<p>Ok so I graduated from Mississippi State University with a bachelor's in business information systems. After that I got into acting and film and realized I loved it. I have gotten agents and have auditioned and been pursuing this since. My day jobs since 2009 have been working in IT related fields. The problem I am facing is that I hate my day job and I feel like if i dont go back to get a masters in Drama from a university or a Masters in Film/Video(i also am interested in) I may always be stuck in this career/day job that I despise. I currently live in Nashville, TN. In college I only had to take out 2 semesters of loans so i don't owe too much. If i did go back to school I would have to do loans and I just dont see how i could go to out of state colleges in a financially feasible manner. </p>
<p>Does anyone have any advice on this? I am looking at programs in the South and possibly in state for Film/Video and Drama. </p>
<p>You need to think about what you’re likely going to get paid after you get your graduate degree. Is it likely going to be enough to service the debt? Often times for some fields, going back to school will put the person in a worse financial position than if they hadn’t gone to school. </p>
<p>Are you encountering problems getting higher paying acting work because you don’t have a Master in Film/Video? If not, I wouldn’t go into debt for that masters degree.</p>
<p>The problem is that with my degree…i can only do IT stuff. But if i ever wanna do Film related technical things like editing, cinematography, or anything in that area then i will need a degree or tons of experience. I feel like masters isnt a bad option, i just dont see how people go to such luxurious film schools. </p>
<p>With the acting thing I don’t worry as much b/c you can always study in private classes, but I dont see how i’ll ever get real jobs in video/film production with a degree unless. I feel pretty helpless with it all honestly but I wanna get it going this year b/c i already feel like im getting older.</p>
<p>I see. Consider much more would you make in editing/film production vs. what you’re making now…and if you could afford the added debt service.</p>
<p>One thing you could try is to get an IT job for a film production company…then train and transition into film production, etc. Your employer might then help you with financing your masters.</p>
<p>The first thing that you need to do, is draw up a plan for getting those loans paid off ASAP. Do not keep them around like some kind of pet. While you are paying down your loans, do some volunteer theater tech work. The folks running the light and sound systems or managing the box office might be happy to have someone with true IT skills around. Every city has community theater and groups of people who make indie films. If you have done any acting at all, you must have some contacts in Nashville. The more production and performance experience you can rack up, the easier it will be for you to be admitted to an M.F.A.</p>
<p>I totally agree about the money thing, saving and budgeting is important. Acting is my passion and love and that’s really I want. So I somewhat struggle thinking about going back for a degree in Film vs Drama just b/c I wouldn’t want to settle for second best. I think a lot of people face this though. I just know that I have make some sort of evaluation and decision in the near future b/c i absolutely hate my job and degree. I finished it b/c i spent so much time in it that I knew not finishing would be a waste. </p>
<p>It’s not that I have false expectations about money or fame or a better situation given a different degree, it’s more just getting the right tools and experience I need to re-adjust my life to what I want to be doing while making a living, even if i’m not rich by any means.</p>