<p>I want to work in the corporate part of film-making. Which means I am looking into being a studio executive as a future career. I know this is really hard to do, and there are a lot of factors that go into acheiving this career. However, what way should I go in terms of education. I'am considering minoring in film studies, but after college what should I do. Should I get an MFA in producing (Peter Stark program at USC), or start working and then get an MBA. Which is better, something that teaches me fundementals of business in the industry (MFA from USC) or learning the fundamental of business (MBA)?</p>
<p>Hey wannabe90, I’ve noticed both you and I share similar ambitions on other posts. It’s nice to finally see someone on these forums that have interests outside of Investment Banking or Corporate Law.</p>
<p>Anyway, this is the exact question I myself am pondering and am struggling to answer. I am a student at NYU. I’ve held over half a dozen internships in the industry and am currently interning for 20 Century Fox - Fox Searchlight, and hopefully (if tomorrows interview goes well) NBC Universal - NBC Prime Time Casting. I have my eyes on an internship with one of the major agencies this summer, ideally CAA.</p>
<p>I’m strongly considering going for an MFA from USC or UCLA in the respective producing programs. While you’ll find many JDs at many different levels and areas of the industry compared to producing MFAs it is because the sheer number of JD holders and programs. Stark graduates have the highest placement rate within the industry and gives you an education that is directly relevant to producing. A strong knowledge of the law in regards to IP is extremely helpful, but I think this can be accomplished with less of a time commitment than a JD. If you look at the Stark curriculum, most classes are taught at night, its designed to let you work in the industry AND go to school at the same time.</p>
<p>The MBA appears to me the weakest of the three options to plan upon. Most reputable MBA programs want 5 years of solid work experience and I don’t think working as someones assistant is exactly what they’re looking for. You’d up against kids who are coming off of Investment Banking and Management Consulting Programs. Paradoxically, if you hit it big early, than you don’t really need the MBA.</p>
<p>There are a lot of different entry points into the film and television industry, it’s a very chaotic business that doesn’t provide many clear cut paths.</p>
<p>The best you can do at this point is begin building your resume and get as much internship experience and as broad of a network as possible to get awesome relevant letters of recommendation. Take a year to work full time in the entertainment industry in LA, make sure you can stomach it. Apply to the Stark program and other comparable producing programs, and hope you get in. There is no way to realistically try and see beyond those horizons.</p>
<p>This is what I’m interested in, too.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice jdp349</p>
<p>Hey thanks for the advice. I noticed that a lot of people have JDs in the industry. Thats interesting. So if you don’t mind me asking how did you land so many internships??!</p>
<p>I got started with an unbelievably lucky break with an internship with CNN/Time Warner back when I thought I was interested in Broadcast Journalism. This got me into the world of television and gave my resume something that stood out. At this point I’ve been through so many interviews that I pretty much have it down to a routine. My resume is pretty solid as well so typically I get the offer because I come off as professional, ambitious and articulate.</p>
<p>Though I don’t think this will be enough to get an internship at CAA or any of the other top agencies. I have a good network, but not THAT good.</p>
<p>I’m still on the fence about law school, it provides a cushion since a law degree is universally applicable so if you don’t cut it in entertainment you can always bail out and do something else, but it comes with a serious potential opportunity cost.</p>
<p>Going to school in New York is a major plus, I can intern full year round. I’d really recommend USC, NYU or UCLA.</p>
<p>NYU has a dual degree graduate program with an mba/mfa in film production. It is aimed future producers and show biz execs according to the website.</p>
<p>heres a link:[MBA/MFA</a> Dual Degree Program: Tisch School of the Arts at NYU](<a href=“http://www.tisch.nyu.edu/object/dualdegree.html]MBA/MFA”>http://www.tisch.nyu.edu/object/dualdegree.html)</p>
I’m in the same boat. Late af to reply, but I’m about to finish a cert at UCLA in Producing and moving into development and entertainment management and business. By fall I’ll be done with them. I’m now looking at afi/USC/UCLA for their Producing programs, but with my knowledge gained (with network) I am looking at a MBA at Pepperdine. (They seem to have a good record of entrepreneurs creating companies that readily adjust to change)
Since you guys most likely have hindsight now, what should I do. I’m applying to all of these schools anyway.