I've done a seven-week film program at the Maine Media Workshops, as well as two screenwriting courses at a nonprofit writing center and two video/film courses at MassArt.

I loved my classes and want to get into film seriously. So I looked into digital filmmaking certificate programs (as well as degree programs) and the program at CDIA leapt out as a great choice. Intense, focused, practical but not overly commercial. One year long, for about $24,000, with a supposedly very strong career services group to help you afterward.

Here are my questions, though:

1) Are there better one-year certificate programs out there?

2) Would I be better off (I can go into more detail about my goals if that's helpful) only considering degree programs?

3) Could this be a (very expensive) stepping stone to film school at a later date? Would it help my application if I wanted to go to film school in a few years?

I'm nearly 30, and for me this would be a career switch (well, I hope! ).

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer!