Film School Alumni Employment Outcomes Survey
FilmSchool.org is doing a survey that measures film student's success after film school and if they feel that their film school prepared them to "break into" the film business and find work. If you are a film school graduate, please take this survey to help current film school applicants find...
forms.gle
The survey should take 8 to 12 minutes to complete. The more responses we get, the more accurate and helpful the data will be for everyone who's thinking about going to film school.
We'll update this article again once we get to 400 responses. If you have suggestions on additional questions that we should include in the survey please let us know. Detailed survey results broken down by graduation year is available for Supporting Members.
Without further ado, here are the survey's results so far. Current sample size is 109 as of the last article update.
To what extent did film school help you break into the industry?
| 1 - Didn't help me break in | 19 | 17.92% |
| 2 | 4 | 3.77% |
| 3 | 8 | 7.55% |
| 4 | 6 | 5.66% |
| 5 | 7 | 6.60% |
| 6 | 8 | 7.55% |
| 7 | 13 | 12.26% |
| 8 | 16 | 15.09% |
| 9 | 9 | 8.49% |
| 10 - Instrumental in breaking in | 16 | 15.09% |
| Total Responses | 106 |
How did film school help you the most?
| Peer Network | 58.30% |
| Technical Skills | 35.20% |
| Life Skills | 32.40% |
| Craft/Narrative Theory | 31.50% |
| Access to Equipment | 24.10% |
| Internship Access | 20.40% |
| Alumni Network | 19.40% |
| The Portfolio/Reel. | 13.00% |
| Faculty Connections | 11.10% |
| Brand/Pedigree | 10.20% |
| Didn't help | 8.30% |
At what point after graduation did you first land any PAID film-related work?
| Immediately (within 1 month) | 36 | 33.33% |
| 1–3 months | 20 | 18.52% |
| Never / still haven’t | 17 | 15.74% |
| 3–6 months | 12 | 11.11% |
| 1–2 years | 12 | 11.11% |
| 6–12 months | 11 | 10.19% |
| Total Responses | 108 |
What best describes the nature of this first film job?
| Project-Based Contract | 33 | 37.08% |
| Day Player / Short-term Gig | 27 | 30.34% |
| Staff/Permanent Position | 26 | 29.21% |
| Temp Assistant at an office | 1 | 1.12% |
| Internship (Paid) | 1 | 1.12% |
| Faculty position | 1 | 1.12% |
| Total Responses | 89 |
Which department did this first role fall under?
| Production (PA, Producer, AD, etc.) | 37 | 41.11% |
| Post-Production (Editor, AE, Color, Sound) | 15 | 16.67% |
| Writing / Development (Script Reader, Assistant) | 11 | 12.22% |
| Camera / G&E (AC, Op, Gaffer, Grip) | 10 | 11.11% |
| Corporate / Agency / Studio Office | 8 | 8.89% |
| Art Department (Set Dresser, Props, Art PA) | 2 | 2.22% |
| Locations | 1 | 1.11% |
| Freelance | 1 | 1.11% |
| Continuity | 1 | 1.11% |
| Camera + Post-Production | 1 | 1.11% |
| Assistant | 1 | 1.11% |
| Academic | 1 | 1.11% |
| 1st AD | 1 | 1.11% |
| Total Responses | 90 |
What was the primary factor that helped you get that first paid work?
| Peer connections from film school | 23 | 27.71% |
| Alumni network from film school | 15 | 18.07% |
| Internship during film school | 13 | 15.66% |
| Other Job Listings | 10 | 12.05% |
| Family or non-film connections | 8 | 9.64% |
| Cold emails / personal hustle / self-promotion | 5 | 6.02% |
| Faculty connection at school | 4 | 4.82% |
| Work connections from unpaid film work | 3 | 3.61% |
| Social Media | 2 | 2.41% |
| Total Responses | 83 |
What was the duration of the first job?
| 1–4 weeks (Short-term project) | 20 | 22.99% |
| Single Day / Weekend | 14 | 16.09% |
| 1–3 months | 14 | 16.09% |
| 2+ years | 12 | 13.79% |
| 1 - 2 years | 12 | 13.79% |
| 6 months to 1 year | 8 | 9.20% |
| 6 months – 1 year | 4 | 4.60% |
| 3–6 months | 3 | 3.45% |
| Total Responses | 87 |
What was this first filmmaking job's weekly salary (USD)?
| Under $500 | 26 | 28.57% |
| $500 – $749 | 24 | 26.37% |
| $1,000 – $1,499 | 20 | 21.98% |
| $750 – $999 | 12 | 13.19% |
| $1,500 – $2,000 | 6 | 6.59% |
| $4,000 – $4,499 | 1 | 1.10% |
| $3,000 – $3,499 | 1 | 1.10% |
| $2,000 – $2,499 | 1 | 1.10% |
| Total Responses | 91 |
Have you been able to find a job directly related to your filmmaking focus / track / goal(s) while at film school (i.e. Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Cinematographer, Editor, Production Designer, etc.)?
| Yes | 53 | 60.92% |
| No | 34 | 39.08% |
| Total Responses | 87 |
How long after graduation did you land your first role in your chosen concentration?
| Under 1 year | 30 | 56.60% |
| 1 to 2 years | 10 | 18.87% |
| 2 to 3 years | 6 | 11.32% |
| 3 to 4 years | 3 | 5.66% |
| 7 to 10 years | 1 | 1.89% |
| 5 to 7 years | 1 | 1.89% |
| 5 to 5 years | 1 | 1.89% |
| 10+ years | 1 | 1.89% |
| Total Responses | 53 |
What area does this role best fall under?
| Editor | 13 | 25.00% |
| Producer | 10 | 19.23% |
| Screenwriter | 7 | 13.46% |
| Cinematographer | 6 | 11.54% |
| Director | 5 | 9.62% |
| Production Design | 2 | 3.85% |
| Writer & Director | 1 | 1.92% |
| Visual Effects Artist | 1 | 1.92% |
| Staff at a Production Company/Post Facility | 1 | 1.92% |
| Set Lighting | 1 | 1.92% |
| Production Dept | 1 | 1.92% |
| Legal | 1 | 1.92% |
| Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Cinematographer, Editor | 1 | 1.92% |
| Assistant | 1 | 1.92% |
| AD | 1 | 1.92% |
| Total Responses | 52 |
What was the primary factor that helped you get this job directly related to your area of study/concentration?
| Peer connections from film school | 10 | 19.61% |
| Referrals from other film related jobs | 9 | 17.65% |
| Alumni network from film school | 7 | 13.73% |
| Other Job Listings | 5 | 9.80% |
| Internship during film school | 4 | 7.84% |
| Family or non-film connections | 4 | 7.84% |
| Cold emails / personal hustle / self-promotion | 4 | 7.84% |
| Job listings at film school | 2 | 3.92% |
| Won a prestigious fellowship | 1 | 1.96% |
| Professor referral | 1 | 1.96% |
| Professional Fellowship | 1 | 1.96% |
| LA network from industry | 1 | 1.96% |
| Job during film school | 1 | 1.96% |
| Consultations with profersors | 1 | 1.96% |
| Total Responses | 51 |
What was this job's weekly salary (USD)?
| $1,000 – $1,499 | 20 | 39.22% |
| $500 – $749 | 8 | 15.69% |
| $750 – $999 | 6 | 11.76% |
| Under $500 | 5 | 9.80% |
| $1,500 – $2,000 | 4 | 7.84% |
| $5,000+ | 2 | 3.92% |
| $3,500 – $4,000 | 2 | 3.92% |
| $2,000 – $2,499 | 2 | 3.92% |
| $3,000 – $3,499 | 1 | 1.96% |
| $2,500 – $3,000 | 1 | 1.96% |
| Total Responses | 51 |
If you were NOT able to get a filmmaking job directly related to your area of study/concentration, what filmmaking job did you shift into?
| Crew | 8 | 27.59% |
| Producer | 2 | 6.90% |
| Visual Effects | 1 | 3.45% |
| Videographer | 1 | 3.45% |
| TV and Film Distribution | 1 | 3.45% |
| Teaching | 1 | 3.45% |
| Screenwriter | 1 | 3.45% |
| Production Consultant / independent Scholar | 1 | 3.45% |
| Post executive | 1 | 3.45% |
| Photographer and Entrepreneur | 1 | 3.45% |
| PA, Art Assist, Set Dresserr | 1 | 3.45% |
| nothing | 1 | 3.45% |
| None; left the industry | 1 | 3.45% |
| Locations | 1 | 3.45% |
| Grip/pa | 1 | 3.45% |
| Executive | 1 | 3.45% |
| DP. Shifted from director | 1 | 3.45% |
| Development | 1 | 3.45% |
| Commercial producer/writer/director | 1 | 3.45% |
| Cam op | 1 | 3.45% |
| Agent | 1 | 3.45% |
| Total Responses | 29 |
How long after graduation did you shift into this position?
| Under 1 year | 11 | 39.29% |
| 2 to 3 years | 7 | 25.00% |
| 1 to 2 years | 7 | 25.00% |
| 5 to 7 years | 1 | 3.57% |
| 5 to 5 years | 1 | 3.57% |
| 3 to 4 years | 1 | 3.57% |
| Total Responses | 28 |
What was the primary factor that helped you get this job unrelated to your concentration?
| Peer connections from film school | 5 | 18.52% |
| Other Job Listings | 5 | 18.52% |
| Referrals from other film related jobs | 4 | 14.81% |
| Social Media | 3 | 11.11% |
| Cold emails / personal hustle / self-promotion | 3 | 11.11% |
| Internship during film school | 2 | 7.41% |
| Alumni network from film school | 2 | 7.41% |
| Same story as before | 1 | 3.70% |
| Previous work in field before film school | 1 | 3.70% |
| Family or non-film connections | 1 | 3.70% |
| Total Responses | 27 |
What was this job's weekly salary (USD)?
| $750 – $999 | 9 | 33.33% |
| Under $500 | 8 | 29.63% |
| $1,500 – $2,000 | 4 | 14.81% |
| $1,000 – $1,499 | 3 | 11.11% |
| $500 – $749 | 2 | 7.41% |
| $2,000 – $2,499 | 1 | 3.70% |
| Total Responses | 27 |
Are you satisfied with this position?
| Yes | 9 | 34.62% |
| Indiferrent | 7 | 26.92% |
| Mostly | 5 | 19.23% |
| Mostly No | 3 | 11.54% |
| No | 2 | 7.69% |
| Total Responses | 26 |
Is your current job a film-related role?
| Yes | 69 | 75.82% |
| No | 22 | 24.18% |
| Total Responses | 91 |
What best describes your current job?
| Crew | 13 | 20.97% |
| Editor | 9 | 14.52% |
| Screenwriter | 7 | 11.29% |
| Producer | 6 | 9.68% |
| Executive | 4 | 6.45% |
| Assitant Editor | 3 | 4.84% |
| Visual Effects | 2 | 3.23% |
| Director | 2 | 3.23% |
| Assistant Director | 2 | 3.23% |
| Teaching Intro to Digital Filmmaking | 1 | 1.61% |
| Set Dresser | 1 | 1.61% |
| Production Design | 1 | 1.61% |
| Production Assistant | 1 | 1.61% |
| Production | 1 | 1.61% |
| Lecturer on film and storytelling for my undergrad alma mater. | 1 | 1.61% |
| Film professor | 1 | 1.61% |
| DP | 1 | 1.61% |
| Development Assistant | 1 | 1.61% |
| Commercial writer | 1 | 1.61% |
| Camera op. | 1 | 1.61% |
| Camera Department | 1 | 1.61% |
| Adjunct film professor | 1 | 1.61% |
| Academic | 1 | 1.61% |
| Total Responses | 62 |
What is this current filmmaking job's weekly salary (USD)?
| $1,500 – $2,000 | 13 | 21.31% |
| $1,000 – $1,499 | 10 | 16.39% |
| $2,000 – $2,499 | 8 | 13.11% |
| $4,000 – $4,499 | 5 | 8.20% |
| $3,000 – $3,499 | 5 | 8.20% |
| Under $500 | 4 | 6.56% |
| $750 – $999 | 4 | 6.56% |
| $5,000+ | 4 | 6.56% |
| $500 – $749 | 3 | 4.92% |
| $3,500 – $4,000 | 2 | 3.28% |
| $2,500 – $3,000 | 2 | 3.28% |
| $4,500 – $5,000 | 1 | 1.64% |
| Total Responses | 61 |
What was the primary factor that helped you get this current job?
| Referrals from other film related jobs | 25 | 43.10% |
| Peer connections from film school | 12 | 20.69% |
| Other Job Listings | 7 | 12.07% |
| Family or non-film connections | 3 | 5.17% |
| Alumni network from film school | 3 | 5.17% |
| Worked with these clients before film school | 1 | 1.72% |
| My previouse work | 1 | 1.72% |
| Job listings at film school | 1 | 1.72% |
| Hustle. Made spec work that was good, got shared to people that wanted to hire me. | 1 | 1.72% |
| Connections through a former job | 1 | 1.72% |
| Career related connections | 1 | 1.72% |
| awards, reps | 1 | 1.72% |
| A series of non-film school related networking over the course of years | 1 | 1.72% |
| Total Responses | 58 |
Do you feel like you've succeeded in your filmmaking goal(s)?
| I am working steadily but haven't 'peaked' yet. | 33 | 52.38% |
| I am struggling to find consistent work. | 14 | 22.22% |
| I’ve achieved my primary goal | 8 | 12.70% |
| I have redefined what success looks like for me. | 8 | 12.70% |
| Total Responses | 63 |
If you are not currently working in film, what line of work best describes your current job?
| Freelance / Gig Economy: (General independent contracting outside of film) | 6 | 16.67% |
| Marketing & Advertising: (Copywriting, Ad Agencies, Brand Strategy) | 5 | 13.89% |
| Social Media & Content Creation: (Influencer mgmt, YouTube/TikTok for brands) | 4 | 11.11% |
| Service Industry & Retail: (Hospitality, restaurants, sales) | 3 | 8.33% |
| Education & Academia: (Teaching, administration, film instruction) | 3 | 8.33% |
| Trade Skills: (Construction, electrical, handy-work) | 2 | 5.56% |
| Business & Administration: (Operations, HR, Project Management) | 2 | 5.56% |
| Wedding & Private Event Industry: (Videography, photography, planning) | 1 | 2.78% |
| Unemployed | 1 | 2.78% |
| unemployed | 1 | 2.78% |
| Technology & Software: (UX/UI Design, Coding, Product Management) | 1 | 2.78% |
| Still in-school! (1 class to go, summer graduation), two remote internships | 1 | 2.78% |
| Security | 1 | 2.78% |
| Media | 1 | 2.78% |
| Legal | 1 | 2.78% |
| laid off | 1 | 2.78% |
| Corporate Video/Photography: (Internal comms, headshots, event videography) | 1 | 2.78% |
| Art Conservation | 1 | 2.78% |
| Total Responses | 36 |
What is this job's weekly salary (USD)?
| $1,000 – $1,499 | 12 | 36.36% |
| Under $500 | 9 | 27.27% |
| $1,500 – $2,000 | 4 | 12.12% |
| $500 – $749 | 2 | 6.06% |
| $2,000 – $2,499 | 2 | 6.06% |
| $750 – $999 | 1 | 3.03% |
| $4,000 – $4,499 | 1 | 3.03% |
| $3,500 – $4,000 | 1 | 3.03% |
| $3,000 – $3,499 | 1 | 3.03% |
| Total Responses | 33 |
Which best describes your current relationship with the film industry?
| I am working this job to pay bills while actively trying to get back into film. | 12 | 33.33% |
| I am open to film work, but I am not actively looking for it. | 12 | 33.33% |
| I have officially left the business and am pursuing this new career path. | 8 | 22.22% |
| Unemployed and in debt | 1 | 2.78% |
| I will do it as a hobby, unless it pays the bills. | 1 | 2.78% |
| I have left the film industry but still pursuing other creative endeavors. | 1 | 2.78% |
| I dislike working on films for other people. You’re underpaid and under-appreciated. | 1 | 2.78% |
| Total Responses | 36 |
If you are trying to get back in, what are your primary strategies?
| Networking with film school peers/alumni. | 15 | 40.50% |
| Creating my own independent content (Shorts, YouTube, etc.). | 15 | 40.50% |
| N/A - I am not trying to get back in. | 14 | 37.80% |
| Writing/developing scripts to sell or option. | 14 | 37.80% |
| Networking with past work contacts | 11 | 29.70% |
| Applying to entry-level jobs (PAs, Assistants). | 7 | 18.90% |
| Saving money to relocate back to a film hub (LA/NY/Atlanta). | 4 | 10.80% |
What is the biggest hurdle preventing you from working in film right now?
| Lack of available jobs. | 24 | 64.90% |
| I can't afford the pay cut or the inconsistent "gig" lifestyle. | 18 | 48.60% |
| I’ve lost my connections or my "ins" have dried up. | 15 | 40.50% |
| I lost interest in the lifestyle/hours. | 13 | 35.10% |
| I don't live in a production hub and can't move yet. | 10 | 27.00% |
| I feel my skills have become outdated. | 3 | 8.10% |
| Convincing myself to commit to the time required (Write-in) | 1 | 2.70% |
| The industry is shrinking and most people I know are either miserable or out of work. It's no longer what we were promised. (Write-in) | 1 | 2.70% |
| Not taught enough of the basic skills, plus unpleasant teachers so I lost all interest and decided to leave entirely (Write-in) | 1 | 2.70% |
How do you feel about your prospects of returning to film?
| Uncertain: The industry's current state makes it hard to gauge. | 11 | 29.73% |
| Discouraged: It feels significantly harder than it was before. | 10 | 27.03% |
| Steady: I'm making slow, deliberate progress. | 9 | 24.32% |
| Optimistic: I feel a breakthrough is coming. | 3 | 8.11% |
| Not interested | 1 | 2.70% |
| Indifferent. | 1 | 2.70% |
| I'm fine being a fan and happy for my more successful classmates | 1 | 2.70% |
| Don’t want to | 1 | 2.70% |
| Total Responses | 37 |
Did you take out student loans to attend film school?
| No - Didn't take out a loan | 46 | 42.20% |
| $25k to $50k | 13 | 11.93% |
| $10k to $25 | 11 | 10.09% |
| $100k to $150k | 9 | 8.26% |
| Under $10k | 8 | 7.34% |
| $75k to $100k | 8 | 7.34% |
| $50k to $75k | 6 | 5.50% |
| $150k to $200k | 4 | 3.67% |
| Worked a co-op job for tuition | 1 | 0.92% |
| $300k to $350k | 1 | 0.92% |
| $250k to $300k | 1 | 0.92% |
| $200k to $250k | 1 | 0.92% |
| Total Responses | 109 |
Are you still in debt?
| No | 65 | 60.19% |
| Yes | 43 | 39.81% |
| Total Responses | 108 |
How much debt do you still have?
| N/A - Didn't take out a loan | 41 | 41.41% |
| Loans all paid off | 14 | 14.14% |
| $10k to $25 | 11 | 11.11% |
| Under $10k | 6 | 6.06% |
| $100k to $150k | 6 | 6.06% |
| $25k to $50k | 5 | 5.05% |
| $75k to $100k | 3 | 3.03% |
| $50k to $75k | 3 | 3.03% |
| Over $400k | 2 | 2.02% |
| $300k to $350k | 2 | 2.02% |
| $200k to $250k | 2 | 2.02% |
| $150k to $200k | 2 | 2.02% |
| I used my life savings and am currently moving to LA in a currently precarious financial state. | 1 | 1.01% |
| $250k to $300k | 1 | 1.01% |
| Total Responses | 99 |
Was taking out student loans for film school ultimately worth it?
| 1 - Regret taking loans | 14 | 19.72% |
| 2 | 3 | 4.23% |
| 3 | 6 | 8.45% |
| 4 | 3 | 4.23% |
| 5 | 10 | 14.08% |
| 6 | 3 | 4.23% |
| 7 | 10 | 14.08% |
| 8 | 7 | 9.86% |
| 9 | 6 | 8.45% |
| 10 - A good decision | 9 | 12.68% |
| Total Responses | 71 |
Would you recommend your film program to someone starting today?
| Yes, but only if you get a scholarship/don't take on too much debt. | 54 | 50.47% |
| No, I would recommend a different path (e.g., set work, private workshops). | 34 | 31.78% |
| Yes, regardless of the cost | 19 | 17.76% |
| 0 | 0.00% | |
| Total Responses | 107 |
If you could go back to the day you applied to film school, knowing what you know now about your career outcome, would you still apply?
| Yes | 68 | 63.55% |
| No | 22 | 20.56% |
| Maybe | 17 | 15.89% |
| Total Responses | 107 |
Alumni Insights: Longform Responses
Dive into the written responses from our alumni. On the following pages, graduates share their honest experiences regarding their first industry jobs, career pivots, non-film employment, and their final verdict on whether film school paid off.Alumni Reveal How They Landed Their First Paid Gigs
What does the immediate post-grad landscape actually look like for a film major? Here are the long-form answers related to film school alumni's first paid filmmaking role as well as the achievements they're most proud of over their career.
Assistant Editor
Production Assistant
Assistant Director
Production Assistant
Camera op
Teaching
Post production
Creative Producer
Avid Instructor
It was before film school. 2nd AD on a miniseries. First after school was as senior editor for an internet startup.
Writer
I was already freelancing as a videographer in undergrad, but landed my first TV gig 2 years after graduation as a PA in reality tv.
Dailies Editor
Wedding editing
Cinematographer
Covering Script Supervisor
Videographer at UCLA
Script Supervisor
Mailroom
Editing feature
My first paid filmmaking job was as a production assistant on an indie film.
Pa / directors assistant
Working for a lighting rental house
Entertainment PR and Location Manager for 10 hotels in Vegas
Director
I did various paid jobs in school, and quite a lot of Union Set Electric work after graduation.
Production Assistant, Casey’s Pizza Commercial
Location Assistant
Editor for a local small production company
Freelance advertising promo
Temporary Executive Assistant
PA Music Video
producer's assistant
Office assistant at indie film company
1st AD
I worked as a PA while I was still in school
Screenwriter for project development
Assistant at film international sales company
PA on Transformers
Videographer/Editor for youtube channel
Grip/electric
Production Assistant on an independent movie
Writers Asst
Producer
AD / Producer
Development Assistant
Grip
PA for a commercial
Assistant
1st ac
Executive Assistant to Filmmaker
Office Production Assistant
Editor
Assistant editing
Production Assistant - Reality TV. 4 months
Clinical Assistant Professor
PA on General Hospital
Digital Imaging Technician
Screenwriter, TV miniseries
Art Assistant
Post Production Assistant
UPM on Vertical Drama
Admin Assistant
Line Producer for an independent short and a paid part-time development role, almost simultaneously
Freelance Gigs - Photography/Videography/Editing
producer assistant
Temp assistant to a major producer
Post Production Assistant
Talent Agent Assistant
staff writer on netflix show
directing a short film
Assistant at an Agency
Freelance contract jobs
I landed in Video Games (Production Coordinator)
Jr. Execuitve Assistant
Covid Compliance Officer
Avid Technical Support
Taught film for 3 years then got a temp job through alumni connections at CAA. Then, transferred from temp to Mailroom.
Post gig through a friend
I worked as an event manager after graduating and those skills translated well to being a Producer.I also freelanced editing conference sessions which I think was helpful to becoming a producer
Someone quit and they called me to fill in.
The producer on my thesis film who was a fellow student got a job and hired me.
COVID forced me to return to my home country to make my thesis film. My producer friend who helped me on the film ended up working with a company looking for new directors. He put in a word and showed my thesis to the company and they decided to take a gamble on me.
Best Friend and business partner was a PA on this gig and referred me.
Networked with alumni and called them when I moved to Los Angeles
One of my dad’s coworker’s wife was hiring
I was recommended for an assistant position while I was in school and took a year off for the job. I was hired by one of my professors to work on a project directly after graduating.
Made a friend in uni who needed me to cover him for a weekend
Friend from internship/unpaid film work referred me to the job as she was leaving LA for NY to start over.
Aunt worked at Steiner studio
I explained to the Producer / Director why he needed script supervision.
Was hired from my internship
While studing I was working mostly on documentaries. Profesors from documentary departament were visiting us in editing room for consultation and one of them liked my work. He asked me if I want to colaborate on his move as an second editor but after rough cut he decided to let me finish the movie. So I finished this movie as my master film and right after masters exames we went to premiere movie in Venice.
I secured my first filmmaking job through a friend I met in film school who recommended me for the role. They needed an extra PA for a short film, and I applied without hesitating. I showcased my eagerness and previous experience, which left a good impression.
Family friend knew a writer that had a film going into pre production. He got me an interview with the director.
A friend from High school worked at the organization already. He got me the interview.
By chance older brother had a connection with unit production manager
A contact at a Sundance film festival.
