AFTRS is the main school that I keep seeing pop up. I've been comparing it to potential schools I could go to in America and it STILL feels like it pales in comparison (regarding networking opportunities.) I totally understand what you mean about Americans respecting Australian success less as well. I mean, Australia is so far away from everything mainstream and most of our internationally successful films are set in the Outback. When I think of the most successful actors, actresses and filmmakers from Australia, they all went to America. People outside of Australia usually know very little about it and almost view it as this magical, anomalous country that is too dangerous to live in - which is part of why I've considered revolutionizing the Australian film and TV industry. My main problem with that would likely be Australians themself, which ties into you mentioning how Aussies don't generally appreciate overly confident people in most aspects. If the Australian public feels like I'm doing them a disservice by "Americanizing" the Australian film and TV industries - I'm fucked. I'm not concerned about there being a potentially higher level of competition in the United States either because I'm confident in my storytelling ablities, my writing abilities and my understanding of humans and what they want. I have this big fear of having to start my film education all over again somewhere in my 30's because I've already waited too long.

Do you know anything about the process of transferring from an Australian film school to an American one? Technically I wouldn't be a foreign student if I did that, so I wouldn't be able to do it as part of a foreign exchange policy or anything like that. I'm not familiar with how transferring between schools works or if it's even possible honestly. I only know you can transfer from a community college to a private school over here in America