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Originally posted by syncerror

My parents don't want me to get an undergraduate degree in film, so I was left two choice with regard to what I'd like to do instead, Engineering or Accounting.

I have less than a week to make this decision. What I really expect is to really break into filmmaking in the future, but I think I can't be naive and put all my eggs in one basket, I don't know...

MFA sounds really great afterwards. Anyway, which of these two choices would be wiser and useful if I can't go straight to filmmaking ?

Thanks

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I have to agree with your parents that a degree in film isn't necessary nor is it a requirement. At no point in your filmmaking career will anyone ask you where you got your film degree as happens in some other professions.

This doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to take advantage of film curriculum that a school does have. If possible, a minor in film should give you access to all or most of the curriculum that any major would get.

So, what DO you major in? That question really depends upon what it is you SPECIFICALLY want to do in the professional movie-making industry.

The two choices you put forth would really lead in two entirely different directions. Someone with an Engineering degree would likely get the most out of it by pursuing a career in Special Effects or perhaps in a rental house like Panavision in Woodland Hills, California. An Accounting degree would have more broad use for someone wishing to be a Production or Studio Accountant, or perhaps a Unit Production Manager or a Line Producer or maybe even a Talent Agent.

From the sound of it, those two choices from your parents have more to do with having "something solid to fall back on." That's a perfectly normal attitude for a parent to have as they worry about what's to become of their children. However, if you truly want a career in the professional film industry, you have to recognize that there are no "safe" jobs. Apart from a salaried position at a movie studio, almost every other job is temporary on a project-to-project basis. So, if you wish to become a Director or Writer, for instance, there is no job security in the slightest. And, to "get" a job like that typically means throwing your all into it and not even considering retreating to a "safe" job.

In any case, if you could write back here and let the forum know what you specifically want to do and we can perhaps help give you better advice as to how to proceed with schooling and the rest of your career.

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

Do accounting - an accountant can find work in any business. That said, you can do any degree and then also do a minor in film studies. Of course, most people hate accounting, so that's something you should consider as well.

I wish I majored in film and just went for it while I was young and didn't have a family. Instead I spend about 10 years of my life in the corporate world before starting my own film magazine.

If you're smart and go to the right schools you can find a good paying career in film journalism and teaching your craft - while you pursue your own projects.

As other people pointed out - a minor or even a double major is always good. That way you always have something to fall back on.

Accounting is great if you want to become an executive or a producer.

Do you know what you want to do in the movie business?

Regards,

Jamie Paszko
Publisher/Editor
www.FilmSlateMagazine.com

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I spend about 10 years of my life in the corporate world before starting my own film magazine.

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Nothing wrong with that. In fact, I have a similar game plan, except I have spent more than a decade in my work.

What's the startup cost for a magazine, may I ask? I hear it's very hard to make money in that too.

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Originally posted by syncerror

My parents don't want me to get an undergraduate degree in film, so I was left two choice with regard to what I'd like to do instead, Engineering or Accounting.

I have less than a week to make this decision. What I really expect is to really break into filmmaking in the future, but I think I can't be naive and put all my eggs in one basket, I don't know...

MFA sounds really great afterwards. Anyway, which of these two choices would be wiser and useful if I can't go straight to filmmaking ?

Thanks

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I found this interesting.

Well here are my opinions, for what they may be worth. I went a very specific route, and actually discovered my career in college. I have a degree in product and furniture design, but have been working as a professional make-up effects artist since college graduation. I have a degree. I don't use it, and it is not on my resume. I do however utilize various things I learned in college all of the time in my work.

All of that said, why are you letting your parents dictate what you do? Correct me if I am incorrect, but it is going to be your career, and your name on whatever degree you get right? Seems you should be making the decisions about what happens for the rest of your life.

All that aside, a film degree is a piece of paper. It does not make you qualified to go out and work on a crew, as any hiring line producer will tell you.

In the end, I suggest you consider what path offers the most useful information, and take that path. If it is an undergrad in film, then so be it.

Look at the other side of it too. So you go to school and graduate as an accountant. Consider what the market looks like for accountants. Now you either need a company to hire you, or you need to go into business as a CPA, and get enough clients to pay your bills. Considering how most CPAs work you are going to make most of your income in the first few months of the year, and do very little the rest of the year. And you have to compete with places like H&R Block.