My very first one I was referred by a friend from school to a feature film that was being filmed in the college’s city — it was volunteer based, and I got brought on to 2nd AC
Secured financing for independent film I wrote and directed
Parents work in the industry, worked in the industry before and during film school
I signed up for Mandy.com and got the job there through however I sold myself. I remember trying to come off as both humble in personality and confident in skills.
I was the most motivated, charismatic and eager to learn and apply myself student in my class. I talked to my teacher about how mich i wantwd to work in the industry. I applied myself out of the classroom, which helped prove to him that i should be brought on.
Hit up the state film office that connected me with the contacts at the Production Office. Invited to interview after submitting resume.
I had interned at the company during my senior year, and they offered me a part-time gig editing for them. Was severely underpaid but thrilled.
I made a promotional video for a tennis facility that a coworker of my dads son trained at.
Supervisor from previous internship reached out to fill a temporary position.
Internships from school and friendships from internships
My professor hired me as an assistant for her independent film company.
A graduate student professor that liked me recommended me to this company to work as a PA
I was recommended by a individual who was also getting into PA work in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, they were often recommending me for jobs that they were unavailable for.
It had a lot to do with what I had learned at Film School: how to pitch in a professional environment, how to develop a writing project, how to properly cold email / self-promote.
Met with alumni who referred me to another alumni. That second alum offered me an unpaid internship, then as I was leaving they had a job open up that I took
Friend’s sister got me in
A peer from school who had graduated before me was working at this job and recommended me.
Fellow graduate landed on a job and got me hired
I partnered up with 4 other people from film school who wanted to move to LA. We all did together. One of us had a friend who was doing a lot of shooting in LA and wanted to start building his camera and G/ETeam. So all of us got a few small gigs right away.
I responded to a post on Facebook calling for PAs
Friend I made through USC script list put me up for the job
I worked with a Professor from my University before graduation and landed the job after graduation.
Was on Indeed, did well during the interview because of my Resume
Friend gave a word of mouth referral, my name got passed around to a couple productions and I booked the gig over a phone call.
From the school's listserv
After moving to Los Angeles (roommates) with acquaintances met at college; one of my roommates was asked to day-play on the evening of Valentine’s Day and it was unavailable. So she recommended me for the job.
Was put in touch through a film professor
I hit various productions companies numerous times and eventually got a job offer
USCs job person got me it
Met an agent at a party who hooked me up with an assistant gig to an actor.
Series was looking for a PA, an instructor from my MFA program recommended me.
My editing professor knew the VP of post production for Boardwalk Pictures and connected us. He hired me on for one of their shows.
Friends hired me for a low budget feature
Was living in San Diego and my friend was a PA in LA, he called me and asked if I needed work for a day, I said I sure as crap do!
My first filmmaking jobs were during and after undergraduate. Internships that led to office PA on a show that led to personal assisting for more than a decade. I went back to school later so I think I'm a different case. With all of my experience, it was easy to find a high-paid job right out of school-- although it's not related to screenwriting. That career is something I'm having to pursue on the side. My current job has some creative elements as my boss preps a movie he's written and will direct and produce.
An alumni working as a Production Supervisor and Coordinator in NJ/NY who I reached out to + have been in contact with offered me an unpaid internship on a feature she was working on. There was a change, and it turns out the production didn't have room for an intern. Few days later she reaches out to me saying that a full-time paid office PA role opened up and is mine if I'm interested. I took the job and started four days later!
A friend of a collaborator needed and editor for an indie project.
Referred
Close friend of mine from film school who graduated 1 year before me recommended me for the job.
I did teaching assistantships while in graduate school and then applied for many faculty positions during my last year of school. I also had an established successful record of film work with festival and award recognition. I found my first job through Higher Ed Jobs
They needed many PAs and asked film schools for us
My graduate program was part of an initiative of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment in New York City. They were hiring students who could do below the line work while union members did department leads.
Landed an office job at a studio and hit up production companies from there. I eventually got a chance to work on a film from those visits.
Alum reached out to faculty member who recommended me.
A former colleague of my Mother gave me an opportunity to Interview
Peer connections from college friend > Unpaid internship > Paid PA job
Asked someone who graduated the year above me and working in verticals for a job in production.
Applied via EntertainmentCareers.net
It was posted on the SCA groupchat and the person hiring knew a guy at school that I’d produced a student project for and had heard good things about me.
I can't remember what my first gig was - but my main sources for gigs in the beginning was social media + connections from film school peers.
Applied to be an intern via the UTA job list and then our boss fired his asst, so he needed a temp asst while he searched for a person with more experience than I had.
Craig’s List
I interned for a talent manager in LA and through her I was able to get a job with a talent agency in Toronto (where I'm from). They co managed clients
i worked at the writers union (wga) and met a writer who staffed me
They had an idea and I went to pitch how I would write and direct it. They ended up hiring another writer but hired me to direct.
Combination of internship experience (important! Paid or unpaid) and networking with peers/alumni
I hopped right back in what I was doing prior to attending grad school, so it's hard to say what my "first" job after grad school.
My friend from undergrad ended up helping me secure an interview at that job
Gotta be honest, I don't know, I think I just manifested it. I got a call one day from a recruitment agency I had never applied to, but they had my resume and they got me the interview. No idea how they got my resume (I checked my Google search history and everything) but it worked
I interned at Avid during senior year of college and I worked hard while there. I must have impressed them where they asked if I wanted to be interviewed for the job.
Love the people. Dislike nothing
I liked that I was thrown to the wolves and it was a full time position. I didn't love the commute or pay
Education was great but I needed more real world experience before I taught others.
Loved that I was working everyday. Hates the content and the executives.
I love the relative creative freedom they gave me for a first-time TV writer & director. I hated the low pay and the very short production time, but that's what the budget in Thailand could afford for a project of this nature.
loved the on-set experience gained and lifestyle, hated the long hours.
Loved getting full-time work with benefits; hated that it was nighttime hours.
Loved the pay, the environment, learning. Hated that it wasn’t “secure”, no benefits, I had to invoice them
Job was fascinating. Hours were utterly miserable.
Poor money
Loved the feeling - it was REAL. I disliked the script and topics covered.
No creative and career progression. Steady work every month from 2012-2019.
It was pretty simple which good and bad there no credit but I did see Steven Spielberg
Being a script supervisor is not a creative task, I considered it as part of building production experience for IATSE membership (call sheets). Discovered this was not for me.
It was fairly mundane but was consistent and taught me how to manage professional relationships while getting visibility into industry norms. Led to several new positions at the company before leaving for studio and what I really wanted to do
I saw it as an oportunity to become real editor. What I didn't realized that time was that because that movie was directed by older generation and was succeful at festival etc I had a problem to get another work after that because I was no enough experienced for older generation but for younger generation I was over experienced so it took me another year to work on another movie.
What I loved most about my first job was the hands-on experience and the chance to work creatively with a dedicated team. However, I disliked the long hours and sometimes chaotic environment that came with short film shoots.
Access learning. Lack of respect
Loved learning about new equipment. The thing I disliked most was my boss' poor time management.
Wish it was more consiste
Cool experiences. Disliked the pay and hours.
It was the first time I ever worked with a real crew (they flew in from LA), the first time I ever saw an Alexa, it was amazing — I asked so many questions, took so many pictures, and was a great learning experience — and then it led to my first paid role which was another feature right afterwardOnly caveat was that it was unpaid, the food wasn’t great, and the whole crew slept on the floor of an abandoned funeral home (the P.O. at the time)
I loved that I was on a big production in my own hometown, and i got a taste of what the professionals really do. I got to work around real working industry filmmakers and i loved it.At the time, i disliked having to do the PA desk work at the end of the production. Not for me.
Loved working with very talented people from the start. No bad habits learned.No extreme dislikes, the hours were extreme.
I like getting paid for film and being my own boss but it was a boring video. I also didn’t enjoy negotiating my own rates.
Enjoyed that it was based in current series/development, didn’t like the low pay and temporary nature
Cool subject, but bad working hours
I liked that I got a job right away and had a lot of autonomy and decision making, but hated the politics and dealing with egos.
I liked how much it paid me at the time as a college student, there wasn’t much I disliked
I love that I was working in the industry and that I was forced out of my comfort zone and just had to dive head first into learning and making sure the production stayed on track.
It happened right after graduation, and it gave me the impression that things were going to be easier than they ended up being.
Lots of good stories but being a PA was crap work. Min 16 hour days, plus drive time and getting ready before and after bed. I was lucky if I got 6 hours of sleep per night.
Very flexible bosses and owners who let me work on my own side projects as well. I disliked being the only one to work there and was very removed from any real film sets or jobs.
Loved I was working. Did not love that I was a PA.
It was fun to finally get paid and our equipment was in such better shape than film school. But the hours were long and physical.
As an independent, we had to do a lot of the locations work and driving work since we didn’t have a transpo or locations department. We also didn’t have a fully staffed team, so I operated as a 2nd 2nd AD for the PA rate.
But I just loved being on a film set. And I loved the smaller size of the crew as it helped us make connections at all levels.
Toxic environment, but paid well
It was my first time Producing a feature film and I learned a lot. It was and is the most difficult job I have ever done for many reasons I won't go into here.
Good freedom but no overtime due to flat rates
Being on set. Hated the hours and low pay.
Liked - cammaraderi; Disliked - Long hours, night hours
Loved that I finally got to start working with real gear. Hated that it was overnight prepping gear to travel 4pm-4am.
Learned a lot on the job and continued making connections in the area. Wasn’t quite ready for a true 12 hour day was
I loved everything and had no regrets
I was a PA so great to be on a real, professional set. disliked how it was so temporary.
I loved that I was going to be mentored by a well known filmmaker. Instead I was shorted on pay for 3 years and received no help in advancing my career.
That it was a PA gig I was over qualified for
I wished I was paid more, I enjoyed the team and friendly atmosphere. I also learned a lot from the lead AE.
Fun to work on a feature with friends, low rates all around
Liked being on set, learning a bit about things, and free food. Disliked the 16 hour day, kept watching my hourly rate drop and drop!
I'm still working it! It's relatively low budget, so the lack of benefits (lunch, good crafty) is probably my least favorite thing. BUT the people I'm meeting are all really cool, and it's so amazing to see stuff I've only learned about being put into action.
It was barely paid.
It was a job
Loved getting to finally work in the business, cut my teeth on a tough job, and learn from folks who’d done it a long time. That said, it was docu/reality and I wanted to be in scripted, so it was hard at first adapting to the landscape.
I enjoyed teaching but didn't like the location (Huntsville, TX). It also didn't offer financial support for my film projects.
Being on set
I loved learning the needs for dailies. I disliked the unrealistic expectations that a DIT would also do Dailies processing along with media management.
Just enjoyed the whole process. I have nothing bad to say of the experience.
Loved research and writing; hated boorish Italian producers
I liked working with my hands and being on my feet. I liked the attitude of my peers.Hated being shutdown.
Loved learning and being in the industry, struggled to survive on minimum wage pay
Not a lot to like. It's a credit and it's some money. I was pretty open minded going in and accepted every task given but learnt very quickly that vertical companies make profits off of having "skeleton" crews(very limited crew members) working insane hours for pay that doesn't really compensate for the burnout/physical exhaustion. Most people take the jobs anyway since they are just out of film school and do not have any other paid job hiring them.
I didn’t want to work in Post so it really wasn’t my cup of tea but money is money.
Very chaotic leadership. Would be more cautious going forward about outlining responsibilities
I like the freedom, flexibility, and creative expression of freelancing. I don't love how much pay fluctuates, and how much self-promotion is required.
It was honestly a hellish job and I really didnt like any of it since the boss was very toxic. Only thing I liked was the idea that I had my whole career in front of me and this was just the beginning.
Meeting new people was nice but the pay was terrible
Lack of pay
I loved everything about it. Though it was covid and zoom rooms were hard
It was a small production but very fun and organized, well paid.
Love: the experience, learning a lot, meeting a lot of peers; Dislike: the hours, lack of creativity
Flexibility
I love getting to work on video game trailers and work alongside my awesome coworkers. Hate how women don't seem to get that many creative jobs here. Also some of the men are pretty toxic
Being an assistant at a production company could be super boring at times, especially and unscripted TV one. But I liked the people and I learned a ton about unscripted development
I loved that I had an Avid at my desk and was trained all about the system. I learned how to edit with it, take it apart, reinstall everything, and troubleshoot problems. I also took all of the official Avid classes and eventually got certified to teach the Avid classes. The least favorite part was actually doing the phone support which was my real job. I was able to help people which was great but doing phone support is never fun. My coworkers were great though.
Mostly commercials and corporate videos
A list film and tv, some reality and indie features when I was starting out.
Features, docs, anthology series, improv comedy series, tv, streaming, kids shows, comedy, sci fi, thriller, shorts, music videos
Thai feature film 'Homestay' (2017, writer, prior to MFA degree,) Netflix Thailand's 'Terror Tuesday: Extreme' - EP 04 - The Vow (anthology show, writer & director,) Netflix Thailand's 'Tomorrow & I' - EP 03 - Buddha Data (anthology show, writer), Netflix Thailand's Unannounced Cyber Thriller (writer & story editor, 7 episodes.)
Unscripted, Reality, Doc, music video and promotional for local artists/business
Indie films, big budget studio films
High end hour long dramas mostly on streamers
Independent features, narrative shorts, documentary features, unscripted TV, broadcast commercials, music videos, corporate video, social media
Mostly short films or independents
Mostly indie projects with no pay
Mainly small crew commercial/interview productions.
Mostly short personal projects for other people, 1 blockbuster (Tomorrowland) as synth programmer, 2 independent films (one DP the other script supervisor)
I have been post production staff for Fox and searchlight for 15 years
Mostly european art house hybrid movies
I've worked on various short films and commercials as a production assistant, helping with all aspects of the production process.
Indy features 100k to $7mm
I've had a 25 year career, I've worked in the set lighting department on everything from tiny commercials to massive studio features, as well as work for live broadcast like sports announce and news desks.
A variety of indie features, documentaries, music videos, commercials, corporate, etc
Independent horror film
Mostly indie features, some branded content and unscripted social media stuff, one vertical editing job
I've been paying the bills as a Sustainability PA/Coordinator on union features and TV shows since 2022.
Ive worked on vertical drama productions, independant feature films , music videos, short films and commercials
Fincher projects, Marvel projects, multiple A24, neon, filmnation
I have mostly worked freelance and done marketing videos. These have been either one man band shoots, or smaller YouTube series content. I have also written and directed my own feature film and short films.
Commercials as an AD but PAd on everything under the sun to get here
Several independent features, however most were in pre-production when COVID hit and only one did I get to see through completion. The rest still have not been made.
Commercials, music videos, shorts, docs, tv, movies
I've worked primarily on independent webseries as a Producer / Line Producer and a few TV series as a Production secretary.
I've worked as a writer and currently showrunner for Studio TV series (Prime Video in Europe), as well as writer, cowriter and script editor of independent features.
Free movies, personal projects,
Independent short and feature films, commercials, documentaries, corporate videos, interviews.
Documentary feature, indie feature, unscripted tv
I usually work as an editor or assistant editor on scripted TV. But have recently started directing some of my own feature films.
Largely staffed and additional PA work on studio features and studio scripted television with some commercials, AD and PA positions on verticals, and AD and PA positions on independent features and shorts
I have produced an independent feature comedy, I have produced short films and documentaries, I have directed/produced short films and documentary shorts, I have worked as DP and Camera Op on documentary work, I
have worked extensively as a paid Grip/Gaffer/Swing on short films and music videos.
Mostly student films and independent short films
Too many to count over a 20 year career. Mostly TV
I work Production on large budget $10million+ reality network shows (Netflix, Bravo, E!). Either as Production Supervisor or Production Manager. I primarily oversee the entire physical production team and/or field locations.
Indie narrative has been the bulk of it, balanced out with some commercial/music video work. And more corporate style docs than I ever expected
Feature films, TV projects, amusement parks
Mostly student films, one professional commercial, one indie feature film
Lots of music videos and a few features and tv series
Currently working on an animated feature as an assistant art director. Other projects were live action features and tv series.
Feature Documentaries, Documentary Series, Corporate/Social Media Videos, and Short Films
Mainly short form content, commercials, web, some indie features
My only scripted tv gig was as a feature editor for 5 years on a seasonal weekly college sports show. Other than that I have been an independent producer/shooter/editor for 20 years working on branded projects, and currently work on an in-house design team as an editor and animator.
On set assistant to talent
All types
Jailbirds (Netflix), Live Rescue (A&E), Home Sweet Home (WB), Basketball Wives (VH1), Perfect Match (Netflix), Ted Season 1 (Peacock), Top Combat Pilot (Fox Nation), Love Island S5 (Peacock), High Horse: The Black Cowboy (Peacock)
Mostly episodic TV with a few features here and there
I have been a mastering technician at Harbor Picture Company where I worked on shorts, features and episodics. At Radical Media, I was a Post Engineer on several documentary features and episodics.
Split between VFX films and animated features.
Feature documentary, commercial television
I have worked on 10 Local productions and 7 large American features in my home country
Indie films and unscripted TV series
vertical dramas, shorts.
Two that are out this year: “Michael” and “The Odyssey”
Shorts, verticals and long form development
Mostly development and production for major studio projects: BACK IN ACTION, UNFROSTED, THE TERMINAL LIST, AMERICAN CRIME STORY, Y THE LAST MAN, AMERICAN SPORTS STORY, FLAKED, A FUTILE AND STUPID GESTURE, etc
Animated movies, animated tv, unscripted tv, corporate video
netflix tv show. was a pro actor in my pre-school life
Primarily non-fiction corporate media
Indie feature film, indie feature and short documentaries, now I do social media
I started out in music videos, transitioned to documentaries and independent features. Eventually landed into unscripted reality TV which has been the majority of my work. I've been a lead editor and producer for a huge Discovery network show for the past 11 years.
Seeing my name in credits never gets old! Super proud of designing pipeline and workflow for one of the largest projects in the world, ever.
I have an Emmy nomination, a Webby, a bunch of Tellys, I’ve worked with the muppets, I’ve produced and directed features and cable series, show run a web series, including individual episodes, more than 200 credits as a producer/director.
My thesis film and my episode on 'Terror Tuesdays: Extreme'
Was a movie studio lawyer for 8+ years
All of it
Work in the permanent collection of MOMA and various other museums.
Worked on a reel film in April
None.
Worked on films before covid
My book, Evoke, on the topic of creating a beholder’s share through applying cognitive neuroscience to filmmaking.
Jojo Rabbit was one of my first searchlight projects.
Both of the featers I edited and are already released were premiered and awarded at Venice IFF. One is called 107 mothers and second Photophobia. Also I got 2 nomination for national awards and was awarded by Asociation of Slovak film editors for best documentary editing.
I'm proud of my involvement in a short film that won an audience award at a local film festival. It was a great team effort and a significant learning experience.
Documentary webby award winning ea games spot
Thesis film
Directed like 5 independent pilots which I’m proud of
National Geographic 'Watchers of the Land', and 'Mariachi Recolucion' (in progress).
Co-Produced an indie feature before going to film school (~650k budget)
While working staffed on an apple production in 2024 monday-friday, I was also producing and directing my feature film debut over the weekends, essentially working 84-hour work weeks to chase my dreams.
My own short films.
Several projects I’ve worked on that win many awards. I don’t necessarily take credit for those wins.
Making my own feature film
Making it out of “3rd area”
No awards, just a paycheck
A web series pilot that I worked on [ 3 Blind Mice (2023) ] won Diversity in Cannes for best Short.
The feature film 'Sleepless City' ('Ciudad sin sueño'), which I co-wrote, premiered at Cannes Film Festival's Semaine de la Critique, where it earned the Best Screenplay award.It was later nominated for the Spanish Film Academy's Goya Awards (our country's equivalent to the Oscar / César awards).
I was the DP on Coca-Cola Refreshing Films: Expand which won the grand jury prize and played across theaters in the US and Canada during the summer of 2023.
I’m very proud of my first feature film Intoxication. And the excellent TV shows I’ve been a part of.
Key PA on May December
I was a Student Academy Award semi-finalist with my first short film I created in Grad School. I have recently been awarded grants for my own work now that I'm out of school and it is very rewarding and validating to create
work that I am directing.
2nd Place and $7,500 for my thesis film at nyu festival
A few Emmy nominations and one win.
Top Chef: for actual content we make!
Worked on numerous Academy and Emmy winning films
My thesis film
Webby and Clio awards in advertising
Edited a short film that screened at Tribeca and won the Features Films x Jet Blue Student Showcase. Also, worked as an Assistant Editor on a Documentary Mini Series that was nominated for an ACE Eddie and a PGA award.
Getting director jobs for various commercial, music video projects
My short documentary about cycling the Kentucky bourbon trail was pretty cool
One of my unproduced scripts.
My thesis short film about the 2017 Muslim travel ban. My time as LP’s Assistant on Ted. The short I’m currently working on and am excited to shoot later this year.
Premiering at Slamdance, six regional EMMY nominations, directing The Heroin Project (my first larger scale film project on an important topic), becoming a professor
Working with the filmmakers who got me excited about this business as a little boy
Just proud of being part of award winning films
Documentary feature’s festival response.
I am proud of the relationships I have built with my local prop houses, Art Dept community and friends in the industry who seek me out for their jobs
Major festival premieres
I would say the thesis films I worked on. They challenged me the most creatively and mentally, but I do think i became a better producer and line producer because of them. They are definitely extremely draining(for a producer) and you might hate your life for a those few months, but when you are done and look back on it you will see how much you have grown (even if your thesis team is horrible, which happened a lot in my year).
I'm most proud of the work I've done as a producer and my photography.
THE TERMINAL LIST, while not my personal cup of tea, was the first project I was on beginning (option) to end (release on Amazon).
Being booked on multiple project because people want to work with me
Having films I financed and distributed in major film festivals like Venice and TIFF
Academy Nicholl Fellowship
Became a teacher and my students films are what I'm most proud of!
Getting an Emmy-winning director attached to my script
I won Telly awards for two commercials I did when I was first starting out in the early 2000s. I'm very proud of the Discovery show that I've been working on for the past decade.
What was that first PAID filmmaking job or role?
PAAssistant Editor
Production Assistant
Assistant Director
Production Assistant
Camera op
Teaching
Post production
Creative Producer
Avid Instructor
It was before film school. 2nd AD on a miniseries. First after school was as senior editor for an internet startup.
Writer
I was already freelancing as a videographer in undergrad, but landed my first TV gig 2 years after graduation as a PA in reality tv.
Dailies Editor
Wedding editing
Cinematographer
Covering Script Supervisor
Videographer at UCLA
Script Supervisor
Mailroom
Editing feature
My first paid filmmaking job was as a production assistant on an indie film.
Pa / directors assistant
Working for a lighting rental house
Entertainment PR and Location Manager for 10 hotels in Vegas
Director
I did various paid jobs in school, and quite a lot of Union Set Electric work after graduation.
Production Assistant, Casey’s Pizza Commercial
Location Assistant
Editor for a local small production company
Freelance advertising promo
Temporary Executive Assistant
PA Music Video
producer's assistant
Office assistant at indie film company
1st AD
I worked as a PA while I was still in school
Screenwriter for project development
Assistant at film international sales company
PA on Transformers
Videographer/Editor for youtube channel
Grip/electric
Production Assistant on an independent movie
Writers Asst
Producer
AD / Producer
Development Assistant
Grip
PA for a commercial
Assistant
1st ac
Executive Assistant to Filmmaker
Office Production Assistant
Editor
Assistant editing
Production Assistant - Reality TV. 4 months
Clinical Assistant Professor
PA on General Hospital
Digital Imaging Technician
Screenwriter, TV miniseries
Art Assistant
Post Production Assistant
UPM on Vertical Drama
Admin Assistant
Line Producer for an independent short and a paid part-time development role, almost simultaneously
Freelance Gigs - Photography/Videography/Editing
producer assistant
Temp assistant to a major producer
Post Production Assistant
Talent Agent Assistant
staff writer on netflix show
directing a short film
Assistant at an Agency
Freelance contract jobs
I landed in Video Games (Production Coordinator)
Jr. Execuitve Assistant
Covid Compliance Officer
Avid Technical Support
Please go into detail on how you secured your first filmmaking job
Got it through an alumniTaught film for 3 years then got a temp job through alumni connections at CAA. Then, transferred from temp to Mailroom.
Post gig through a friend
I worked as an event manager after graduating and those skills translated well to being a Producer.I also freelanced editing conference sessions which I think was helpful to becoming a producer
Someone quit and they called me to fill in.
The producer on my thesis film who was a fellow student got a job and hired me.
COVID forced me to return to my home country to make my thesis film. My producer friend who helped me on the film ended up working with a company looking for new directors. He put in a word and showed my thesis to the company and they decided to take a gamble on me.
Best Friend and business partner was a PA on this gig and referred me.
