Once you’re in film school or in a film program there are certain classes that will be required no matter what you decide to take simply so you can learn more about the industry and how things work so you’ll be better informed of the process. But at some point you’ll have to declare a major or an emphasis. You might choose one and then realize you’re not happy doing that. Just know that changing in the middle is fine, you want to explore your options and find the discipline that is right for you.
Directing
The most popular choice among film school students. Directing will teach you everything you need to know about getting behind the camera, instructing actors on how to portray their character and deliver lines, set up shots, work through pre-production, break down a script and more. Since it is the most popular major there will be a lot of competition among students for attention, equipment and more.
Screenwriting
Studying the writing of film. You will learn what make a good story, characters and dialogue as well as the craft of writing quality entertainment and the various structures of scripts for television, film, commercials and so on. Writing is generally a class a lot of film school require but not a major many get into for the long haul.
Cinematography
The man (or woman) behind the camera. You will study the interworkings of film and digital cameras, composing shots, color schemes, the science and math of shooting and how to use various equipment. Cinematography is a very hands on major so you have to be prepared to be on the go grabbing a camera and shooting at a moments notice.
Editing
The study of splicing a movie together to make a coherent study. Before getting into this major you should be warned, you’ll spend most of your time in front of a computer so you better like this position and staring at multiple screens, otherwise choose something else. Editing is a tedious major but there is lots of work out there for editors so it can be quite lucrative.
Set Design
For the creative ones who like to use their hands as well. Set design also implies set creation and as very few people major in set design you will be quite in demand meaning you’ll always be busy and have a ton of things to put in your portfolio. This can also transition into stagecraft design so you can work on plays and stage productions or even interior design thus this emphasis lends itself to a lot of other possibilities.
Sound
One of the smallest categories but among the most important. You will study the recording and creation of sound and sound effects as well as the art of using sound in film and the engineering of sound.
General Production
The broad category of emphasis if you still don’t know exactly where you fit in or think that perhaps work as a grip or gaffer may be more of your thing. You’ll learn a little bit of everything. Be prepared to get your hands dirty, for long set days on student films and lots of physical labor. You will gain a ton of knowledge on various aspects which may sway you one way or another into another emphasis or confirm your decision to stay generalized. Since you will have a lot of skills the job market will be very open to you.

Interested in Arts/Film making? Then you must pursue a good degree from a reputed institute which can help you boost your career in this field of dreams, glamour, fashion, trend, name and fame. Bachelor of Fine Arts in Filmmaking would be a good choice for you. This is pre-professional program through which you would be allowed to create your own film and actively participate in all aspects of filmmaking. The program has been designed to inculcate strong understanding of art, craft, liberal arts, film making, which are supported by the strong foundation of liberal arts and humanities.

Students are encouraged to create their innovative techniques, outburst their creative voices without fear, become productive in all approach.

BFA in filmmaking gives you an experience of creating different genres of films like documentary, narrative, experimental films, animated films and a lot more. Besides that fluency is provide in Arts/Film making crafts such as cinematography, editing, screenwriting, acting, directing, sound recording and producing. If you are looking for a good institute from where you can pursue your BFA in Filmmaking, here is name you can rely on. Montclair State University which is situated just 14 miles to the west of New York City would be an ideal choice for this degree.

The goal of Montclair State University is to entwine the program of BFA with the filmmaking industry through hiring working professionals. They have visiting lecturers from the film industry who are eminent directors, filmmakers, veteran actors, editors, producers and others. Special seminars, workshops and other programs are organized for students to get access to the real world of Arts and Filmmaking.

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Are you interested in making a living as a movie screenwriter? If so, this article is for you. Back in 2000, I watched a video interview with Oscar-award winning screenwriter Ron Bass (Rain Man, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Entrapment) discussing how in order to become a successful screenwriter you just need to do two things. The simplicity of his advice has still stuck with me today and I’d like to share it with you. 1. Write everyday. Ron Bass highly recommended that anyone who is serious about screenplay writing (or writing in general) must invest some quality time working everyday on your script. Ron Bass himself said he has a daily routine where he writes for 1 hour everyday from 6am to 7am. 7 days a week. 2. As soon as you finish writing one screenplay, start writing a new script that same day. Bass said the biggest mistake novice screenplay writers make is that they’ll finish writing a certain film script and immediately fall in love with it…thinking it will become the next great spec screenplay sold. They will begin to fixate on how original and clever their story is and start looking for ways to sell it and get it produced. (I’ll admit, I’m guilty of this) Bass mentions that your screenwriting ability will only get better from writing not deal making. Also, that the first couple of screenplays from newbie writers usually lack what it takes to become a produced film. So, say today you just finished writing a screenplay…don’t fall head over heels in love with it just yet. Start on another new script that same day, even if it means just doing some research about your proposed story line or main character. The faster you write a few bad screenplays, learn from the experience and keeping writing. The faster you’ll be able to become a professional screenplay writer. After 20+ years of following these two simple tips, Ron Bass has had 25 screenplays produced into movies and won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

5. Montage (Mac users only)

The only screenwriting software exclusively developed for Mac OS X. Melding the theory that a simple user interface, combined with powerful and intuitive features, provide the best writing experience, Montage makes it easy to create, edit, and manage screenplays on your Macintosh. From the ability to import and export Final Draft documents, to using custom, pre-formatted templates for film, TV, and theater, Montage guides both the first time screenwriter or the seasoned veteran, from start to finish.

