+1
I've studied twice at the NYFA with varying success.
I studied their two month intensive 16mm film course in 2002, it was a great course, the lectures were amazing and the staff were all deeply passionate about what they did.
I went back in 2004 for their intensive Digital Film course, and it couldn't have been more of a polar opposite.
It appeared to me that all the school was intrested in was your cash, the lecturers were not as good or passionate, and I heard the head of the school refer to the pupils as cash cows on more than one occasion. I had a massive fall out with the school, because I had the audacity to complain about numerous problems we were having as pupils, including lecturers not turning up, or turning up hung-over, no access to computers when we were learning Final Cut Pro, no air conditioning and even a fan falling off our classroom ceiling whilst we were in a lecture.
Despite promising to fix all our problems, they not only ignored us, but tried to make us outcasts and unwelcome at the school, the highlight was his mock Scottish accent in front of several pupils and staff, luckily I wasn't there, or I would have gone all William Wallace on his arse!
I think the thing about a lot of these film schools is that they basically skim the surface of filmmaking and give you a general taste of what filmmaking is all about without giving you in depth information or the skills necessary to pursue a career in filmmaking.
Most of them are a toe in the water experience, the best course I've come across is the RSAMD course in Scotland.
The first year is a general year, where you are shown the many different aspects of filmmaking, before choosing a specific career path in you second year, ie, directing, producing, camera op etc.
What I liked about this course is that the pupils I have worked with that have graduated from it have a wealth of practical knowledge and are able to cross roles with ease, their teaching prepares them for a job in the tv or film industry with practical skills that will gain them work almost immediately.
I think you need to do your research into each course, think about what particular field in the industry you want to go into, and if the course will provide you with the necessary skills to pursue your chosen path upon completion.
If you come across the SAE Institute, I would avoid it as it's yet another cash in, although I can really only speak about the Glasgow school.
Good luck, message me if you want to know more.
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