$75/hr? That's INSANE! Would it be possible for me to earn even $40/hr if I got the degree and whatnot? Also, where one gets a degree like that? College?
Thanks!
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Which major should I choose? Or maybe I should choose an alternative route?
- Thread starter Ettammivi
- Start date
Thanks!
puredrifting
Major Contributor
My advice would be to obtain your degree in a good general discipline like business, language or math/engineering, whatever interests you besides filmmaking.
If you want to become an X-ray tech, I honestly don't know the exact path but I would imagine you could research this. It is the medical industry without as much blood and guts as nursing, it is a specialization and I know you end up with a certificate and there are various machines and system you can specialize in which is what my friend did. $75.00 is his low end, depending on the hospital he is working at and the machines he is using, he more typically makes $100.00 per hour.
Out in the big white collar world, $40.00 per hour are poverty wages, lawyers, doctors, specialists, architects regularly make $300.00 to $500.00 per hour in LA, NY, Miami, etc. That's my point, the film industry is a joke in trying to make good money unless you are tenacious and talented enough to become a big player. But very few do that. I know my lawyer makes $500.00 per hour.
Dan
If you want to become an X-ray tech, I honestly don't know the exact path but I would imagine you could research this. It is the medical industry without as much blood and guts as nursing, it is a specialization and I know you end up with a certificate and there are various machines and system you can specialize in which is what my friend did. $75.00 is his low end, depending on the hospital he is working at and the machines he is using, he more typically makes $100.00 per hour.
Out in the big white collar world, $40.00 per hour are poverty wages, lawyers, doctors, specialists, architects regularly make $300.00 to $500.00 per hour in LA, NY, Miami, etc. That's my point, the film industry is a joke in trying to make good money unless you are tenacious and talented enough to become a big player. But very few do that. I know my lawyer makes $500.00 per hour.
Dan
Charli
cool little "title"
I would say take one of those career test and you'd be surprise what things do interest you. I know a guy who bought a boat when he was young, think that's right, and he got his captain's liscense, been out sailing everyday for a living, goes to exotic places during the off season (has no kids).
There has to be something you like that fits you outside of this industry. I use to work in hotel industry, gave me plenty of time in off season to work on scripts.
You might want to go the Santa Monica college first, cheaper, then go to university for last two years.
There has to be something you like that fits you outside of this industry. I use to work in hotel industry, gave me plenty of time in off season to work on scripts.
You might want to go the Santa Monica college first, cheaper, then go to university for last two years.
10s
Veteran
You have lots of good suggestions. I wish someone had given me guidance when I was young. I also wish I had the ears and good sense to seriously understand what I was being told and to take it seriously. The choices you make will profoundly affect the course of your life.
My 2 cents:
My 2 cents:
- Get a tutor and learn math, good enough to have a basic grasp.
- Learn to focus and study hard, that is the skill that will take you places. The art of learning how to Learn is the key for all of us to increase our talents. This is something you should take very seriously.
- Get a degree that is in a technical field: i.e., computer science, bio-medical, robotics, electrical engineering... the more difficult it is usually there are less people that can do it and they command a higher wage.
- Get a technical college degree, see above.
- Start a $avings account now, learn investing, you'll thank me 35 years from now. Current events prove we all need to know who are frauds and who runs honest investment funds.
- Learn basic economics, read a few books on political economy & historical economics. Why? because your life is directly impacted by these forces. It is better to be informed than ignorant. Knowledge is power.
- Avoid drugs, alcohol, STDs friends & girls that are messed-up/troubled.
- Focus your film passion toward writing screenplays, acting & editing. This is the gateway to directing. The technical stuff is wonderful but it can be a huge distraction if you want to direct.
- Join the drama club and be in plays, even very minor roles.
- Act in as many as possible, indie productions.
- Make friends & hang out with both techno nerds [into science, computers, doctors, engineers... those types] and actors & writers.
- Move / Get away from your home town ASAP upon high school graduation so you can wake up and see reality better.
- Seek out mentors and ask for help.
- If someone around you is better at something, ask them to help you improve. Don't be too cool to admit your limitations, just be honest and appreciative.
- Dream big and use the lazer focus & hard work you learned while you mastered math to make your success come about. Don't expect help from anyone, you must do all the work. If by chance you happen to receive help, take it and show sincere appreciation. Share any success with those that helped. Thank & reward everyone involved.
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Well, I like pretty much anything that requires me to be creative. I guess I could obtain a degree in English or graphical design. Lets say I obtain a degree in English.. what could I possibly do with it? Teach the language to foreigners? No way.
$500/hr, eh? That's sick. But listen, I'd rather do something I love & make less money, than do something I hate & make buttloads of it. (I'd be more than happy if I could make $4,000 a month, as an actor) But hey! Maybe that's just me..
Well, I kind of like 1 thing outside of this industry. (graphical design) But it's like eeh, it's kind of cool, but do I really want to do this?
And yeah, I'll probably attend SMC first & then transfer to a 4-year university.
• Sure, I could do that, but if I'm going to attend a community college, do I really need to do it? I mean, I don't suck at math THAT bad, but I'm no genius either.
• Oh, man. If I have something that I want, I'm going to go after it, no matter what. (in this case, the film industry)
• I'm thinking about getting a degree in either English language or graphical design.
• Yeah, I was thinking about that myself. And yes, I'll probably thank you 35 years from now.
• I actually have basic economics at school. But sure, I could read a few books about it.
• Will do! But a few drinks with some friends every now and then can't hurt, right?
• Woohoo, I love writing screenplays & acting.
• Will do! I was actually thinking about auditioning for some indies while in school as well.
• And again, will do! :beer:
• Oh huh.. I need to find a synonym for will do!
