Learn film production alongside an industry insider in a working Joplin film studio. Work directly with a film industry pro. We do things different, learn in the real world and build industry connections.
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We’ve brought the magic of filmmaking to Joplin and we need you! We’re Film Connection Film School in Joplin, MO, the only program that puts you next to local professionals and gives you an industry foot in the door. We’ve got an amazing 6-month behind-the-scenes program that pairs you up with working film specialists who will mentor you in their studios or production houses. Develop your craft while, more importantly, learning what it’s like to work in a professional environment. The second, more comprehensive, the path is our 8-month directors track. Your mentors will work with you as you write, direct, and edit your project from idea to its final form. And the director track also gives you the chance to work with a dream mentor and pitch your project during your final week when we fly you out to L.A!
Joplin, Missouri is a city of around 50,000 people, located along Interstate-44 (historic Route 66) in the southwest corner of the state, near the borders of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arkansas. Situated near the foothills of the Ozarks, Joplin offers easy access to a variety of natural scenery, including plains, rivers, mountains, and caves–plus, it is within driving distance of numerous major cities, including Kansas City, Tulsa, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, and the sprawling Fayetteville-Springdale metro of Northwest Arkansas. These factors combine to make Joplin a strategic place for finding locations for filmmaking. Add to that a generous tax incentive package offered by the state of Missouri to attract filmmakers to the area, and you have a great location for any aspiring film editor, film producer, or film director to get a quality education. FILM CONNECTION helps get you hooked into the heart of it all.
Missouri has been the location site for many films, commercials, television shows, and documentaries. The 2000 documentary film Route 66: Main Street America did filming in Joplin, as well as in nearby Springfield. Other films shot around Joplin and the surrounding regions of Missouri include Bruno, Winter’s Bone, The Sky Has Fallen, and Abbey of Thelema, to name a few. This area is no stranger to television production, either; Joplin and vicinity have seen location shooting for Kendra, Great American Road Trip, and even TV classic series like The Beverly Hillbillies.
The secret to FILM CONNECTION’s success is our mentor-extern approach. We pair you with a working film or television professional who serves as your personal instructor and mentor during a six-month program, guiding you through hands-on training on real film and video shoots, and helping you make valuable industry contacts. The fruit of our revolutionary system is in our graduates; many of them get hired in the industry, many times before they even finish our program. Come find out how FILM CONNECTION of Joplin can help you launch your career!
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
“Working through the second act was tough, but my mentor really helped me unlock the emotional arc of the story.”
Kayla M.
After working in media for a couple of years, I decided to take my skills to the next level in filmmaking. I was fortunate to have joined Film Connection; they supported me from day one with my registration and all the necessary paperwork
Noah Gonzalez
Film Connection does a fantastic job placing you on REAL sets with EXPERIENCED directors, opening doors to build meaningful connections with your mentor and ensuring ongoing learning. You truly get out of the program what you put in.
Octavio Preciado
I got great movie recommendations that gave me many creative influences. My mentor gave constructive feedback on my script. I learned about how to work on a film set and collaborate with other art departments. I enjoyed my experience with Film Connection.
Josh Chacko – Arlington, Washington
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