U.S. Southwest
Outstanding Theory and Criticism Training: Brigham Young University
Famous for its international focus, many of BYU’s student body are fluent in a second language. That worldview extends to its approach to film theory. The schools’ BA in Media Arts Studies provides courses such as “History of Animation,” “History of Documentary and Nonfiction Film,” “Children’s Media” and—in keeping with the school’s Mormon affiliation—“Transcendence: Religion and Film.” BYU’s long-running International Cinema screening series plays more than 80 films each year, highlighting language diversity, aesthetic specificity and human interconnection.
Outstanding Editing Training: Oklahoma City University
Accelerated Industry Access: Santa Fe University of Art and Design
Outstanding Screenwriting Training: University of Texas, Austin
Honing writing skills without incurring immense debt is one of the promises of UT’s screenwriting MFA. Don’t be fooled by its relatively low tuition, though. This is an exceptionally selective graduate program: Only seven people are admitted each year. Honing their narrative artistry through extensive spec and original pilot writing, participants dive into the intricate processes of characterization and story development. Part of the curriculum provides access to a working TV writer’s room. By the end of the program, each student leaves with finished work that can serve as a calling card. Texan heavyweights such as Richard Linklater and Robert Rodriguez have been known to look to UT for interns.
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