A few years ago, this forum seemed to have so many potential film majors, but it seems that major isn’t as popular as it once was. Or are people hiding? If you are an aspiring film major, speak up (here) and tell us about yourself. Why film? What have you done so far? What are your school and career ambitions?
I think it’s still very popular. Programs seem to be growing throughout the country.
What I meant to say is that it doesn’t seem as popular a subject to post about on CC.
Maybe previous posts have covered all the questions, but it does seem to have lost some glamour. I miss the discussion and would recommend future film majors to keep asking and current students to respond. You can’t all have evolved into STEM majors.
A lot of what you read about (including here) recommends choosing a non-film major in college and spending free time making films, if you are talented. It seems to be a very difficult field to break into, and many are left with a unemployable degree if they don’t break into the industry.
@suzyQ7 - I disagree with that recommendation (although I do think you should minor in something that would help in a film career AND a non-film career, like Business). A film “education” comes from making films and working with others. The one thing that high school students don’t fully realize is that “making films” is a huge collaborative undertaking. Even student films can have lots and lots of people involved. Also, in film school, films are usually made with constraints (budget, deadline pressure, etc) in response to specific assignments. This is a good thing in that it teaches you how to deal with real-world conditions (especially the deadlines and budget).
Importantly, by working on other people’s films, you take on a variety of roles. On one film you might be editing, on another, casting, on another scouting locations, and on another helping produce the film. And guess what? You may find that you enjoy one of these other jobs much more than directing. This also is a good thing, because your chance of getting employment in the industry depends on the job. The “above-the-line” jobs (director, producer, screenwriter, major actors) and MUCH more difficult to break into. The “below-the-line” jobs (all the other hundreds of people you see in the credits) are much easier to crack.
And finally, the most important (after your talent/skill): Connections. These are the other film school students you work with on all those films, who may take jobs in the industry and call on you when you graduate. They’ve seen your talent and worked with you and know you can do the job.
None of this will come from “spending free time making films.”
@digmedia Excluding the connections (which I agree, is extremely valuable), what types of below the line jobs to you get training for with a Cinema Studies or Film Studies major that you wouldn’t get with a more generic major plus some film electives? I’m thinking animation, computer science, communications, english (script writing) etc… would help in below the line jobs without pigeonholing the student by choosing a Film major that is not marketable if said student ends up not being able to break into the business.
As a parent with the wallet, I’ve seen too many students choosing majors that are too specific and ending up without options after graduation (except grad school, which not all kids want to do). I think a Film Studies/Cinema studies major is one of those ‘too specific’ type majors. Minor, fine- but major?
@suzyQ7 I might agree with you on the majors. My son always said that his “education” did not come from the classroom so much as it came from the experiences making/working on lots and lots of student films. And you could do that without necessarily being a Film major. Being in a film program gives you the time and environment, but perhaps that could be done as a minor (although you would not have as much time to devote to it).
Our son is planning to major in film studies with a screen studies emphasis. He’d like to be a critic, but he’s also interested in working selecting programming for a theater that shows more “artsy” films that tend not to make it to the local multiplex unless they’re nominated for Oscars (such as the AFI Silver Theater in our neck of the woods). He’s thinking of minors in journalism and math (which he was originally going to major in; 740 on math SAT).
Some suggestions:
Yes, major in something else. Journalism would go with the film critic ambitions, but I would also recommend a Business minor. Math…? Hmmm.
One thing that would interest him is getting involved with local (or, in college) film festivals. Learn the ins and outs and how to put on a festival.
If there are filmmakers or a film club in high school, get involved and have a school-wide (or district-wide) film festival/competition.
If not already, contribute reviews to Amazon, Rotten Tomatoes, and other sites. How about reviews for the school paper (interesting to call it that, since most are now online).
DO NOT GO INTO DEBT IN COLLEGE. It may be a while before your son might be able to support himself.
Fortunately, he won’t have to go into debt. He realizes he’s probably not going to make a living writing about movies. He also realizes that after he starts taking film classes he may decide it’s not for him. That’s why he chose somewhere it will be easy to switch to something else. He’s been contributing to some sites, and will probably try to volunteer at festivals in college.
oops… I meant to say “minor in something else.”
Totally understand the fear of having your child graduate with a degree that leads to underemployment in that field, I was there with both my kids, one now graduated for two years and one a junior. Oldest has slowly become very busy, all freelance work, a.c. to a.d., and almost every job can be traced back eventually to contacts made in film school. If you can spend every weekend on set it doesn’t matter what your major is, but in reality it probably won’t happen unless you major in it. It is important to get degree, but many employers don’t care what it is. Also, getting a degree in something you have no passion for is not a good idea. My kids experience so far is that talent and willingness to work hard will keep food in your mouth and a roof over your head, plus paying off loans and a roth ira this year.
What colleges would you recommend for someone interested in film production, but with no real experience? She is a Junior, B student and not interested in big colleges.
Do you know anything about Wagner College in NY?
Check out Marymount Manhattan.
@patrice13,
Cal State Univ Northridge
Very close to the studios in Los Angeles area (in the San Fernando Valley, very close to Burbank, West LA and Hollywood studios)
By far the best question to ask of any school with film production programs is to give some examples (lots, preferably) of who from their program is successful in the industry.
Hey, I’m an aspiring film student. Basically i’m trying not to die while waiting for decisions to come out. But I know that it doesn’t matter what college I go to, it’s about what I do in that college. Either way, I am still stressing lol
@TheStudent4 Where did you apply? Are you planning on majoring in film?
So @digmedia, do you think a Cinema Studies major at UPenn is a terrible idea? Penn was (for us) the least expensive university (lots of need-based aid and outside scholarship) for my son; plus, they allowed him to take a gap year.
It’s the major that seems most doable for someone like him with a number of disabilities. He could take a fair amount of animation, he could take some CS courses (probably 4-5), and he could take three production courses. His goal would be digital media/game design/animation, or possibly writing/storytelling/film critique.
He really doesn’t know what he wants to do, though. He’s doing game design/production at the local CC during his gap year, and he’s very games oriented, but he also really loves analyzing film. He’s never desired to make films other than animated shorts.
If he graduates debt-free, which he will should he graduate, do you think it will be at all valuable? DMD at Penn would be great, but it would be too hard for him-too many classes and too many hard classes.
He applied as a Fine Arts major, but he really doesn’t consider himself an artist other than a digital one, so he doesn’t want to stay in Fine Arts.
We discussed briefly being a math major, but I don’t think he’ll do that; again, he’s not a STEM kid, per se. The only other major is Communications, but it’s less hands on/creative, so that won’t work.