Networked with alumni and called them when I moved to Los Angeles
One of my dad’s coworker’s wife was hiring
I was recommended for an assistant position while I was in school and took a year off for the job. I was hired by one of my professors to work on a project directly after graduating.
Made a friend in uni who needed me to cover him for a weekend
Friend from internship/unpaid film work referred me to the job as she was leaving LA for NY to start over.
Aunt worked at Steiner studio
I explained to the Producer / Director why he needed script supervision.
Was hired from my internship
While studing I was working mostly on documentaries. Profesors from documentary departament were visiting us in editing room for consultation and one of them liked my work. He asked me if I want to colaborate on his move as an second editor but after rough cut he decided to let me finish the movie. So I finished this movie as my master film and right after masters exames we went to premiere movie in Venice.
I secured my first filmmaking job through a friend I met in film school who recommended me for the role. They needed an extra PA for a short film, and I applied without hesitating. I showcased my eagerness and previous experience, which left a good impression.
Family friend knew a writer that had a film going into pre production. He got me an interview with the director.
A friend from High school worked at the organization already. He got me the interview.
By chance older brother had a connection with unit production manager
A contact at a Sundance film festival.
My very first one I was referred by a friend from school to a feature film that was being filmed in the college’s city — it was volunteer based, and I got brought on to 2nd AC
Secured financing for independent film I wrote and directed
Parents work in the industry, worked in the industry before and during film school
I signed up for Mandy.com and got the job there through however I sold myself. I remember trying to come off as both humble in personality and confident in skills.
I was the most motivated, charismatic and eager to learn and apply myself student in my class. I talked to my teacher about how mich i wantwd to work in the industry. I applied myself out of the classroom, which helped prove to him that i should be brought on.
Hit up the state film office that connected me with the contacts at the Production Office. Invited to interview after submitting resume.
I had interned at the company during my senior year, and they offered me a part-time gig editing for them. Was severely underpaid but thrilled.
I made a promotional video for a tennis facility that a coworker of my dads son trained at.
Supervisor from previous internship reached out to fill a temporary position.
Internships from school and friendships from internships
My professor hired me as an assistant for her independent film company.
A graduate student professor that liked me recommended me to this company to work as a PA
I was recommended by a individual who was also getting into PA work in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, they were often recommending me for jobs that they were unavailable for.
It had a lot to do with what I had learned at Film School: how to pitch in a professional environment, how to develop a writing project, how to properly cold email / self-promote.
Met with alumni who referred me to another alumni. That second alum offered me an unpaid internship, then as I was leaving they had a job open up that I took
Friend’s sister got me in
A peer from school who had graduated before me was working at this job and recommended me.
Fellow graduate landed on a job and got me hired
I partnered up with 4 other people from film school who wanted to move to LA. We all did together. One of us had a friend who was doing a lot of shooting in LA and wanted to start building his camera and G/ETeam. So all of us got a few small gigs right away.
I responded to a post on Facebook calling for PAs
Friend I made through USC script list put me up for the job
I worked with a Professor from my University before graduation and landed the job after graduation.
Was on Indeed, did well during the interview because of my Resume
Friend gave a word of mouth referral, my name got passed around to a couple productions and I booked the gig over a phone call.
From the school's listserv
After moving to Los Angeles (roommates) with acquaintances met at college; one of my roommates was asked to day-play on the evening of Valentine’s Day and it was unavailable. So she recommended me for the job.
Was put in touch through a film professor
I hit various productions companies numerous times and eventually got a job offer
USCs job person got me it
Met an agent at a party who hooked me up with an assistant gig to an actor.
Series was looking for a PA, an instructor from my MFA program recommended me.
My editing professor knew the VP of post production for Boardwalk Pictures and connected us. He hired me on for one of their shows.
Friends hired me for a low budget feature
Was living in San Diego and my friend was a PA in LA, he called me and asked if I needed work for a day, I said I sure as crap do!
My first filmmaking jobs were during and after undergraduate. Internships that led to office PA on a show that led to personal assisting for more than a decade. I went back to school later so I think I'm a different case. With all of my experience, it was easy to find a high-paid job right out of school-- although it's not related to screenwriting. That career is something I'm having to pursue on the side. My current job has some creative elements as my boss preps a movie he's written and will direct and produce.
An alumni working as a Production Supervisor and Coordinator in NJ/NY who I reached out to + have been in contact with offered me an unpaid internship on a feature she was working on. There was a change, and it turns out the production didn't have room for an intern. Few days later she reaches out to me saying that a full-time paid office PA role opened up and is mine if I'm interested. I took the job and started four days later!
A friend of a collaborator needed and editor for an indie project.
Referred
Close friend of mine from film school who graduated 1 year before me recommended me for the job.
I did teaching assistantships while in graduate school and then applied for many faculty positions during my last year of school. I also had an established successful record of film work with festival and award recognition. I found my first job through Higher Ed Jobs
They needed many PAs and asked film schools for us
My graduate program was part of an initiative of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment in New York City. They were hiring students who could do below the line work while union members did department leads.
Landed an office job at a studio and hit up production companies from there. I eventually got a chance to work on a film from those visits.
Alum reached out to faculty member who recommended me.
A former colleague of my Mother gave me an opportunity to Interview
Peer connections from college friend > Unpaid internship > Paid PA job
Asked someone who graduated the year above me and working in verticals for a job in production.
Applied via EntertainmentCareers.net
It was posted on the SCA groupchat and the person hiring knew a guy at school that I’d produced a student project for and had heard good things about me.
I can't remember what my first gig was - but my main sources for gigs in the beginning was social media + connections from film school peers.
Applied to be an intern via the UTA job list and then our boss fired his asst, so he needed a temp asst while he searched for a person with more experience than I had.
Craig’s List
I interned for a talent manager in LA and through her I was able to get a job with a talent agency in Toronto (where I'm from). They co managed clients
i worked at the writers union (wga) and met a writer who staffed me
They had an idea and I went to pitch how I would write and direct it. They ended up hiring another writer but hired me to direct.
Combination of internship experience (important! Paid or unpaid) and networking with peers/alumni
I hopped right back in what I was doing prior to attending grad school, so it's hard to say what my "first" job after grad school.
My friend from undergrad ended up helping me secure an interview at that job
Gotta be honest, I don't know, I think I just manifested it. I got a call one day from a recruitment agency I had never applied to, but they had my resume and they got me the interview. No idea how they got my resume (I checked my Google search history and everything) but it worked
I interned at Avid during senior year of college and I worked hard while there. I must have impressed them where they asked if I wanted to be interviewed for the job.
What did you love the most and dislike the most about your first filmmaking job?
Loved the work I did, hated the companyLove the people. Dislike nothing
I liked that I was thrown to the wolves and it was a full time position. I didn't love the commute or pay
Education was great but I needed more real world experience before I taught others.
Loved that I was working everyday. Hates the content and the executives.
I love the relative creative freedom they gave me for a first-time TV writer & director. I hated the low pay and the very short production time, but that's what the budget in Thailand could afford for a project of this nature.
loved the on-set experience gained and lifestyle, hated the long hours.
Loved getting full-time work with benefits; hated that it was nighttime hours.
Loved the pay, the environment, learning. Hated that it wasn’t “secure”, no benefits, I had to invoice them
Job was fascinating. Hours were utterly miserable.
Poor money
Loved the feeling - it was REAL. I disliked the script and topics covered.
No creative and career progression. Steady work every month from 2012-2019.
It was pretty simple which good and bad there no credit but I did see Steven Spielberg
Being a script supervisor is not a creative task, I considered it as part of building production experience for IATSE membership (call sheets). Discovered this was not for me.
It was fairly mundane but was consistent and taught me how to manage professional relationships while getting visibility into industry norms. Led to several new positions at the company before leaving for studio and what I really wanted to do
I saw it as an oportunity to become real editor. What I didn't realized that time was that because that movie was directed by older generation and was succeful at festival etc I had a problem to get another work after that because I was no enough experienced for older generation but for younger generation I was over experienced so it took me another year to work on another movie.
What I loved most about my first job was the hands-on experience and the chance to work creatively with a dedicated team. However, I disliked the long hours and sometimes chaotic environment that came with short film shoots.
Access learning. Lack of respect
Loved learning about new equipment. The thing I disliked most was my boss' poor time management.
Wish it was more consiste
Cool experiences. Disliked the pay and hours.
It was the first time I ever worked with a real crew (they flew in from LA), the first time I ever saw an Alexa, it was amazing — I asked so many questions, took so many pictures, and was a great learning experience — and then it led to my first paid role which was another feature right afterwardOnly caveat was that it was unpaid, the food wasn’t great, and the whole crew slept on the floor of an abandoned funeral home (the P.O. at the time)
I loved that I was on a big production in my own hometown, and i got a taste of what the professionals really do. I got to work around real working industry filmmakers and i loved it.At the time, i disliked having to do the PA desk work at the end of the production. Not for me.
Loved working with very talented people from the start. No bad habits learned.No extreme dislikes, the hours were extreme.
I like getting paid for film and being my own boss but it was a boring video. I also didn’t enjoy negotiating my own rates.
Enjoyed that it was based in current series/development, didn’t like the low pay and temporary nature
Cool subject, but bad working hours
I liked that I got a job right away and had a lot of autonomy and decision making, but hated the politics and dealing with egos.
I liked how much it paid me at the time as a college student, there wasn’t much I disliked
I love that I was working in the industry and that I was forced out of my comfort zone and just had to dive head first into learning and making sure the production stayed on track.
It happened right after graduation, and it gave me the impression that things were going to be easier than they ended up being.
Lots of good stories but being a PA was crap work. Min 16 hour days, plus drive time and getting ready before and after bed. I was lucky if I got 6 hours of sleep per night.
Very flexible bosses and owners who let me work on my own side projects as well. I disliked being the only one to work there and was very removed from any real film sets or jobs.
Loved I was working. Did not love that I was a PA.
It was fun to finally get paid and our equipment was in such better shape than film school. But the hours were long and physical.
As an independent, we had to do a lot of the locations work and driving work since we didn’t have a transpo or locations department. We also didn’t have a fully staffed team, so I operated as a 2nd 2nd AD for the PA rate.
But I just loved being on a film set. And I loved the smaller size of the crew as it helped us make connections at all levels.
Toxic environment, but paid well
It was my first time Producing a feature film and I learned a lot. It was and is the most difficult job I have ever done for many reasons I won't go into here.
Good freedom but no overtime due to flat rates
Being on set. Hated the hours and low pay.
Liked - cammaraderi; Disliked - Long hours, night hours
Loved that I finally got to start working with real gear. Hated that it was overnight prepping gear to travel 4pm-4am.
Learned a lot on the job and continued making connections in the area. Wasn’t quite ready for a true 12 hour day was
I loved everything and had no regrets
I was a PA so great to be on a real, professional set. disliked how it was so temporary.
I loved that I was going to be mentored by a well known filmmaker. Instead I was shorted on pay for 3 years and received no help in advancing my career.
That it was a PA gig I was over qualified for
I wished I was paid more, I enjoyed the team and friendly atmosphere. I also learned a lot from the lead AE.
Fun to work on a feature with friends, low rates all around
Liked being on set, learning a bit about things, and free food. Disliked the 16 hour day, kept watching my hourly rate drop and drop!
I'm still working it! It's relatively low budget, so the lack of benefits (lunch, good crafty) is probably my least favorite thing. BUT the people I'm meeting are all really cool, and it's so amazing to see stuff I've only learned about being put into action.
It was barely paid.
It was a job
Loved getting to finally work in the business, cut my teeth on a tough job, and learn from folks who’d done it a long time. That said, it was docu/reality and I wanted to be in scripted, so it was hard at first adapting to the landscape.
I enjoyed teaching but didn't like the location (Huntsville, TX). It also didn't offer financial support for my film projects.
Being on set
I loved learning the needs for dailies. I disliked the unrealistic expectations that a DIT would also do Dailies processing along with media management.
Just enjoyed the whole process. I have nothing bad to say of the experience.
Loved research and writing; hated boorish Italian producers
I liked working with my hands and being on my feet. I liked the attitude of my peers.Hated being shutdown.
Loved learning and being in the industry, struggled to survive on minimum wage pay
Not a lot to like. It's a credit and it's some money. I was pretty open minded going in and accepted every task given but learnt very quickly that vertical companies make profits off of having "skeleton" crews(very limited crew members) working insane hours for pay that doesn't really compensate for the burnout/physical exhaustion. Most people take the jobs anyway since they are just out of film school and do not have any other paid job hiring them.
I didn’t want to work in Post so it really wasn’t my cup of tea but money is money.
Very chaotic leadership. Would be more cautious going forward about outlining responsibilities
I like the freedom, flexibility, and creative expression of freelancing. I don't love how much pay fluctuates, and how much self-promotion is required.
It was honestly a hellish job and I really didnt like any of it since the boss was very toxic. Only thing I liked was the idea that I had my whole career in front of me and this was just the beginning.
Meeting new people was nice but the pay was terrible
Lack of pay
I loved everything about it. Though it was covid and zoom rooms were hard
It was a small production but very fun and organized, well paid.
Love: the experience, learning a lot, meeting a lot of peers; Dislike: the hours, lack of creativity
Flexibility
I love getting to work on video game trailers and work alongside my awesome coworkers. Hate how women don't seem to get that many creative jobs here. Also some of the men are pretty toxic
Being an assistant at a production company could be super boring at times, especially and unscripted TV one. But I liked the people and I learned a ton about unscripted development
I loved that I had an Avid at my desk and was trained all about the system. I learned how to edit with it, take it apart, reinstall everything, and troubleshoot problems. I also took all of the official Avid classes and eventually got certified to teach the Avid classes. The least favorite part was actually doing the phone support which was my real job. I was able to help people which was great but doing phone support is never fun. My coworkers were great though.
What types of paid projects have you worked on and what positions have you held on those projects?
Post unscripted and feature film writingMostly commercials and corporate videos
A list film and tv, some reality and indie features when I was starting out.
Features, docs, anthology series, improv comedy series, tv, streaming, kids shows, comedy, sci fi, thriller, shorts, music videos
Thai feature film 'Homestay' (2017, writer, prior to MFA degree,) Netflix Thailand's 'Terror Tuesday: Extreme' - EP 04 - The Vow (anthology show, writer & director,) Netflix Thailand's 'Tomorrow & I' - EP 03 - Buddha Data (anthology show, writer), Netflix Thailand's Unannounced Cyber Thriller (writer & story editor, 7 episodes.)
Unscripted, Reality, Doc, music video and promotional for local artists/business
Indie films, big budget studio films
High end hour long dramas mostly on streamers
Independent features, narrative shorts, documentary features, unscripted TV, broadcast commercials, music videos, corporate video, social media
Mostly short films or independents
Mostly indie projects with no pay
Mainly small crew commercial/interview productions.
Mostly short personal projects for other people, 1 blockbuster (Tomorrowland) as synth programmer, 2 independent films (one DP the other script supervisor)
I have been post production staff for Fox and searchlight for 15 years
Mostly european art house hybrid movies
I've worked on various short films and commercials as a production assistant, helping with all aspects of the production process.
Indy features 100k to $7mm
I've had a 25 year career, I've worked in the set lighting department on everything from tiny commercials to massive studio features, as well as work for live broadcast like sports announce and news desks.
A variety of indie features, documentaries, music videos, commercials, corporate, etc
Independent horror film
Mostly indie features, some branded content and unscripted social media stuff, one vertical editing job
I've been paying the bills as a Sustainability PA/Coordinator on union features and TV shows since 2022.
Ive worked on vertical drama productions, independant feature films , music videos, short films and commercials
Fincher projects, Marvel projects, multiple A24, neon, filmnation
I have mostly worked freelance and done marketing videos. These have been either one man band shoots, or smaller YouTube series content. I have also written and directed my own feature film and short films.
Commercials as an AD but PAd on everything under the sun to get here
Several independent features, however most were in pre-production when COVID hit and only one did I get to see through completion. The rest still have not been made.
Commercials, music videos, shorts, docs, tv, movies
I've worked primarily on independent webseries as a Producer / Line Producer and a few TV series as a Production secretary.
I've worked as a writer and currently showrunner for Studio TV series (Prime Video in Europe), as well as writer, cowriter and script editor of independent features.
Free movies, personal projects,
Independent short and feature films, commercials, documentaries, corporate videos, interviews.
Documentary feature, indie feature, unscripted tv
I usually work as an editor or assistant editor on scripted TV. But have recently started directing some of my own feature films.
Largely staffed and additional PA work on studio features and studio scripted television with some commercials, AD and PA positions on verticals, and AD and PA positions on independent features and shorts
I have produced an independent feature comedy, I have produced short films and documentaries, I have directed/produced short films and documentary shorts, I have worked as DP and Camera Op on documentary work, I
have worked extensively as a paid Grip/Gaffer/Swing on short films and music videos.
Mostly student films and independent short films
Too many to count over a 20 year career. Mostly TV
I work Production on large budget $10million+ reality network shows (Netflix, Bravo, E!). Either as Production Supervisor or Production Manager. I primarily oversee the entire physical production team and/or field locations.
Indie narrative has been the bulk of it, balanced out with some commercial/music video work. And more corporate style docs than I ever expected
Feature films, TV projects, amusement parks
Mostly student films, one professional commercial, one indie feature film
Lots of music videos and a few features and tv series
Currently working on an animated feature as an assistant art director. Other projects were live action features and tv series.
Feature Documentaries, Documentary Series, Corporate/Social Media Videos, and Short Films
Mainly short form content, commercials, web, some indie features
My only scripted tv gig was as a feature editor for 5 years on a seasonal weekly college sports show. Other than that I have been an independent producer/shooter/editor for 20 years working on branded projects, and currently work on an in-house design team as an editor and animator.
On set assistant to talent
All types
Jailbirds (Netflix), Live Rescue (A&E), Home Sweet Home (WB), Basketball Wives (VH1), Perfect Match (Netflix), Ted Season 1 (Peacock), Top Combat Pilot (Fox Nation), Love Island S5 (Peacock), High Horse: The Black Cowboy (Peacock)
Mostly episodic TV with a few features here and there
I have been a mastering technician at Harbor Picture Company where I worked on shorts, features and episodics. At Radical Media, I was a Post Engineer on several documentary features and episodics.
Split between VFX films and animated features.
Feature documentary, commercial television
I have worked on 10 Local productions and 7 large American features in my home country
Indie films and unscripted TV series
vertical dramas, shorts.
Two that are out this year: “Michael” and “The Odyssey”
Shorts, verticals and long form development
Mostly development and production for major studio projects: BACK IN ACTION, UNFROSTED, THE TERMINAL LIST, AMERICAN CRIME STORY, Y THE LAST MAN, AMERICAN SPORTS STORY, FLAKED, A FUTILE AND STUPID GESTURE, etc
Animated movies, animated tv, unscripted tv, corporate video
netflix tv show. was a pro actor in my pre-school life
Primarily non-fiction corporate media
Indie feature film, indie feature and short documentaries, now I do social media
I started out in music videos, transitioned to documentaries and independent features. Eventually landed into unscripted reality TV which has been the majority of my work. I've been a lead editor and producer for a huge Discovery network show for the past 11 years.
What are achievements and filmmaking projects are you the most proud of?
Projects I worked on for video game trailers won a few awardsSeeing my name in credits never gets old! Super proud of designing pipeline and workflow for one of the largest projects in the world, ever.
I have an Emmy nomination, a Webby, a bunch of Tellys, I’ve worked with the muppets, I’ve produced and directed features and cable series, show run a web series, including individual episodes, more than 200 credits as a producer/director.
My thesis film and my episode on 'Terror Tuesdays: Extreme'
Was a movie studio lawyer for 8+ years
All of it
Work in the permanent collection of MOMA and various other museums.
Worked on a reel film in April
None.
Worked on films before covid
My book, Evoke, on the topic of creating a beholder’s share through applying cognitive neuroscience to filmmaking.
Jojo Rabbit was one of my first searchlight projects.
Both of the featers I edited and are already released were premiered and awarded at Venice IFF. One is called 107 mothers and second Photophobia. Also I got 2 nomination for national awards and was awarded by Asociation of Slovak film editors for best documentary editing.
I'm proud of my involvement in a short film that won an audience award at a local film festival. It was a great team effort and a significant learning experience.
Documentary webby award winning ea games spot
Thesis film
Directed like 5 independent pilots which I’m proud of
National Geographic 'Watchers of the Land', and 'Mariachi Recolucion' (in progress).
Co-Produced an indie feature before going to film school (~650k budget)
While working staffed on an apple production in 2024 monday-friday, I was also producing and directing my feature film debut over the weekends, essentially working 84-hour work weeks to chase my dreams.
My own short films.
Several projects I’ve worked on that win many awards. I don’t necessarily take credit for those wins.
Making my own feature film
Making it out of “3rd area”
No awards, just a paycheck
A web series pilot that I worked on [ 3 Blind Mice (2023) ] won Diversity in Cannes for best Short.
The feature film 'Sleepless City' ('Ciudad sin sueño'), which I co-wrote, premiered at Cannes Film Festival's Semaine de la Critique, where it earned the Best Screenplay award.It was later nominated for the Spanish Film Academy's Goya Awards (our country's equivalent to the Oscar / César awards).
I was the DP on Coca-Cola Refreshing Films: Expand which won the grand jury prize and played across theaters in the US and Canada during the summer of 2023.
I’m very proud of my first feature film Intoxication. And the excellent TV shows I’ve been a part of.
Key PA on May December
I was a Student Academy Award semi-finalist with my first short film I created in Grad School. I have recently been awarded grants for my own work now that I'm out of school and it is very rewarding and validating to create
work that I am directing.
2nd Place and $7,500 for my thesis film at nyu festival
A few Emmy nominations and one win.
Top Chef: for actual content we make!
Worked on numerous Academy and Emmy winning films
My thesis film
Webby and Clio awards in advertising
Edited a short film that screened at Tribeca and won the Features Films x Jet Blue Student Showcase. Also, worked as an Assistant Editor on a Documentary Mini Series that was nominated for an ACE Eddie and a PGA award.
Getting director jobs for various commercial, music video projects
My short documentary about cycling the Kentucky bourbon trail was pretty cool
One of my unproduced scripts.
My thesis short film about the 2017 Muslim travel ban. My time as LP’s Assistant on Ted. The short I’m currently working on and am excited to shoot later this year.
Premiering at Slamdance, six regional EMMY nominations, directing The Heroin Project (my first larger scale film project on an important topic), becoming a professor
Working with the filmmakers who got me excited about this business as a little boy
Just proud of being part of award winning films
Documentary feature’s festival response.
I am proud of the relationships I have built with my local prop houses, Art Dept community and friends in the industry who seek me out for their jobs
Major festival premieres
I would say the thesis films I worked on. They challenged me the most creatively and mentally, but I do think i became a better producer and line producer because of them. They are definitely extremely draining(for a producer) and you might hate your life for a those few months, but when you are done and look back on it you will see how much you have grown (even if your thesis team is horrible, which happened a lot in my year).
I'm most proud of the work I've done as a producer and my photography.
THE TERMINAL LIST, while not my personal cup of tea, was the first project I was on beginning (option) to end (release on Amazon).
Being booked on multiple project because people want to work with me
Having films I financed and distributed in major film festivals like Venice and TIFF
Academy Nicholl Fellowship
Became a teacher and my students films are what I'm most proud of!
Getting an Emmy-winning director attached to my script
I won Telly awards for two commercials I did when I was first starting out in the early 2000s. I'm very proud of the Discovery show that I've been working on for the past decade.
Securing Jobs in Your Actual Concentration
There is a major difference between landing a generic industry paycheck and landing a job that actually aligns with your filmmaking goals. For this section of our survey, we tracked the crucial milestone where alumni transitioned into their primary areas of concentration.
Below, graduates recount the specific strategies that finally moved the needle for them.
Writer
Clinical Assistant Professor of Mass Communications
Office PA
Producer
Writer & Director
Temp Assistant to a Film Producer
I wanted to be a DP, I shot a lot of short films after graduation. I no longer do that now and am a Union Key Grip
Editor
Screenwriter
Did coursework in post while studying writing, worked as an AE
1st AD
Post PA
Producer
VFX artist
Research PA
Director
Post Production Technician
Screenwriter
Art Direction
Director / commercials
Creative Producer
Cinematographer
Producer
Showrunner's Assistant
DOP
Assistant Editor
Production Assistant
Assistant Editor
Writers Asst
Development Assistant
Post Production Assistant
Director of Photography
Gaffer
Online Editor
Assistant Editor
Assistant Editor Indie Doc feature
Production Assistant & Associate Producer
I wanted to do action sports video, and I got hired at a summer snowboard camp as a videographer
screenwriter
Editor
Director
Editor
Production Assistant
Counsel,Motion picture group
Production Secretary
Production Assistant
Just sending out emails
Old employer made a connection for me.
