Moviemaker - CA (2019 Summer)

MOVIEMAKER.COM SUMMER 2019 73

MAKING THE GRADE

Two more top-flight moviemaking programs

—across the pond and stateside—to consider

BY N.L. BROOKS

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

The University of North Carolina School of Arts is a little bit dif-

ferent, and offers a true 21st Century conservatory experience. Its

moviemaking conservatory is one of five stand-alone hothouses,

which include drama, dance, music, and design and production. As

an arts conservatory, this school selects its students via auditions and

in-person interviews so you have the talent and the tenaciousness it

takes to make it in this business that will see you in. At UNCSA, it’s

really all about art and the artist. Renowned moviemaker and UNCSA

Cinema Studies and Producing professor Dale M. Pollock says: “A

conservatory is a place where you get to practice your art form in-

depth. UNCSA is the only place I’ve ever taught where the academic

classes are conceived of in terms of the students being artists.” As for

the 21st century part, that’s down to the technology. Pollock teaches

a film history class where students watch a classic film each week

on their own time, rather than in a group setting. Then each student

comes in and meets with him to talk about the film one on one. He

said: “That’s a kind of

class that I couldn’t have

done five years ago and

it’s the technology that

enables it. This way, I can

speak to each of them

and they can each speak

to the film.”

University of York

Settled by the Ro-

mans in 71 A.D., historic

York in the north of England could be the imaginative

setting for your foray into the film and television world. The

University of York’s Department of Film, Theatre and Televi-

sion offers four undergraduate degrees: Film and Television Produc-

tion BSc, Interactive Media BSc, Business of the Creative Industries

BA and a Theatre: Writing, Directing and Performance BA. As for

Masters, there are MAs in Screenwriting, Filmmaking, Theater, and

Interactive Media. The school features multi-million-dollar equipment,

two theaters, two television studios, a large sound stage, production

labs, and extensive post-production facilities. Some of the unusual pro-

ductions created by students include a short film set in the World War

I, a TV sitcom about a local newspaper in a decaying seaside town, and

even a game show called Reactor, based on quick reaction times.

Head of Department Duncan Petrie said: “Our degree programs

are designed to equip our graduates for successful careers in the-

ater, film, television, games, app and web design, and beyond. They

combine high level academic, creative and technical knowledge and

skills delivered through innovative learning opportunities. Our staff

include award-winning teachers, researchers and creative practitio-

ners, and we have industry-standard production facilities which help

our students and industry clients explore ideas and achieve their

creative ambitions.”

Close to many of England’s national parks and far enough away

from London to prove cost-effective, York is a place to look at if

you’re looking to get your training across the pond. MM

and technology. BFAs are available in

Character Animation, Experimental

Animation, and Graphic Design. The

graduate program features Anima-

tion and Visual Effects and Studio

Art and the Computer.

Students are trained in 3D, mo-

tion capture, traditional 2D, and

stop motion techniques.

There’s access to the simulation

and training industry next to the

campus in the Central Florida

Research Park. It’s the base of

companies like Rockwell Collins,

Lockheed Martin and

Universal Creative.

Associate Professor Cheryl Briggs

says: “The UCF Animation programs

are cutting edge due to, not only their

state-of-the-art technology, but also

their proximity to interdisciplinary

fields. The advantage of having two

program locations, Research Park and

UCF main campus, allows students to

connect with industry partners and

collaborate with companies outside

the art field.”

“For example, students from the

Experimental Animation program are

working with 3D printed prosthetic

company, Limbitless Solutions, to

create animation and games to train

children to better utilize their pros-

thetic limb.”

• All-Encompassing Production Training:
  University of Miami (Miami, FL)


• Top-Notch Equipment and Facilities:
  Savannah College of Art and Design
  (Savannah, GA)


• Top-Notch Equipment and Facilities:
  Louisiana State University
  (Baton Rouge, LA)


• Internships and Other Opportunities:
  Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL)

CANADA

PAGE-TURNING SCREENWRITING TRAINING

York University’s School

of the Arts, Media,

Performance and Design

(Toronto, Ontario)

Describing itself as “Canada’s only

undergraduate screenwriting degree”,

the BFA in Screenwriting in AMPD’s

Department of Cinema and Media

Arts offers a broad range of courses

in writing for film and television.

With a maximum of 10 students,

talented writers have both a nurtur-

ing and challenging environment

to learn in. Courses include Intro to

Screenwriting, Screenwriting Funda-

mentals and Feature Screenwriting.

Writers work alongside production

students, gain on-set experience, and

pitch their work. There’s also the

chance to do a minor in the univer-

sity’s Creative Writing program.

MAGICAL ANIMATION TRAINING

Vancouver Film School

(Vancouver, BC)

With a focus on animation and

design, Vancouver Film School is

situated right where the action is.

The city is one of the largest pro-

duction centers in North America

alongside Los Angeles and New York

and that makes for a top place to

learn your craft.

The school has eight campuses in

the downtown area of the city and

houses “24-hour computer labs with

industry-standard software as well

as production spaces, film sets, stu-

dios, green screens, and screening

theaters.” Its “unique and accelerat-

ed learning model” means students

can become pros in one year.

Classical Animation, 3D Anima-

tion and Visual Effects, Animation

Concept Art are available, alongside

Acting for Film and Television,

Film Production, Sound Design for

Visual Media, and Make Up Design

for Film and Television.

Scores of alumni have worked

on blockbuster films including titles

like Star Wars: The Last Jedi,

Wonder Woman, Deadpool,

Bohemian Rhapsody and Dunkirk.

• Extensive Exceptional Training:
  Capilano University’s School of Motion
  Picture Arts (North Vancouver, BC)


• Esteemed Theory and Criticism
  Training: University of British
  Columbia’s Department of Theatre
  and Film (Vancouver, BC)
  -^ Esteemed Theory and Criticism Training:
  Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario)


• Esteemed Theory and Criticism
  Training: University of Toronto’s Cinema
  Studies Institute (Toronto, Ontario)


• All-Encompassing Production Training:
  Toronto Film School (Toronto, Ontario)


• All-Encompassing Production Training:
  Red Deer College (Red Deer, Alberta)
  -^ Magical Animation Training: Concordia
  University’s Mel Hoppenheim School
  of Cinema (Montréal, Québec) MM