Is a Portland Film School Good for You?

As with any other decision in life, you need to consider a few factors before choosing a Portland film school that will assist you in your search for a film education. First and foremost, get acquainted with the programs that are being offered by the schools. If you want to work on the technical aspects of film (lighting, sound, editing, etc.) be sure that the school you attend has the technology and computer programs currently being utilized in the industry. Among the most popular programs used in film editing are Avid and Adobe Premiere - so be sure that your chosen school will allow you to use these regularly. If you're looking to direct, then be sure that the school you attend has several courses focusing on the technical areas and terminology of directing, as it's a specified profession with jargon and artistry all its own.

Portland is also a prime city - so after your film education, there'll be lots of job opportunities for you. Big-time movies like Twilight and television series like Leverage have recently been filmed in Portland (and the surrounding area) and whichever Portland film school you choose should help prepare you to work on similar instances. Portland also has a thriving film-viewing audience as well - with many popular theaters that feature older films, all providing an optimum environment for pursuing a career in the entertainment business.

Most significantly, you have to consider the kind of method that will serve you best as a student. Have you succeeded previously in conventional classrooms with multiple students and a single teacher? Or, would a "mentor-apprentice" program be more appropriate to how you would like to learn new materials. While several people still prefer the traditional classroom set-up, more and more are realizing the advantage of learning from an industry professional as a mentor. The thriving film and television industry of Portland allows for greater access to such mentors and you may want to consider if that form of education would not be best for you. After all, it is your decision and your education - so you must take all the time in the world in order to know how to learn best. In the end, you'll learn that your efforts of finding the right Portland film school for you is worth all your while.