Art Institute Atlanta: Film & Video Editing Program (Lenox, Pitts: buy, high schools)

[vecchio]

I am a career changer (necessitated by a disability) and I want to learn video editing. I have about 50% of a Bachelor's degree, and I am considering enrolling at the Art Institute of Atlanta to study Film and Video Editing. Any alums out there who wouldn't mind commenting on the quality of the education as well as the usefulness of the degree versus taking some heavily technical classes in the editing packages themselves?

My big hesitation is that the cost of attendance is $33,000 a year, and it will take almost 3 years to complete the entire course of study. As you can imagine, at 45 years of age, I am not anxious to wait that long to become productive. I am also wondering if/how vocational rehab services views academic courses of study as opposed to something like welding or HVAC, where it's six months until you're job ready, versus something like video editing where one clearly must spend more time learning not only the tools but also the techniques.

Feedback appreciated - but please - if you're going to just take pot-shots at me for changing careers at 45, save it - I didn't ask to be knocked out of my old job by an accident, so I don't need abuse - just feedback. Many thanks!

[atlantagreg30127]

All I can say is that the Art Institute has never had a good reputation as far as getting your moneys worth.

I attended it in 1984 fresh out of high school (visual communications). Back then they went to small cities and would convince the kids with any talent in the high schools that they were "the place" to attend. Once I got here, I found out that they were very expensive compared to similar schools, would wait until the last second to tell you about items you needed for projects (then charge you double in their own store for them), and, that many of the instructors had not been working pros for many years (if not decades).

I dropped out after only a few months before I got in tuition debt so far I'd drown, but honestly I learned little more than what the average high school teaches kids in the specialty classes.

Now, that was 1984. But there have been posts on here as well as on other sites not too long ago with very similar stories. New school location (it used to be across from Lenox Square), but similar scenerios, higher prices, etc.

Personally, I'd not spend the money there. Ask around some more. I'm sure there are other places to get training in video editing that are MUCH more reasonably priced and not a "boutique school".

[mistersocks]

I've always been pretty suspicious of the Art Institute, as it's a for-profit company much like DeVry or ITT Tech. The upside of DeVry and ITT is that I'm guessing you have a pretty good shot at landing a job in an IT department after you graduate. The same cannot be said of anybody with a degree in a creative pursuit..there's just too much competition out there.

I'd say a much cheaper option would be to check out night classes at one of the local universities here, especially one with in-state tuition! Back in LA (where I moved from in January) UCLA Extension had great classes. Before that I lived in Pittsburgh, which had an incredible media arts center that offered training. Atlanta has Image Film & Video - IMAGE Film & Video - but they seem to be more focused on running the festival and don't offer classes. Still, maybe somebody there could direct you to some good training.

Once you have the basics under your belt after some classes, you might just go ahead and buy your own Final Cut Pro system--I recommend this over an Avid strictly due to the difference in price. And by "Final Cut Pro System," I'm just talking about a Mac and a copy of Final Cut Pro. You don't have to get the quad-core-super-gigawhatever Mac, pretty much anything they sell at this point will run FCP.

Another thing to keep in mind is the eventual goal of getting a job. Video opportunities exist in Atlanta, but let's face it...it ain't exactly Hollywood. I recommend trying to ingratiate yourself with some prospective employers, like Turner or one of the local TV stations. You might be able to find some low-level work in the tape library, or even an internship. (Yes, I know it's hard to think of an internship at 45, but working for free beats paying the Art Institute 30 grand.) You let them know from the start that you want to be an editor, and they'll probably let you mess around with the equipment after hours.

Hope this was helpful...I'd love to be more specific, but I just got here myself!