Jobs for the Major
How this major affects a job search
You want to work in Hollywood. Maybe not literally Hollywood since there are vibrant film cultures across the globe now, but you get the picture. It's even possible to make pretty good movies in your own backyard. Digital movie equipment is growing more and more ubiquitous and affordable. You know you want to make movies. The question is: in what capacity?
While director might be the top spot, not everyone is cut out for it. There are plenty of satisfying positions to find in the movie industry. All it takes is to know what's out there. In this major you're going to learn a bit of everything, which will help you zero in on the aspects you especially enjoyed learning about.
Then again, maybe you're dead-set on being a director. Good luck.
Common Career Fields
Producer. Producers work for the movie companies in an executive fashion. They're the ones who champion certain filmmakers or scripts and try to nurture them through the briar patch that is the studio system. This is the least hands-on of all jobs, but you have the chance to put your mark on diverse movies and make the careers of talented people.
Cinematographer. The director's right hand, you're the one who frames the shots and makes sure the movie has its proper look. It's a wonderful job for someone who's into the physical art of the media but doesn't have much use for the talking props. Oh, "talking props" is an industry term for actors.
Editor. Some iconic moments in film were created in the editing bay. Specifically, intercutting the baptismal scene with the murder of Michael's rivals in The Godfather was put together by an editor, and it's generally considered to be one of the finest scenes in movie history. The editor has a ton of control over the finished product, and all you're doing is remixing what's already there.
Screenwriter. Screenwriting is a difficult process that can result in the kinds of frustrations usually reserved for hippo wrestlers and air traffic controllers. It can also be incredibly fulfilling to hear your words and see your scenes on a movie screen bigger than your house. This is not a job for the faint of heart, though. Everyone in the industry will have an opinion of your work, usually about how to make it better from the terrible version you turned in.
Foley Artist. These guys make the sounds that the movies use. Foley artists often compare their job to kids playing with toys, and it's hard to disagree with them. They're looking to replicate a specific sound, and how it looks doesn't matter. So they end up doing insane things like hitting meat with basketballs, or clopping around with shoes on their hands. The iconic punch sounds in Indiana Jones movies? Made by beating a wet leather jacket with a stick. Sound like fun?
Visual Effects. Special effects are increasingly becoming a more and more important part of filmmaking. This is because The Avengers came out and made all the money. Seriously, all of it. They had to invent new money so it could make a little more. Making superheroes beat each other up, or dinosaurs run around, or space ships in general…is a huge business. While much of the industry is in CGI, there's a significant part still working with practical effects—in other words, models, makeup, and puppets. If you dreamed of making monsters, this is where you go.
Critic. While audiences decide if a movie is good or not based on whether they go see it, it's the critics who try to shape opinions with their recommendations. If you understand how a film is put together, you have good insight into what makes movies good and bad. Besides, sometimes it's more fun to champion a good movie or bury a bad one than to make something and lose control of it.
Current unemployment of the major
8%Percentage of majors who get a higher degree after college
13%Stats obtained from this source.