• Oh dude! I'll be thousands of miles away from my home town. I can't wait to get out of here!
• Mentors, eh? Like, life mentors? Where would I find one?
• Sure, sounds cool.
• *nods*
Thank you so much, you guys! :beer:
Speaking as someone who is graduating with an English degree and just finished hunting for employment after I leave school: an English degree is not the most marketable degree. If you can augment it with something like a math or psychology minor it would be helpful in setting you apart. Also, if you want to go into graphic design make sure you have get good technical knowledge like CSS, Flash, ability to use Adobe Creative Suite, 3D talents, etc. Those will make you far more marketable than someone who just has a drawing/painting background. If you do get an english or graphic design degree make sure you do two things: 1). hone your creative skills for the industry in which you plan on getting a day job and 2). get internships.
If you want to get an English degree and go into advertising start brushing up on the skills required during freshman year and don't stop. Same goes if you want to be a graphic designer: make sure you've got a great portfolio. As for internships, they'll make your resume look better, and you may be able to turn one into a full-time job.
As before, I still you should try to bring your math scores up and get into the best school possible.
davide
If you want to get an English degree and go into advertising start brushing up on the skills required during freshman year and don't stop. Same goes if you want to be a graphic designer: make sure you've got a great portfolio. As for internships, they'll make your resume look better, and you may be able to turn one into a full-time job.
As before, I still you should try to bring your math scores up and get into the best school possible.
davide
Do you know how much talent agents make? It requires a law degree usually, doesn't it? So I would assume it would be fairly lucrative considering people are willing to go into it rather than simply being lawyers.
I'm pretty sure they teach that stuff in college?
And how would I do that? By designing stuff?
Do you, by any chance, know of any cool places where I could get an internship, as a graphical designer? (in LA area)
Yeah, see.. here's the deal - I'm not sure how I feel about a FULL-time job? It would interfere with my auditions.
Anyways, thank you so much for replying.
Some colleges have courses in css, flash, 3d, photoshop. Others don't. If the school you go to doesn't then just learn it on your own. There are a lot of great books and tutorials out there that you can use.
The way to build up your portfolio is by creating art. Take classes and get feedback. Always be looking for inspiration and always be productive. When you apply for a graphic design job you will be competing with people from Pratt and Rhode Island School of Design who have spent 4 years doing graphic design and getting mentored by some of the best in the business. To compete you've got to havea good body of work. Register a website and upload your work on it too.
I don't know anything about the LA area. The best thing to do is find a list of Graphic Design companies, then scout out the ones you like and ask them if they are taking interns. My most treasured advice about job hunting is that you need to send you resume out about 20 times for every offer especially when you're starting out. Sometimes magazines or sites like Creativity and Ad Age make lists of the "Top 100" designers or advertisers. I'd suggest finding lists like those and contacting all the LA studios on those lists.
Whether you want to work full time or part time is not the big issue right now in my opinion. The most important thing is getting the training you need to get a career that you can both stand and will make you enough money to be safe and happy. Some full time jobs are flexible enough to allow you to audition.
The way to build up your portfolio is by creating art. Take classes and get feedback. Always be looking for inspiration and always be productive. When you apply for a graphic design job you will be competing with people from Pratt and Rhode Island School of Design who have spent 4 years doing graphic design and getting mentored by some of the best in the business. To compete you've got to havea good body of work. Register a website and upload your work on it too.
I don't know anything about the LA area. The best thing to do is find a list of Graphic Design companies, then scout out the ones you like and ask them if they are taking interns. My most treasured advice about job hunting is that you need to send you resume out about 20 times for every offer especially when you're starting out. Sometimes magazines or sites like Creativity and Ad Age make lists of the "Top 100" designers or advertisers. I'd suggest finding lists like those and contacting all the LA studios on those lists.
Whether you want to work full time or part time is not the big issue right now in my opinion. The most important thing is getting the training you need to get a career that you can both stand and will make you enough money to be safe and happy. Some full time jobs are flexible enough to allow you to audition.
puredrifting
Major Contributor
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Problem is, Graphic Design is not that different than video/film, in the sense of competition. Too few jobs for too many aspiring artists. I think that is out of the frying pan into another frying pan.
Dan
Dan
Yeah, I guess you are right.. So what else could I do? (part-time) I mean, I could go on and find something myself, but it probably wouldn't be all that different from film/graphic design, in the sense of competition.
Study.
Work hard on Math, get a tutor. PAY FOR A TUTOR. 500$ spent now, will help you get in to UCLA.
Rock the SAT, get in to the school of your dreams. Dude, if youre giving up Now, how the hell are you gonna make it as a diector? You have to be boss. in control, and willing to work harder than everyone on set.
Who said that I'm giving up? I was just thinking about going to Santa Monica College first, rock the grades there, and then transfer to UCLA.
And eff yeah, I'm willing to work harder than anyone else.
Anyways, thanks for the reply.
Real industry? As in, film industry? Who's the one giving up now? Dude, believe in yourself.
thetvirus513
Well-known member
I would try to go for USC or UCLA first and not go to another school. Transferring is much harder than getting accepted as a freshmen. I went to a school in MN and then decided they didn't have any type of communications major and chose to transfer to a school in California. I applied to three colleges, Chapman, Loyola Marymount, and Vanguard University. Straight from high school I could have gotten into any of them no problem but as a transfer they only accepted 100 at the most transfer students so there is TONS more competition. I ended up going to Vanguard and couldn't be happier, but I was certainly worried for a bit. I made sure that even though I was going for a communications degree that it was from a 4 year liberal arts college because if all else fails it is easier to get a different type of job with that degree than with a very specialized degree in film