Seattle Film Institute

"This program is a COMPLETE wasted of time! Please save your money and go to a REAL institution. In my opinion, the director of the school is in every way unqualified to run the program let alone run anything. They are too busy dealing with their own agendas to care about the students' needs. The faculty are GAWD awful in their attitudes towards students and in their ""knowledge"" of their craft. Be careful as SFI is working establishing a South Carolina Film Institute. I am so unhappy with the program that I am considering filing a lawsuit against them. Seriously, everyone, stay away!"

"All of the following EXCLUDES Lance Rhodes, who is a fine teacher: The Seattle Film Institute is a second rate education facility. To begin - They are basically without lesson plans, many teachers will consistantly arrive late, many teachers have a rudimentary knowledge (at best) of the subject they are teaching, the equipment is shoddy and consistently not working, there is no accountability, classes overlap and you will most likely learn the same thing multiple times because there is no communication between faculty. Most of the things that are promised, in the beginning, to be covered are not. I have not even two months left in the program, and so far we have had a total of two days on anything relating to directing, and over a month of material on how to write cover letters for corporations. The education is severely lacking, and requires a ridiculous amount of outside education just to feel your getting anything out of your time. Their standards in everything are lacking as well. Almost anybody can get in, which leads to a class with a lot of unmotivated, untalented people whom you will be forced to work with for the whole duration of the program. The teachers are all unenthused and unmotivated. None of them seem to come with a passion, and so classes become very boring and there is a general air of apathy at the campus. Additionally, there is no standards for the work that is produced at SFI. You will never get helpful, tough love, feedback on your projects. You will only learn how to pat yourself on the back. In the rare occasion that they give you negative feedback, it is usually to do with something that was their fault. The school is not accredited, and there is a reason. Save your money. However, as mentioned to begin with, Lance Rhodes (who is the only actual TEACHER there) is excellent. His film history class is fun and comprehensive, mostly because he is a passionate, organized individual. I would recommend saving your $20,000 and spend a few hundred taking some of Lance's night courses, as you'll get about 75% of what you would have learned in the 40 week program anyway."

"My time at the Seattle Film Institute was time well spent. You study under working professionals who are not only knowledgeable in their fields, but also have the real world experience to back up what they’re teaching. When I came into SFI, I had no idea how to make a film, the only thing I had was writing experience. When I left I immediately went into preproduction on my first feature film, which I wrote and directed. A little over a year later it made its world premiere at Seattle’s True Independent Film Festival (at which several of my former professors attended). Without SFI I would have never known how to complete such a daunting task. Bottom line: you’ll spend 40 of the most hectic weeks of your life getting a crash course education in filmmaking from a staff of serious professionals. If you’re willing to do the work and realize that you’re not going to get a career in filmmaking handed to you (sorry when you graduate they don’t have a limo out front waiting to drive you to Hollywood) then attend SFI. It's well worth it."

"Let me begin by stating that I came to SFI with a small amount of film experience, mostly production assistant (P.A.)/ gopher work. I enrolled in the 40 week full immersion program with 0% confidence, a high regard for cinematography, and love for film. During that 40 weeks, I worked with Super 8, 16, Super 16, digital video, had two shorts that were produced by the class, learned to use Final Cut Pro and wrote four shorts and a feature length screenplay. We were taught by working professionals who brought REAL world experience and advice. I have gone on to shoot 2 features with classmates turned colleagues, produce grant proposal videos for a local charity, and just finished writing my second feature length screenplay. All that being said, just like starting out in any career, you gotta want it. No, SFI is not gonna get you a meeting the Weinsteins. They give you the tools, it's up to YOU to put them to work. "

The blatant sexism, racism, homophobia, violence, and denigration of women replete in the students' films expo exemplifies the extreme lack of consciousness shown by the all white male staff. If, as the director says that, "film is entertainment," then prepare yourself for the mindless regurgitation of anger and insecurity characterizing SOME of the student's work. A few films inspire peace and hope. All in all, the place should inspire you to seek social justice. Just not there.

"Dave Trees, he was excellent to work with. He was the only person I learned anything from. SFI is completely a gamble. Half of the students in my ""class"" stated that they wished they had just spent their tuition on an HD cam. The other half just kind of paced around the building and talked about movies they liked. It felt more like a clubhouse that an institution of learning. There's a certain appeal to that; it's laid back, you're not afraid to ask questions, nobody's going to snicker at your absolutely terrible ideas, etc. Unfortunately, there's a total lack of direction from the supervisors, which works well for people who like to hack their way through things, but many people don't know where to begin or end without specific instruction. I wasn't in the 40 week program, though, so I'm not sure if they were focusing more of their efforts on the full-time students..? Basically what I'm trying to say is this: SFI is good, cheap option for sincerely motivated individuals with a small ego. SFI is bad for just about everyone else, especially ---holes like me who think they're the next David Lynch, etc. Dave Trees, though - that guy is excellent. I hope he does very well for himself."

"I was in the screenwriting class with David Trees and did not attend the 40 week program as many of the unhappy students who have posted reviews here have. I attended a couple of screenwriting classes in the spring/summer of '08 and found the screenwriting class to be adequate, but honestly a bit unprofessional for a ""film institute"". That is too bad because David Trees was a fine instructor and opened my eyes a few times when watching movies and interpreting scenes. The facility is rather pathetic, unfortunately, and I eventually lost interest in the program as we progressed and students had to critique each other's stories and I just found them too un-interesting and boring. I'm sure mine was too for others, but I digress. I imagine any film school will have people from all walks of life, but when they accept anyone off the street who can afford the tuition, you can probably imagine the kind of students you'll get to work with. Over half the class dropped out during the first class which was unfortunate because they seemed like the ""normal"" ones I would have looked forward to collaborating with. I'd echo other's sentiments that if you're low on cash, this school may be a good way to get your feet wet, but I would suggest trying a couple of classes before doing the 40 week program. You can always use those for full credit later. "