Is a B.A. degree in Television & Radio worth pursuing?

S

sb2012

Member
I'm at a two year community college right now, I work in the health field. My job will only pay for school if the degree is health related. I never considered film school as an option for me, being that I'm self-taught and you don't have the same job opportunities you would if you graduate with a regular college degree.

I have two options I'm thinking about... Going for an associate's as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, make $70-$80k coming out of school, and keep doing filmmaking/writing on the side. OR I could go for Media/Digital Film Production (which my school also offers), transfer to a 4 year school to earn a B.A. in Television & Radio. This is a form of a Mass Communication degree I guess. It's a very broad degree, I know, and I'm aware of the professions that come with it.

The latter option sounds very attractive to me and I know I will pass it with flying colors because my heart of course is in film. But the job market and security are a concern to me, I'm married and have a family so this is a lot to consider, if I'm going to come out of school making only $40k (almost what I make at my current job) then it's probably not worth it. However the thought of being around those like-minded students and professors, being recognized for your film efforts, etc. sounds fantastic, but if it's not gonna pay the bills out of school then it turns more into a "hobby" degree, something you just took for fun.

The first option, i.e. my "Plan B" career, sounds more reassuring in terms of job market and security. There is a huge market for that profession where I live (NY). Mind you, I don't *hate* doing this, it's something I wouldn't mind doing and I have experienced working with the disabled. The best part is that I would have some reasonable income on the side to support my filmmaking dream plus raise a family comfortably.

What would you guys do?
 
I don't think film school is a good investment. What do you want to do in the film world? Your salaried job out of film school at $40k/year is not going to be the fulfilling work you're hoping for.

edited to add: I spent a week living with USC film school seniors, attending all of their classes, observing their productions, and it's not the creative environment you're dreaming of.
 
I would go for the associate's degree in OT. Then, maybe take film production classes part time.

You can be a full time therapist and a part time filmmaker but you can't be a full time filmmaker and a part time therapist.
 
Get your O.T. degree, and make films with the extra money you will make.

The Radio & Television route would be very foolish at this point.
 
I went to RTF school and it was tough to find a "staff" job. Nothing I learned in the GROUP setting at school was worth a dime. I've had interns who come from the "film" schools and they barely know how to hold a camera. Granted, we have a huge diploma factory here so that is to be expected. The market here in Austin is completely saturated like a wet sponge.

I moved here from somewhere else and I am certainly part of that saturation. Obviously, I don't know the market in NY. There's some great film people, videographers etc in Austin, but there are also 8 kajillion people with who call themselves DPs every day, and then undercut big time. I've done many corporate freelance gigs and the more I do, the more hacks I come across. So and so will do it for a dollar, how come you charge 500, etc. It's all about the experience man! (pft, pay your rent with experience)

If you already have a nice paying job, and don't mind doing it, not to mention A FAMILY to support, then I say stick with it and make your own films/videos on the weekend.

I think you answered your own question:

The best part is that I would have some reasonable income on the side to support my filmmaking dream plus raise a family comfortably.
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Drew Ott said:
I don't think film school is a good investment.
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Considering almost every career break I've gotten has been from friends I went to school with, I would disagree personally. I worked crap jobs a few years out of college but was making 70k plus by my fourth year out of school. And I didn't go to a top tier college either, not by a long shot. For a young person with the means I'd say it's worth it for the connections, and for the time to figure out what kind of creative person you want to be. For an older person with a family, yeah, unless you've saved up enough money to take the financial hit, its a riskier proposition. The problem young people have, especially film students, is they think they're going to be discovered in college. College is where you develop your talent, often times from nothing. But too many think they're going to be geniuses out of the gate.
 
No it's not. Anyone can call themselves a filmmaker. That's why there are many more filmmakers than demand. But if you're going to call yourself an OT, you have to go to OT school. Think of your family and go with plan A.
 
film school is for contacts - if you dont make any contacts - then film school is a waste of time in my useless opinion. Depends on what you wanna do
 
I know a local surgeon who bought a Red Epic just to play around with as his hobby. I honestly think he shoots home movies with it.
 
That happens often. Stay in touch for when he dumps it for pennies on a dollar when he gets bored with it
 
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