Film students working on set (Photo by Jeff Carrion/DePaul University)The Hollywood Reporter has named DePaul one of the best film schools in the country, rising to 11th place, up three spots from last year.
Faculty, students and alumni in the School of Cinematic Arts are driving the rise in the rankings with their innovation, creativity and industry successes.
Notable alumni received national recognition. Alumnus Alex Thompson graduated from DePaul in 2017 with a master's in fine arts. Now an independent filmmaker in Chicago, Thompson and collaborator Kelly O'Sullivan premiered their new film “Ghostlight" at Sundance this year. Alumna Linh Tran also screened her film “Waiting for the Light to Change" in Chicago and New York last fall, which she produced during her time at DePaul's Indie Studio.
The School of Cinematic Arts continues to offer unparalleled opportunities for students. It recently enhanced its visual effects capabilities by adding an LED wall, a new stage and introducing two minors: Virtual Production Stage Operation and Virtual Production Environment Design. These programs focus on the physical aspects of virtual production and the design of digital environments.
Faculty bring industry connections and insights into the classroom. Last fall, several stars and creators from the iconic TV drama “Breaking Bad" visited Stew Lyons' online creative producing course, including creator Vince Gilligan and lead actor Bryan Cranston. This visit provided students with a rare opportunity to engage directly with some of television's most influential figures.
DePaul's Cinespace Studios, which is at the heart of Chicago's vibrant film and TV production hub, also expanded to nearly 60,000 square feet. The facility features six soundstages, a green screen cyclorama, high-end equipment, a Scene Shop, dressing rooms with hair and makeup stations, editing suites and versatile classroom and storage areas to support any project. Students and alumni have worked on many notable shows filmed in Chicago, including "The Bear" on Hulu and "Chicago Fire" on NBC.
From outstanding classes and cutting-edge cinematic technology to an impressive roster of alumni, the School of Cinematic Arts program continues to demonstrate its status as a top-tier program in the U.S.
"It's gratifying to be acknowledged as the top film program in the Midwest. This is a testament to the excellence of our faculty, facilities, students and alumni," said Gary Novak, director of the School of Cinematic Arts.
For more information, visit the School of Cinematic Arts website.