The SFCA business model was originally created by working industry professionals who were once hypnotized by misleading advice from admissions reps at expensive “degree mills”. After paying back over $700 a month in student loans for well over a decade (and many more years to come), our sole motivation is to foster a professional learning environment that doesn’t take advantage of people who are simply looking to better themselves. If you (or your parents) happen to have a ton of money sitting around waiting to be spent, then by all means don’t let us talk you out of the big campus lifestyle. Just prepare yourself for it to be over in the blink of an eye, with not much more than a fancy piece of paper to show for it. But if you’re ready to learn the ropes in a real production company environment and start your career ASAP, then please don’t hesitate to introduce yourself! We’re genuinely here to help you succeed in life, and our satisfied students are more than happy to vouch for us. 😉

If you’re currently reading this sentence on our website, then the immediate answer is no. Unfortunately, most accreditation boards require long-term programs to qualify, which isn’t really on-brand with Sharp Focus. However, we are in the process of qualifying to accept M1 Visa Status, Unemployment Workforce Benefits, and academic funding for Veterans, so stay tuned!

Absolutely not! It’s difficult to explain this concept to prospective students that don’t fully understand how this industry works yet, especially taking into consideration that our society has been indoctrinated by references to past generations. In hindsight, those same students eventually understand how it really works AFTER they’ve attained some professional experience out in the field. If you don’t believe us, just ask anyone who’s already doing the job that you want to pursue. Seriously, you can ask about topics like this in our FREE industry Q&A events!

Most film schools want you to sign up for a long term commitment because the more time you spend there, the more money they rake in. At Sharp Focus, the answer really depends on which program you sign up for. Our longest in-person program is 2-days per week for 10-weeks (Filmmakers Bootcamp), and our shortest in-person class is 1-day. Not that we don’t enjoy seeing your pretty/handsome faces every single day, but it serves no real purpose wasting your time and ours any longer than necessary. Most of our students want to get in, get experience, and start working ASAP. However, our pre-recorded online Accelerated Filmmakers Program (AFP) can take anywhere from weeks to months, depending on how much time you're able dedicate to it on any given day. But don't rush, because there is a LOT of information to absorb.

Again, that all depends on which program you sign up for. In the 10-Week Filmmakers Bootcamp, we sometimes allow a democratic vote on which one we’ll end up working with, based on how many clients we have on deck during a program launch. More often though, our instructor’s experience provides the ability to gauge which project is best suited for each crew dynamic, so they get final say in the decision. Just like in the real world, you don’t always have the luxury of choosing the projects you get hired to work on. Don’t worry, you’ll have a blast either way! But if you choose to take our online Accelerated Filmmakers Program (AFP), each student will be deciding on their own client to work with.

Well, that really depends on your definition of a “filmmaker”. There are so many potential career paths that lead into the entertainment industry, we don’t want to lump everyone into the same category. But if you’re referring to crew positions that are generally “behind the camera”, then the answer is no. We also offer acting classes, voice over lessons, screenwriting workshops, etc, some of which don’t even involve a camera.

Quite often, yes! But like any educational institute, nothing is guaranteed. It literally depends on each individual student’s attitude and ability to meet deadlines. Please don’t be fooled by other film schools and their exaggerated “job placement” statistics. Many accredited film schools have been busted by the Department of Education over the years for fudging their numbers by getting their graduates entry-level jobs at places like the Apple Store, Guitar Center, and Hollywood Studio gift shops (we won’t name any names here, but that info can be easily found online). SFCA works closely with industry recruiters, and we only recommend top-tier graduates because our stellar reputation is always at stake.