Film & Video Degrees
So you want to follow in Martin Luciano Scorsese’s footsteps? It sure is possible.
The film and television industry is one of the biggest in the country, employing a small army of people in a wide variety of positions. Jobs in this industry include: camera operator, scriptwriter, editor, lighting technician, sound designer, special effects specialist, producer, set designer, costumer, and myriad other support positions.
Not all film and video professionals work in entertainment. Some produce educational or instructional videos, or work in industries like corporate communications. The explosion of cable television has led to faster than average growth in the film and video industry. The proliferation of personal devices that support highly compressed video also suggests that the demand for video content will only increase.
Most film and TV professionals are freelancers who are hired on a project basis. So it’s important to be able to weather the ebb and flow of work as you move between projects. Networking is also particularly important in this industry, because you are constantly on the look out for your next project. Jobs in film and television often overlap; you may start out as a lighting technician, then become a camera operator, and end up as a producer or director.
Formal training is important, and many schools offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in film and television. In addition, most technical workers in film and television belong to a union. Union dues are expensive, but membership provides access to better paying jobs and a network of opportunities.
