There are course requirements, but from the first day students set their own pace. A conservative bedroom community 45 minutes north of Los Angeles, Valencia is about the last place in the world that purple haired, black clad experimental filmmakers would feel at home, but because this is very much an arts school, they flourish. Columbia offers programs in producing, screenwriting, and directing. First year students make a 10 minute video, while second into third year students focus on a 15 minute film, and then a 20 minute thesis film. The directing program includes courses in producing and writing, plus required classes called Directing the Actor.
Nobody graduates without writing a feature length screenplay.
The atmosphere is congenial. Since the program doesn't dwell on the technical aspects of filmmaking, students often bring in a technical crew from outside the program to help make their projects.