Road Trip: "Aha!" Moments at Chapman University
/Aha! Chapman offers more than Dodge College of Film and Media Arts! Still, Dodge is the reason to go to Chapman, recognized as one of the top ten film schools in the world and ranked #7 (2019) by the Hollywood Reporter among American film schools.
There are 143 majors, minors or programs at Dodge listed on their website. A few include: BA Film Studies (to become a film historian, film critic), BA Public Relations & Advertising, BFA Broadcast Journalism and Documentary, BFA Digital Arts – Animation and Visual Effects, BFA Film Production, BFA Screen Acting, BFA Screenwriting, BFA Television Writing and Production.
Los Angeles is 45 minutes to 8 hours away, depending on traffic. Regardless, Dodge’s relationships with Hollywood and the film community are highly interactive. Disney is the #2 employer, after Chapman itself, of Chapman students.
The facilities at Dodge are significant. Three facilities are open 24/7:
Marion Knott Studios (76,000 sq. feet) which includes a 500-seat theater along with sound stages, TV & broadcasting set & control room, Foley stage, cinematography / directing stage, production design studio, 36 editing suites.
A Digital Media Arts Center (18,000 sq. feet)
Chapman Studios West 38,000 sq. feet (for documentary filmmaking) with screening room 2 stages, prop house, costume collection, editing and mixing suites.
Aha! A perk is that the Dodge theatre is privy to pre-release films for their feedback since students are often the age group films are targeting.
Outside of Dodge, Chapman has colleges of nearly every type including business, engineering (recently added), pharmacy, communication, education and pre-professional programs. A look at the student newspaper makes clear that film and the arts has a strong influence on campus regardless of program.
Consider Chapman if: Your interest is in film and you love the LA Scene.
