Best Non-American Film Schools

 There is no doubt that the U.S. has the best film schools. The American Film Institute, Univ. of Southern California, NYU, just to name three. However, the rest of the world is catching up. 

Here are the top 15 international film schools based upon the number of graduates who have won the Cannes' Palm d' Or award or an Oscar nomination. 

- Australian Film, Television, and Radio School. Located in Sidney it is noted for producing excellent film talent. 

- Beijing Film Academy, China's most prestigious film school.

- Centro Specimentale di Cinematografia, with multiple campuses across Italy this is the oldest film school in Europe (est. 1935).

- Deutsche Film und Ferntehakademie, located in Berlin this is a tuition free school - if you can get in.

- ECAM, Spain's leading film school, this Madrid based institution specializes in behind-the-camera instruction.

- La Femis, located in Paris and with an acceptance rate of less than 5%, this school is very exclusive and very good.

- Filmakademie Wien, located in Vienna this Austrian school puts an emphasis on practical experience.

- Gobelins L'ecole de l' Image, is located in Paris and is arguably the best school for animation in the world.

- Lodz Film School, located in Lodz, Poland it offers full and part-time instruction and courses.

Ongoing production at Lodz Film School

- National Film and Television, located in London and its most prestigious film school.

- National Film School of Denmark, located in Copenhagen it is very selective and one of the most expensive in Europe.

- Prague Film School, this Czech institute offers degrees in many disciples and produces over 30 full length features per year.

- Sam Spiegel Film and TV School, located in Jerusalem this Israeli school focuses on the 'small' screen productions

- Toronto Film School, one of two great Canadian film schools it is private and focuses on feature film production.

- Toronto Metropolitan University, the other noted Canadian film school TMU provides instruction in all film production categories. 

There you have it.

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corporation

Disney Shuffles 2023 Release Dates

 Announcing release date changes for Avatar, Marvel films, and other movies, Disney is feeling the impact of the writers/actors strike. 

Regarding Marvel releases, 'Captain America' was moved from May to August 2024, while 'Thunderbolt' was rescheduled to December 2024, and 'Blade' to February 2025, as was the 'Fantastic Four' to May 2025.

Avatar to Avatar 5 - 22 years in total

As far as 'Avatar 3' is concerned, it has been scheduled for a December 2025 release. 'Avatar 4' to December 2029, and 'Avatar 5' to December 2031!  This means that 'Avatar 5' will be released 22 years after the original Avatar was screened - Wow!

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corporation

 

Diversity in the Movie Industry

 According to a just released study from the Annenberg School for Communication at USC, entitled the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, the diversity of movies from 2007 to 2022 changed little over that 16-year period. 

The percentage of nonwhite speaking characters of every race and ethnicity, except Asians, was essentially unchanged. Asians, however, went from 3.4% to 15.9% over the period. Non-white characters remained at 38% compared to 41% of the overall U.S. population.

Women comprised 34% of speaking roles. There were no films in the top 100 films that included a Native American female role. 

The 'face' of Hollywood hasn't changed but maybe it shouldn't. 

Overall, the Annenberg study indicated that there was no improvement in the use of non-whites characters with the exception of Asian characters. The LGBTQ+ characters in films has remained unchanged since 2014 at 2%. Disabled characters were also unchanged at 1.9% of speaking roles.

CMG's Takeaway

People reflect themselves in their work. Most script writers and directors are white males and so this is reflected in their work. It's what they know. It's what they experience. The use of non-white speaking characters vs. overall population is 38% vs. 41% - so the difference isn't that significant. In summary, there has been some diversity movement to the extent that it is almost at parity with population data. 

By: Jim Lavorato

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The H'wood Writers'/Actors' Strike...Is It All Drama?

 

On the 'line'

Public protests are theatrical. Protestors assume dramatic poses and make rally speeches eliciting support and cheer.

A strike by actors would therefore have natural and ;striking' attributes. Ever more so, as in the present strike screen actors and writers are scripting the lines that are being shouted and 'soapboxed'. 

But like most things, they can be overplayed. This is the case with the Screen Actors Guild in their current standoff with the major film studios and content streamers. 

Many actors, marching, sign waving, and walking picket-lines along with their striking brethren have become scenes of what I term, "anger through wardrobe". Distressed denim and military khaki seem to be the common attire.

OK, we all get the 'workingperson' symbolism of these 'costumes' - but it has been totally overplayed. It would be better if the strikers showed up in their normal wear as opposed to staging and cosplay. The actors and writers are striking workers that are taking a stand around what they believe is a righteous and admirable cause...they don't have to pretend.

When the 'A' listers join the picket lines you know PR and self-promotion has entered the fray - and it all makes for great drama.

By: Jim Lavorato, Entertainment Equipment Corp.