind of debt.

My first reaction was that I can't even imagine having to deal with SLE as a child or teen. But, ironically, I just remembered that a couple of days ago my aunt - who I went to live with when I was 13 - told me that she thinks I had it in my teens and that it just got worse as I got older (I was diagnosed at age 33). As a fellow "Lupie", you can appreciate just how hard NU's breakneck pace has been on me, and just how hard I had to work to earn a 3.4 cumulative GPA - I was just trying not to flunk out and I guess I overcompensated, LOL. I was okay for the first couple of classes, but after that my health started deteriorating faster and faster until I hit the wall - last week I had to start on an immunosuppressant, and honestly it's kicking my behind.

I thought about joining a support group, but the online ones seem to be nothing but huge pity parties and competitions for who can be the sickest, or get the most Lupus-related diseases/conditions, or take the most/nastiest combination of drugs. iCan't.org, LOL.