Classmate got a job and hired me
Got the job based on industry connections and proven track records of being competent and great to work with
Knew who was hiring before they put out the call
Recommended by professor.
Networking through film school helped me connect with professionals who were looking for assistants. I reached out to alumni and leveraged those connections, which eventually led to my first job as a production assistant.
Hustle. Made spec work. Got hired for small commercial
I met crew members through my job at a lighting house
Through connection with upm
This was another place I interned at during film school. After I graduated, I wrote my producer and she told me to apply for the gig
Friends from film school hired me
I had a peer that previously worked on a show and many of the office production team were also Towson University graduates, so I had significant alumni connection.
A peer from school worked here and recommended me to this job
Fellow alumni had to leave a job and got me an interview to take over the position
While working on set as G/E I approached a producer who owned the post production facility and asked if I could come and check out the office. I showed up and offered to help. Then I just kept coming back every day and helping until they started paying me.
As I previously mentioned, this was a position I received after working with one of my film professors in school before graduation and then essentially became titled "Producer" after graduation even though I had been more or less doing the work before that point. In school I wanted to focus on becoming a producer and after I did, I decided that I really just want to be able to produce my own work and also direct more films.
A friend referred me to a producer for another gig. I ended up working with that producer on a few projects and we became friends and collaborators. When the opportunity to direct a commercial popped up, I nominated myself and was given the opportunity. Did a great job and directed many more commercials for that company.
I “interned” on an independent film as a director’s assistant. (I was in college and this film was such a small budget, they didn’t have the money to pay me but said I was welcome to come to set each day to hang out and learn.) After that film wrapped- the Producer asked if I was open to work (for money) on a film she was the production accountant for.
Grad school Alumni network - friend of a friend
My editing professor knew the VP of post production at Boardwalk Pictures and got me in touch with him. He later hired me for one of their shows.
Pitched for and won a commercial bid
I won the Nicholl fellowship, which led to an exec reaching out and offering a chance to pitch on a project. They hired me to write the project I pitched on.
I was a teaching assistant while in school which prepared me well for a transition into academia. I also had an established body of work that was recognized with awards and at festivals.
I met a NYC crew who traveled to Rochester for a feature and found them when I graduated
Met VFX supervisor on my first film project
The internship coordinator at SCA referred me
Craig’s List posting turned out to be a major studio hiring anonymously
After working at Avid for 2 years I moved to Los Angeles. I sent out resumes to every post house in the LA411 (a production yellow pages in the 90s and early 2000s) - I probably sent around 50 resumes. Cold called many and one day I called a post house in Venice Beach and they asked if I could come in immediately. Had a good interview and noticed that they were having issues with their Avid DS. Since I knew the head of Avid DS support I put them in contact and they hired me, I found out later that they had fired their other Assitant Editor earlier the day I called for leaving master tapes on the top of their car and then driving off and destroying them.
Pay
I thought I knew more than I did. Lol. Great to work on a whole variety of projects.
Loved working, didn’t like the content or executives.
Perks of working for a big studio were great; hours were long and crappy.
Fascinating/terrible hours.
I loved the opportunity to work on set and learn from experienced filmmakers. However, I disliked the long hours and the often hectic environment that could be overwhelming at times.
Stupid brand. Loved getting to pitch an idea and work with a team of people I picked up
I love being in production.
More consistent days needed
I like being the DP, I didn’t like how many favor jobs you had to do for little/no rate
I love that I was meeting like-minded industry professional both under me and those with more credits and experience. I disliked the working environment and how physically taxing the show was, I was at my worse health in my life despite being in seemingly perfect health before starting the show. My mental health was also extremely effected as the working environment was toxic and carried unnecessary pressure.I even had a coworker be checked into a mental hospital due to the stress causing her to breakdown.
Got to upgrade what cameras and lights I was working with and shoot in a different style than I had learned at school. Didn't always love the run and gun style and again very disconnected from real film sets that I wanted to be on.
Loved it was editing, did not love the content or how far I had to drive to get to the job location
I love post production. But the drive was too far.
It was great being given the opportunity to produce a feature film so green and fresh out of school. I've learned that it is a thankless job and I was criminally underpaid, alas. I know better now. I'm also learning that I only want to give that kind of bandwidth to people I really trust and care about - just taking the job for money is not worth it, especially since you work so many hours that you run down your hourly rate to almost nothing if you are being paid a stipend, etc. You've caught me at an interesting time in my career where I am trying to actively pivot from one place to another. I will continue to produce, but for things I care about 10000%. Not just jobs where I think, oh sure this would be an interesting opportunity - and then I get swept up in the nonsense so fast that I don't understand how I got where I was. I sort of blame some of that on the fact that I was still a student when I agreed to do it and I was under the impression that I would shadow another producer, but then I became the producer I was supposed to shadow. When I tell people this story, no one is surprised and almost everyone says that my experience is kind of common in the film industry.
Honestly, I love seeing the word Director next to my name on the call sheet. I didn’t love that the production was underfunded and understaffed and pretty stressful. But I learned that’s kind of always the case even on high budget projects.
Being on a real film set for the first time and being “boots on the ground” was a learning unlike anything a classroom can prepare you for. I was working 12 hour days in the production office and on set. I was being taught by industry veterans. And I was sent from dept. to dept. and was able to experience what the real world was like. It allowed me to gain a unique perspective and eventually realize that I would rather work in production than camera.At the time, the chaos seemed like disorganization. But in hindsight, it was eye opening from the safe classrooms I had only known up to that point.
Wish I was paid better, but the team was great and I learned a lot.
Creative opportunity! Lower rates
It was awesome to be getting paid to do what I love. The exec, however, kept changing the mandate and I did many unpaid rewrites.
I loved immediately having an income and teaching, I didn't like the location (Texas)
I liked it all
I like it so far, I like that its diverse and not just script coverage
I liked that I got to travel and had a lot of creative involvement along with coordination. Pay was low for the amount of work.
It was a music video house in Venice Beach. I was quickly thrown into the music video worked working with directors like Wayne Isham, artists like Cher, Madonna, Outkast, No Doubt, Linkin Park. I worked closely with the editors and they liked the work I did so eventually I was able to do changes for them and work with them eventually led to other jobs at other post houses and assisting on independent features and eventually editing independent features and music videos and eventually unscripted TV. Good work beget work beget work. Do good work and be conscientious and pleasant and the work will follow.
Below, graduates recount the specific strategies that finally moved the needle for them.
What was the formal title of your job directly related to your area of study/concentration?
Assistant EditorWriter
Clinical Assistant Professor of Mass Communications
Office PA
Producer
Writer & Director
Temp Assistant to a Film Producer
I wanted to be a DP, I shot a lot of short films after graduation. I no longer do that now and am a Union Key Grip
Editor
Screenwriter
Did coursework in post while studying writing, worked as an AE
1st AD
Post PA
Producer
VFX artist
Research PA
Director
Post Production Technician
Screenwriter
Art Direction
Director / commercials
Creative Producer
Cinematographer
Producer
Showrunner's Assistant
DOP
Assistant Editor
Production Assistant
Assistant Editor
Writers Asst
Development Assistant
Post Production Assistant
Director of Photography
Gaffer
Online Editor
Assistant Editor
Assistant Editor Indie Doc feature
Production Assistant & Associate Producer
I wanted to do action sports video, and I got hired at a summer snowboard camp as a videographer
screenwriter
Editor
Director
Editor
Production Assistant
Counsel,Motion picture group
Production Secretary
Production Assistant
Please go into detail on how you got this job related to your primary filmmaking goal(s):
I wanted to write and directJust sending out emails
Old employer made a connection for me.
Classmate got a job and hired me
Got the job based on industry connections and proven track records of being competent and great to work with
Knew who was hiring before they put out the call
Recommended by professor.
Networking through film school helped me connect with professionals who were looking for assistants. I reached out to alumni and leveraged those connections, which eventually led to my first job as a production assistant.
Hustle. Made spec work. Got hired for small commercial
I met crew members through my job at a lighting house
Through connection with upm
This was another place I interned at during film school. After I graduated, I wrote my producer and she told me to apply for the gig
Friends from film school hired me
I had a peer that previously worked on a show and many of the office production team were also Towson University graduates, so I had significant alumni connection.
A peer from school worked here and recommended me to this job
Fellow alumni had to leave a job and got me an interview to take over the position
While working on set as G/E I approached a producer who owned the post production facility and asked if I could come and check out the office. I showed up and offered to help. Then I just kept coming back every day and helping until they started paying me.
As I previously mentioned, this was a position I received after working with one of my film professors in school before graduation and then essentially became titled "Producer" after graduation even though I had been more or less doing the work before that point. In school I wanted to focus on becoming a producer and after I did, I decided that I really just want to be able to produce my own work and also direct more films.
A friend referred me to a producer for another gig. I ended up working with that producer on a few projects and we became friends and collaborators. When the opportunity to direct a commercial popped up, I nominated myself and was given the opportunity. Did a great job and directed many more commercials for that company.
I “interned” on an independent film as a director’s assistant. (I was in college and this film was such a small budget, they didn’t have the money to pay me but said I was welcome to come to set each day to hang out and learn.) After that film wrapped- the Producer asked if I was open to work (for money) on a film she was the production accountant for.
Grad school Alumni network - friend of a friend
My editing professor knew the VP of post production at Boardwalk Pictures and got me in touch with him. He later hired me for one of their shows.
Pitched for and won a commercial bid
I won the Nicholl fellowship, which led to an exec reaching out and offering a chance to pitch on a project. They hired me to write the project I pitched on.
I was a teaching assistant while in school which prepared me well for a transition into academia. I also had an established body of work that was recognized with awards and at festivals.
I met a NYC crew who traveled to Rochester for a feature and found them when I graduated
Met VFX supervisor on my first film project
The internship coordinator at SCA referred me
Craig’s List posting turned out to be a major studio hiring anonymously
After working at Avid for 2 years I moved to Los Angeles. I sent out resumes to every post house in the LA411 (a production yellow pages in the 90s and early 2000s) - I probably sent around 50 resumes. Cold called many and one day I called a post house in Venice Beach and they asked if I could come in immediately. Had a good interview and noticed that they were having issues with their Avid DS. Since I knew the head of Avid DS support I put them in contact and they hired me, I found out later that they had fired their other Assitant Editor earlier the day I called for leaving master tapes on the top of their car and then driving off and destroying them.
What did you love the most and dislike the most about your first filmmaking job related to your concentration?
Projects take forever (late notes, things get dragged out)Pay
I thought I knew more than I did. Lol. Great to work on a whole variety of projects.
Loved working, didn’t like the content or executives.
Perks of working for a big studio were great; hours were long and crappy.
Fascinating/terrible hours.
I loved the opportunity to work on set and learn from experienced filmmakers. However, I disliked the long hours and the often hectic environment that could be overwhelming at times.
Stupid brand. Loved getting to pitch an idea and work with a team of people I picked up
I love being in production.
More consistent days needed
I like being the DP, I didn’t like how many favor jobs you had to do for little/no rate
I love that I was meeting like-minded industry professional both under me and those with more credits and experience. I disliked the working environment and how physically taxing the show was, I was at my worse health in my life despite being in seemingly perfect health before starting the show. My mental health was also extremely effected as the working environment was toxic and carried unnecessary pressure.I even had a coworker be checked into a mental hospital due to the stress causing her to breakdown.
Got to upgrade what cameras and lights I was working with and shoot in a different style than I had learned at school. Didn't always love the run and gun style and again very disconnected from real film sets that I wanted to be on.
Loved it was editing, did not love the content or how far I had to drive to get to the job location
I love post production. But the drive was too far.
It was great being given the opportunity to produce a feature film so green and fresh out of school. I've learned that it is a thankless job and I was criminally underpaid, alas. I know better now. I'm also learning that I only want to give that kind of bandwidth to people I really trust and care about - just taking the job for money is not worth it, especially since you work so many hours that you run down your hourly rate to almost nothing if you are being paid a stipend, etc. You've caught me at an interesting time in my career where I am trying to actively pivot from one place to another. I will continue to produce, but for things I care about 10000%. Not just jobs where I think, oh sure this would be an interesting opportunity - and then I get swept up in the nonsense so fast that I don't understand how I got where I was. I sort of blame some of that on the fact that I was still a student when I agreed to do it and I was under the impression that I would shadow another producer, but then I became the producer I was supposed to shadow. When I tell people this story, no one is surprised and almost everyone says that my experience is kind of common in the film industry.
Honestly, I love seeing the word Director next to my name on the call sheet. I didn’t love that the production was underfunded and understaffed and pretty stressful. But I learned that’s kind of always the case even on high budget projects.
Being on a real film set for the first time and being “boots on the ground” was a learning unlike anything a classroom can prepare you for. I was working 12 hour days in the production office and on set. I was being taught by industry veterans. And I was sent from dept. to dept. and was able to experience what the real world was like. It allowed me to gain a unique perspective and eventually realize that I would rather work in production than camera.At the time, the chaos seemed like disorganization. But in hindsight, it was eye opening from the safe classrooms I had only known up to that point.
Wish I was paid better, but the team was great and I learned a lot.
Creative opportunity! Lower rates
It was awesome to be getting paid to do what I love. The exec, however, kept changing the mandate and I did many unpaid rewrites.
I loved immediately having an income and teaching, I didn't like the location (Texas)
I liked it all
I like it so far, I like that its diverse and not just script coverage
I liked that I got to travel and had a lot of creative involvement along with coordination. Pay was low for the amount of work.
It was a music video house in Venice Beach. I was quickly thrown into the music video worked working with directors like Wayne Isham, artists like Cher, Madonna, Outkast, No Doubt, Linkin Park. I worked closely with the editors and they liked the work I did so eventually I was able to do changes for them and work with them eventually led to other jobs at other post houses and assisting on independent features and eventually editing independent features and music videos and eventually unscripted TV. Good work beget work beget work. Do good work and be conscientious and pleasant and the work will follow.
The Pivot: When the Industry Reshapes Your Dreams
For this section of the survey, we focused on the filmmakers whose paths fundamentally shifted. Whether driven by financial necessity, a lack of directorial opportunities, or a sudden, unexpected realization that they preferred a different craft, these alumni detail how they adapted when their original concentration didn't pan out.
Mandy which is a job website
People I’ve worked or networked with ask for support.
Was asked to do it on a small 1MIL indi feature and loved it
One of the PA’s I worked with during my gap year, referred me to a show as a PA right afterward school - literally the day after I graduated, I was on set
Got my position as an Eco PA through one of those facebook PA groups, for the company Earth Angel. After proving my strong work ethics and upbeat personality, I built my own network to those I was contracted out to, and now I work as a Sustainability Coordinator from connections I've made as an Eco PA.
Well you don’t need a degree to work in the crew and crew jobs are relatively easy to get on and if you learn quick you can stay on.
I’m still working towards Producing large projects, but you need to start somewhere.
I applied through the official job listing on the company website, had a standard interview process, and was hired within a few weeks
Photography and I just clicked better. You don’t need a massive crew or some difficult connection. It was much more accessible.
It’s the same as my first job
It all started through film school connections and who I met while at school
I realized I’d never get hired as a director so I needed to write my own stuff.
Worked in Production for almost 10 years. Started as a PA from a friend’s recommendation, and moved up to PC and later, PM. Realized a year ago that none of it got me closer to directing.
Had worked in field before film school, continued through film school, continued after film school.
Most of the jobs I was getting were Junior Art roles. It just became my strongest background
I reached out and asked an alumni friend who works in verticals if I can help her on one. Got the role.
Applied online
I found the job posted online
Always wanted to be a teacher
Promoted to Producer/ Art Director
There is gas reimbursement, but for the most part, it is kind of sporadic the amount of commercials that are available for shoots
It aligns with my academic area and makes a real contribution, also it suits my level of work/compensation interest (which is low)
Working with talented people and contributing to the project from beginning to end
It was a PA gig, not glamorous – but still an exciting learning experience
I love working in this industry, there's nothing else I can see myself doing in order to pay the bills. I dislike digging through the trash and being disrespected by assholes that just see me as "the trash guy," when there's a lot more that goes into my position and my duties.
I loved being on set. I dislike how you lose some dignity working crew side.
The people
I liked that it was still in the industry and offered a lot more stability and better pay than any previous jobs, but I didn’t like that it was not a creative role
I love that I could go out alone and still be able to get something great. With film, you need a lot of people and money. Dislike? You need to have better business skills in order to make photography work.
Same as my first job
I love shooting and helping people with their passion projects
I hate how many producers want me to develop work for them without paying me.
I love my crews and doing everything I can to support them. I always made sure they knew I had their backs and it made the work in Production rewarding and meaningful. Over time, though, the stress, constant lack of budget and time constraints, and overall low morale made it a miserable affair. It just wasn’t what I wanted.
So close to filmmaking— but not.
I like the puzzle of making or sourcing things, helping to build and dress the set.Visiting Locations and floating around the shooting crew without too much to do during filming.I hate being offset when things are broken/damaged/lost/misplaced because then my reputation takes the hit
For the vertical, I loved that at least I was paid something. I disliked everything else about it. The actual content of the work, the overworked and understaffed crews, working full-time on unpaid "break days".
I like being able to travel and meet with different talent from around the world. I dislike dealing with money and collecting payments
Working with kids
Same as the last answer : (
If you ended up doing a different filmmaking job than your concentration, please elaborate on how you got the job:
Did script supervising despite my passion and focus in screenwriting and made a friend that needed coveringMandy which is a job website
People I’ve worked or networked with ask for support.
Was asked to do it on a small 1MIL indi feature and loved it
One of the PA’s I worked with during my gap year, referred me to a show as a PA right afterward school - literally the day after I graduated, I was on set
Got my position as an Eco PA through one of those facebook PA groups, for the company Earth Angel. After proving my strong work ethics and upbeat personality, I built my own network to those I was contracted out to, and now I work as a Sustainability Coordinator from connections I've made as an Eco PA.
Well you don’t need a degree to work in the crew and crew jobs are relatively easy to get on and if you learn quick you can stay on.
I’m still working towards Producing large projects, but you need to start somewhere.
I applied through the official job listing on the company website, had a standard interview process, and was hired within a few weeks
Photography and I just clicked better. You don’t need a massive crew or some difficult connection. It was much more accessible.
It’s the same as my first job
It all started through film school connections and who I met while at school
I realized I’d never get hired as a director so I needed to write my own stuff.
Worked in Production for almost 10 years. Started as a PA from a friend’s recommendation, and moved up to PC and later, PM. Realized a year ago that none of it got me closer to directing.
Had worked in field before film school, continued through film school, continued after film school.
Most of the jobs I was getting were Junior Art roles. It just became my strongest background
I reached out and asked an alumni friend who works in verticals if I can help her on one. Got the role.
Applied online
I found the job posted online
Always wanted to be a teacher
Promoted to Producer/ Art Director
What did you love the most and dislike the most about this filmmaking job?
I love continuityThere is gas reimbursement, but for the most part, it is kind of sporadic the amount of commercials that are available for shoots
It aligns with my academic area and makes a real contribution, also it suits my level of work/compensation interest (which is low)
Working with talented people and contributing to the project from beginning to end
It was a PA gig, not glamorous – but still an exciting learning experience
I love working in this industry, there's nothing else I can see myself doing in order to pay the bills. I dislike digging through the trash and being disrespected by assholes that just see me as "the trash guy," when there's a lot more that goes into my position and my duties.
I loved being on set. I dislike how you lose some dignity working crew side.
The people
I liked that it was still in the industry and offered a lot more stability and better pay than any previous jobs, but I didn’t like that it was not a creative role
I love that I could go out alone and still be able to get something great. With film, you need a lot of people and money. Dislike? You need to have better business skills in order to make photography work.
Same as my first job
I love shooting and helping people with their passion projects
I hate how many producers want me to develop work for them without paying me.
I love my crews and doing everything I can to support them. I always made sure they knew I had their backs and it made the work in Production rewarding and meaningful. Over time, though, the stress, constant lack of budget and time constraints, and overall low morale made it a miserable affair. It just wasn’t what I wanted.
So close to filmmaking— but not.
I like the puzzle of making or sourcing things, helping to build and dress the set.Visiting Locations and floating around the shooting crew without too much to do during filming.I hate being offset when things are broken/damaged/lost/misplaced because then my reputation takes the hit
For the vertical, I loved that at least I was paid something. I disliked everything else about it. The actual content of the work, the overworked and understaffed crews, working full-time on unpaid "break days".
I like being able to travel and meet with different talent from around the world. I dislike dealing with money and collecting payments
Working with kids
Same as the last answer : (
What are Film School Alumni's Current Filmmaking Jobs?
In this concluding section of our survey, alumni share how they secured their current positions and offer a realistic look at what they love and hate about their daily grinds
DP
Production Coordinator
Assistant Editor
CAA
Writer (freelance)
Line Producer
Head of Production
Department Chair of a top ranked film school
Film Course Lecturer
Production Office Coordinator
Video Editor
Op
Camera man for local sports
Post production executive
Production Assistant
Lead AI filmmaker
Rigging gaffer
I mainly work as a gaffer these days – sometimes camera op, sometimes produce
Camera Rental House Owner
Freelance Production Assistant
Sustainability Coordinator
Key Grip/ Gaffer
Location Manager & Scout
Archival Producer
Contract Administration Analyst
2nd AD
writer
Adjunct Professor
Union Key Grip
Showrunner / Director
Director of Photography
Unscripted Editor
Assistant Editor
2nd AD on micro budget feature
Exec story editor
Adjunct Professor
Executive producer
Showrunner's Assistant
Animation artist
Assistant Art Director
Assistant Editor / Additional Editor
Producer
Visual media specialist
Assistant Professor of Film/TV Production
Freelance DP / camera op
Animation artist
Commercial writer
Set Dresser
Associate Producer
Development Assistant
Freelancer - Editor/Videographer/Photographer/Producer
Executive Producer
Editor
Sales Executive for a financing and distribution company
Executive Story Editor TV
writer but freelance, almost earning nothing
Entertainment journalist, writer/producer for social media
Someone I knew from Sphere left their
many and referred me for the role.
I applied and interviewed.
Got in touch with a Thai film student at Loyola Marymount through friends. He ended up returning to Thailand and was looking for someone who could teach in English at his faculty. I joined him in the program and has been teaching for 6 years.
I’m freelance
Brother worked at local Stadium
Applied in accounting at the studio. Made connections and worked my way up
Since uni I work as an editor. Sometimes I have more work sometimes less. At the moment I already finished 3th movie and till end of the year I will finish another 3 movies
I got my current job as a production assistant through a connection I made during my internship, who referred me to the team looking for help on their project.
Hustle. I made spec ai films when industry was slow. Got hired at ai studio
I was hired by a DP I've worked with for years.
Brother connection with upm
I freelance, it’s not a full time ‘job’ per se — I get my work from peer referrals or online job listings
Same as my facebook answer.
I moved to LA, my friend whos already lived in LA a few years took me to a film set where they were good with bringing on a PA for $50 a day.
Kept working and moving up.
Transitioned from another company and received a promotion
Internships led to jobs and friendships that led to where I am
agency
I was gripping to make ends meet and realized it could be a good career
It was a result of my previous work as a writer for the same production company, and streaming platform (Prime Video).
Peer from school who had got me my first job was also getting me freelance work with this production company, who eventually hired me full time after a a year or two at my second job.
Editing peer referral
After working as an editor at the commercial facility I wanted to get into TV and film. So I left and started contacting everyone I knew. I had to go backwards a bit and become an assistant. But I got in the union and much more upscale projects started to become available to me.
someone who was friends with my boyfriend recommended me for an AD job on a short. That producer brought me in to AD on another short years later. The director on that short brought me in to AD on this feature.
I have been teaching part time to supplement film work. But ever since film work slowed down, I've now taken on design work to supplement all of that. So I'm using 150% of my time if I also have film projects happening during the school year.
I worked for some executives at this company. I ended up pitching them a show they got Green lit, and we made two seasons of it. When the show wrapped up they offered me an overall deal and I took it.
Friend I met in my career hired me to work with them.
I've simply hopped from project to project for Boardwalk. Then I feel in with a particular director team that worked with them and I've been looped in with their whole slate of projects.
Friends of friends of friends
Someone I’ve known and worked with as an independent producer for over a decade started working with this company. A few years later, he needed someone to hire and chose me, since we work well together. I wouldnt have this incredible role without all the past work and networking I’ve done throughout my career.
Built up experience from my previous academic positions
Networking
Worked in field before film school
Climbed the ladder and made good connections
An alumni friend of mine needed help on her short with fundraising and hopefully soon, production. I offered to help as an associate producer. It is a volunteer role, but it's a credit.
All of my jobs for the last 6 years have been via referral.
I'm a freelancer, so every gig is different. I get most of my work through social media, film school peers, and general word-of-mouth.
