“You walk away with more than skills — you walk away changed.”
Learn film production in Virginia directly from an industry pro, in the real world, not a classroom. One-on-one mentorship. Build Industry Connections and Gain Real Experience.
Whether you want to be a cinematographer, film editor, director or producer; whether you want to write screenplays or work on the set; whether you want to do local production work in your home town or take your dream all the way to Hollywood; the Virginia Film Connection is your gateway to the film industry. We’re a film school unlike any other, because with our program, you won’t spend a single day in a college or trade school classroom. Instead, you’ll be placed as a working extern in a real film production company, and paired with an actual film professional who teaches you one-on-one. All your classes happen on-the-job and on the set, where you gain valuable work experience and make real industry connections that you could never gain in a film school classroom.
Here’s the great part: you don’t have to migrate to Los Angeles and get lost in the throng of other wannabe filmmakers in order to get your start in the film industry. Thanks to a diversity of scenery and generous incentives offered by the state, Virginia has a large of amount of ongoing film activity, which means you can get connected to the industry right here!
Between these and other major productions coming into Virginia, plus the independent film scene and ongoing local productions, there are more than enough opportunities to plug in to the film industry in Virginia—but it won’t happen if you’re stuck in a classroom. You HAVE to be where the action is happening—and that’s exactly where the Virginia Film Connection puts you. From Roanoke to Richmond, from Charlottesville to Portsmouth, and everywhere in between, we have real film professionals ready and waiting to teach you the ropes!
The beauty of our film school is that the structured curriculum can be tailored to your needs and interests. We’ll pair you with a professional who specializes in your area of interest in film, whether screenwriting, cinematography, film editing, directing, etc. You’ll get plenty of hands-on experience working with your mentor on-the-job, and you’ll make lots of great connections along the way that can further your career. And if your ultimate dream is to break into Hollywood to make your own films—we’ve got you covered there, too. Your mentor will guide you through the development of your own film idea from concept to completion—and when you’re ready, we’ll set up the opportunity for you to pitch your film in Los Angeles to real film industry executives! (We told you—we’re your gateway to the film industry!)
Of course, any film education you receive is worthless if you graduate with so much student debt that you can’t even get your career started. This is an inherent danger with other film schools and their ridiculous tuition rates—but not with us. We don’t want you getting buried in debt—we want you to succeed in your career. So we keep our tuition rates fair and manageable, roughly 75 PERCENT LESS than our competitors charge, so you can graduate with little or no student debt and get started on your film career.
You’re now at a crossroads. You can spend a lot of money to sit in a classroom at some other film school, graduate with a meaningless degree and a lot of debt, and hope for the best; OR you can go to the only film school that puts you in the middle of the action from your very first day of training, and get a real leg up on your new film career, for a fraction of the cost. If you’re serious about a career in film, you owe it to yourself to look at the Virginia Film Connection. APPLY NOW FOR FREE, and we’ll give you the details.
Some of our graduates have gone on to become film directors, script writers, and production company owners. Others are creating and producing their own films across genres like documentary, drama, comedy, action, and animation
“You walk away with more than skills — you walk away changed.”
Taylor K.
“Understanding festival strategy changed how I finish and launch a project.”
Casey O.
“I thought writing was lonely — but getting notes each week made it collaborative.”
Tori W.
“What I learned applies to everything — not just film.”
Morgan Z.
“I made more progress in two months here than in two years elsewhere.”
Quinn L.
“I didn’t just shadow — I got to lead a crew by the third week.”
Sasha B.
“I am more motivated than ever before because I can already see an enormous improvement in my writing skills, understanding of film and screenplays, and my understanding of the movie business because my mentor and I have a boxer / trainer relationship. Now that might not work with others but for me as the extern I couldn’t be happier.”
Avery Parker
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