Is film school a lucrative career

[Anonymous]

My sister went to film school. Had incredible talent, some connections, and amazing work ethic.

She worked her butt off taking every project possible and traveling constantly to be on sets. Gave up friends, relationships, stability to travel and take jobs. Made some money, but just enough to live on in LA.

After 10 years she wanted more stability so she went into sales for film editing software. Makes WAY more now.

[Anonymous]

Let the kids pursue their passion -- However, add a second major to enhance employment chances

[Anonymous]

99.9% of people with a film or theatre degree end up doing something completely different. My husband has a film degree, made a few independent films that advanced at a few film festivals but didn't really make him any money, and now works in silicon valley (which is how we met, so I don't know much about his previous life other than it was a lot of work and he hated the business side of it).

[Anonymous]

In LA and NY it is really more about networking than your educational pedigree.

[Anonymous]

Is video game design a lucrative field?
Is art school a lucrative field?

For a very select few it is. Best to take some business classes. A lot more people work adjacent to the entertainment industry than work actually making films.

[Anonymous]

There was a thread on here a few months back about Columbia film grads drowning in six figure debt

[Anonymous]

There are lots of 20 somethings in LA with film & theatre degrees who are waiting tables and depressed about their future.

[Anonymous]

Recently went on a USC tour. Guide had a sibling in the film school who wants to be a producer...worked his butt off to make connections and has a job (graduated) as an assistant to an agent. Plan is to move on from there to be an assistant to a producer and move up. Learned this path from USC profs, by making as many connections at USC as possible. If get into a place like USC, the name can help a lot. But it's a very competitive field and you need to be hungry.

[Anonymous]

Film school and Theater degree are two different things.

My kid is in the USC School of Cinematic Arts(SCA).
https://cinema.usc.edu/

Under SCA, there are number of majors
- Animation & Digital Arts
- Cinema & Media Studies
- Producing Program
- Film & Television Production
- Writing for Film & Television
- Interactive Media & Games

My kid is in Animation and Digital Arts.
It's the only 'arty' major + school that I sort of agreed with.
The acceptance rate was 2%, and I actually didn't expect my kid to get in.

The program is just the best imo, and seemed like a real deal.
They only select 16 kids per year for the major.
(Hence acceptance rate was 2%)
Last year, two kids didn't commit because they had to pay full price, so only 14 kids for the entire major (they don't even fill up the spots from waitlist or anything)
The faculty members are top notch from Disney, Dreamworks, etc.
With all this support, exclusiveness, connection, etc., I'm kind of hopeful that my kid would start a decent career in the field after graduation although the field is pretty tough one.

I still advised my kid to minor in Computer Science, and my kid is also pursuing a CS minor.
This is another great thing about attending USC (vice art schools)
It's challenging and the kid is pretty busy.

If you kid is into making movies, then Film/TV Production.
It's also the best in the country/world, but the field is probably even much tougher than animation.
I don't know how much you get to pay, but only you can tell if it's worth it.
My kid got a half tuition scholarship so it was an easy decision.

If your kid is into Acting/Theater, it's a different thing.
It's one of the least lucrative majors on the average.
USC has School of Dramatic Arts
https://dramaticarts.usc.edu/
Many schools have Theater majors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was a thread on here a few months back about Columbia film grads drowning in six figure debt

Key phrase here. Choose your school carefully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In LA and NY it is really more about networking than your educational pedigree.

This is the answer OP. It is hard waiting tables waiting for your big break. It is even harder doing that knowing you spent your life savings on film school, if you did, or are in debt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a thread on here a few months back about Columbia film grads drowning in six figure debt

Key phrase here. Choose your school carefully.

and Major

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a thread on here a few months back about Columbia film grads drowning in six figure debt

Key phrase here. Choose your school carefully.

and Major

Well if you want to work in film, I think you should major in something else or better yet, postpone college. But don't just never attempt to work in film if it is your passion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It can be lucrative, but not in the way you expect.

My child is graduating with a film degree in May. They have combined it (double major) with a marketing degree. They already have a job lined up making in-house training videos for a large chain of stores you've heard of. They pay will be enough to support themselves in a mid-sized city without roommates. They aspire to film commercials one day and do not want to go to LA and be a production assistant fetching coffee for the next four years.

True, I know people making corporate films. That is not what most people aspire to when they go into film school, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a thread on here a few months back about Columbia film grads drowning in six figure debt

Key phrase here. Choose your school carefully.

The field is the problem, not the school.