Referrals from people I’ve worked withwon some awards and my reps found me
Just saw the job on LinkedIn and applied
When I was an assistant editor for music videos, I digitized all of the footage for the editors and organzied it and sunc it in the way that they wanted it to be sunc. My work impressed editors that I worked with so sometimes they had me do the changes on their edits. I also must have impressed the people who ran the post house - or at least I kept promoting myself - and eventually I got to edit really low budget projects. An editor who I worked with got to edit a feature so he brought me on as an assistant editor. The producer of that independent film brought me on as an editor on another one of his films. I kept doing other editorial projects at the post house and eventually worked on a television show. I must have impressed the producer and she was shocked to find out how much I was being paid (not much) and she poached me into unscripted television where I've been working quite steadily and doing quite well for the past 18 years knock on wood.
Amazing work, credits and people. Building high function teams is an aspect of my role I love. It's chaotic but great environment to work in.
It’s amazing to run a film school. Academia is under attack.
I love teaching what I know to students and see them go on to successful careers or find themselves. I dislike the low pay and the time commitment which takes my time away from doing my filmmaking endeavors.
I’m freelance
Simple but that is also the downfall of the job our were also cut due to camp positions becoming offsite/automatic so to say
I love the talented people I work with and problem solving. The contstricting budgets and stagnant salaries are frustrating and the slowed upward movement
I like the most that I'm working on great projects and independents. What I hate is amount of work (need to start work more with assistants) and lonelyness. After this projects that I'm finishing right now I want to fully focus on my directorial debut that I'm already developing for 4 years now.
I love the collaborative environment and learning opportunities in each new project. However, I dislike the long hours and occasional lack of job security that comes with being a production assistant.
I like creative experiments. I don’t like working for other people or sitting at a computer all day.
I still love production. The thing I dislike on this one I'd the pay. It's a low budget job.
More consistent days
Gaffing is fun because it’s a marriage of the creative and technical — and when you bring your own kit, you get a nice bump to your rate
Same as my facebook answer.
I love that im on set interacting with all the cast and crew. I dislike the toll it takes on the body and sometimes the lack of autonomy.
The pay, the creative input, the problem solving
Fun projects but would love longer term jobs for stability
I like the money I make, I don’t like the long hours or how physical it is
Love working with the people, with high end cinema gear such as ARRI, and a 1 ton grip and lighting truck. We work on the biggest stuff in town more often than not. Nothing to dislike, other than I want to live elsewhere than boise.
Love its remote, the content is fun.
I love post production. But I want to be editing not assisting.
This is the first time I’ve 2nd’ed and I love the paperwork but I miss actively being a part of set. I also hate carrying tents but I love being on a small team.
I love working with students and I absolutely despise administration and academic politics.
Working on the corporate side is a bit less creatively fulfilling
Working with people I love and making money.I dislike the fact that it is computer based and mind-numbingly boring.
Again, wish I was paid better. I also want to work in scripted, but my current projects are all documentaries. They're also pushing me to do more editing work even though I'm an AE, and I'm not sure if I want to do that.
However, I like the team a lot and it's relatively steady work.
Very hard to make meaningful income from indie features, crew day play work usually pays much more
Such an awesome crew to work with and a supportive company
California location is nice, pay is minimal, varied group of students, some financial support for film projects
Still love it all
Dumb clients.
Love the high pay and high schedule flexibility, hate the unpredictability and current lack of work
It's alright, but it's a volunteer position that will end once production is over. Ideally, what I want is a full-time job where I can be paid but not burnout completely after.
Indifferent.
Answered earlier
I love the freedom, creative expression, flexibility, and variety. I don't love how much pay varies, the inconsistency, and how important self-promotion is.
The pay is great. The content is a little boring
I only want to write, but films take decades to get made so I'm not getting paid much. Also writing novels.
I love taking a massive amount of raw footage and figuring out what to do with it. I love finding little soundups and shots that help tell the story. I love that in unscripted I'm basically writing the show. I don't like dealing with network notes lol.
I would like to grow in my company and hold a higher job title
There's always room to move up. I enjoy the corporate environment.
I am still regularly making work, around a film a year. I’m also running a film school, which is rewarding.
I still want to return to the US and make a feature film there, but things are taking much longer than expected and with the deteriorating immigration situation, I'm re-aligning my goals to maybe pivot to making a foothold in my country if my US plans don't work out.
I stated previously more directing gigs would be what I would prefer
To continue in my career in this industy
I worked on succesfull projects that are awarded and screened all around the world.
My filmmaking goals include growing into a director role and working on more narrative projects, while also developing my own stories and vision.
Directing features.
Become a film director with own porjects
Ultimately, I’d like to direct and produce scripted comedy — but in film, the struggle to find meaningful paid work is meddles with your long term goals
Aspiring feature film director. I'll keep working until the day I die to achieve this goal.
I already have.
I will produce an Oscar winning film
1st AD
I am paying the bills, living a good life, and saving $$; that’s more important to me now than the title
I want to mostly work as a director, and currently I have to alternate this job with my projects as screenwriter and showrunner, a field in which it was easier to break in and I have more experience.
I want to work on Independent and studio feature films in the camera department. Currently I mainly work on commericals and documentaries.
Would love to consistently be editing feature or series documentary
I want to edit the best TV and Movies in the world and also write and direct a few of my own.
Directing my own shorts and features.
I'd love to make more of my own work. The only actual goal I have is to make something that is mine at least once a year. I'd love for that to expand into potentially directing a feature, but I don't want to force anything at the moment and just see what I can come up with.
I have learned to be flexible about what my future goals are. I could never predicted the strange winding path. My career would take. So I’m open to taking it into new direction in the future. I used to think I would only be a director or a creative, but I have learned that I am a good executive.
My goal is to move from “freelance” to being in-house at a production company.
I want to be a writer/director.
Production Designer
I want to work professionally in scripted TV or feature films. I'd also like to eventually become an editor, able to pick and choose my own projects.
Make big movies
Getting paid and not hating life
Feature docs with production company/grant/financial support
My goal was to build a career making movies. This is my 30th year, I've done that.
Want to direct a narrative feature.
It's been great for ten years and now I might need a new occupation entirely
I am pushing for a full-time production/development job.
I mean I worked on a Nolan film… enough said.
I want to produce scripted television
I'm working adjacent to the film industry (music videos/commercials/occasional indie film work). Long-term, I want to pivot into the film industry.
Feature
I’d like to edit a large budget scripted series
TV showrunner
write screenplays and novels
Being a paid screenwriter
What is your current filmmaking job?
EditorDP
Production Coordinator
Assistant Editor
CAA
Writer (freelance)
Line Producer
Head of Production
Department Chair of a top ranked film school
Film Course Lecturer
Production Office Coordinator
Video Editor
Op
Camera man for local sports
Post production executive
Production Assistant
Lead AI filmmaker
Rigging gaffer
I mainly work as a gaffer these days – sometimes camera op, sometimes produce
Camera Rental House Owner
Freelance Production Assistant
Sustainability Coordinator
Key Grip/ Gaffer
Location Manager & Scout
Archival Producer
Contract Administration Analyst
2nd AD
writer
Adjunct Professor
Union Key Grip
Showrunner / Director
Director of Photography
Unscripted Editor
Assistant Editor
2nd AD on micro budget feature
Exec story editor
Adjunct Professor
Executive producer
Showrunner's Assistant
Animation artist
Assistant Art Director
Assistant Editor / Additional Editor
Producer
Visual media specialist
Assistant Professor of Film/TV Production
Freelance DP / camera op
Animation artist
Commercial writer
Set Dresser
Associate Producer
Development Assistant
Freelancer - Editor/Videographer/Photographer/Producer
Executive Producer
Editor
Sales Executive for a financing and distribution company
Executive Story Editor TV
writer but freelance, almost earning nothing
Entertainment journalist, writer/producer for social media
Please go into detail on how you got your current filmmaking job:
A production company I was working with closed down and a former client reached out to hire me.Someone I knew from Sphere left their
many and referred me for the role.I applied and interviewed.
Got in touch with a Thai film student at Loyola Marymount through friends. He ended up returning to Thailand and was looking for someone who could teach in English at his faculty. I joined him in the program and has been teaching for 6 years.
I’m freelance
Brother worked at local Stadium
Applied in accounting at the studio. Made connections and worked my way up
Since uni I work as an editor. Sometimes I have more work sometimes less. At the moment I already finished 3th movie and till end of the year I will finish another 3 movies
I got my current job as a production assistant through a connection I made during my internship, who referred me to the team looking for help on their project.
Hustle. I made spec ai films when industry was slow. Got hired at ai studio
I was hired by a DP I've worked with for years.
Brother connection with upm
I freelance, it’s not a full time ‘job’ per se — I get my work from peer referrals or online job listings
Same as my facebook answer.
I moved to LA, my friend whos already lived in LA a few years took me to a film set where they were good with bringing on a PA for $50 a day.
Kept working and moving up.
Transitioned from another company and received a promotion
Internships led to jobs and friendships that led to where I am
agency
I was gripping to make ends meet and realized it could be a good career
It was a result of my previous work as a writer for the same production company, and streaming platform (Prime Video).
Peer from school who had got me my first job was also getting me freelance work with this production company, who eventually hired me full time after a a year or two at my second job.
Editing peer referral
After working as an editor at the commercial facility I wanted to get into TV and film. So I left and started contacting everyone I knew. I had to go backwards a bit and become an assistant. But I got in the union and much more upscale projects started to become available to me.
someone who was friends with my boyfriend recommended me for an AD job on a short. That producer brought me in to AD on another short years later. The director on that short brought me in to AD on this feature.
I have been teaching part time to supplement film work. But ever since film work slowed down, I've now taken on design work to supplement all of that. So I'm using 150% of my time if I also have film projects happening during the school year.
I worked for some executives at this company. I ended up pitching them a show they got Green lit, and we made two seasons of it. When the show wrapped up they offered me an overall deal and I took it.
Friend I met in my career hired me to work with them.
I've simply hopped from project to project for Boardwalk. Then I feel in with a particular director team that worked with them and I've been looped in with their whole slate of projects.
Friends of friends of friends
Someone I’ve known and worked with as an independent producer for over a decade started working with this company. A few years later, he needed someone to hire and chose me, since we work well together. I wouldnt have this incredible role without all the past work and networking I’ve done throughout my career.
Built up experience from my previous academic positions
Networking
Worked in field before film school
Climbed the ladder and made good connections
An alumni friend of mine needed help on her short with fundraising and hopefully soon, production. I offered to help as an associate producer. It is a volunteer role, but it's a credit.
All of my jobs for the last 6 years have been via referral.
I'm a freelancer, so every gig is different. I get most of my work through social media, film school peers, and general word-of-mouth.
Referrals from people I’ve worked withwon some awards and my reps found me
Just saw the job on LinkedIn and applied
When I was an assistant editor for music videos, I digitized all of the footage for the editors and organzied it and sunc it in the way that they wanted it to be sunc. My work impressed editors that I worked with so sometimes they had me do the changes on their edits. I also must have impressed the people who ran the post house - or at least I kept promoting myself - and eventually I got to edit really low budget projects. An editor who I worked with got to edit a feature so he brought me on as an assistant editor. The producer of that independent film brought me on as an editor on another one of his films. I kept doing other editorial projects at the post house and eventually worked on a television show. I must have impressed the producer and she was shocked to find out how much I was being paid (not much) and she poached me into unscripted television where I've been working quite steadily and doing quite well for the past 18 years knock on wood.
What did you love the most and dislike the most about your current filmmaking job?
Great employer's and work-life balance. Pay is okay and business can be slowAmazing work, credits and people. Building high function teams is an aspect of my role I love. It's chaotic but great environment to work in.
It’s amazing to run a film school. Academia is under attack.
I love teaching what I know to students and see them go on to successful careers or find themselves. I dislike the low pay and the time commitment which takes my time away from doing my filmmaking endeavors.
I’m freelance
Simple but that is also the downfall of the job our were also cut due to camp positions becoming offsite/automatic so to say
I love the talented people I work with and problem solving. The contstricting budgets and stagnant salaries are frustrating and the slowed upward movement
I like the most that I'm working on great projects and independents. What I hate is amount of work (need to start work more with assistants) and lonelyness. After this projects that I'm finishing right now I want to fully focus on my directorial debut that I'm already developing for 4 years now.
I love the collaborative environment and learning opportunities in each new project. However, I dislike the long hours and occasional lack of job security that comes with being a production assistant.
I like creative experiments. I don’t like working for other people or sitting at a computer all day.
I still love production. The thing I dislike on this one I'd the pay. It's a low budget job.
More consistent days
Gaffing is fun because it’s a marriage of the creative and technical — and when you bring your own kit, you get a nice bump to your rate
Same as my facebook answer.
I love that im on set interacting with all the cast and crew. I dislike the toll it takes on the body and sometimes the lack of autonomy.
The pay, the creative input, the problem solving
Fun projects but would love longer term jobs for stability
I like the money I make, I don’t like the long hours or how physical it is
Love working with the people, with high end cinema gear such as ARRI, and a 1 ton grip and lighting truck. We work on the biggest stuff in town more often than not. Nothing to dislike, other than I want to live elsewhere than boise.
Love its remote, the content is fun.
I love post production. But I want to be editing not assisting.
This is the first time I’ve 2nd’ed and I love the paperwork but I miss actively being a part of set. I also hate carrying tents but I love being on a small team.
I love working with students and I absolutely despise administration and academic politics.
Working on the corporate side is a bit less creatively fulfilling
Working with people I love and making money.I dislike the fact that it is computer based and mind-numbingly boring.
Again, wish I was paid better. I also want to work in scripted, but my current projects are all documentaries. They're also pushing me to do more editing work even though I'm an AE, and I'm not sure if I want to do that.
However, I like the team a lot and it's relatively steady work.
Very hard to make meaningful income from indie features, crew day play work usually pays much more
Such an awesome crew to work with and a supportive company
California location is nice, pay is minimal, varied group of students, some financial support for film projects
Still love it all
Dumb clients.
Love the high pay and high schedule flexibility, hate the unpredictability and current lack of work
It's alright, but it's a volunteer position that will end once production is over. Ideally, what I want is a full-time job where I can be paid but not burnout completely after.
Indifferent.
Answered earlier
I love the freedom, creative expression, flexibility, and variety. I don't love how much pay varies, the inconsistency, and how important self-promotion is.
The pay is great. The content is a little boring
I only want to write, but films take decades to get made so I'm not getting paid much. Also writing novels.
I love taking a massive amount of raw footage and figuring out what to do with it. I love finding little soundups and shots that help tell the story. I love that in unscripted I'm basically writing the show. I don't like dealing with network notes lol.
Please elaborate on your filmmaking goals
Get producedI would like to grow in my company and hold a higher job title
There's always room to move up. I enjoy the corporate environment.
I am still regularly making work, around a film a year. I’m also running a film school, which is rewarding.
I still want to return to the US and make a feature film there, but things are taking much longer than expected and with the deteriorating immigration situation, I'm re-aligning my goals to maybe pivot to making a foothold in my country if my US plans don't work out.
I stated previously more directing gigs would be what I would prefer
To continue in my career in this industy
I worked on succesfull projects that are awarded and screened all around the world.
My filmmaking goals include growing into a director role and working on more narrative projects, while also developing my own stories and vision.
Directing features.
Become a film director with own porjects
Ultimately, I’d like to direct and produce scripted comedy — but in film, the struggle to find meaningful paid work is meddles with your long term goals
Aspiring feature film director. I'll keep working until the day I die to achieve this goal.
I already have.
I will produce an Oscar winning film
1st AD
I am paying the bills, living a good life, and saving $$; that’s more important to me now than the title
I want to mostly work as a director, and currently I have to alternate this job with my projects as screenwriter and showrunner, a field in which it was easier to break in and I have more experience.
I want to work on Independent and studio feature films in the camera department. Currently I mainly work on commericals and documentaries.
Would love to consistently be editing feature or series documentary
I want to edit the best TV and Movies in the world and also write and direct a few of my own.
Directing my own shorts and features.
I'd love to make more of my own work. The only actual goal I have is to make something that is mine at least once a year. I'd love for that to expand into potentially directing a feature, but I don't want to force anything at the moment and just see what I can come up with.
I have learned to be flexible about what my future goals are. I could never predicted the strange winding path. My career would take. So I’m open to taking it into new direction in the future. I used to think I would only be a director or a creative, but I have learned that I am a good executive.
My goal is to move from “freelance” to being in-house at a production company.
I want to be a writer/director.
Production Designer
I want to work professionally in scripted TV or feature films. I'd also like to eventually become an editor, able to pick and choose my own projects.
Make big movies
Getting paid and not hating life
Feature docs with production company/grant/financial support
My goal was to build a career making movies. This is my 30th year, I've done that.
Want to direct a narrative feature.
It's been great for ten years and now I might need a new occupation entirely
I am pushing for a full-time production/development job.
I mean I worked on a Nolan film… enough said.
I want to produce scripted television
I'm working adjacent to the film industry (music videos/commercials/occasional indie film work). Long-term, I want to pivot into the film industry.
Feature
I’d like to edit a large budget scripted series
TV showrunner
write screenplays and novels
Being a paid screenwriter
Life Outside the Industry
What happens when film school doesn't lead to a film career, or when the grueling reality of the business finally forces you to choose financial survival over a dream? This section focuses entirely on alumni who are currently unemployed, still waiting for their first major industry break, or who made the conscious decision to walk away entirely.
Commercial counsel
AV Design Engineer
Bar staff / stage staff
District Manager
I’m an independent scholar living on earlier employment income.
TV cable guy looking for a job as Social Media Manager
Editor for web
Project Manager
Corporate events
Public Information Officer
Copy editor
Business School Student
Photographer/entrepreneur
Bartender
Unemployed
Director of Marketing
I haven't graduated yet. But, I got my first support staff gig (writers PA for a few weeks) while being a full time student.
Cinematographer
English Teacher
Copywriter
Arts Administrator
Valet
Writer
Security Guard
Executive Assistant at a media corporation
Technicial Specialist at SUNY Adirondack Community College
Unemployed due to lay off. THANKS NETFLIX
unemployed
Media Teacher
Customer service representative
Producer/Art Director
Senior Executive Events Producer
Communications
Left LA for personal reasons and applied for corporate, in-house legal jobs with other companies. Got a job with a fintech company.
Pivoted via post production and tech skills
I applied on indeed
Went on Indeed and applied for anything that looked remotely within my sphere of knowledge and experience.
It is a logical continuation of my academic pursuits. My doctoral work (Birmingham) was interrupted by covid so I just continued as an independent scholar while applying my skills to projects from time to time.
Contacts in the German Tv Industry
Old boss
I applied at a company my friend worked at for a project manager role.
Through connections at a cafe I worked at during grad school
I started working for an ad agency in DC that was focused on political advertising, specifically TV Ads, which landed me into politics/government communication work.
While in film school I got a part time job at CNN and stayed there 12 years with steady advancement until layoffs. Then I found work at Reuters and have been there for 20 years.
Friend referral
Had it prior to attending school
Retraining
I needed to make money and got this day job
Hustle
Museum work
Unemployed and searching for work after graduation. Got hired to work at Breakdown Services/Actor’s Access as a Customer Service Rep 7 months after grad. I was then fired as I got cast in my first feature and wouldn’t receive the unpaid time off. Applied to jobs for months, took on a temp gig and turned into a job since I was reliable and professional.
Because it's impossible to get a film job unless you know someone and LA is too expensive.
Spent over four months applying and interviewing, somehow secured my first ever full time corporate job. It’s soul sucking, but it pays the bills and I have a good boss, so I’m grateful.
One of my peers who dropped out of film school works at my current job as a librarian. They forwarded me the job listing for this role.
Carnegie Mellon offers a fraudulent program that provided zero education and no resources to support learning or to help me launch my career.
Decided to apply for a CTE certification through NYS and then started applying to teach at public schools.
I applied to everything and it was the only thing that got back to me.
Promotion
Same job I was doing before I went to school.
Did it before grad school
Way less stress than working for a studio, much more flexible. There’s not a ton I dislike but some days I miss being so dialed in to what’s going on in the industry.
Love the stability hate the corporate structure and politics
It isn't my passion but it is more consistent
I have time to enjoy weekends, health insurance, PTO benefits, and job security.
Intellectually stimulating, complete control over my time, but a bit isolating.
It is awesome. The only thing I don't like is that it is extremely difficult to get a full time job
Easier hours than Network TV Editor jobs
I like that I have a good work life balance, make decent money, and get to use my brain. I dislike that the work is kind of unfulfilling.
I am still surrounded by creatives which is awesome, but not so stuck in the industry fighting for scraps or a seat at the table.
I like making a difference in my community. I do not like being at the whims and changing tides of politics.
Strong union and steady hours but ideologically it's a little icky
tips
stable, health insurance, good pay, flexible
Financially was great creatively no.
I help kdis and get paid, easy to schedule life around it. I dislike it because its not what i want to do.
I like that I can actually make a living and that it’s only 75% as toxic as film
Interacting with people, luxurious place to work, driving fancy and nice cars, tips. I dislike the hotel management, grunt work, and the fact that I’m not doing any real “work”.
I hate it
I love having a stable income; pretty much everything else about it is hellish.
I enjoy the stability of state work. I dislike that the pay is low and that my co-workers have no rigor.
Cannot eat or take care of myself
Stability
Loved how much routine there was. Hated how they treated me.
Same as before
I love getting to travel and attend exciting events like F1, Super Bowl, and World Cup. I hate that I don't get to write and be creative in the way I want to be. I also work in tech and don't love the industry.
Not creatively fulfilling
I negotiate contracts, a lot of what I learned in school and as a prior movie studio lawyer is still relevant.
All the tech know how
Idk
‘Job’ is probably the wrong word for an independent scholar but the subject area is storytelling-specific.
It is basically the same, just with money and stability to be honest.
Editing
Project managing is similar to film production in that you are managing many things at once. It’s all bringing a project to completion
Soft skills like dealing with tough clients and knowing how to give constructive feedback and how to take not-so-constructive feedback are skills I feel I learned in my MFA program that still help me today.
I'm often editing, creating shot list and doing content creation. It's not as involved on the production lift as film sets but I often employ a producer mindset to create the videos and shoots that are needed.
I learned storytelling skills that are useful in journalism
Basic camera know how. FilmSchool was not worth the money.
Storytelling, video for advertising content
I work at HEB, the local grocery store and as a teaching assistant for film/TV writing and development classes. I've become more skilled in communication and collaboration as a result!
Cinematography
Filming and editing for social media
Writing non-filmed narratives is related to writing screenplays. My decades as a professional writer clearly have an impact on my overall skill level.
My admin work is heavily reliant on all the skills that made me a great PM - it’s just a whole lot less fun. Lol
I had to troubleshoot Operating System and hardware issue in a post facility. I also do remedial AV setups for events.
Absolutely. I'm a better teacher because of what I learned in grad school.
It was for a casting company so there are scripts sent in and breakdowns needed.
I sometimes get to write copy and pre production packets, as well as produce some of the trailers I work on
I'm still a producer, so I feel like the skills are very transferable.
What is your current non-filmmaking job title:
Repair AgentCommercial counsel
AV Design Engineer
Bar staff / stage staff
District Manager
I’m an independent scholar living on earlier employment income.
TV cable guy looking for a job as Social Media Manager
Editor for web
Project Manager
Corporate events
Public Information Officer
Copy editor
Business School Student
Photographer/entrepreneur
Bartender
Unemployed
Director of Marketing
I haven't graduated yet. But, I got my first support staff gig (writers PA for a few weeks) while being a full time student.
Cinematographer
English Teacher
Copywriter
Arts Administrator
Valet
Writer
Security Guard
Executive Assistant at a media corporation
Technicial Specialist at SUNY Adirondack Community College
Unemployed due to lay off. THANKS NETFLIX
unemployed
Media Teacher
Customer service representative
Producer/Art Director
Senior Executive Events Producer
Communications
Please go into detail on how you came to have this non-filmmaking job:
Background in Computer Science and now I work at a Geek Squad fixing computersLeft LA for personal reasons and applied for corporate, in-house legal jobs with other companies. Got a job with a fintech company.
Pivoted via post production and tech skills
I applied on indeed
Went on Indeed and applied for anything that looked remotely within my sphere of knowledge and experience.
It is a logical continuation of my academic pursuits. My doctoral work (Birmingham) was interrupted by covid so I just continued as an independent scholar while applying my skills to projects from time to time.
Contacts in the German Tv Industry
Old boss
I applied at a company my friend worked at for a project manager role.
Through connections at a cafe I worked at during grad school
I started working for an ad agency in DC that was focused on political advertising, specifically TV Ads, which landed me into politics/government communication work.
While in film school I got a part time job at CNN and stayed there 12 years with steady advancement until layoffs. Then I found work at Reuters and have been there for 20 years.