In the end, there are really very few degrees better than any other. The major job markets are pretty saturated. Not to mention, if you truly love film, and that is where your talent lies (you may need someone objective to determine this), then being an accountant, or something similar is only going to make you miserable and you will watch your life tick by verrrry slowly.

Remember, that unless you are oozing with talent and people are running up to you in the street offering you large pay checks to direct or DP, then odds are (at least in the beginning) you will have to compete with the zillions of others in LA, NYC, Vancouver, the UK, or whereever to get as much as a PA position. Degree won't help you there. But if you know your stuff, and stick to your guns, and if you have the skills and talent that it takes, then you will find success (if you look hard enough).

And if I am wrong, then there are countless places you can find to get a job to pay the bills, and a great many don't care where your degree comes from.

I hope this helped at least a little. Remember, life is short, seize the day.?:D?

making low budget dreams come true

Many of today's teens coming out of high school don't really have much say in choosing the degree they will pursue. As long as their parents are paying for that college, they get to approve (or at least narrow down) the final choice. This backfires very often, when these kids, now adults, either drop out, get some lousy job to provide livelihood and pursue their real passion, or worse, finish that college that the parents are paying for, get a decent job, then few years later, go back to school of their choosing and, at the age of 30 (or older) start pursuing that real thing. A friend of mine (a girl) got her accounting degree, against her wishses, because her parents wanted it; she worked for a number of years as a CPA, then, at age 33, took the MCAT, got into med school, got herself a degree and is now a doctor, which is what she always wanted. You'd think an average parent would actually prefer that their kid pursue medical (or law) degree, rather than going for accounting...

Thanks, guys, I really thank you all who replied my thread.

I got a Film Production Handbook to take a look and there are some chapters on basic accounting. Special/Visual effects are also very interesting, not only interesting, but useful and seems to be "saving". How much can I save up in special effects making many things on my own ? To be honest and humble I would become happy enough if I were working with only music videos rather than break into the tough film industry. To be creative, I need to be technical too, what's the best choice to blend creativity and technical knowledge together ? Moreover, to be creative, to be technical and to start making short videos, experimental ones, and so on I also need money, I mean, I wouldn't want to need money for it, since the money I need is to pay for food, rental and other stuffs, so do I have to save a lot to spare no expense in my film or video career ? Sorry guys, I'm quite confused.

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Originally posted by syncerror

Thanks, guys, I really thank you all who replied my thread.

I got a Film Production Handbook to take a look and there are some chapters on basic accounting. Special/Visual effects are also very interesting, not only interesting, but useful and seems to be "saving". How much can I save up in special effects making many things on my own ? To be honest and humble I would become happy enough if I were working with only music videos rather than break into the tough film industry. To be creative, I need to be technical too, what's the best choice to blend creativity and technical knowledge together ? Moreover, to be creative, to be technical and to start making short videos, experimental ones, and so on I also need money, I mean, I wouldn't want to need money for it, since the money I need is to pay for food, rental and other stuffs, so do I have to save a lot to spare no expense in my film or video career ? Sorry guys, I'm quite confused.

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I don't know what book you read, but if it is discussing Special Effects and Visual Effects in the same breath, it is a nonsense-book like so many out there. Those are two ENTIRELY different jobs with entirely different skill-sets and paths to getting there.

The first step to becoming un-confused is to find real information. Start with this book instead: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780823099535 and then look here http://realfilmcareer.com/forum/index.php?topic=9.0 for further reading and resources once you have a clearer idea of what every job ACTUALLY entails.

Now, from the sound of your post, it SEEMS to me that you'd likely be happy working in SPECIAL EFFECTS (not Visual Effects). That is a career which definitely requires creative ideas and a technical aptitude that not everyone has.

Having said that, you also express an idea in making your own "videos" which implies that you wish to be a Director too. Certainly there have been people who have moved into directing from careers in Special Effects (and other crew positions too), but generally speaking, you won't be able to do both simultaneously in the most effective way possible. Perhaps when you are just starting out and making your own small projects, you can pull it off, but in terms of building an actual career, you WILL have to choose which path you want to pursue more. You just won't be able to create and maintain a viable career as a Director/Special Effects Technician.

The cool thing about the film industry is that for nearly every job in the "real world," there is an applicable parallel type of job available on or off a movie set.

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com