Thinking of which college or university to go to? Maybe this will help. Here are some fun facts about celebrities and directors and the schools they attended.
Francis Ford Coppola –Writer/Director of The Godfather Trilogy (1972, 1974, 1990). Degree in Drama from Hofsta University. Master of Fine Arts Degree in Film Production from the University of California in LA.
George Lucas – Writer/Director of Star Wars. Planned to become a professional racecar driver. Attended Modesto Junior College before enrolling in the University of Southern California Film School.
Ben Stiller –Studied Film at UCLA but dropped out to pursue an acting career in New York City.
Adam Sandler –Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University.
Martin Scorsese –Director of Goodfellas (1990), The Departed (2006) and Shutter Island (2010). Graduated from NYU as a film major.
James Cameron –Writer/Director of The Terminator (1984), Titanic (1997) and Avatar (2009). Graduated from California State University where he majored in physics. He worked as an art director and miniature set builder before directing his first movie in 1981.
Sandra Bullock –Attended East Carolina University. Majored in Drama.
Madonna –Studied at the University of Michigan for a degree in Modern Dance. Left college to pursue a career in dance.
Reese Witherspoon –Attended Stanford University. Majored in English Literature. (Dropped out after a year to pursue a career in acting.)
Joel and Ethan Cohen –Writers/Directors of The Big Lebowski (1998) and No Country For Old Men (2003). Ethan graduated from Princeton University. Joel attended York University’s film program and graduated 4 years later.
Steven Spielberg –Began film school at USC’s School of Theatre. Attended California State University at Long Beach where he majored in Film and Electronic Arts. Because he had signed a long-term contract with Universal Studios, he put college off. He earned his degree from CSU 30 years later.
Tom Hanks –Majored in Theatre at the Chabot College and California State University in Sacramento. Was offered a prestigious internship at the Great Lakes Theatre Festival. He took the offer and dropped out of college.
Matt Damon –Majored in English at Harvard University. Dropped out to pursue an acting career.
Julia Roberts –Attended Georgia State University. Studied to be a veterinarian. Moved to New York and took acting lessons.
Oprah Winfrey –Graduated Tennessee State University with a degree in Speech and Drama.
Brad Pitt –Studied at the University of Missouri. Majored in Journalism and Advertising. Left to pursue a career in modeling and acting.
Lauren Graham –Actress Gilmore Girls (2000-2007). Bachelor’s Degree in English. Master’s Degree in Acting from Southern Methodist University.
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