Southern Illinois University – Carbondale

"SIU-C Film school is fairly decent. We have a wide range of things you can do here. You can focus on either theory or production of film, with at least two required production courses (if you choose theory) or theory courses (if you choose production). Prod. I - Super 8 film. Students are required to buy their own camera or otherwise obtain one. You make 3-4 films over the course of one semester. All films are being edited on Super 8 flat editors, however there is talk about this being changed to Hi8 films as well. Prod. II - 16mm production. Students are required to write, produce, direct, dp, and edit one 4 to 10 minute 16mm non sync sound film. As of this writing, editing is done on Steenbeck or Moviola flatbeds and sound is done with Marantz tape recorders dumped to 16mm mag stock. Everything except for lab stuff (developing, etc.) is done by the student. This is one of the few schools that still teaches the grueling task of negative conforming! A final composite print of the film is required for a grade. Finished films are shown at the beginning of the next semester at the ""In The Can"" Festival. Prod III and IV - This class is ever changing. It is basically one year long class where students write/direct/produce/edit a longer short (20-30 min)for their senior thesis film. Originally, it was 16mm production, but they are now allowing MiniDV and, if you want to spend the money, 35mm. This is a sync sound production, but it does not have to be. A few bad things to say about this school: If you try to get into the grad program, you'll probably be better off if you're an experimental film maker. They really look down on narrative, because they see it as a crutch. In fact, everything in the department is based around things being visually interesting, which is not bad, but they don't teach you how to tell a story. That's why most of the production courses deal with no sound or non-sync. The equipment can sometimes make you frustrated. For cameras, the non syncers use Arri S or Arri M, or wind up Bolex. For the syncers, there's the Arri BL and SR, the Eclair NPR. There isn't much lighting stuff to go around, but they do have a couple DP Kits, which aren't bad. There is also a sound stage that has a lot of old Mole lights in it, along with a bunch of gaffer equipment like c-stands, flags, etc. The biggest problem with SIU-C Film School has always been sound. They've been using the same 16mm mag recorder for ages. They have a decrepit looking mixing board, that they dump all your 16mm tracks to 35mm mag, but usually it's back to the 16mm after that, so you lose about 3 generations in the mixdown, not to mention getting made into an optical track for your print. There's even an old saying within the film community here: It's got SIU sound! One last comment: There is a strong sense of community here at SIU-C Film School. The is a student group Film Alternatives, that, among other things, sponsors the Big Muddy Film Festival. The festival itself is generally decent, showing mostly short films of varying genres. Narrative, experimental, and documentary are all welcome. Usually they get a feature or two to show on opening night. Last year it was Blue Velvet. This year, they had Gimme Shelter. The whole film community and college community get together and enjoy these films together. It's a great experience."

Rather conceited staff that hardly enrolls female, black, mexican, or asian Americans. The ones enrolled are only there to meet quota or are foreign exchange students. The harsh criticism seems to fit the reputation of this school.

This program uses the excuse of competition to hide its admittance problem and consistently kicks out students who do not "follow" specific rules. With very few highly competant and remorseful instructors a student may want to look elsewhere unless you get in with the group. The only respectable instructors dealt with theory but the production side relies on your pocketbook and still uses super 8 film. Don't waste your time.

I thought the my first class instructor was the janitor. There was no famous people here like it said in the packet. Better off going to Devry Technical Institute.

"I don;t believe I have ever read such pathetic comments, most of which are immature, at least one illiterate. I am a graduate of SIU Cinema & Photography as are a number of Academy Award-winning film people. Many SIU students have won Student Academy Awards, and the screenwriting program, founded by the late Richard Blumenberg, is one of the most productive of any film school in the country. To the children who have commented here — grow up and blow your noses."