Specialize in one or more of the following areas: experimental, documentary, and/or narrative film/video production; installation; animation; interactive technologies; new media format; and digital media production and writing.
Build connections with potential employers and collaborators.
Fulfill first-stage positions and apprenticeships.
Obtain postgraduate training.
Pursue master’s degree in fine arts.
Develop practical film-making skills such as how to operate a camera and edit footage.
Attend, volunteer, or submit work to local film festivals.
Volunteer to film local sporting events for your school or city sports teams.
Pay attention to your local surroundings for good film shooting sites and inspiration.
Develop leadership skills and learn how to direct and manage others.
Keep up with changing and developing technology to enhance production.
Cultivate the ability to visualize a project before its completion.
Familiarize yourself with computers and navigating complex technology.
Writing/Editing
Creative writing
Plays
Screenplays
Scripts
Novels: fiction and nonfiction
Poetry
Lyrics/Jingle writing
Film criticism
Employers
Newspapers
Magazines
Broadcast media companies
Television
Radio
The film industry
Online publications
Websites
Television guides
Strategies
Select elective coursework in a particular area of interest.
Minor in journalism, English, or psychology in order to gain writing and critical thinking skills.
Write for campus publications such as college newspapers, magazines, or departmental or program newsletters.
Volunteer to assist or tutor students in a writing center.
Gain as much experience as possible through volunteer positions, internships, or part-time jobs.
Demonstrate patience and persistence in starting a career in creative writing.
Develop and refine collaboration and storytelling skills to communicate effectively.
Acquire broad knowledge of the history of film and television to form an historical context and inform story content.
Visit your local theatre and write thoughtful critiques and share on a personal or professional blog/social media platform.
Write to your local or school newspaper your personal critiques and thoughts on movies and local productions. Develop an understanding of social and cultural influences, and how those factors will affect the viewing audience.
Education
Teaching
Lecturing
Research
Film librarianship
Curating
Conservation
Archiving
Employers
Public and private K-12 schools
Colleges and universities
Libraries
Museums
Private learning centers
Film archives
Strategies
Obtain appropriate state certification for public school teaching. Gain certifications to teach multiple subjects or age groups for increased job opportunities.
Maintain a high grade point average and secure strong faculty recommendations for graduate school.
Investigate representations of race, gender, sexuality, and disability in contemporary moving image culture.
Specialize in film theory and criticism.
Earn a master’s or doctorate degree for postsecondary teaching. Focus on appreciation, analysis, and interpretation of films and film genres during graduate training.
Seek volunteer experiences working with children through Big Brother/Sister programs, tutoring, summer camps, YMCAs, etc.
Participate in activities such as debate or literary clubs, campus publications, or student government.
Get involved in roles of leadership such as resident advisor, peer mentor, student advisor, etc.
Seek opportunities to assist in research with cinema studies, film studies, and film faculty.
Volunteer at museums or film preservation centers and studios.
Business
Advertising
Marketing
Sales
Art directors
Account managers
Copywriters
Market researchers
Movie marketing
Employers
Advertising agencies
Corporate advertising or public relations departments
Media companies, e.g., Turner Broadcasting
Non-profit organizations
Product placement companies
Talent management firms
Shopping networks
Film distributors
Commercial galleries
Strategies
Work in sales at campus newspaper, television, or radio station.
Seek part-time or summer job with campus public relations or sports information department.
Gain experience in an area of interest through internships, part-time, or summer jobs.
Hone public speaking and communication skills.
Minor in or take classes in business, marketing, advertising, or other related fields.
Learn about design and appeal for audiences in the context of time, place, and culture.
Develop skills in preparing interesting, creative, and informative presentations which target diverse audiences.
General Information
Develop strong skills in research, communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and project management.
Stay organized, learn time management strategies, and meet deadlines.
Obtain expertise with film language and terminology.
Recognize messages communicated through visual mediums.
Conduct informational interviews or shadow professionals in careers of interest to learn more about their jobs.
Join relevant professional associations. Attend their conferences and read their journals.
Complete at least one internship during your bachelor’s level training.
Gain an in-depth understanding of various cultures.
Often in this field, experience is valued higher than educational qualifications.
Be prepared to experience long hours and working conditions requiring tight budgets and deadlines.
Maintain credibility and trust within the field because filmmaking almost always requires collaboration.
Follow film blogs and forums, and frequently read academic and popular film journal publications.
