[Kristin Hertko]

Mark, you make a lot of great points. No matter where you go, it’s true: your success is going to depend on how much effort you put in, and how much real world experience you can gain while you’re in school. Internships are a great way to get that experience, but you also need to make sure that the classrooms you’re learning in have an atmosphere that reflect how people work in the real world.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that I work at Tribeca Flashpoint and therefore have a good vantage point into our film program. I take real issue with dismissing us as a “fast taught, what-button-to-push” sort of school, because anyone who has gone here can tell you that this is not the case. Our professors (many of them former Columbia faculty) pride themselves on, yes, teaching their students quickly, but also teaching not just the “how” but the “why” behind the technology. Our students come to school from 9am-5pm every day for four semesters, and in that time get many more in-class and hands-on hours than students in many other programs.

It’ll probably come as little surprise that I think Tribeca Flashpoint’s film program is on the right track. We put a camera in your hands the second week of your first semester; you’ve made several short films by the end of your first year; you work with professionals on large scale productions as a part of your first year curriculum… Then in your second year you select your focus and develop specialized skills. It’s a great way to learn, and for the most part our grads are really happy. Plus, I’d challenge you to find a more active and diligent career guidance team in Chicago.

If anyone reading this has any questions about Tribeca Flashpoint, I’d be happy to answer them for you or direct you to someone who can. We have a brand new class of graduates to reach out to, as well, so if you’d like to speak to a film student or a film grad, I can hook that up. Just drop me a line!