When choosing a Film School, some of the top things you consider are probably what school is the most renowned, who has the top equipment, and what school has graduated the most students who have gone on to be professionals; these are all things you should be considering, but something you probably haven’t given a whole lot of thought is the location of your school. Beyond wanting to be in a big city or the distance away from home your college will be, I would be wiling to bet location hasn’t been a topic of much thought.
Well start thinking about it…because while going to school for film, location is crazy important. Check out these 4 reasons to consider a college’s location while making your decision.
Supportive Community
Pursuing a profession in film is a little different than pursuing a more standard career. If you want to be one of the “greats” you need to do more than just go to class, finish your assignments and projects, and practice every now and again. You need to surround yourself with film 100%. This means that you need not only a school that fosters your growth, but a whole community that supports you. You need to have venues for showcasing your work, you need to meet like-minded people who can help you explore film from multiple perspectives, and you need to know that you can be exactly who you are and explore your craft with honest, unapologetic passion. More than anything, you need to be pushed by those around you to be your very best.
If you go to school in a small college town, you might find support and you might find a rival or two to push you, but the chances are you won’t be surrounded by the industry. And without being fully immersed in your craft it will be harder to focus on your goal and improve at the rate you want to.
Career Opportunities
I know you probably aren’t thinking about a career just yet. It is hard enough figuring out all of this college stuff without bringing the long-term future into it. But if you want to make the most out of your college experience, you need to consider what location can do for your career.
Think about what surrounds your college. Are there businesses in the area where you might be able to get a job in your field? Does the school you are considering pair with any companies that might offer you internships during the school year? Does the city this college is in have a high number of jobs available for someone in your field?
These are all questions you should ask yourself. You definitely want to make sure you are getting a top-notch education, but it is important that you get experience in your field and start working towards your dream profession.
Graduation
Something that a lot of college students don’t seem to consciously realize is that college is 4 years long (generally speaking). That means that for four years your college and its surrounding area will be your home. Look back to when you were starting your Freshman year. Four years is a pretty long time!
When you graduate from college, you might move back to your home town or you might take a job some place new, but remember that the friends you make, the connections you develop, the place you work during the school year; all of these things are unique to your college town. You will be giving yourself a huge advantage if your college resides in the area where you want to start your career. You will already know people, be aware of the businesses in the area, and be comfortable with the city as a whole.
Where Should I Look
If location is so important, where should you be looking? A few good cities for film include Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Atlanta, Chicago, and Albuquerque. These are great places to find film-related work while in school and start your career.
If you are ready to start applying for schools in the perfect location? Download our application checklist below to see what you need to do to become a student at CCH in Los Angeles, California