Friend referral
Had it prior to attending school
Retraining
I needed to make money and got this day job
Hustle
Museum work
Unemployed and searching for work after graduation. Got hired to work at Breakdown Services/Actor’s Access as a Customer Service Rep 7 months after grad. I was then fired as I got cast in my first feature and wouldn’t receive the unpaid time off. Applied to jobs for months, took on a temp gig and turned into a job since I was reliable and professional.
Because it's impossible to get a film job unless you know someone and LA is too expensive.
Spent over four months applying and interviewing, somehow secured my first ever full time corporate job. It’s soul sucking, but it pays the bills and I have a good boss, so I’m grateful.
One of my peers who dropped out of film school works at my current job as a librarian. They forwarded me the job listing for this role.
Carnegie Mellon offers a fraudulent program that provided zero education and no resources to support learning or to help me launch my career.
Decided to apply for a CTE certification through NYS and then started applying to teach at public schools.
I applied to everything and it was the only thing that got back to me.
Promotion
Same job I was doing before I went to school.
Did it before grad school
What do you love the most and dislike the most about your non-filmmaking job?
I love helping people out with tech. I would say it's a thankless job for the most part, it can be draining talking to customer service and dealing with all sorts of people but its a decent environmentWay less stress than working for a studio, much more flexible. There’s not a ton I dislike but some days I miss being so dialed in to what’s going on in the industry.
Love the stability hate the corporate structure and politics
It isn't my passion but it is more consistent
I have time to enjoy weekends, health insurance, PTO benefits, and job security.
Intellectually stimulating, complete control over my time, but a bit isolating.
It is awesome. The only thing I don't like is that it is extremely difficult to get a full time job
Easier hours than Network TV Editor jobs
I like that I have a good work life balance, make decent money, and get to use my brain. I dislike that the work is kind of unfulfilling.
I am still surrounded by creatives which is awesome, but not so stuck in the industry fighting for scraps or a seat at the table.
I like making a difference in my community. I do not like being at the whims and changing tides of politics.
Strong union and steady hours but ideologically it's a little icky
tips
stable, health insurance, good pay, flexible
Financially was great creatively no.
I help kdis and get paid, easy to schedule life around it. I dislike it because its not what i want to do.
I like that I can actually make a living and that it’s only 75% as toxic as film
Interacting with people, luxurious place to work, driving fancy and nice cars, tips. I dislike the hotel management, grunt work, and the fact that I’m not doing any real “work”.
I hate it
I love having a stable income; pretty much everything else about it is hellish.
I enjoy the stability of state work. I dislike that the pay is low and that my co-workers have no rigor.
Cannot eat or take care of myself
Stability
Loved how much routine there was. Hated how they treated me.
Same as before
I love getting to travel and attend exciting events like F1, Super Bowl, and World Cup. I hate that I don't get to write and be creative in the way I want to be. I also work in tech and don't love the industry.
Not creatively fulfilling
Does your current non-filmmaking job utilize any skills you learned in film school?
dealing with higher ups, audience, marketing, strategyI negotiate contracts, a lot of what I learned in school and as a prior movie studio lawyer is still relevant.
All the tech know how
Idk
‘Job’ is probably the wrong word for an independent scholar but the subject area is storytelling-specific.
It is basically the same, just with money and stability to be honest.
Editing
Project managing is similar to film production in that you are managing many things at once. It’s all bringing a project to completion
Soft skills like dealing with tough clients and knowing how to give constructive feedback and how to take not-so-constructive feedback are skills I feel I learned in my MFA program that still help me today.
I'm often editing, creating shot list and doing content creation. It's not as involved on the production lift as film sets but I often employ a producer mindset to create the videos and shoots that are needed.
I learned storytelling skills that are useful in journalism
Basic camera know how. FilmSchool was not worth the money.
Storytelling, video for advertising content
I work at HEB, the local grocery store and as a teaching assistant for film/TV writing and development classes. I've become more skilled in communication and collaboration as a result!
Cinematography
Filming and editing for social media
Writing non-filmed narratives is related to writing screenplays. My decades as a professional writer clearly have an impact on my overall skill level.
My admin work is heavily reliant on all the skills that made me a great PM - it’s just a whole lot less fun. Lol
I had to troubleshoot Operating System and hardware issue in a post facility. I also do remedial AV setups for events.
Absolutely. I'm a better teacher because of what I learned in grad school.
It was for a casting company so there are scripts sent in and breakdowns needed.
I sometimes get to write copy and pre production packets, as well as produce some of the trailers I work on
I'm still a producer, so I feel like the skills are very transferable.
In Their Own Words: What Film School Alumni Wish They Knew
Data tells you what is happening, but the written survey responses tell you why. We asked our 100+ anonymous film school alumni to dig deeper into how their programs actually shaped their careers, what they would have done differently if they could go back, and whether they would recommend their path to someone starting today.
Below is the raw, unedited commentary from graduates reflecting on the true value of their degrees, the crushing weight of student debt, and the power of the networks they built.
I gained a lot of leadership skills with the clubs I joined and opportunities staff gave me
Many early jobs were directly or indirectly through connections I made during my time at school.
Prior to film school, I felt I had bits and pieces of skills I needed to confidently make a film, but I could never put them together as a coherent whole. USC did that for me. What I learned was nothing new, but the way they taught me and the competitive, pressure-cooker environment I was thrown in crystallized what I knew and made me confident in my abilities.
USC was a major plus on my resume
Film school didn’t give me shit. I learned more from Youtube Filmmakers than the, “accomplished professors” at school.
This survey’s concept of ‘the business’ and ‘film school’ is too restricting to include either my masters research or doctoral interests. My MA through research allowed me to create my field of interest and connect it to storytelling.
It wasn't about studies. It was about to be able work with peers, shape and show my skill. Conections with great documentary directors.
It didn't, if you mean the film business
Film school provided me with invaluable connections and hands-on experience, particularly through internships that led to my first jobs in the industry. The collaborative environment helped me build a solid network of peers.
Friends in the business, collaborators. No doors opened. That’s sales nonsense.
I don't know if it directly did, job opportunities providing through the university were non existent and only through personal connections have I been able to get any work
There’s like 1 or 2 meaningful connections from film school - otherwise it didn’t help my career much at all
If I were a caucasian male my story would be different.
I wasn't very social, there was only one friend I kept through college. He and I both moved to LA, and his sister met someone that got him a Covid PA job on Dear White People. Once I moved to LA the following year, I was able to hop on the show Gaslit with him.
I was hands on with equipment and software 2 years faster than the universities in my state, and that gave me an advantage of having experience over my university peers.
I think college in general helped me see how you go about networking and marketing yourself.
I became a better storyteller and made local connections.
The people were the only part of film school worth it to me
It helped me get my first job at CNN but mostly it was just a way to delay adulthood a few years
It didn’t.
Mainly the connections with other peers who would recommend me to jobs, and the ability to use gear freely to experiment and figure out how to work with said gear so I was ready when I got onto jobs.
At montana state we didn’t have much of an Alumni group. Almost no options for internships, zero help finding work after graduating. But comparing my peers to other film school graduates, we were so much more capable on set and handling gear than other schools grads. Very few of us worked as PAs for long because our skills were too useful in other rolls. But also very few of us have risen to the highest positions because of our lack of alumni and prestige that some other schools have.
Film School was the perfect opportunity for me to stop my previous career (architecture) and take the time to pivot and learn new skills. I was significantly older than my classmates and I was in grad school for a reason. So I tried to make sure that I was making the best use of my time in school.
I moved to Los Angeles with a group of people I met in film school. Without them I most likely would not have had the push to move to LA alone.
Allowed me to meet a team who's been able to help produce my first feature
It didn’t
Every job I have had since graduating has been because of the people I met in grad school
It didn’t, we were all left to figure everything out ourselves after they were done with us
Good proximity
My skills improved a lot while at film school, and it helped give me the confidence that I could do this.
Film school is the only reason I ever learned how movies get made. Before I started, I barely even realized that “making movies” was a job a person could have. Though the institution itself was corrupt and a mess, my professors cared deeply about teaching us all to be professionals and the production process from end to end. My peer network got me every job I’ve ever held - the alumni and graduate “employment placement programs” never did a thing, but my friends and I have all helped each other get work at one time or another.Overall, I know that film school was expensive and difficult, but it made me the film professional I am today.
Make all the stupid mistakes before it matters
Carnegie Mellon didn’t offer any support in my career path and was a mistake. They advertise a fraudulent program and they scam students into attending.
Helped me get an entertainment internship
Meeting people and working with them is helpful. Learning the art of narrative is critical.
It didn't.
It got me skills and confidence.
Offering an internship program in Los Angeles. They did not find internships
My first project in film school, I got a shopping agreement for a reality show idea I had. I couldn't have done that without my professor advocating for me and setting up those meetings. I ultimately didn't sell a show, but I got further than most in my class.
Film school was a lot of fun. It allowed me to realize that directing wasn't for me although I did enjoy editing a ton. I edited the school's soap opera on 3/4 tape linear systems. I shot and edited a documentary of mine. It was a lot of fun - I also interned at a bunch of post houses in Boston and at Avid Technology which got me where I am today.
I wish I hadn't gone during a pandemic, I think I would've broken in faster
Networked more and better. Connected more with faculty and alums.
I wish I had put my peers and my connections above the work. I was so focused on making good work in school to get noticed and get ahead of others at the expense of personal relationships. Film school work doesn't matter as much as relationships that will last a lifetime.
applied myself more in undergrad
Nothing, I loved film school
Not gone
Made more films
Pursue skills that translated to jobs but in reality the film program at CSULA was woefully inadequate and out of touch with the industry.
NetWorked a little bit more.
I used the term ‘short film’ to describe one of my projects, I should have said ‘experimental film that happens to be short’. The result was to confuse my supervisor and mentors about what I was actually doing and missing out on what they might have contributed.
Be more open to commercial work
I should have more actively look for internships.
I wish I had networked more instead of focusing solely on projects.
Written as feature, mastered editing - a real hard skill that pays.
I would have done my senior project differently, highlighting my lighting and cinematography skills.
Interviewed the program more, there was a lot of disorganization within the program and I think speaking with current students it would have been made clear to me
Maybe went to a more renowned film school instead of a SUNY
Chosen either a different field or different university
I wish I changed majors.
I wish I had written and directed more of my own stuff instead of mostly working on other people's projects
Talked to more people, made more projects, watched more movies, went to film school in Los Angeles rather than New York. Only a few people from the east coast actually moved out here from my school.
I wish I had directed more.
The film school part of my college was basically a joke, so maybe I should’ve gone to a place that students took more seriously. But in the end, college is what you make of it,
I think I got the most of my experience but could have maybe gone to a better school
Networking - the school didn’t emphasize how important this would be and I felt unprepared after graduation for that reality
I don't regret getting my MFA, but I sometimes wish I had waited a bit longer between undergrad and grad school so I could figure out what I truly wanted. I love writing but my focus has shifted and I think if I had waited, I might've chosen to pursue an MFA in another writing form, besides screenwriting. Or I might've decided I didn't need an MFA at all.
Dropped out, and started working sooner
I wish that I solely focused not on the filmmaking major and would've just made connections in Film clubs and peer/alumni networks because ultimately that is what mostly influenced my career progression.
I should've been nicer and more open to criticism
Make better projects. Contacted real celebrities and production houses for internships.
Gone to The Philippines.
Watched more of the films that were offered for screening
I attacked film school with everything I had. I probably wouldn’t change anything.
I wish that I didn't put any films on credit cards. That's been the biggest issue post-graduation. Student loan debt is fine, but credit card debt is not.
More clubs
I wish I had spent more time making my own projects instead of helping with others.
Made more films, starting GAing earlier to save more money
Nothing different!
I wish I started applying to Agencies more often in my last semester to get a full time entry level gig on graduation. Should have dropped out of my business certificate program to achieve this.
Quit immediately.
I wish I had participated in fewer student films and focused more on my relationship with faculty.
I don't think there's anything in particular I would've done differently.
I’m not too sure, being more social/outgoing to work on set didn’t seem to do much. Neither did fostering relationships with faculty
Network like crazy, get more projects going, don’t just go with the flow of the program, don’t wait for a yes or opportunities to appear. Take more risks and move boldly to what you want
Pushed the bar more.
I wish I had been better at networking with producing students.
I wish I would have majored in something that made me employable while minoring in Film instead.
I wish I’d taken a breath and realized it would all come in due time. Instead, I worked on every single project I could and burned myself out - though it could be argued that that’s how I learned to have the work ethic that I do. So who knows
I wish I was more ambitious with learning other skills or program that the school did not offer at the time.
Not attended Carnegie Mellon. There are programs that are worth it but not here
Gone later — when digital media had broken.
I wish I didn't relocate to a different city to study a shitarse theory course
Made more actual films
Focused a lot more on networking outside of film school with people who are in the jobs that I am aiming for.
I did everything right.
I wish I'd been even more active in networking, and spent even more time building practical skills outside of the classroom. However, I was in film school during COVID, so it was a bit tough.
do more creative things (Write more)
Transferred to an LA based school with access to internships and an alumni network that wouldve actually helped me. Also the professors at my college didnt know ANYTHING about how the business actually works. The words "talent agent" were never uttered ONCE despite them being an incredibly vital and important part of the ecosystem of the film business.
Taken anti anxiety medication
I wish I interned more and networked with more people
it was great for me but not many of my peers found it worth it
I wish I would have gone to a less expensive film school
I made the most out of my time there.
Found ways to save more money, taken more internships
I wish I had been more serious about writing, instead of producing.
Didn’t go
Studied abroad, double majored in journalism
I'm not entirely sure. I wish I tried making more serious films. All my student films were comedic and fun in nature.
Pitched more and earlier to big companies.
I wished I had my projects ready to go right out of the gate. I'm lucky I still have a manager, but I'm walking on eggshells everyday, afraid they'd drop me, because 3 years later, I'm still at work on my first project.
Not sure
Foresaw the future
Stop wasting time with film related pursuits and gone in the stock market investing money. Cause I’d be a fucking millionaire right now.
I don’t knowSince Covid hit the industry pretty hard. Meaning I don’t know how I could’ve avoided that after graduation.
I wish ny doctoral work at Birmingham had not been interrupted, but feel moving forward independently is the only practical plan at this point.
Hard to tell
I wish I had pursued more internships immediately after graduation.
Worked at an agency. Not worked for a director for so long. Should have worked for several. Should have realized I make my fate and the boss doesn’t care.
Moved out of Georgia sooner tbh, no work there Currie tly
Maybe produced more of my own content
I wish I'd moved on from film / tv hopes right away
I would have gone back to school for something else.
I wish I had hit the ground running a little faster and worked hard on making my own projects
Reached out to more alumni via LinkedIn that were already living and established in LA.
This ones tough because im happy with my path immediatly after graduation, but maybe i could have took more time out of my full time job to join the few major productions in my state.
No, I think I’ve made mostly good decisions.
I think I should have made more films right out of school
Not worked for an independent film company that was flatlining and going nowhere -- it did nothing for my career besides make me hate the industry.
Nothing, just wish I dropped out before graduation
Don't get me started
Tried to get a real job in a production office, not on a set.
Hunkered down harder when I moved to LA
I probably would have focused on editing quicker. I could have probably gotten in the union 2/3 years earlier and started racking up those hours.
That's a hard question to answer at the moment. But I'm sure it's related to credit card debt.
More no-budget shorts
Moved to Los Angeles sooner. From graduation to moving was 2 years.
Had more of a budget for life circumstances. Suddenly medical diagnoses, additional financial tax for being neurodivergent (losing keys, etc.), crashing car, etc.
Learn how to market myself
Nothing in particular. I think I did the best I could do given I graduated into the double strike.
Enter the workforce and not be picky about which job I got, along with making film material with my network
Get a job! I thought I needed to be freelance to be free for gigs or films that came up but for young people the benefits of working with larger companies or more experienced people often outweigh the practical returns on job flexibility
Nada. Moving out west was exactly what I wanted to do
I wish I was better at navigating agent/manager relationships.
I would have saved more money before attempting Los Angeles.
I wish I hadn’t assumed a career in production would somehow get me anywhere close to a career in directing. The two tracks run parallel and I was too naive to understand that
Written more steadily, perhaps moved to LA.
Made more actual films
Networked even more than I did.
I did everything right.
immediately apply to teaching jobs
Wish I would have followed up more with connections
I wish I had kept up with my network.
Sometimes I think I should have tried to get into scripted studio stuff instead of applying to post houses when I got to LA - I should have tried to enter the studio system as an assistant editor . But I love what I do now. It would be hard to get back into scripted features - all my connections there have dried up.
I've never felt that film school was worth it. Especially after 25+ years seeing new grads coming me out with a minimum of applicable skills. I'd much rather hire someone who went a trade school route or just started working and worked their way up. To me, four years of school is four years you could've been working.
I went to USC. Going to a top film school will make an enormous difference.
I feel film school is a good first step, but it's just that. You need the funds and the time to last the period after graduation until you 'make it.' Without resources to sustain yourself for at least 5 years after graduation, the best film school education won't mean a thing because you won't last.
depends on the school, my undergrad is not what it once was but would recommend my grad school
The industry is dead in the US
Look at the current state of the film industry. Is it worth taking the chance and potentially losing a decade or two of your working life?
I think Point Park helped a lot in showing what filmmaking was and trying to figure out what you wanna do. It wasn’t perfect by means at the time they thought they were going to get a lot of production in Pittsburgh so nowadays there’s a precaution I would say where it’s like you’re gonna go to a place where they don’t actually have a lot of networking going on anymore
It is not ‘film school’ it is film studies focussed on directing, producing, or writing supported by a large network of working professionals and requiring creative deliverables.
Film school helps you find specifically what you like and more importantly what you don’t like to do in the industry. Also gives you really fun time to experiment and make connections with like minded individuals
In Slovakia we don't pay for school. Of corse it has a lot of problems but best thing that I recommend to everybody is that you have ability to work with great people, make friends and create portfolio.
The knowledge about cameras and production still applies for event planning and Social Media among other careers. It's transferable knowledge.
The program has its merits, but financial caution is important.
I think the cost is so great in the industry is dying so I would never recommend someone takeout alone because they simply won’t be able to pay it off and they won’t be able to make phones because they’ll be doing in debt to afford to do anything unless they come from a wealthy family
It's hard times in the film business right now. Starting a new career with significant debt almost guarantees you'll have to bail out & get a regular job to cover the debt.
I think programs can change quickly so whether a program is worth it is up to the individual. I do feel like the friends and collaborators I made through the program were worth it, even if the classwork and learning was sub-par.
If you’re going to film school, go to a Top 5 film school, not a whatever school - the connections you meet there may last the rest of your life
Loyola did not prepare me for the real world.
I would absolutely recommend film school, especially for people who already do not have industry connections. Even though I did already have industry connections, film school allowed me to have a college experience without feeling like I was wasting my time on a subject that I ultimately didn't want to end up in. I was able to make movies without having to worry about cost because everyone would work on everyone else's projects for free. My school still gave me access to equipment and professors that I would not have had access to otherwise. Additionally, the liberal arts/less film focused part of my education is something that I think is valuable for everyone and I believe it helped contribute to me being a well rounded individual.
Film school is not necessary. I could have made my own movies with that $100,000 tuition I spent on an "education" that I could've given myself by watching movies and taking notes. The best education is learned first-hand, at least for me. All my teachers were teaching an outdated system too. the Film industry is dying because it cannot keep up with the times (i.e. social media/youtube creation).
Get onto set. Film schools don't teach you the practicalities of making a film or commercial. They only teach the theory and higher art form part of filmmaking.
Best learn by doing. No one has ever asked me about my education.
I don’t think my school has a very good film program anymore. It’s underfunded and understaffed
I got a lot more other than film school out of my degree—I was a double major and involved in a few on campus organizations and made a lot of friends I still have today. Go to film school if you think you will have a worthwhile experience, even if it doesn’t lead directly to your dream job
Industry is much smaller today than 10 years ago and I’m lucky.
I loved have two years where my biggest priority was writing. I loved having the space and resources to make the most out of it and get to workshop with other writers pursuing the same path. But it wasn't worth the debt I took out for sure.
Paying full price is too much for what you get
I would recommend pursing connections in Film clubs and peer/alumni networks over actually course study. Particularly if you have a interest in producing it may be more beneficial to have a Business/Accountant background.
I've steered my daughter away from a film degree but she still ended up choosing one in college. I dread the days she realizes his much disappointment awaits her.
Giant waste of time.
It is a growing program and is gaining a lot of good gear and expertise, and certainly a cheaper option if you live in Boise or don't have to take a ton of debt to get into it.
I don’t know the exact curriculum anymore. But as one of the cheaper film school options in the world. It’s one of the few that’s worth it. And it’s much more reasonable than most schools price wise.
While I think that film school was marginally helpful in my skills development, I also know I could have developed the same skills if I had just jumped into sets and watched some YouTube videos. Ultimately it was very expensive and as the industry is kind of in shambles right now, I can’t recommend it as a secure future. I wish I had gotten a degree in a fallback.
If you’re international, like me, it’s worth the visa and connections
I think grad students should have a real reason to go to grad school. It's a big commitment, so you shouldn't just be going because you feel like you have to or don't know what else to do.
NYU is the most expensive film school but I believe it was worth every penny.
The dual degree program did not help at all in my job search. Their worthless
In this day; college tuitions are increasing tremendously and the worth of that degree is dropping dramatically. It feels like most degrees are only useful in STEM careers. And even then- those careers can be satisfied with specialty certification courses.Unless you’re able to go to college with minimal amounts of debt; why go when one can use resources online to be self taught with no formal education.
UCLA isn't the best...
I think it's a good program but I've had a different path and needed my dayjob in order to make ends meet while in school.
Film school over charge.
Im lucky because I didn't haveto take out a loan and could afford film school. Because of that, I am forever grateful and happy. I am not sure how much I would have loved my experience if there was a serious financial stressor hanging over me during my time there.
Cost is less of an issue so much as the question, are they ready for film school?
I think that film school is worth it for specific types of people. I wouldn't recommend going into debt to go to film school, and if you already have film production experience it might not be worth it either. However, the network is what I found most helpful, and the structure in which to experiment and learn as well.
I finished undergrad with COVID in 2020. Then I graduated grad school in 2023 and the strikes occurred soon after, the timing of everything just devalued how I felt about the film school experience.
I would recommend people work in the industry before going to film school, especially if you want to do crew work or general video production. You can volunteer on student films and get a lot of the same practical education that the film students are paying 50-80k a year for. Would highly caution against going to film school for people who can’t afford it or have other options to get started in the businessRoi is very poor versus YouTube or paid job experience
School and networking are incredible, but not worth a lifetime of debt. If you’re motivated, you can definitely learn enough of it on your own to get started
I recommend a screenwriting MFA program for someone who has lots of ideas and knowledge on how to write for the screen, but needs the time and support to get it done. Before school, it took me years to write a script. In 17 months at school, I wrote 9 scripts. UCLA offers low tuition and TA opportunities so it's not terribly expensive. The rent and cost of living in LA is brutal though so debt is likely because if you have to get a job while in school than you're not going to get the most of school so it's kind of a catch-22.
I learned a tremendous amount in film school. I'm comfortable in academic environments and I had a wonderful time. I managed to graduate without much debt. But the vast majority of my classmates were out of the industry within five years.
Film school isn't worth it. You can learn more just by doing it yourself and watching YouTube tutorials.
I’d recommend a film school that is practical more than theoretical; and I’d say try your absolute best to get scholarships or reduce the overall cost/find a school that isn’t nearly as expensive. Prestige in a school means absolutely nothing, it’s about your peers and the curriculum itself. Does it require that you make movies? Then it’ll be a good learning experience.
The industry is convulsing beneath us and I would recommend a more stable career until it settles into its next iteration.
Whatever you do, don’t go to Carnegie Mellon
I wouldn’t recommend film as an undergrad. One should use that time to learn how to think and live a life of collecting stories. After some time in the real world, go to school and hone the craft of storytelling, cinematography, directing, or whatever moves you.
The best way to learn is to bank hours in a working environment
Your money is better spent making films
The prestige of the education does not actually matter on paper when you try to apply for jobs. People with a bachelors in an unrelated major are able to get the entry level jobs that you want just because they know someone in the company. The network in the school is unfortunately not all that extensive or helpful. Sure, you might get a couple of unpaid or low-paid gigs, or some vertical drama jobs that may or may not lead to something else.I would think twice before spending that much on a masters programme, only for your resume to be looked at the same as someone with a high school diploma/bachelor's degree. If you have parents who can financial support you several years post-grad, maybe it's worth it for you.
My kids are not allowed to go to film school. Instead they will either go to school for business or marketing or accounting - anything that could get them work in multiply industries. They are technically nepo babies so if they want to work in film then they can get work through me easily.
It was inarguably the best three years of my life.
It depends on your background. I came from a place where I had absolutely no film connections and lived in an area where there was little to no film industry. If that's you, film school may help open doors that weren't previously accessible to you. If you come from a more connected place, it may not do much more for you than you could already do yourself.