Retail Price: $139.95 U.S.

4. Scenewriter Pro
SceneWriter Pro is totally different in that you don’t have to worry about pages or writing in a linear fashion from start to finish, you write on a scene-by-scene basis and you may write in any order you wish!
However, SceneWriter Pro formats your script to Hollywood Industry Standards, but that’s only a small fraction of the benefits that writing your script in SceneWriter Pro offers.
From outlining, character development, location lists, project notes and of courseindustry standard formatting, SceneWriter Pro’s non-linear, scene-by-scene approach to writing will make writing that multi-million dollar blockbuster a piece of cake.

Retail Price: $99.00 U.S.

3. Celtx

This program is ideal for you writer/director/producers. Celtx helps you pre-produce all types of media – film, video, documentary, theater, machinima, comics, advertising, video games, music video, radio, podcasts, videocasts, and however else you choose to tell your story. Unlike scriptwriting software and sites, you can use Celtx for the entire pre-production process – write scripts, storyboard scenes and sequences, develop characters, breakdown & tag elements, schedule production, and prepare detailed and informative production reports for cast and crew.

Retail Price: free. An indie filmmaker’s favourite word.

2. Final Draft
This screenwriting software is excellent for writing and formatting a screenplay to meet the screenplay submission standards set by the theater and film industry. It is the only preferred screenwriting software using WGAW Registry for online submission.
The current version, Final Draft 7, contains over 50 movie and television templates. It also offers the feature of allowing users to assign computer generated voices to their characters, who then read the script aloud. How cool is that!

Retail Price: $229.00 U.S.

1. Movie Magic Screenwriter

Used to format screenplays, teleplays and novels. Magic Screenwriter is the grand daddy of them all. It’s the official script writing software of the Writer’s Guild of America and has been used by writers of the following movies: Pirates of the Caribbean, Crash, Babel and many more. The newest version has an outlining ability that really helps you organize your scenes.

Retail Price: $209.95 U.S.

If you are serious about making screenwriting your profession, Movie Magic Screenwriter or Final Draft would be a wise investment.

Also keep in mind that a few of these programs offer free demo trials of their software.

To learn more valuable filmmaking and screenwriter tips, visit www.ianagard.com

One of my first jobs in Los Angeles was as a story analyst at a major production company. If you’d love to spend long nights and weekends reading and analyzing the future hits (and not-so-much-a-hits) of Hollywood, here’s how you go after this fascinating, funny and frankly high burn-out entry-level gig.THE JOB

As a story analyst, it is your job to read and summarize scripts then analyze them for structural soundness, story, dialogue, character development, creativity and more. That is called “generating coverage,” and you will do that for your creative executives (CEs) on fairly tight deadlines.THE PROCESS

When you apply for a job as a reader, you will be handed a sample script and asked to analyze it, using the company’s coverage template, in a set period of time, FOR FREE. The company’s development team will review your work to see if it meets their needs and may then hire you. Once you are hired, you usually work as a freelancer, being sent or picking up your “weekend pile” of scripts when they contact you. There often are scripts to cover during the week, as well. You might read only a handful of scripts a week; at big companies, you might have to analyze twenty or more a week.THE PAY

Oh, pay is sooooooo looooooow for readers! You almost always are paid on a per-script basis, anywhere from $20 – $55 a script, usually. Given the hours you invest, it’s not much money, but it’s great experience for both writers and aspiring development types.HONING YOUR SKILLS

Before you go after a reading job, be sure you have a strong grasp of story structure! Take multiple classes, read multiple books, know industry terminology and expectations. That’s not just to help yourself get a job; it’s also to be fair to the writers whose scripts you are about to be responsible for vetting. As a story analyst, you are a gatekeeper for your production company, the first point of entry for screenwriters trying to get their work produced. That is a big responsibility . It is also great trench training for screenwriters who are interested in learning the buyer’s point of view of this business, as I discuss in detail in my book and seminars. GETTING THE GIG

Next it’s time for the job hunt. Craig’s List often has postings in the “Gigs” section of the Los Angeles region. Just do a general search for “reader” and for “story analyst.” Also, let your friends know you are looking for a story analyst gig, and put a cool gift into the mix for people who get you into the consideration pool!

Of course, reading jobs are notorious “insider” gigs, handed off from one analyst to the next, so the best way to get one of these jobs is through a contact. If you know someone who does coverage right now, ask if they can submit you for consideration as a reader for their company. If they get you in to do sample coverage, terrific – be sure to get them a gift, whether you’re hired or not.

BTW, for gifts, I love to do coffeehouse gift cards. I’ve caffeinated half of Hollywood in the past dozen years.