When you are interviewing to get into a film college ask them that question. How will this university/college help me land a job. Networking? Do they have some kind of job placement connections, or do they just push you out the door with the hope your final student film will help out.

If nothing else the question will show you are looking at things long range and seriously and give them the feeling that they are not the only game in town, that you're considering other film schools.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

Having a degree might help getting an office job but it won't help at all in getting a production job. I'm not saying it will hurt, I'm just saying that it won't help. In this experience and skill based business what's most important is contacts, skill and experience. And the reality is most of the contacts you will make in film school are teachers and other students at your skill and experience level.

quote:

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Are there jobs out there and how would you apply for them?

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Yes. There are jobs out there. A lot of them. Every movie and TV show you see has hired a lot of people. You apply for these jobs exactly the same way you apply for a job at any company. I know that movie making seems closed, difficult and even mysterious to people, but the truth is, producers, studios and prodCo's NEED people. It's important to have a skill. Just like you can't apply for a job as a an undersea welder having only watched a TV show about them, you can't really apply for a job as a gaffer or a dolly grip or a camera operator because you saw a bunch of movies.

And even the unions aren't that much of an obstacle. I understand why they seem that way - unions don't just hire everyone who want to join - they look for skilled, experienced professionals. The good news is there are thousands of non-union movies being made every year. And they hire the less experienced people because they are paying a lot less.

I'm not sure why you are having a hard time finding jobs for film. Is it because you don't live in an area with a lot of jobs to offer? Or is it because you haven't looked hard enough? If you want to be an undersea welder, Jefferson City, Missouri isn't the best place to look for that kind of work.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Thats too true in some aspects, but where i am, the television studios near me wont even let you throuh the door unless you went to uni, etc.

Sometimes, the agents etc, go to the film schools to get hold of the best prospects.

For me, I think that you can go to college etc for years. But if you have the right mindset you can also go for it yourself, and make contacts, etc.

Networking, we are doing that now.

Learning stuff, were doing that now also.

For me, i think for what i could achieve in a few years (getting my grades etc) i could possibly achieve opening the doors for myse lf and doing it.

Thats just me though

Having the grades can definitely help though, as long as you know what youre doing too, and can et the step up.

If you want to make a film though all the resources are at your fingertips, and you can either start that now, or after college

http://filmind.meetup.com/296/?gj=sj3

I could be wrong but I think the UK runs it differently since the BBC had a monopoly on all television for so long.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

I wouldn't say the BBC has a monopoly on the tv industry in this country any more; it's not as if other tv channels are being muscled out by them. CHannel 4 and ITV are massive, and are definately challenging the BBC in the ratings. We still pay TV licensing fees which keep the BBC afloat- hence no ads on the BBC channels; and as an institution the BBC is instrumental in cultvating talent and offering first time opportunities to people willing to put the effort in.

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There's daggers in men's smiles

I wouldn't say so now, but the pattern of how things are done has been set and may take a while to change. I would also suggest that the UK is a smaller market and thus less opportunities in general so demanding a degree might just be the first hurdle to narrow down the numbers.

I also think there might be a difference between crew categories. Is it really true that they won't allow an assistant lighting technician through the door if they haven't been to Uni, or are you talking about Producers/Directors/etc?

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

I hesitate to contradict bvlgary's point, as I'm pretty sure he has more experience in this than me. I haven't done much research on this, but it would seem very strange to me if the BBC only accepted even directors and producers who had a degree.

For a start, a degree in what? Film-making? I think a film-making degree is far too subjective (depending on the institution and person) to be of much use to the BBC

I think, as with the American industry, if you have the contacts, the effort and the skill then the cream will rise ?:)?

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There's daggers in men's smiles

well then start giving me your contacts....haha

I have heard that about the television studios in the UK. I, too,
find it hard to believe - but I guess that's the way they do
business. And that's why I almost never offer advice to people
just starting out in the UK - I have no first hand knowledge. And
if it's true that you can only get a job in the UK after you
have a degree then that seems to be the ONLY answer for anyone
just starting out there.

However, TacosOnIce isn't in the UK and didn't ask how to get a
job in a UK television studio so I answered the question based
on my experience and knowledge of the US film industry. But it's
interesting to know how thing work there.

TacosOnIce - my contact won't do you any good. If they would, I'd
be glad to put you in touch. My my contacts are hiring people with
my experience and skill level. You need to start making your own......

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

i am really just trying to look into the film industry and if i do go to college for cinematography or something that there well actually be jobs when i leave college. Jobs that i can make a living off of...

If you go to college for cinematography or something or if you don't go to
college for cinematography or something there will actually be jobs available
that you can make a living off of.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Hi folks. No i mean more Granada Studios (ITV) actualy, they will not even take any volunteers on thithout the proper education. Or maybe very high recommendation. eg family.

BBc do actually offer their own graduate programs, but you still have to have a v good degree in education.

You see like Rj said, there are that many cable channels in USA it is probably a bit easier to get your foot in the door in some shape or form.

Whereas in the UK its very hard even as a volunteer. Channel 4 do a lot for filmmakers, running competitions etc.

When i went on a film masterclass last year, the lecturer actually said that it may be more worthwhile making the film for satelliter etc

This is why i believe in the uk anyway that if you make your film, sitcom/ skechshow (there what im trying to work on anyways) etc first off your own back, you then have something to tout around to the different networks/studios. I am working on a treatment for a film

However im also working on a treatment for both a sketch show and a sitcom, these are where i hope my belieef will have more chance of working. Film with a few actors and several cameras you can then say 'look, this is my idea, you can see the work weve done, do you want to option it?

http://filmind.meetup.com/296/?gj=sj3

So if you have a treatment for a sketch show and a sitcom and take
this treatment to one of the studios and then say, "look, this is
my idea, you can see the work weve done, do you want to option
it?", will they even look at it if you don't have a good degree
in education?

That's the way it works here in the States, but I get the
impression that if one doesn't have a degree in the UK that
you can't even get in the door to show your treatment.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

No you can probably get in if you have something really good and the right contacts.

Whereas i think if you have a product to start with and show them that you have a lot more chance. it takes some people years to build up the contacts.

In my opinion if you had a sitcom and was able to do all the filming yourself with out their financial backing you would be in a lot better position to negotiate. even if you havent decent actors and there are minor flaws in the production side they will be able to have a lot better idea of your work.

Imagine a songwriter with no songs. He can do the work but hed be in a better fighting position if he actually had his own songs.

They may listen to you, but as there is such a small network of channels, and a few 'preferred' writers i think it is harder. Just means we have to work harder and think out of the box. lol

http://filmind.meetup.com/296/?gj=sj3