What type of degree is best for someone wanting to get into writing for television and such?

What type of degree is best for someone who wants to write for television, movies and such?

I know you can get a degree in something called Video Production, but that seems to focus a lot more on the technical side of things rather than the creative side. and is there any difference between a degree in that and one in "Cinematography and Video Production"?

Would a BA degree in Cinema and Television Arts, be the best,? or is there something more specific out there for what I want to do.

Thanks,

The best, would be a masters in journalism, from a well known and respected university.

It sounds like you want a degree in Screenwriting. If your local colleges don't offer that, i would suggest seeing if they had a way for you to double major in Creative Writing and Cinema and Television Arts.

If you are wanting to write for movies and such, taking a few classes in Cinematography will really help you to understand how the directors interpret the scripts you will be writing.

good luck!

Well, you will just go on strike and ruin our TV season anyways. Tom Stoppard didn't go to college. He taught himself theoretical physics from books instead. And wrote some great plays.

My school (Ithaca College) has a great communications school, where you can major in Television-Radio with a concentration in scriptwriting. That sounds like the kind of thing you would be interested in. I would recommend looking around at good communications schools, because they would probably have similar programs.

If it is specifically writing for film and tv you want to do then I would suggest a joint degree where half of it is media studies based and the other half is creative writing based.

I second the Screenwriting program/major. Rather than look to liberal arts colleges, you would probably want to focus on going to an arts school. Tisch at NYU has a television writing department, so other arts schools may as well. Also, I know that several sitcom/sketch comedy writers (for SNL, Conan, etc.) have political science/history degrees, explaining their ability to satirize political/current events. So basically, it depends on what type of medium you are leaning toward. Also, I would attempt to go to a school that's close to a studio/show where you could eventually intern.