School for Film and Television | Film and Television Schools

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In addition to developing feature films and television programs, the film and television industry creates music videos, made-for-television movies, and commercials. Organizations focused primarily on operating movie theaters and showing movies or videos at film festivals also are also a part of this industry.

• Nature of the Work - Several motion picture and video companies create films for specialized, or limited audiences. These films include documentaries, which utilize film clips and interviews to document actual events with real people, and educational films that include “do-it-yourself” projects to exercise videos. Also, the industry develops industrial, business, and government films that promote an organization’s image, offer education on its activities or products, or help in raising funds or trainer employees. Some of these films are short enough to release directly on the Internet and some provide a good foundation for training beginning filmmakers.
• School for Film and Television - In addition to technical schools and colleges, several independent organizations provide training programs on numerous aspects of filmmaking, like directing, screenwriting, acting, and film editing. For instance, the American Film Institute provides training in production, directing, cinematography, screenwriting, production design, and editing.
  
  

School for Film and Television | Film and Television Schools

Actors are typically required to have acting experience or formal dramatic training. Actors can train in theatre-sponsored training programs, acting conservatories, university programs, and independent dramatic arts schools. The National Association of Schools of Theatre, School for Film and Television, accredits 150 colleges and universities that provide bachelor’s or higher degrees in theater and dramatic arts. However, a number of respected studio programs provide training on a course-by-course basis or that do not lead to a college degree. Several professional actors who are between acting jobs gain additional advanced training through one-on-one sessions with a professional acting coach or by enrolling in a master class to focus on a particular skill or to broaden their experience.

Training in dancing, singing, or stage combat, or experience in stand-up comedy, modeling, or acting in commercials is very useful, and distinguishes an actor from the many others being considered. But actual performance credits, even those for performing in regional or local theater productions, can be the most beneficial in getting into a coveted audition. Several actors start their careers by performing in smaller markets and commercials and working as extras. Many professional actors use agents or managers to help find auditions for them.

Video and film editors often start out as editing-room assistants or camera operators. Cinematographers typically start out as assistant camera operators, and sound recorders frequently start out as boom operators and then progress to become sound engineers. Computer courses in electronic mixing and digital sound are very important for advancement. Camera operators, cinematographers, and sound engineers typically have either a technical school or college education, or they complete a formal training program. Computer skills are necessary for most special-effects, editing, and cinematography jobs.


School for Film and Television - Graduate - Job Outlook

Tough competition is standard for the captivating, lucrative jobs such as actors, writers, directors, and producers, but better job opportunities are anticipated for animators and multimedia artists and others skilled in computer-generated imaging and digital filming. Independent filmmakers may offer the best job opportunities for beginners.

Wage and salary employment in the motion picture and video industries is expected to increase 11 percent between 2006 and 2016, about as fast as growth for wage and salary employment in all industries combined. Job growth will result from the rapid increase in demand for programming needed to fill the rising number of satellite and cable and television channels, both in the United States and overseas. Additionally, more films will be produced to meet in-home demand for videos, DVDs, and films available on the Internet. . The international market for U.S.-made films is anticipated to keep growing as more countries and foreign individuals want to see U.S.-made films. As the industry sees employment growth, many more job openings will come about through people leaving the industry, usually for more stable employment.

Opportunities will be better in some careers than in others. Computer specialists, film and video editors, multimedia artists and animators, and others skilled in digital filming, computer-generated imaging, and editing should have the best job opportunities. There will also be more opportunities for sound and broadcast engineering specialists and other technicians, such as set construction workers and gaffers. In contrast, tough competition can be anticipated for the more glamorous, high-paying jobs such as writers, actors, directors, and producers, as many more people pursue a fewer number of these careers. Independent filmmakers may offer the best employment prospects for beginners, since they are likely to grow more quickly as digital technology reduces production costs.


School for Film and Television - Graduates - Earnings Statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, reports in May 2006, incomes of workers in the motion picture and video industries differ widely, depending on experience and education, union affiliation, type of work, and length of employment. In 2006, average weekly earnings of wage and salary workers in the motion picture and video industries were $593, in comparison with $568 for wage and salary workers in all industries combined.

Due to a union contract negotiated in July 2005, motion picture and television actors who are members of SAG earn a minimum daily rate of $760, or $2,750 for a 5-day week. They also get more compensation for reruns. Annual incomes for many actors are low, however, because employment is not steady. Several actors supplement their incomes from acting with wages from other jobs outside the film industry. Several established actors earn salaries well above the minimums, and earnings of the few top actors are unbelievably high.

Director's earnings have a wide variation. The earnings for producers are often based on a percentage of ticket or film sales which makes this category difficult to provide an earnings range.


School for Film and Television - Colleges - Universities

There are an excellent number of choices for attending a school for film and television. Online colleges and universities now provide the same curriculum as the traditional education. Learning online provides you with so much more flexibility to suit your lifestyle and current employment. We include our top recommendations for attending a school for film and television.


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