Either go to business school or move to an LA school with good connections. Networking is more important than skill.
I would go to film school, but only in a film city like New York, LA, Toronto and Vancouver and I wouldn't take on too much debt
the industry is on life support. much harder now. pivot to social media stuff!
the film industry is really not doing well and we don't expect it to get better in a few years. Please DO NOT go to film school on student loan. I've seen my friends who did and they struggle to pay it back. I only did it because my family can support me. I have received enough credits and awards and I have representation and plenty of opportunities and yet I have very little to show and not earning much. Most people from my cohort or the few cohorts above and below mine are doing work they consider worthless, being assistant to people and overworked, working on verticals that they hate, or not in the business anymore. I rarely know anyone who is completely satisfied with where they are five years out of film school. I know there is still time, but like I said, if you have money you can try, but don't get a loan.
I would recommend film school, but not at the cost and the lifetime of debt.
If you want to improve on your craft it's the best. If you want money right away it's not for you.
I do think Stark opened doors for me that I wouldn't have been able to if I hadn't gone there. It also helped me see myself as a creative and have more faith in my creative abilities.
Not an industry for those from working class backgrounds anymore
Film school is a total blast and definitely got me where I am today. I actually would LOVE to go back to film school. Maybe one day I will if they'll take old farts like me. But only for fun - maybe when I retire. BUT I don't recommend taking on a lot of debt for film school. The business has slowed down a bit and may be hard to pay it all off when you get in.
Opportunity for leadership roles
It cemented my desire to be in this industry.
How to think about and make films.
My understanding of the filmmaking process as a whole.
Practice working with others, communication skills,
The experience
Confidence
Friends
The film industry is a 1099 work for hire community exclusively for friends, fuck buddies, and occasionally families.
Generally, overall don’t be stupid don’t be a jerk, but to be specific for actual film stuff the idea of good safe and cheap as a triangle helped explain how to produce/make a Film a little bit.
A concrete ability to formally research subjects and form proposals for novel extensions to the current state of understanding.
Internship and experience/confidence
Experience and friendship
Learning to materialize ideas through budgets, schedules and contracts.
The most valuable thing I gained was a solid network of industry contacts.
Network, film literacy
Ability to improvise / change plans if things didn't go well. And how to work with the resources that are available.
You have to teach yourself and drive yourself, no one cares if your successful or not.
It’s less about film school, and more about college as a whole - it taught me independence and avenues to get involved and meet many people
Sorry, but nothing
1 friend.
Friends / A college experience
Realizing I can just make my own shit whenever I want, even when I don't have a crew, I still have a camera and a cat that I can play around with.
Hands on experience.
Film School in general set me straight after goofing off in the beginning during Gen-Eds
Learning how to tell better stories
Access to internships as well as friendships that sustained me
A portfolio of scripts when I graduated.
The connections
Peer to Peer / Alumni Connections
It will sound facile but it was learning how to put away equipment.
A film set isn’t a democracy, it’s a dictatorship.
Connections with peers.
Peer network
Friends. Some who still work, but many of us battled the tough times together and hired each other whenever we could.
I met my boyfriend there. But in all seriousness, it is where I learned to develop scripts and write for my available budget/materials.
A visa (and my friends)
Learning how to tell my own story and pitch my skills to others (how much architecture overlaps with film, etc.)
Jon Watts directing workshop with the director of Spider-Man No Way Home
Friends and connections.
My friends/connections to other classmates.
my network/cohort
Professors, GUEST SPEAKERS, access, internships, classes, set experience, multiple festival badges. (Sorry. That's not single)
Work ethic
Knowledge
Debt
Relationships with the faculty
My professional network.
My friends and community.
Humility?
My wife
Hard to put a finger on it.
Network
That it was a waste of time and money
Experience on lots and LOTS of short film sets. Those connections and learning experiences cannot be created in any other way.
Relationships with classmates and professors, teaching experience
Time on set
Always maintain a strong work ethic, amiable work relationships with your colleagues and knowing that working in other departments gives you a better understanding of how the filed works.
Colleagues and story sense.
Everyone had big ideas and no one can execute them. Film School doesn't breed generational talent.People who are insatiable to create will hone their craft to a greater standard
Friends
The classes for the producers are one of the few places where they get to be fully creative and/or learn important information about the industry and the professors(for the producing classes) are supportive and great people to learn from.
I met my spouse.
I found my goal and found my people.
Between the actual education & the peer network
Friends, but it has nothing to do with my career.
Credibility. I am mostly self taught with technical skills and learned creative skills through work
A good network of people and learning how to break down a script
USC pedigree
the general idea of how films work
Narrative story development
I became a much better writer.
Professor relationships.
The education
Honestly besides the joy of making films it was the internships that got me my first jobs.
Learn skills that can translate to other roles. My job as an event manager translated really well to becoming a video producer
Go get a job, any job, and start networking and making connections. Be a good person.
Don’t give up.
Make friends and keep them. Put your friends and connections above the work you make in school. Stay out of drama. Also have a life outside of film school. Most people won't get their first break until 5 years after school, so make sure you last that long, and also don't give up (until it makes sense to do so.)
Have a backup
You’re fucking crazy. You have better chances of getting attacked by a great white shark in the Santa Monica bay than achieving stability in the film industry.
They’re in an industry that is in limbo so I understand that the job market is very fickle so you may have to accept doing a side job for a while while trying to get this to work. My advice is try your best to get into a union. also maybe a much more stable job at a studio.
Well, a singl course on script supervision and a few all sheets will get them more work than they need (unfortunately, it is not creative but it is lucrative and get you on set)
Find out what you don’t like and avoid it
Be happy and take the chance that you are surrounded by great creative people. Focus on your project and don't take grades too siriusly
Learn what historical materialism means, read Marx and learn how you are being unfairly exploited, just because you have dreams.
Be proactive in seeking internships and building relationships while still in school.
Learn a hard skill like editing and learn AI filmmaking because physical production cost are so much that they’re just isn’t enough work to survive.
When you get a job. Show up on time, with a good attitude, ready to work & learn. I can teach lots of technical skills, but I can't teach a good attitude. Also, if you don't understand something, please ask for help. I'd rather explain instead of having to re-do a task.
Not yet
Shoot as much as you can and meet as many people as you canIf you’re going to pursue film, just recognize it’s long hours, low pay, inconsistent work — you need to be extraordinarily passionate and committed to make it workIt’s not impossible to thrive in film, but it’s much harder nowadays — I would seriously explore other pathways as a primary career
Youtube and other online sources will teach you more than uni. Hang aroung film sets if possible to get in as a runner instead of bothering with uni
Learn something else. Film and TV and web are not promising and you will likely spend many months of your career unemployed.
Film school is the easiest way to meet people going into the industry, gain access to internships/connections, and use equipment that you wouldn't otherwise have access to. I wouldn't say it is worth it to go heavily in debt for, but if you can make it work, I would recommend it. Plus going to college in general will be fun and give you life experiences that you will not get if you skip it.
Watch how society is moving, and consider where it will be tomorrow. Don't lessen your morals for content, but rather compromise. Meet your audience halfway.
Get onto sets immediately. Learn and soak up everything and don't think you know more than people just because you watched YouTube videos.
Go to the big schools if you have big dreams, because knowing someone can set you up for life if you have the right work ethic and mentality .
Just make your own movies. The industry is a grind. Just create your own path.
Go with the flow and take the opportunities that you come across. It’s an incredibly flawed industry and most successes can be attributed to either privilege or luck.
Make friends, spend wisely, have a specific goal and know options on how to get there while paying the bills
Do not let a non-LA based program convince you that you can break into writing without spending a few years in LA
Really think about whether you want to do it. Maybe work as a PA for a while or find one-off courses/summer programs to pursue first before making a time/financial commitment.
Be open minded, there’s a lot more jobs in the industry than just Director, DP, or Producer
Get a practical degree and be nice to people
Get a real degree or a job with real skills. Make you own money and learn on the side. It will be just as valuable.
Don’t worry about picking a lane or skill in your first 3 years. Try everything. There are jobs out there you probably didn’t know exist and you may be perfect for them.
Plan for a fallback! Times are shit right now!
I'd say work on as many film sets as you can while in school and build up a peer network and a professional one as best you can. Always show up on time (early really) and have a good attitude. Stinkers won't get hired back! Every film you make in school doesn't have to be perfect or make it into Sundance, it needs to be able to show someone else what you are capable of in some capacity or another.
Have a good backup plan. The days of going all in, going for broke, all or nothing in film and entertainment is not worth it anymore. The percentage of success was low when I started and it is so much worse now.
Be open to learning new skills and paths. There are more jobs on set and in the industry than Director, Producer, Actor, and Cinematographer… and you usually don’t see any classes about balancing budgets, organizing a stadium load in and out, or managing craft services.
Network and save money!
Apply to UT Austin or fully funded MFA programs. I can't express this enough. The amount of scholarship money that I get from UT is incredible. They notoriously hire students or help us connect with future employment opportunities, if we perform well. The department is invested in our growth and success.
No
Be your best, do your best, network
Find something, anything else to do.
Ask about unions, ask about current industry standard software, ask about other industries that you can work in - theatre / gaming / live events. Do it all.
Be kind, be humble, and be driven.
Learn ai better than your peers
Lower your expectations. Network. Say yes to opportunities.
Find a way to make your life sustainable while you continue to work on your craft. Don't put the pressure of paying for your life onto your creativity - that won't result int he best work.
DO NOT GO TO FILM SCHOOL. Pick another major that you can use in/outside of the film industry (IT, Finance, Accounting, Business)
Realize that no two paths are the same in this business. Work hard, work smart, ask questions (at the appropriate times), and be good to work with. Have fun with it whenever you can, life is serious and difficult enough. Anticipate needs, be CLEAR about what you want and where you’re going, and take any and every opportunity to be as creative as you can.
Be strategic in what you pursue and say yes to while in school. It's critical to have at least some idea of your plan and next steps. Don't overdo it to the point where your own projects suffer, or your mental/physical health suffers. Quality over quantity.
Ride the wave of new tools to keep up with storytelling technology
Always look at the your main goal be it above line work but see if below the line skills can get you accessible jobs.
Whatever you do, don’t go to Carnegie mellon
Grind if you want to succeed.
Have a backup plan
Don't go to film school
-Network outside your school bubble, especially with people who are currently in the jobs that you eventually want to be in.-Join a filmmaking community/nonprofit organisation that speaks to you and your interests and work/intern for them so you get connected to creatives but also the executives.-Unfortunately, yes you should learn and perhaps get certified in AI filmmaking and productivity tools because those are valuable skills as a post-grad in the current industry that may actually land you a paid job.-Just keep taking a step or two forward everyday towards your goal.
Not really. Back when I graduated there were many online places to lok for work that I don’t think are viable today unfortunately. No idea how new grads can get work now aside from knowing someone.
Understand that you're entering a notoriously difficult career and be kind to yourself. Work hard, learn as much as you can, keep making things that please you, and accept that success will happen on its own time. Make a plan but be ready to pivot if things don't go accordingly. It can be frustrating, discouraging, and take longer than you want or expect it to - you have to find a way to be okay with that. Don't spend time comparing yourself to other people or absorbing a bunch of online negativity about the industry. Do what feels right for you, and it will be okay.
Network as often as you can. Make genuine friendships with people who will be working in the film business. Be nice to the nepo babies since they are the ones with the guarantee to make it. Intern as often as you can. But network network network. That's all that matters. The dumbest, most untalented people in the world make it because they network.
Networking is not the networking people sell you. Just be friendly and be good at your job
Intern, learn all facets of the business, especially accounting and distribution.
make successful friends
don't waste time on projects that you don't love and also pay little. Budget your time. Have clear goals.
Do NOT take on debt from a private film school! Attend city and state funded programs.
Plan to make your own stuff. Experience is needed first.
You need to know yourself and be comfortable going against the grain and not looking at your peers.
Intern intern intern. I think I interned at 4 places by the time I finished at BU. The BU owned TV station, 2 post houses in Boston, and Avid Technology. Interning got me my first job and here I am. But you need to hustle and do good work and be contentious at these jobs. Don't show up expecting things to happen for you. Know that you'll be doing grunt work and not great stuff for a while as you "pay your dues" and prove you are dependable and a good worker. And be kind - always be kind and helpful.
Below is the raw, unedited commentary from graduates reflecting on the true value of their degrees, the crushing weight of student debt, and the power of the networks they built.
Elaborate in greater detail, on how film school helped you get into the business:
Connections, and skills and mentorshipI gained a lot of leadership skills with the clubs I joined and opportunities staff gave me
Many early jobs were directly or indirectly through connections I made during my time at school.
Prior to film school, I felt I had bits and pieces of skills I needed to confidently make a film, but I could never put them together as a coherent whole. USC did that for me. What I learned was nothing new, but the way they taught me and the competitive, pressure-cooker environment I was thrown in crystallized what I knew and made me confident in my abilities.
USC was a major plus on my resume
Film school didn’t give me shit. I learned more from Youtube Filmmakers than the, “accomplished professors” at school.
This survey’s concept of ‘the business’ and ‘film school’ is too restricting to include either my masters research or doctoral interests. My MA through research allowed me to create my field of interest and connect it to storytelling.
It wasn't about studies. It was about to be able work with peers, shape and show my skill. Conections with great documentary directors.
It didn't, if you mean the film business
Film school provided me with invaluable connections and hands-on experience, particularly through internships that led to my first jobs in the industry. The collaborative environment helped me build a solid network of peers.
Friends in the business, collaborators. No doors opened. That’s sales nonsense.
I don't know if it directly did, job opportunities providing through the university were non existent and only through personal connections have I been able to get any work
There’s like 1 or 2 meaningful connections from film school - otherwise it didn’t help my career much at all
If I were a caucasian male my story would be different.
I wasn't very social, there was only one friend I kept through college. He and I both moved to LA, and his sister met someone that got him a Covid PA job on Dear White People. Once I moved to LA the following year, I was able to hop on the show Gaslit with him.
I was hands on with equipment and software 2 years faster than the universities in my state, and that gave me an advantage of having experience over my university peers.
I think college in general helped me see how you go about networking and marketing yourself.
I became a better storyteller and made local connections.
The people were the only part of film school worth it to me
It helped me get my first job at CNN but mostly it was just a way to delay adulthood a few years
It didn’t.
Mainly the connections with other peers who would recommend me to jobs, and the ability to use gear freely to experiment and figure out how to work with said gear so I was ready when I got onto jobs.
At montana state we didn’t have much of an Alumni group. Almost no options for internships, zero help finding work after graduating. But comparing my peers to other film school graduates, we were so much more capable on set and handling gear than other schools grads. Very few of us worked as PAs for long because our skills were too useful in other rolls. But also very few of us have risen to the highest positions because of our lack of alumni and prestige that some other schools have.
Film School was the perfect opportunity for me to stop my previous career (architecture) and take the time to pivot and learn new skills. I was significantly older than my classmates and I was in grad school for a reason. So I tried to make sure that I was making the best use of my time in school.
I moved to Los Angeles with a group of people I met in film school. Without them I most likely would not have had the push to move to LA alone.
Allowed me to meet a team who's been able to help produce my first feature
It didn’t
Every job I have had since graduating has been because of the people I met in grad school
It didn’t, we were all left to figure everything out ourselves after they were done with us
Good proximity
My skills improved a lot while at film school, and it helped give me the confidence that I could do this.
Film school is the only reason I ever learned how movies get made. Before I started, I barely even realized that “making movies” was a job a person could have. Though the institution itself was corrupt and a mess, my professors cared deeply about teaching us all to be professionals and the production process from end to end. My peer network got me every job I’ve ever held - the alumni and graduate “employment placement programs” never did a thing, but my friends and I have all helped each other get work at one time or another.Overall, I know that film school was expensive and difficult, but it made me the film professional I am today.
Make all the stupid mistakes before it matters
Carnegie Mellon didn’t offer any support in my career path and was a mistake. They advertise a fraudulent program and they scam students into attending.
Helped me get an entertainment internship
Meeting people and working with them is helpful. Learning the art of narrative is critical.
It didn't.
It got me skills and confidence.
Offering an internship program in Los Angeles. They did not find internships
My first project in film school, I got a shopping agreement for a reality show idea I had. I couldn't have done that without my professor advocating for me and setting up those meetings. I ultimately didn't sell a show, but I got further than most in my class.
Film school was a lot of fun. It allowed me to realize that directing wasn't for me although I did enjoy editing a ton. I edited the school's soap opera on 3/4 tape linear systems. I shot and edited a documentary of mine. It was a lot of fun - I also interned at a bunch of post houses in Boston and at Avid Technology which got me where I am today.
What do you wish you had done differently while in film school, if anything?
Double majored with a degree to fall back onI wish I hadn't gone during a pandemic, I think I would've broken in faster
Networked more and better. Connected more with faculty and alums.
I wish I had put my peers and my connections above the work. I was so focused on making good work in school to get noticed and get ahead of others at the expense of personal relationships. Film school work doesn't matter as much as relationships that will last a lifetime.
applied myself more in undergrad
Nothing, I loved film school
Not gone
Made more films
Pursue skills that translated to jobs but in reality the film program at CSULA was woefully inadequate and out of touch with the industry.
NetWorked a little bit more.
I used the term ‘short film’ to describe one of my projects, I should have said ‘experimental film that happens to be short’. The result was to confuse my supervisor and mentors about what I was actually doing and missing out on what they might have contributed.
Be more open to commercial work
I should have more actively look for internships.
I wish I had networked more instead of focusing solely on projects.
Written as feature, mastered editing - a real hard skill that pays.
I would have done my senior project differently, highlighting my lighting and cinematography skills.
Interviewed the program more, there was a lot of disorganization within the program and I think speaking with current students it would have been made clear to me
Maybe went to a more renowned film school instead of a SUNY
Chosen either a different field or different university
I wish I changed majors.
I wish I had written and directed more of my own stuff instead of mostly working on other people's projects
Talked to more people, made more projects, watched more movies, went to film school in Los Angeles rather than New York. Only a few people from the east coast actually moved out here from my school.
I wish I had directed more.
The film school part of my college was basically a joke, so maybe I should’ve gone to a place that students took more seriously. But in the end, college is what you make of it,
I think I got the most of my experience but could have maybe gone to a better school
Networking - the school didn’t emphasize how important this would be and I felt unprepared after graduation for that reality
I don't regret getting my MFA, but I sometimes wish I had waited a bit longer between undergrad and grad school so I could figure out what I truly wanted. I love writing but my focus has shifted and I think if I had waited, I might've chosen to pursue an MFA in another writing form, besides screenwriting. Or I might've decided I didn't need an MFA at all.
Dropped out, and started working sooner
I wish that I solely focused not on the filmmaking major and would've just made connections in Film clubs and peer/alumni networks because ultimately that is what mostly influenced my career progression.
I should've been nicer and more open to criticism
Make better projects. Contacted real celebrities and production houses for internships.
Gone to The Philippines.
Watched more of the films that were offered for screening
I attacked film school with everything I had. I probably wouldn’t change anything.
I wish that I didn't put any films on credit cards. That's been the biggest issue post-graduation. Student loan debt is fine, but credit card debt is not.
More clubs
I wish I had spent more time making my own projects instead of helping with others.
Made more films, starting GAing earlier to save more money
Nothing different!
I wish I started applying to Agencies more often in my last semester to get a full time entry level gig on graduation. Should have dropped out of my business certificate program to achieve this.
Quit immediately.
I wish I had participated in fewer student films and focused more on my relationship with faculty.
I don't think there's anything in particular I would've done differently.
I’m not too sure, being more social/outgoing to work on set didn’t seem to do much. Neither did fostering relationships with faculty
Network like crazy, get more projects going, don’t just go with the flow of the program, don’t wait for a yes or opportunities to appear. Take more risks and move boldly to what you want
Pushed the bar more.
I wish I had been better at networking with producing students.
I wish I would have majored in something that made me employable while minoring in Film instead.
I wish I’d taken a breath and realized it would all come in due time. Instead, I worked on every single project I could and burned myself out - though it could be argued that that’s how I learned to have the work ethic that I do. So who knows
I wish I was more ambitious with learning other skills or program that the school did not offer at the time.
Not attended Carnegie Mellon. There are programs that are worth it but not here
Gone later — when digital media had broken.
I wish I didn't relocate to a different city to study a shitarse theory course
Made more actual films
Focused a lot more on networking outside of film school with people who are in the jobs that I am aiming for.
I did everything right.
I wish I'd been even more active in networking, and spent even more time building practical skills outside of the classroom. However, I was in film school during COVID, so it was a bit tough.
do more creative things (Write more)
Transferred to an LA based school with access to internships and an alumni network that wouldve actually helped me. Also the professors at my college didnt know ANYTHING about how the business actually works. The words "talent agent" were never uttered ONCE despite them being an incredibly vital and important part of the ecosystem of the film business.
Taken anti anxiety medication
I wish I interned more and networked with more people
it was great for me but not many of my peers found it worth it
I wish I would have gone to a less expensive film school
I made the most out of my time there.
Found ways to save more money, taken more internships
I wish I had been more serious about writing, instead of producing.
Didn’t go
Studied abroad, double majored in journalism
I'm not entirely sure. I wish I tried making more serious films. All my student films were comedic and fun in nature.
What do you wish you had done differently after graduation, if anything?
I wish I found a community of filmmakers to connect withPitched more and earlier to big companies.
I wished I had my projects ready to go right out of the gate. I'm lucky I still have a manager, but I'm walking on eggshells everyday, afraid they'd drop me, because 3 years later, I'm still at work on my first project.
Not sure
Foresaw the future
Stop wasting time with film related pursuits and gone in the stock market investing money. Cause I’d be a fucking millionaire right now.
I don’t knowSince Covid hit the industry pretty hard. Meaning I don’t know how I could’ve avoided that after graduation.
I wish ny doctoral work at Birmingham had not been interrupted, but feel moving forward independently is the only practical plan at this point.
Hard to tell
I wish I had pursued more internships immediately after graduation.
Worked at an agency. Not worked for a director for so long. Should have worked for several. Should have realized I make my fate and the boss doesn’t care.
Moved out of Georgia sooner tbh, no work there Currie tly
Maybe produced more of my own content
I wish I'd moved on from film / tv hopes right away
I would have gone back to school for something else.
I wish I had hit the ground running a little faster and worked hard on making my own projects
Reached out to more alumni via LinkedIn that were already living and established in LA.
This ones tough because im happy with my path immediatly after graduation, but maybe i could have took more time out of my full time job to join the few major productions in my state.
No, I think I’ve made mostly good decisions.
I think I should have made more films right out of school
Not worked for an independent film company that was flatlining and going nowhere -- it did nothing for my career besides make me hate the industry.
Nothing, just wish I dropped out before graduation
Don't get me started
Tried to get a real job in a production office, not on a set.
Hunkered down harder when I moved to LA
I probably would have focused on editing quicker. I could have probably gotten in the union 2/3 years earlier and started racking up those hours.
That's a hard question to answer at the moment. But I'm sure it's related to credit card debt.
More no-budget shorts
Moved to Los Angeles sooner. From graduation to moving was 2 years.
Had more of a budget for life circumstances. Suddenly medical diagnoses, additional financial tax for being neurodivergent (losing keys, etc.), crashing car, etc.
Learn how to market myself
Nothing in particular. I think I did the best I could do given I graduated into the double strike.
Enter the workforce and not be picky about which job I got, along with making film material with my network
Get a job! I thought I needed to be freelance to be free for gigs or films that came up but for young people the benefits of working with larger companies or more experienced people often outweigh the practical returns on job flexibility
Nada. Moving out west was exactly what I wanted to do
I wish I was better at navigating agent/manager relationships.
I would have saved more money before attempting Los Angeles.
I wish I hadn’t assumed a career in production would somehow get me anywhere close to a career in directing. The two tracks run parallel and I was too naive to understand that
Written more steadily, perhaps moved to LA.
Made more actual films
Networked even more than I did.
I did everything right.
immediately apply to teaching jobs
Wish I would have followed up more with connections
I wish I had kept up with my network.
Sometimes I think I should have tried to get into scripted studio stuff instead of applying to post houses when I got to LA - I should have tried to enter the studio system as an assistant editor . But I love what I do now. It would be hard to get back into scripted features - all my connections there have dried up.
Would you recommend your film program to someone starting today?
I think school can be important, no matter the degree. I think it helps some people mature, build good communication skills and expand knowledge on various topicsI've never felt that film school was worth it. Especially after 25+ years seeing new grads coming me out with a minimum of applicable skills. I'd much rather hire someone who went a trade school route or just started working and worked their way up. To me, four years of school is four years you could've been working.
I went to USC. Going to a top film school will make an enormous difference.
