Top 10 College Towns for Film Geeks

Whether you dream of making movies or you just want to be near the culture of cinema, these college towns offer an environment that will make you feel at home.

Big-Screen College Towns

These cities are a film lover's paradise. Celebrity sightings, rich culture, and plenty of space to create and enjoy movies put these cities top on the list for film buffs.
  1. Los Angeles, CA It seems a no-brainer that this college town would top the list. Hollywood is the city of dreams for filmmakers, and the business of moviemaking is going strong here. Aspiring media gurus may find their first internships here.

  2. Austin, TX Independent film production has a new capital city. Austin is packed with diverse locations and a pool of crew and talent that could drive any indie movie. The city's permit laws make it easier to shoot in the city on the cheap.

  3. Philadelphia, PA If writing for the screen is your passion, Philly might be your city. The Set in Philadelphia Screenwriting Competition offers $10,000 and a trip to Los Angeles for top screenwriters.

  4. Orlando, FL This college town has a climate conducive to year-round moviemaking, with plenty of days of sunshine. The climate is just one reason directors like Sommers and Spielberg choose to shoot in Orlando.

  5. Las Vegas, NV Television and commercial productions see a lot of action in this college town, which was the location for movies like Intolerable Cruelty, The Cooler, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, and The Hulk.

  6. New York, NY Some of the best resources, location, and tax breaks are available to filmmakers in this college town. Fans and moviemakers alike flock to the New York Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival annually.

  7. Boston, MA Jobs for extras are easy to come by in this filmmaking city, known recently for Mystic River, Mona Lisa Smile, Stuck on You, and Alex and Emma. Boston's cultural diversity adds to the college town's charm.

  8. Portland, OR Living as a student on the West Coast is easy in Portland, where the cost of living is much lower than San Francisco or Seattle. Local moviemakers receive financial benefits in the form of parking rebates from the Creative Economy Initiative.

  9. Chicago, IL Moviemakers receive free use of city locations like police stations and office and warehouse space, making Chicago a great place to film urban locations. Students aspire to place their pictures for review in the Chicago International Film Festival.

  10. Houston, TX Tax-free equipment and services keep costs down for independent filmmakers in this college town, and short films from Texas artists get a taste of the big screen at the Texas Filmmakers Showcase.

Film Connections in College Towns

If you're interested in making movies, these towns offer more than just a place to go to the movies. Making connections with other like-minded students can lead to collaborative projects that could just jump-start your career.

Sources:
"10 Best Cities to be a Moviemaker" -- MovieMaker Magazine