Science and Wildlife Filmmaking Schools

Today there are several ways to begin making science films.  Going to school to become a science filmmaker was unheard of before the turn of the 21st century, but today there are a few different schools that offer courses that will get you started in the field.  Each offer a slightly different perspective and thus is worth looking at for its strengths and weaknesses.

Montana State University: Science and Wildlife Filmmaking Program

The Science and Natural History Filmmaking Department at Montana State University offers the most rigorous program of this type in the United States. It is a three-year, terminal degree program in the fine arts, after which you receive an MFA. Graduates pursue filmmaking careers and are also qualified to teach at the university level.

Each new group of students accepted into the program forms a "cohort"; this is the 12-15 people who will go through all classes, projects and other assignments together. The first two years of the program are spent doing coursework in Bozeman, creating tight bonds among those that know each others' work and progress intimately.  A second year film project is required, and the third year ends with a thesis film and a written masters thesis paper. 

The benefits of a program like this: 

First, there is no better way to jump-start a career than to start living and breathing science filmmaking with people just as passionate as you.  The filmmaking colleagues and professors a student will be interacting with on a daily basis will last their whole career. Secondly, this program is academically rigorous. It helps students think about filmmaking from a different point of view.  "Why are we making these films?" and "What really is nature?" are common philosophical questions in the program.  Too many filmmakers, it seems, make their films without paying attention to these larger issues.  Finally, students from the program have consistently proven the worth of an MSU degree by making some quality films. Thus, being a student from the program will definitely help you get a job.  NASA, Smithsonian TV and National Geographic have all historically put a lot of credence on the quality of the MSU student.  That's a good thing in a small field like science and wildlife filmmaking.

The negatives:

Any student that is looking into a program like this should also know the less appealing side of the coin. In reality, this program, unlike other academic fields, is not paid for by grants from professors.  Students pay their tuition and it isn't cheap. The current going rate for the three year degree is somewhere around 70,000 USD. Most students apply for and get student loans. This financial burden can weigh heavily on young filmmakers after their degree. A potential student can make the entire tuition costs cheaper if they're willing to live in Montana a few years before they get in, but that takes a significant amount of fore-planning.  Student's should also remember that they won't have a job for the better part of those three years, so there will be little money coming in to offset the costs. However, it is a career move, so it is a great way to jump-start one's job potential.  

From a filmmaking perspective, the program's goal is to train producers and directors.  If your interest lies in becoming a cameraman, sound recordist, or host there may be better options to get started. This shouldn't be a negative though. For the few that knew their goal, volunteering to shoot video or record sound for other student's projects is great for their careers.

Montana State University is also a long way away from almost everything. Flights in and out of Bozeman tend to be expensive, so travel on a student budget is limited.  Bozeman is also slightly expensive to live, given US averages. Plus, Bozeman is a small town saturated in science filmmakers. To successfully get a job post-degree, most graduates will have to leave Bozeman, to live in towns like DC or LA.

Example Films from the Program

American University

American university is a fair competitor to the Montana program. It's based in Washington DC and is directed by one of the most market-savvy people ever, Chris Palmer.  One of the best selling points of this school is that it is in the same city as National Geographic, Discovery and the Smithsonian channel.  Its a great way to get your foot into some of these production houses and start producing films.

New Zealand Science Filmmaking- 1 year course

The University of Otago offers a choice of a one year Postgraduate Diploma in Natural History Filmmaking and Communication or a two-year Master of Science Communication. Based in Dunedin, New Zealand, this program has a close partnership with Natural History New Zealand, Ltd (NHNZ) one of largest the producers of factual television.

Taught by a mix of University and Industry professionals, the classes are geared toward a range of film and communication theory and hands-on practice. The first year is spent on 5 classes, or papers, ranging from storytelling to editing and camera techniques. The second year is spent producing a commercial length film and writing a thesis. (If opting into the one-year program, a short film is created in lieu of a commercial length, and the thesis is omitted.)

The classes are limited to 12 students a year, which creates a fun and intimate dynamic. And the relationship with NHNZ is particularly beneficial, as students get an insiders perspective on the industry.

Benefits:

Access to NHNZ and working industry professionals is one of the most valuable aspects of this program and it exposes the students to the working reality of the natural history filmmaking industry. The course instructors tend to have a long history with filmmaking and science communication outside of a University setting, which adds to the real-world perspective.

Another benefit is that the course expands beyond access to film professionals—artists, writers, photographers and the like are all invited to be guest lecturers.

Students get a crash course in production, and within two years, they can walk away from the course with producing, sound, lighting, and editing experience under their belt. Unlike the MSU course, the Otago course focuses more on technique and practice over theory. This tends to lead to edgy, industry-relevant films, rather than classic blue chip pieces.

The location of the course—the south island of New Zealand—is a nature lover’s dream, with rainforests, mountains, glaciers, oceans, and farmland within a two-hour drive.

Negatives:

Unlike some Masters courses, there are very few grants available for this type of study. As an international student, tuition can be expensive.

The classes and instruction are not as structured as typical Masters programs in the US. This has positives and negatives and tends to mean that the program is only as good as what you make of it. Students have access to great mentors with great experience, but must be willing to hustle and go above and beyond to take advantage of it.

Dunedin is the hub of Natural History Filmmaking, which creates a great community, but saturates the job market. In an industry based on who you know, international students may find that the New Zealand based connections they create during the program may not be of assistance as they start out on their careers back in their home country.