Berkeley Digital FIlm Institute
So, after applying to a few MA programs. 1) UCSC 2)Columbia College Chicago.....and attemoting to pass the GRE with flying colors. I finally accepted that it is not an academic focus I should be striving for. I want to study doc video, and every aspect of professional quality production. The art of the business yada yada. I do not want to study the theory. WIth a BA in Communications...I am ready to produce. Here I go, with a leap of faith into a new film school- that has much promise. For teh last two years on my search for film schools I have come here- to LOAFS. Thank you all for your honesty. SO- this program I will be starting in a month. SInce it is a brand new film school- I thought it needed to be added to the list- for others to discover. SO CHECK IT OUT!!! Location: Berkeley, California Berkeley Digital Film Institute Hope to see all you doc lovers there!
Review Submitted by: Amanda (unverified)
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Don't waste your time and
Don't waste your time and money. This is a bad (and expensive) school. Just 2 cameras and only 4 computers for everybody.
Re: More in-depth review?
Can someone who is in the program currently write a more in-depth review?
What sort of equipment is available to students? (specifically) Is there a problem getting equipment for a project when it comes time to shoot?
What is your overall experience with this program? Are you learning everything about the software and hardware that you'll no doubt come across in the real world? Or are the classes shake-and-bake style?
Also, what are your fellow students like? Where do they come from, what do they plan on doing post-BDFI? What are their ages? Have they got degrees?
I understand that this is a new program but I am hoping that someone who is in it right now can take some time to seriously address these questions. I am just about to finish a degree in film & media studies and I'm considering the possibility of going to one of these types of schools, in order to get the hands on/craft/technique training I certainly did not get with my degree!
I look forward to reading your comments!
Best,
Christopher
To the Idiot Who Posted this Slam
Hey, moron, you forgot to tell the people that there were only 25 people in the program in January of 2008, and that 2 cameras and 4 edit suites for 25 people were more than enough, since the edit suites were empty more than half of the time, and the cameras were sitting in the issue room more than 50% of the semester.
Maybe you were just pissed off because when you came in one minute before your shoot and there wasn't a camera there, that you forgot that your other classmates had actually PLANNED for it.
Considering that one student who had only been there for 25 weeks just got signed to a major music video directing contract in LA, and that another female student who's in her third semester just got an $18,500 grant to keep going on her "student film" should tell you what kind of school this really is.
Berkeley Digital Film Institute
This school is great if you don't know anything about production and you're ready to soak it up. It is especially a good school for you if you don't know what's out there as far as resources in filmmaking.
I have been in this program for a couple of weeks. My class is pretty nice, although there is a film school mentality (i.e. doing it "right", freaking out about doing it "right" and making sure everyone knows you know a lot). The other half of the class is cool and doesn't have this mentality, they are independent and hardworking. A few are from UC Berkeley, others are from NY, SoCal and here. Some have college degrees. The age range is from 18 - 55 about. There ambitions are mainly to make feature films and docs.
The teachers are pretty cool and very experienced and know how to address a lot of your questions without imposing dogmatic or absolute answers about anything. They suggest.
The cameras aren't usually hard to get as most people rent them at the 6th and 12th week of school, just sign up on other weeks. There are two cameras: the panasonic 24p's. There are about 6-9 editing suites. Mostly you will learn on Final Cut. And they have the latest version (final cut 6 HD).
I personally am too independent for this kind of structure and have dropped out to create my own personal film curriculum. Workshops, seminars, etc.
I am a first semester
I am a first semester student at Berkeley Digital Film Institute (BDFI) www.berkeleydigital.com and I think it's a great school for producing/directing. I looked at several schools in the SF Bay Area during my quest for film programs and BDFI is hands down the best program in the Bay Area. It's a supportive environment where you don't feel intimidated and can really learn how to become a good filmmaker. The instructors are very knowledgeable about their area of expertise and are totally accessable. I 100% would recommend BDFI to anyone looking at film schools in CA.
Berkeley Digital Film Institute
I am a first semester student at Berkeley Digital Film Institute (BDFI) www.berkeleydigital.com and I think it's a great school for producing/directing. I looked at several schools in the SF Bay Area during my quest for film programs and BDFI is hands down the best program in the Bay Area. It's a supportive environment where you don't feel intimidated and can really learn how to become a good filmmaker. The instructors are very knowledgeable about their area of expertise and are totally accessable. I 100% would recommend BDFI to anyone looking at film schools in CA.
2 cameras and 4 computers for all students?
2 cameras and 4 computers for all students in the whole school?
Doesn't sound very true...
2 cameras and 4 computers for all students?
2 cameras and 4 computers for all students in the whole school?
Doesn't sound very true...
2 cameras and 4 computers for all students?
2 cameras and 4 computers for all students in the whole school?
Doesn't sound very true...
yeah my high school class 9
yeah my high school class 9 cameras and 8 mac's for a class of 22... all equipped with Avid AND Final Cut
Clarification on Equipment
Berkeley Digital has 2 Panasonic HVX 200's and teaches the Red Digital Cinema 4K camera in semesters 2, 3, and 4.
According to our recent conversations with the marketing division of Red Digital Cinema, we are the only school in the United States offering the Red as the major acquisition tool in the Cinematography track.
We also have 7 edit bays with Final Cut Studio including Shake and ProTools MBox 2's. We have stopped teaching Avid, as it is no longer the industry standard for independent Feature Producers and Directors to cut their own work before going online.
We also have a 300 track digital mixing theater with high-definition projection, which all students may use for mixing their projects.
We have found that 2 HVX cameras are enough for the 12-person 1st semester group,
Berkeley
I have been in this program for a couple of weeks. My class is pretty nice, although there is a film school mentality (i.e. doing it "right", freaking out about doing it "right" and making sure everyone knows you know a lot). The other half of the class is cool and doesn't have this mentality, they are independent and hardworking. A few are from UC Berkeley, others are from NY, SoCal and here. Some have college degrees. The age range is from 18 - 55 about. There ambitions are mainly to make feature films and docs.
David Mayer