What do you do if child student says he wants to major in 'FILM'.

<p>We are talking hypothetical here. Yes, I know there are jobs to be had in this area, but I am growing to resent the elective options in our high school which encourage interest (by my child) in this area. High tech computer, film, etc., options exsist now which many parents of a certain age feel uncomfortable with and at a loss as to how to breech the topic with student! Whatever happened to Latin being 'strange'????</p>

<p>What do you do? You pretend to be deaf. Maybe they will go away.</p>

<p>Seriously, if D did come to me with "film" I'd check her pupils then start talking fast about minors and double majors. Once I was reasonably convinced she would be employable with her majors, then I'd probably tell her to go for it. It's enough out of character for her , it might do her some good to stretch in that direction. (In fact, I know it would.)</p>

<p>I have a child who decided in high school that she wanted to major in "ART." I had a similar feeling. Didn't blame the high school at all, but did wonder how to deal with this new-found interest of my high school sophomore. (In the end, she went to an art school and is now working at industrial design.)</p>

<p>When it comes to "FILM," it can mean many things. One idea is to go to a feature-length film with your son, and stay through the last credit at the end. Many of the hundreds of names on those credits majored in "FILM" or "ART" and many more majored in dozens of other things, from technical fields to writing and research. There was only one overall director. There was only one writer (probably). And one producer. There were directors of art, music, costumes, special effects, and many other aspects of film-making. </p>

<p>But doing "FILM" doesn't mean majoring in film in college, at least not at undergraduate level. You and your son should explore the differnet aspects of film production (including different types of films from animation, to documentary, to feature films with live actors, etc.). And then decide how important it is to major in film rather than just get a solid college education and then perhaps go into film for a masters degree (MFA).</p>

<p>What ever happened to college being a time of pursuing intellectual curiosity and stimulating thought? Why must it be a time of preparation for work? Not that I object to learning working skills while in college, but I do object to colleges' focuses being geared towards professions, rather than academics. </p>

<p>I think if your child wanted to major in film, music, pottery, or the demographics of residential streetwalkers, I would say "yay," instead of "nay." People have to work, but they're not going to get a more glowing opportunity to learn in a thought-concentrated atmosphere like college once they leave.</p>

<p>I'm just at a loss. Thanks for the suggestion Makinaw. That is a good way to go.If child was passionate about the subject, making movies or spending much time at art or animation I could more easily understand. My concern is child is being influenced by the kids around him and not thinking about his strengths. And to consider double major, how does pre- med/ film sound?? Like where does one find a good pre-med program where one can also indulge in their Film interest???
I can't berate the major. My older child has two friends who found jobs in the field after majoring in the subject in N.Y.C. They are having a blast now. Whether the major holds up over time, as there are so many new kids majoring in this every year and many with substantial talent, remains to be seen.</p>

<p>frecklybeckly -</p>

<p>I think everyone agrees with you - in theory. But it is rather more comforting when your child happens to chose to learn something in a thought-concentrated atmosphere that can coincidentally lead to gainful employment. The thought of spending $160K to get your kid a degree from Wonderful U., only to have them move back home after graduation and futilely look for work for a decade or so, makes most parents shudder.</p>

<p>Actually, Film is no better or worse than other humanities-type majors. My younger brother got a B.A. in Film, and as my dad used to say "There is not a single job in this entire state (Oregon) that he can get with that degree." He eventually got into the bookstore business and is now a general manager of a large bookstore. It took him several years of searching after college to finally get a career going. He'll never be rich, but he is supporting his family. And if you go to the movies with him he can certainly point out a lot of interesting technical aspects that you never noticed before.</p>

<p>Whoa! I'd be a whole lot happier if my kid majored in ART or FILM than in LATIN!! Aside from teaching, there aren't a whole lot of careers in Latin as far as I know. Honestly though, there are many careers in both ART and FILM. I've got two artists in my family - one an interior designer and one a graphic designer/art director. They both make a fine living - better than a Latin teacher I imagine. Not as much as a doctor or an investment banker. Not as much as Ken Burns or Steven Spielberg. There are many possibilities for FILM and ART majors in advertising and marketing communications. If my kid said he was interested in film a career, I think I'd try to get him in some kind of a summer program to test his interest - and then point him to the very best university programs.</p>

<p>Right on, freckly. </p>

<p>Only problem, at any school some classes & depts (not always the same ones BTW) are pretty lightweight and others are genuinely intellectually engaging. So not all majors are created equal for stimulation.</p>

<p>BTW try telling your parents you are going to major in "Semiotics." Blank stare-- followed by immediate heart attack, at thought of $100K right down the drain.</p>

<p>I think the major/minor point is good. My D is thinking of majoring in music, so why not combo it with a "counterbalancing" minor in Eng or History?</p>

<p>My H is in the film business, but he majored in English and <em>then</em> went to NYU grad school.</p>

<p>Hey BHG, I went to school with English lit, art history and philosophy majors who were pre-med . Pre-med is just a series of prerequisite courses, probably less than the requirements for most minors.</p>

