Graduates of the program have gone on to work as independent filmmakers and within the studio system. "Two from the first group of graduates are working steadily in Hollywood now. Another of that group has started his second micro budget feature and found a distributor for his MFA feature. Another is freelancing as an editor in the Chicago area. Another is teaching and developing his next film," said Schlow. "Last time I checked, everyone who has received an MFA from UCF Film is working in the film business. The first three graduates from our program all launched their films on the festival circuit, where they all have won awards," said Finch.
"I think that the economic model we were under where you had to have a big audience to see your film is going away. Personal expression for a small group of people, as long as the means to produce a film stay cheap and are produced modestly, is viable. Now it opens up a whole other form of expression that we haven't seen yet. I have no idea what that expression is going to be, but I am hugely excited about it. The new digital and online tools make it possible to produce different kinds of work and it is more about being prepared for the new opportunities that are coming, I can't tell you what they are going to be. No one can. We have some new tools now and some filmmakers will have to be leaders in what they are used for," said Finch.
The training in screenwriting, film production and post production coupled with the business knowledge of raising money, marketing and distributing a film will make those graduating from UCF's Entrepreneurial Digital Cinema program formidable leaders in the future of independent film. For anyone considering film school, this program is worth investigation. For more information, visit the school's site.