I feel film school is a good first step, but it's just that. You need the funds and the time to last the period after graduation until you 'make it.' Without resources to sustain yourself for at least 5 years after graduation, the best film school education won't mean a thing because you won't last.
depends on the school, my undergrad is not what it once was but would recommend my grad school
The industry is dead in the US
Look at the current state of the film industry. Is it worth taking the chance and potentially losing a decade or two of your working life?
I think Point Park helped a lot in showing what filmmaking was and trying to figure out what you wanna do. It wasn’t perfect by means at the time they thought they were going to get a lot of production in Pittsburgh so nowadays there’s a precaution I would say where it’s like you’re gonna go to a place where they don’t actually have a lot of networking going on anymore
It is not ‘film school’ it is film studies focussed on directing, producing, or writing supported by a large network of working professionals and requiring creative deliverables.
Film school helps you find specifically what you like and more importantly what you don’t like to do in the industry. Also gives you really fun time to experiment and make connections with like minded individuals
In Slovakia we don't pay for school. Of corse it has a lot of problems but best thing that I recommend to everybody is that you have ability to work with great people, make friends and create portfolio.
The knowledge about cameras and production still applies for event planning and Social Media among other careers. It's transferable knowledge.
The program has its merits, but financial caution is important.
I think the cost is so great in the industry is dying so I would never recommend someone takeout alone because they simply won’t be able to pay it off and they won’t be able to make phones because they’ll be doing in debt to afford to do anything unless they come from a wealthy family
It's hard times in the film business right now. Starting a new career with significant debt almost guarantees you'll have to bail out & get a regular job to cover the debt.
I think programs can change quickly so whether a program is worth it is up to the individual. I do feel like the friends and collaborators I made through the program were worth it, even if the classwork and learning was sub-par.
If you’re going to film school, go to a Top 5 film school, not a whatever school - the connections you meet there may last the rest of your life
Loyola did not prepare me for the real world.
I would absolutely recommend film school, especially for people who already do not have industry connections. Even though I did already have industry connections, film school allowed me to have a college experience without feeling like I was wasting my time on a subject that I ultimately didn't want to end up in. I was able to make movies without having to worry about cost because everyone would work on everyone else's projects for free. My school still gave me access to equipment and professors that I would not have had access to otherwise. Additionally, the liberal arts/less film focused part of my education is something that I think is valuable for everyone and I believe it helped contribute to me being a well rounded individual.
Film school is not necessary. I could have made my own movies with that $100,000 tuition I spent on an "education" that I could've given myself by watching movies and taking notes. The best education is learned first-hand, at least for me. All my teachers were teaching an outdated system too. the Film industry is dying because it cannot keep up with the times (i.e. social media/youtube creation).
Get onto set. Film schools don't teach you the practicalities of making a film or commercial. They only teach the theory and higher art form part of filmmaking.
Best learn by doing. No one has ever asked me about my education.
I don’t think my school has a very good film program anymore. It’s underfunded and understaffed
I got a lot more other than film school out of my degree—I was a double major and involved in a few on campus organizations and made a lot of friends I still have today. Go to film school if you think you will have a worthwhile experience, even if it doesn’t lead directly to your dream job
Industry is much smaller today than 10 years ago and I’m lucky.
I loved have two years where my biggest priority was writing. I loved having the space and resources to make the most out of it and get to workshop with other writers pursuing the same path. But it wasn't worth the debt I took out for sure.
Paying full price is too much for what you get
I would recommend pursing connections in Film clubs and peer/alumni networks over actually course study. Particularly if you have a interest in producing it may be more beneficial to have a Business/Accountant background.
I've steered my daughter away from a film degree but she still ended up choosing one in college. I dread the days she realizes his much disappointment awaits her.
Giant waste of time.
It is a growing program and is gaining a lot of good gear and expertise, and certainly a cheaper option if you live in Boise or don't have to take a ton of debt to get into it.
I don’t know the exact curriculum anymore. But as one of the cheaper film school options in the world. It’s one of the few that’s worth it. And it’s much more reasonable than most schools price wise.
While I think that film school was marginally helpful in my skills development, I also know I could have developed the same skills if I had just jumped into sets and watched some YouTube videos. Ultimately it was very expensive and as the industry is kind of in shambles right now, I can’t recommend it as a secure future. I wish I had gotten a degree in a fallback.
If you’re international, like me, it’s worth the visa and connections
I think grad students should have a real reason to go to grad school. It's a big commitment, so you shouldn't just be going because you feel like you have to or don't know what else to do.
NYU is the most expensive film school but I believe it was worth every penny.
The dual degree program did not help at all in my job search. Their worthless
In this day; college tuitions are increasing tremendously and the worth of that degree is dropping dramatically. It feels like most degrees are only useful in STEM careers. And even then- those careers can be satisfied with specialty certification courses.Unless you’re able to go to college with minimal amounts of debt; why go when one can use resources online to be self taught with no formal education.
UCLA isn't the best...
I think it's a good program but I've had a different path and needed my dayjob in order to make ends meet while in school.
Film school over charge.
Im lucky because I didn't haveto take out a loan and could afford film school. Because of that, I am forever grateful and happy. I am not sure how much I would have loved my experience if there was a serious financial stressor hanging over me during my time there.
Cost is less of an issue so much as the question, are they ready for film school?
I think that film school is worth it for specific types of people. I wouldn't recommend going into debt to go to film school, and if you already have film production experience it might not be worth it either. However, the network is what I found most helpful, and the structure in which to experiment and learn as well.
I finished undergrad with COVID in 2020. Then I graduated grad school in 2023 and the strikes occurred soon after, the timing of everything just devalued how I felt about the film school experience.
I would recommend people work in the industry before going to film school, especially if you want to do crew work or general video production. You can volunteer on student films and get a lot of the same practical education that the film students are paying 50-80k a year for. Would highly caution against going to film school for people who can’t afford it or have other options to get started in the businessRoi is very poor versus YouTube or paid job experience
School and networking are incredible, but not worth a lifetime of debt. If you’re motivated, you can definitely learn enough of it on your own to get started
I recommend a screenwriting MFA program for someone who has lots of ideas and knowledge on how to write for the screen, but needs the time and support to get it done. Before school, it took me years to write a script. In 17 months at school, I wrote 9 scripts. UCLA offers low tuition and TA opportunities so it's not terribly expensive. The rent and cost of living in LA is brutal though so debt is likely because if you have to get a job while in school than you're not going to get the most of school so it's kind of a catch-22.
I learned a tremendous amount in film school. I'm comfortable in academic environments and I had a wonderful time. I managed to graduate without much debt. But the vast majority of my classmates were out of the industry within five years.
Film school isn't worth it. You can learn more just by doing it yourself and watching YouTube tutorials.
I’d recommend a film school that is practical more than theoretical; and I’d say try your absolute best to get scholarships or reduce the overall cost/find a school that isn’t nearly as expensive. Prestige in a school means absolutely nothing, it’s about your peers and the curriculum itself. Does it require that you make movies? Then it’ll be a good learning experience.
The industry is convulsing beneath us and I would recommend a more stable career until it settles into its next iteration.
Whatever you do, don’t go to Carnegie Mellon
I wouldn’t recommend film as an undergrad. One should use that time to learn how to think and live a life of collecting stories. After some time in the real world, go to school and hone the craft of storytelling, cinematography, directing, or whatever moves you.
The best way to learn is to bank hours in a working environment
Your money is better spent making films
The prestige of the education does not actually matter on paper when you try to apply for jobs. People with a bachelors in an unrelated major are able to get the entry level jobs that you want just because they know someone in the company. The network in the school is unfortunately not all that extensive or helpful. Sure, you might get a couple of unpaid or low-paid gigs, or some vertical drama jobs that may or may not lead to something else.I would think twice before spending that much on a masters programme, only for your resume to be looked at the same as someone with a high school diploma/bachelor's degree. If you have parents who can financial support you several years post-grad, maybe it's worth it for you.
My kids are not allowed to go to film school. Instead they will either go to school for business or marketing or accounting - anything that could get them work in multiply industries. They are technically nepo babies so if they want to work in film then they can get work through me easily.
It was inarguably the best three years of my life.
It depends on your background. I came from a place where I had absolutely no film connections and lived in an area where there was little to no film industry. If that's you, film school may help open doors that weren't previously accessible to you. If you come from a more connected place, it may not do much more for you than you could already do yourself.
Either go to business school or move to an LA school with good connections. Networking is more important than skill.
I would go to film school, but only in a film city like New York, LA, Toronto and Vancouver and I wouldn't take on too much debt
the industry is on life support. much harder now. pivot to social media stuff!
the film industry is really not doing well and we don't expect it to get better in a few years. Please DO NOT go to film school on student loan. I've seen my friends who did and they struggle to pay it back. I only did it because my family can support me. I have received enough credits and awards and I have representation and plenty of opportunities and yet I have very little to show and not earning much. Most people from my cohort or the few cohorts above and below mine are doing work they consider worthless, being assistant to people and overworked, working on verticals that they hate, or not in the business anymore. I rarely know anyone who is completely satisfied with where they are five years out of film school. I know there is still time, but like I said, if you have money you can try, but don't get a loan.
I would recommend film school, but not at the cost and the lifetime of debt.
If you want to improve on your craft it's the best. If you want money right away it's not for you.
I do think Stark opened doors for me that I wouldn't have been able to if I hadn't gone there. It also helped me see myself as a creative and have more faith in my creative abilities.
Not an industry for those from working class backgrounds anymore
Film school is a total blast and definitely got me where I am today. I actually would LOVE to go back to film school. Maybe one day I will if they'll take old farts like me. But only for fun - maybe when I retire. BUT I don't recommend taking on a lot of debt for film school. The business has slowed down a bit and may be hard to pay it all off when you get in.
What was the single most valuable thing you got from film school?
connections and mentorshipOpportunity for leadership roles
It cemented my desire to be in this industry.
How to think about and make films.
My understanding of the filmmaking process as a whole.
Practice working with others, communication skills,
The experience
Confidence
Friends
The film industry is a 1099 work for hire community exclusively for friends, fuck buddies, and occasionally families.
Generally, overall don’t be stupid don’t be a jerk, but to be specific for actual film stuff the idea of good safe and cheap as a triangle helped explain how to produce/make a Film a little bit.
A concrete ability to formally research subjects and form proposals for novel extensions to the current state of understanding.
Internship and experience/confidence
Experience and friendship
Learning to materialize ideas through budgets, schedules and contracts.
The most valuable thing I gained was a solid network of industry contacts.
Network, film literacy
Ability to improvise / change plans if things didn't go well. And how to work with the resources that are available.
You have to teach yourself and drive yourself, no one cares if your successful or not.
It’s less about film school, and more about college as a whole - it taught me independence and avenues to get involved and meet many people
Sorry, but nothing
1 friend.
Friends / A college experience
Realizing I can just make my own shit whenever I want, even when I don't have a crew, I still have a camera and a cat that I can play around with.
Hands on experience.
Film School in general set me straight after goofing off in the beginning during Gen-Eds
Learning how to tell better stories
Access to internships as well as friendships that sustained me
A portfolio of scripts when I graduated.
The connections
Peer to Peer / Alumni Connections
It will sound facile but it was learning how to put away equipment.
A film set isn’t a democracy, it’s a dictatorship.
Connections with peers.
Peer network
Friends. Some who still work, but many of us battled the tough times together and hired each other whenever we could.
I met my boyfriend there. But in all seriousness, it is where I learned to develop scripts and write for my available budget/materials.
A visa (and my friends)
Learning how to tell my own story and pitch my skills to others (how much architecture overlaps with film, etc.)
Jon Watts directing workshop with the director of Spider-Man No Way Home
Friends and connections.
My friends/connections to other classmates.
my network/cohort
Professors, GUEST SPEAKERS, access, internships, classes, set experience, multiple festival badges. (Sorry. That's not single)
Work ethic
Knowledge
Debt
Relationships with the faculty
My professional network.
My friends and community.
Humility?
My wife
Hard to put a finger on it.
Network
That it was a waste of time and money
Experience on lots and LOTS of short film sets. Those connections and learning experiences cannot be created in any other way.
Relationships with classmates and professors, teaching experience
Time on set
Always maintain a strong work ethic, amiable work relationships with your colleagues and knowing that working in other departments gives you a better understanding of how the filed works.
Colleagues and story sense.
Everyone had big ideas and no one can execute them. Film School doesn't breed generational talent.People who are insatiable to create will hone their craft to a greater standard
Friends
The classes for the producers are one of the few places where they get to be fully creative and/or learn important information about the industry and the professors(for the producing classes) are supportive and great people to learn from.
I met my spouse.
I found my goal and found my people.
Between the actual education & the peer network
Friends, but it has nothing to do with my career.
Credibility. I am mostly self taught with technical skills and learned creative skills through work
A good network of people and learning how to break down a script
USC pedigree
the general idea of how films work
Narrative story development
I became a much better writer.
Professor relationships.
The education
Honestly besides the joy of making films it was the internships that got me my first jobs.
Do you have any advice about career planning and outcomes for current film students?
If this is what you really want to do, throw your entire self into it. Watch movies, make movies, dedicate yourself to the craft because the industry and film schools love thatLearn skills that can translate to other roles. My job as an event manager translated really well to becoming a video producer
Go get a job, any job, and start networking and making connections. Be a good person.
Don’t give up.
Make friends and keep them. Put your friends and connections above the work you make in school. Stay out of drama. Also have a life outside of film school. Most people won't get their first break until 5 years after school, so make sure you last that long, and also don't give up (until it makes sense to do so.)
Have a backup
You’re fucking crazy. You have better chances of getting attacked by a great white shark in the Santa Monica bay than achieving stability in the film industry.
They’re in an industry that is in limbo so I understand that the job market is very fickle so you may have to accept doing a side job for a while while trying to get this to work. My advice is try your best to get into a union. also maybe a much more stable job at a studio.
Well, a singl course on script supervision and a few all sheets will get them more work than they need (unfortunately, it is not creative but it is lucrative and get you on set)
Find out what you don’t like and avoid it
Be happy and take the chance that you are surrounded by great creative people. Focus on your project and don't take grades too siriusly
Learn what historical materialism means, read Marx and learn how you are being unfairly exploited, just because you have dreams.
Be proactive in seeking internships and building relationships while still in school.
Learn a hard skill like editing and learn AI filmmaking because physical production cost are so much that they’re just isn’t enough work to survive.
When you get a job. Show up on time, with a good attitude, ready to work & learn. I can teach lots of technical skills, but I can't teach a good attitude. Also, if you don't understand something, please ask for help. I'd rather explain instead of having to re-do a task.
Not yet
Shoot as much as you can and meet as many people as you canIf you’re going to pursue film, just recognize it’s long hours, low pay, inconsistent work — you need to be extraordinarily passionate and committed to make it workIt’s not impossible to thrive in film, but it’s much harder nowadays — I would seriously explore other pathways as a primary career
Youtube and other online sources will teach you more than uni. Hang aroung film sets if possible to get in as a runner instead of bothering with uni
Learn something else. Film and TV and web are not promising and you will likely spend many months of your career unemployed.
Film school is the easiest way to meet people going into the industry, gain access to internships/connections, and use equipment that you wouldn't otherwise have access to. I wouldn't say it is worth it to go heavily in debt for, but if you can make it work, I would recommend it. Plus going to college in general will be fun and give you life experiences that you will not get if you skip it.
Watch how society is moving, and consider where it will be tomorrow. Don't lessen your morals for content, but rather compromise. Meet your audience halfway.
Get onto sets immediately. Learn and soak up everything and don't think you know more than people just because you watched YouTube videos.
Go to the big schools if you have big dreams, because knowing someone can set you up for life if you have the right work ethic and mentality .
Just make your own movies. The industry is a grind. Just create your own path.
Go with the flow and take the opportunities that you come across. It’s an incredibly flawed industry and most successes can be attributed to either privilege or luck.
Make friends, spend wisely, have a specific goal and know options on how to get there while paying the bills
Do not let a non-LA based program convince you that you can break into writing without spending a few years in LA
Really think about whether you want to do it. Maybe work as a PA for a while or find one-off courses/summer programs to pursue first before making a time/financial commitment.
Be open minded, there’s a lot more jobs in the industry than just Director, DP, or Producer
Get a practical degree and be nice to people
Get a real degree or a job with real skills. Make you own money and learn on the side. It will be just as valuable.
Don’t worry about picking a lane or skill in your first 3 years. Try everything. There are jobs out there you probably didn’t know exist and you may be perfect for them.
Plan for a fallback! Times are shit right now!
I'd say work on as many film sets as you can while in school and build up a peer network and a professional one as best you can. Always show up on time (early really) and have a good attitude. Stinkers won't get hired back! Every film you make in school doesn't have to be perfect or make it into Sundance, it needs to be able to show someone else what you are capable of in some capacity or another.
Have a good backup plan. The days of going all in, going for broke, all or nothing in film and entertainment is not worth it anymore. The percentage of success was low when I started and it is so much worse now.
Be open to learning new skills and paths. There are more jobs on set and in the industry than Director, Producer, Actor, and Cinematographer… and you usually don’t see any classes about balancing budgets, organizing a stadium load in and out, or managing craft services.
Network and save money!
Apply to UT Austin or fully funded MFA programs. I can't express this enough. The amount of scholarship money that I get from UT is incredible. They notoriously hire students or help us connect with future employment opportunities, if we perform well. The department is invested in our growth and success.
No
Be your best, do your best, network
Find something, anything else to do.
Ask about unions, ask about current industry standard software, ask about other industries that you can work in - theatre / gaming / live events. Do it all.
Be kind, be humble, and be driven.
Learn ai better than your peers
Lower your expectations. Network. Say yes to opportunities.
Find a way to make your life sustainable while you continue to work on your craft. Don't put the pressure of paying for your life onto your creativity - that won't result int he best work.
DO NOT GO TO FILM SCHOOL. Pick another major that you can use in/outside of the film industry (IT, Finance, Accounting, Business)
Realize that no two paths are the same in this business. Work hard, work smart, ask questions (at the appropriate times), and be good to work with. Have fun with it whenever you can, life is serious and difficult enough. Anticipate needs, be CLEAR about what you want and where you’re going, and take any and every opportunity to be as creative as you can.
Be strategic in what you pursue and say yes to while in school. It's critical to have at least some idea of your plan and next steps. Don't overdo it to the point where your own projects suffer, or your mental/physical health suffers. Quality over quantity.
Ride the wave of new tools to keep up with storytelling technology
Always look at the your main goal be it above line work but see if below the line skills can get you accessible jobs.
Whatever you do, don’t go to Carnegie mellon
Grind if you want to succeed.
Have a backup plan
Don't go to film school
-Network outside your school bubble, especially with people who are currently in the jobs that you eventually want to be in.-Join a filmmaking community/nonprofit organisation that speaks to you and your interests and work/intern for them so you get connected to creatives but also the executives.-Unfortunately, yes you should learn and perhaps get certified in AI filmmaking and productivity tools because those are valuable skills as a post-grad in the current industry that may actually land you a paid job.-Just keep taking a step or two forward everyday towards your goal.
Not really. Back when I graduated there were many online places to lok for work that I don’t think are viable today unfortunately. No idea how new grads can get work now aside from knowing someone.
Understand that you're entering a notoriously difficult career and be kind to yourself. Work hard, learn as much as you can, keep making things that please you, and accept that success will happen on its own time. Make a plan but be ready to pivot if things don't go accordingly. It can be frustrating, discouraging, and take longer than you want or expect it to - you have to find a way to be okay with that. Don't spend time comparing yourself to other people or absorbing a bunch of online negativity about the industry. Do what feels right for you, and it will be okay.
Network as often as you can. Make genuine friendships with people who will be working in the film business. Be nice to the nepo babies since they are the ones with the guarantee to make it. Intern as often as you can. But network network network. That's all that matters. The dumbest, most untalented people in the world make it because they network.
Networking is not the networking people sell you. Just be friendly and be good at your job
Intern, learn all facets of the business, especially accounting and distribution.
make successful friends
don't waste time on projects that you don't love and also pay little. Budget your time. Have clear goals.
Do NOT take on debt from a private film school! Attend city and state funded programs.
Plan to make your own stuff. Experience is needed first.
You need to know yourself and be comfortable going against the grain and not looking at your peers.
Intern intern intern. I think I interned at 4 places by the time I finished at BU. The BU owned TV station, 2 post houses in Boston, and Avid Technology. Interning got me my first job and here I am. But you need to hustle and do good work and be contentious at these jobs. Don't show up expecting things to happen for you. Know that you'll be doing grunt work and not great stuff for a while as you "pay your dues" and prove you are dependable and a good worker. And be kind - always be kind and helpful.
Conclusion: The Quest for Film School Transparency
The raw data and deeply personal stories shared by these 100+ graduates make one thing undeniably clear: the traditional film school narrative is missing a massive amount of real-world context.
If you are a film program graduate (Certificate, Associate, Bachelors, or Graduate) and haven't shared your experience yet, please take it now.
This article and the data will be updated once we receive 400 responses. Help us reach that milestone by sharing this article with your film school peers, cohort groups, and alumni networks.
We'll do a breakdown of results per program for Supporting Members once we receive somewhere between 30 to 50 for a program.
Here are the current totals for programs represented in the survey:
I hope everyone has found the data here helpful. If you have questions or comments please leave them below.
Detailed survey results broken down by graduation year are available right now in our exclusive deep-dive artilcle for Supporting Members.
FilmSchool.org is 100% advertisement free and Supporting Memberships make articles and interviews like this one possible. Supporting Members also enjoy FULL access to the application database (GPAs, test scores, portfolios...), our full Acceptance Data statistics, private student clubs and forums, and other perks.
If you are a film program graduate (Certificate, Associate, Bachelors, or Graduate) and haven't shared your experience yet, please take it now.
This article and the data will be updated once we receive 400 responses. Help us reach that milestone by sharing this article with your film school peers, cohort groups, and alumni networks.
We'll do a breakdown of results per program for Supporting Members once we receive somewhere between 30 to 50 for a program.
Here are the current totals for programs represented in the survey:
Undergraduate Film Programs
| USC School of Cinematic Arts | 4 |
| Emerson College | 4 |
| NYU Tisch | 3 |
| Boston University | 3 |
| SUNY Purchase College | 2 |
| SCAD | 2 |
| Loyola Marymount University | 2 |
| Wesleyan University | 1 |
| Webster University | 1 |
| University of Utah | 1 |
| University of Nevada Las Vegas | 1 |
| University of Hartford | 1 |
| University at Buffalo | 1 |
| UNCSA | 1 |
| UCLA | 1 |
| UArts | 1 |
| Towson University | 1 |
| Texas Christian University | 1 |
| Temple University | 1 |
| Southern Oregon University | 1 |
| Southern Illinois University: Carbondale | 1 |
| SFSU | 1 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | 1 |
| Regent's University London | 1 |
| Point park | 1 |
| Penn state | 1 |
| NYFA | 1 |
| Montana State University | 1 |
| Mizzou | 1 |
| Leeds Beckett | 1 |
| Kansas City Art Institute | 1 |
| Grand Valley State University | 1 |
| George Mason University | 1 |
| Full Sail | 1 |
| CSU, Northridge | 1 |
| CSU, Monterey Bay | 1 |
| Columbia University | 1 |
| Columbia College Chicago | 1 |
| Boise State University | 1 |
| Beijing Film Academy | 1 |
| Art Institute of CA | 1 |
| Grand Total | 54 |
Graduate Film Programs
| USC School of Cinematic Arts | 9 |
| AFI Conservatory | 5 |
| UCLA TFT | 4 |
| NYU TIsch | 4 |
| Loyola Marymount University | 4 |
| Columbia University School of the Arts | 3 |
| Chapman University | 3 |
| UT Austin | 2 |
| University of Georgia | 2 |
| University of performing art Bratislava | 1 |
| UCLA extension | 1 |
| UCF | 1 |
| The University of New Orleans | 1 |
| Raindance / Staffordshire | 1 |
| Howard University | 1 |
| FSU College of Motion Picture Arts | 1 |
| Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema | 1 |
| DePaul University | 1 |
| Columbia University | 1 |
| Carnegie Mellon MFA | 1 |
| American University | 1 |
| Grand Total | 48 |
I hope everyone has found the data here helpful. If you have questions or comments please leave them below.
Detailed survey results broken down by graduation year are available right now in our exclusive deep-dive artilcle for Supporting Members.
Film School Alumni Employment Statistics: How Alumni Career Outcomes Have Shifted Over Time
Exclusively for Supporting Members, In this article we break down employment data from our survey by graduation year to see how responses are different over time. With the industry in flux it is important for film applicants to see how recent graduates are doing after film school.
Most of the...
- Chris W
- Category: Supporting Member Exclusives
FilmSchool.org is 100% advertisement free and Supporting Memberships make articles and interviews like this one possible. Supporting Members also enjoy FULL access to the application database (GPAs, test scores, portfolios...), our full Acceptance Data statistics, private student clubs and forums, and other perks.
