Gil Bettman - Chapman University

Professor: Gil Bettman

Department: Film

College: Chapman University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: FP498
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Gil was the only directing professor I had at Chapman who genuinely cared about my personal vision and film. Gil is lively and passionate. He understands that after school your grades don't matter but your ability to pursue your ideas with persistence does. When the semester was winding down he brought in successful alumni to speak with us!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: FP498
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Gil is an extremely enthusiastic professor, as well as an intuitive and thoughtful filmmaker. He really does make it his goal for you to be the best that you can be. His class was structured around discussion as he values every student's opinion. While you might not agree with him on everything, he offers invaluable knowledge and experience.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: FP438
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

One of the few professors I've had that I felt actually taught me practical, marketable skills for breaking in and surviving in the industry. Has strong opinions at times, but only because he always has his students' best interests at heart and wants to see them all succeed. Came out of every class I took with him feeling like a stronger filmmaker.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: DIRECTING2
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Gil don't know what he's talking about! Eye candy doesn't work that way he lecture too simplify for every thing cuz he don't know the depth. If look his past films u will know. until today he don't know how to create visual style or dramatic telling. If u want learn moving camera or directing just sign up Cine Class is much more clear.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: FP498
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Awesome teacher. Highly recommend. Really cares about his students and does his absolute best to help them do their best. Patient. Funny. Nice. All around great teacher and great class. Take any class you can with him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: FP497B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Really great professor! He's super passionate about his students and goes the extra mile to make sure that they succeed. I had Gil for multiple semesters and gained so much knowledge about filmmaking throughout my time in his class. I highly recommend taking at least one of his classes during your time in college!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: FP498
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Gil Bettman is an experienced and knowledgable filmmaker. I benefited tremendously from having him as a mentor and professor. His feedback and advice was extremely beneficial to my production. Gil is strongly opinionated and will challenge you to think critically about your material and process, which in my experience took my film to the next level

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: FP577
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

The bottom line is that he wants your project to be as good as it can be. This means two things: 1) He has your back, and 2) He's going to give you his honest opinion, even if it's harsh. Keep in mind, you don't HAVE to agree with him or do as he says. He won't punish you for disagreeing. Some students don't realize that. Gil just wants to help.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: INTDIRECTING
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

He is very enthusiastic and very helpful. He was being repetitive sometimes but it's really helpful.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: FP497B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Gil is an extremely helpful professor especially when it comes to thesis development and workshop. I really appreciated his honestly and the way he gave clear and direct advice. He is extremely passionate about making sure you tell a great story. And his ability to help you develop your story from the beginning will make it that much stronger.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: FTV577
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I had him for Production Workshop. He is, unfortunately, extremely ****, and frequently gets angry. He does take a lot of time to meet with the students he likes and likes to hear himself talk but his advice is questionable. He knows one thing well, the moving master, but doesn't seem to know much else.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: FTVDIR2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Bettman is a character and some people might not appreciate his story or demeanor, but I found him to be one of the better film professors at Chapman. He won't stroke you off with false hopes like other professors. He tells you the god honest truth whether you like it or not. He has lots of useful techniques, tips and a solid line of sandals.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: FTV327
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

has his quirks but over all good guy.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: DIRECTING2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Rude. Insensitive. Easy class though... if he likes you. STAY FAR FAR AWAY FROM THIS MAN.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: DIRECTINGII
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

People seem to hate him off the bat, but this class has been very valuable to me. He wants to teach you what you need to know in order to be able to direct after you graduate, you just have to be willing to listen and learn. He is one of the few teachers I have had that really takes time to give you valuable feedback (several typed pages). take it.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: DIRECTING
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

While I appreciate the fact that he's directed *both* David Hasselhoff *and* John Stamos, Gil definitely wishes he was still actively directing and lives in the past. I don't generally believe in the missive that those who can't, teach, but in this case, I think that's the truth. And honestly, I really hope he's wearing longer shorts... talk about scarred for life.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: 1999
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

worthless. he stayed on while some of the great founders of the school [Gotlieb] were drummed out and then others fled. Rambled constantly about his glory days and named dropped Zemeckis at least once a class. No idea about directing techniques, especially some of the more modern directing/editing styles. Tried to bribe us on evals. also had a 40:1 shooting ratio for TV.. that should be enough

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: DIRECTINGII
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Alright... aside from his constant diversions into his glory days being a friend of Zemeckis and constant repeating of himself, Bettman is a great teacher! He teaches useful techniques that can be implemented in any project you're working on. He doesn't make it easy for people who slack off either... no glossing over lazy people in his classes, so you better make an effort! Plus, you've got to appreciate the leather sandals to match his leathery skin :P

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: FRESHMANSEM
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SENIOR
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

great teacher - helps you get your stuff done, but anal about it....that's good for me, so i liked him. always has great suggestions, but drones a little about certain stuff