Oberlin as a Film School

Whenever people ask me why I chose Oberlin, one of the first things I say is the film program. This tends to surprise them, since it’s not what typically comes to mind when you think “Oberlin.” If I wanted to study film, why didn’t I go to NYU or UCLA? I’ll tell you why.

One of Oberlin’s biggest growing departments is Cinema and Media. Over my time at Oberlin, the department has doubled in size, gained new professors, and an increase in classes for majors and non-majors alike. The classes range from all topics such as cinematography, editing, screenwriting, directing, animation, sound design, film scoring, and working with physical film. Even as a senior in high school when I visited Oberlin, I could tell that there was a dedicated film department. I learned about the hands-on production classes, the dedicated spaces in the Apollo, and I knew that Oberlin would help me achieve my dreams. It’s clear that many other students recognized Oberlin as a premier filmmaking school in the same way I did.

Oberlin is known for its small class sizes, and that is perfect for the hands-on approach to filmmaking. For example, the production class I took this semester had only 8 students including myself, which allowed each of us plenty of one-on-one time with our professor when we began editing our films. I also love that I really get to know my classmates and their work, that we can closely critique each other’s films and allocate a good amount of time for watching and analyzing them. 

When learning to animate, my class got to work directly with the Media Associates, students with particular production knowledge hired to help teach and guide other Cinema students. This was super helpful to have someone with me looking over my shoulder at my Photoshop window rather than referring to a cheat sheet or video as I know some bigger film classes might have you do. When learning how to use cameras, lighting, and microphones, we get to physically play around with them and have people working with us to adjust settings and troubleshoot issues. It’s a much more personal approach to filmmaking that is just so much more beneficial to learning. 

Another incredible thing about studying at Oberlin is working in collaboration with the Conservatory. Many Con students also major in Cinema so that they can specifically study sound and music for film. It’s a unique focus that’s hard to find in other schools since you have the resources of both music and film professors. You’re able to learn audio technology and composing skills from a musical theory standpoint. For other film students, when working on a project, you have amazing resources in the Con students for scoring your film. If the Con is what Oberlin is known for, it’s all the more reason to make the school known for filmmaking.

The best thing about Oberlin is the culture that encourages experimentation and unique uses of film. There is a very personal approach to filmmaking that allows you to pursue any idea, big or small. Some of the more well-known film schools might be all about producing films for entertainment or Cannes, but Oberlin is all about making films that are important to you. All production classes are pass/fail, meaning it’s not about what you create, but the fact that you are creating it at all. It is more important that you finish the film and bring it to fruition, an incredible accomplishment in and of itself, rather than what the film actually is. All films have their own merit, and if it’s meaningful to you and the act of creating it taught you something, then that is what is most important. This attitude towards filmmaking is really what makes it FUN. And if something isn’t fun, why do it?