<p>Caution: film as a major can be very difficult to combine with a double-major, particularly pre-med. Put it this way: there's no way a student is going to juggle their time in the editing bay on their own film, being in a shoot in their friend's film, and baby-sitting a lab assignment for O-chem. Two words: ain't happening. </p>

<p>For some reason "Film" seems toxic as the question is asked. Living in SoCal, it doesn't seem strange at all. But I can tell you that it's a major that's demanding to the point of monomania. However, many people starting on degrees in Film drop out and change majors...for one reason or another they find it's not for them. One very good friend of mine worked as filmmaker for a while and now has a Ph.D. in Social Work working at a major research facility and has a private psychology practice as well. You can never tell how the Great Wheel will turn.</p>

<p>backhandgrip -</p>

<p>One thing I recommend to parents whose child wants to choose an employment-proof major is to compromise with the kid. Say sure, go ahead and major in Film (or Art or whatever), but you must take the classes and earn a teaching credential at the same time. That way if the Hollywood career doesn't work out they call fall back on teaching Film or whatever to the next generation of high school students.</p>

<p>Another point: Some of you may have seen my ADD thread-- when we recently got results of son's add from ed psych & he was describing all the details of the condition, my H & I kept exchanging wide-eyed glances... thing after thing... yep, it all applied to my H completely!</p>

<p>He was a terrible student (good college, but graduated in bottom 1% of class!) Over last 30 years he has had a great career as screen writer. Maybe his fascination with the projects he's doing sharpens his focus and acts like some sort of natural Ritalin. And when he occasionally gets to direct, with all the stress/excitement/etc that entails, he is completely in heaven.</p>

<p>So maybe for certain brain types majoring in film could be infinitely more rewarding than some other more "academic" topic.</p>

<p>So, backhandgrip, your son will become "keygrip" :)</p>

<p>I guess I'll add two more cents to this discussion. I have a brother who's in film (animation) working for a major studio. I had a brief job myself working at a different major studio (in the motor pool!). Film needs people with all kinds of skills. Only a small number of those skills are things that ne studies at film school (or art school). They need costume designers, electricians, camera operators, carpenters, computer specialists (of many varieties), artists, writers, make-up specialists, hair stylists, business managers, stunt directors, set designers, accountants, etc. etc. So if any of those other interests are attractive, then it might make just as much or more sense to follow those interests and develop some experience and know-how. Those skills are likely to be useful <em>outside</em> of the film industry as well as inside. One doesn't have to major in film to do film. Film is an "industry," not just a medium, and so one can do hundreds of different things and still work in that industry.</p>

<p>If my kid was serious about film, I'd have him look seriously at USC and NYU. (UCLA is difficult for out-of-state.) </p>

<p>The film industry is a huge serious industry with a LOT of money, employing literally millions of people. If I remember correctly, BHG, you're living on the Philly Main Line now. Well, of course you don't take movies seriously; they still read books there. But more money is made in the movie industry than in all of NY publishing!</p>

<p>Yeah, Latin is cool, but outside of the Atlantic and New England states, it's GONE. Everyone's at the movies.</p>

<p>Great responses on this thread.</p>

<p>That's the best strategy. Support him IF he can get into USC or NYU--because the talent pool is bloody high at those schools and if he gets in and swims with the sharks--he'll probably have a shot at a decent career. Plus those schools have a few core requirements...</p>

<p>Message "tsdad". His son is at USC doing a film degree and loving it.</p>

<p>I took the approach that coureur suggested when my son thought he wanted to pursue a career in music. I said, "sure" but let's make college about acquiring job skills as well. I told him that I did not care whether he wanted to study accustical engineering, recording arts and sciences, or business (to get into promotion). But, if he wanted to follow that music passion, it would be in his best interest to follow my advice.</p>

<p>I guess I did a good job: he is pre-med. LOL</p>

<p>As someone who chose a 'safe' career over one more exotic and enticing (but with great job security), I always tend to say, go for what you are passionate about. But I think that your question is more in the direction of a school giving kids an unrealistic or incomplete idea about what such a career would require, both in terms of study, talent, location, risk, etc. </p>

<p>My usual approach with anything like this--where my child is interested in something and I don't know anything about it--is to go do research and educate myself about it a little bit, and then share what I have learned with my child--and then support them if they continue to be interested.</p>

<p>I studied film and literature during my first year+ in college, and I vaguely contemplated transferring to NYU. I ultimately switched to math and computer science, which was the right path for me. The educational experiences in film and literature were worthwhile. My parents never questioned what I was studying whether it was film, lit, math, or computers. As I look back, it was really a gift that they supported me, but did not judge me. This of course was when girls didn't do math - thankfully my parents never communicated that notion to me. </p>

<p>I also have a brother in the film industry. He has a BA in psychology, and fell into the film industry. He is a 'hollywood producer'. As others have noted, the film industry hires people with a wide range of talents and expertise. </p>

<p>I want my sons to study many things, focus on something(s) they are truly interested in, and work towards being self-supporting. I tell my oldest to keep up his music, so he has something to fall back on when his science degree doesn't lead to a job. Life is just too hard to predict - especially when it comes to careers.</p>