Testimonials
Melanie Bray – Film Arts Testimonial – December 2008
I came to the Film Arts program with a Professional Theatre degree and experience in both theatre and short, indie films. I had an agent, professional headshots and auditioned often enough. I had some experience under my belt, and what I felt was the right attitude. Still I wasn’t booking gigs! I would do well - even get shortlisted - but never make it to set. Since 2007, when I entered Langara's Film Arts Program, I have booked 4 film and television gigs, 9 commercials and videos, and 3 stage and radio gigs. My most recent role is in Sook-Yin Lee’s feature film Year of the Carnivore! I’ve helped produce 2 TV shows and worked in production on a true crime series. watermarked – the 10 minute short produced at Langara along with alumni Daniella Sorrentino and Stephen Ramsay – played the World Film Festival in Montréal in August 2008.
The facts:
- The Film Arts staff are working producers, actors and directors… and genuinely fabulous people. They know what they are talking about… because they’re out there doing it, too.
- This program is the best value for your money.
- You will walk away, demo reel in hand, having made and/or been in several short films.
The Film Arts program gave me that extra bit of confidence that I needed in order to get noticed in the audition room. It also made me joyful. For 8 months I was immersed in, and surrounded by, all aspects of film, collaboration, creativity... there is nothing better than doing what you love best full-time. It’s as simple as that! Once I was beaming there was no denying my talent and spirit. And once I started booking gigs, I felt that work was actually attainable… that there was true potential every time I walked into that audition room… With that knowledge, I will continue to get work.
In all my years of film training, from universities to How-To books, I have never learned more (or had as much fun!) as I did in Langara's Film Arts Program.
You WILL see films through from script-inception to finished product guaranteed - and you will learn through doing with industry professionals. It will be one of the most exciting, challenging and rewarding experiences of your educational career and you will come out of it trained and ready to work with the big boys. Fundamental to the Langara program is the practice of collaboration; a required skill which often gets overlooked by other institutions. You will also be trained as an active Producer - regardless of the stream you enter - allowing you to take your career into your own hands and run with it.
For those of you looking for the skills and experience needed to make it in the film industry, I wholeheartedly recommend the Langara Film Arts program to you without hesitation. It is simply the greatest film program out there.
Richard Mogg - Director Stream 2008
"When I first applied to the Langara Film Arts screenwriting program in 2005, I had basically no prior filmmaking experience to speak of. Period.
Within eight months, I had written six short films - four of those actually filmed, produced and completed - plus drafted the majority of a feature film, a 60-page short-story adaptaton, and an hour-long TV pilot. The wealth of information and experience I gained was staggering; I worked in every conceivable crew role on set, and gained filmmaking partnerships during those whirlwind days that are still the bedrock of my creative output today.
I can freely say that Langara Film Arts rerouted the course of my life, professionally, creatively, and personally. It is also by far the best deal, financially-speaking, of any film program in the province (the continent?). The instructors are uniformly amazing, excited about what they're doing and collaborative, the technical resources are superb, and you are guaranteed to walk out of the program with a wealth of real, finished, quality product at the end of it. Not just a head full of ideas, but physical proof of your talents, and lots of it. No other program promises that.
Film Arts changed my life and I can't recommend it enough."
David Bertrand - Writer & Producer, Film Arts graduate
“The heart of any film arts program is production and in this new school there’s plenty. It’s a hands-on program taught by experienced professionals and promises real value for the tuition dollar. Actors, writers, and directors will get plenty of creative, collaborative, and practical experience. I predict great things from graduates of Film Arts at Langara."
Stephen E. Miller - Actor/Writer
Millennium - Fox
"I've attended three film programs in Vancouver and toured every other school in Vancouver and Victoria. I have never seen a program as well organized and focused as Film Arts. With a focus on the art, students get the chance to learn what so many film students miss at other one-year programs. They get to learn about story and how different crafts come together to create a great film."
Unlike so many other programs, you're guaranteed to come out of Film Arts with at least two short films worth sending to festivals and putting on your reel. You'll be proud of your work, and feel as if you accomplished something. And you really have.
I came out of Film Arts with three high quality short films that are festival ready. One of those films was accepted into the student showcase of the Toronto International Film Festival. And that's just the beginning. There's so much that's left to come. Thanks to Film Arts."
Andrew de Villiers - Writer
Film Arts conducts surveys every year after the program ends. Here are what our graduates say about their 8 months with us.
Here is what our ACTING Alumni say about our program:
“The program covers a lot and offers a lot and is, overall, fantastic.”
“I honestly loved everything about this program. If everything stayed the same it would be perfect.”
“I will recommend this course to others!”
“It was empowering to know that we as a student body could work collaboratively and professionally to achieve a good end product.”
Here is what our WRITING Alumni say about our program:
“I have rarely encountered such friendly, accessible and endlessly helpful instructors in any course of study I’ve undertaken.”
“This film program was extremely rewarding and provided an amazing education both in writing and producing. It certainly stretched my understanding of what I can and will be able to accomplish as a filmmaker and boosted my confidence as a filmmaker significantly.”
“This has been an amazing eight months!! Many thanks to all of the instructors for making this program what it is.”
“An amazing program all around. Truly the most effective hands-on program in the world. That’s right, the entire world!”
Here is what our DIRECTING Alumni say about our program:
“I loved this program – it was everything I had hoped it would be.”
“Great program. Even though I had a grasp on the technical, I improved my directing and editing skills by an un-measurable amount. Thanks!”
“Overall a fantastic program with a dynamic industry representative structure focusing on the collective through a consideration of the various roles in producing a film.”