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I'm currently enrolled at the University of Queens in Kingston, ON Canada. I've been having the worst week of my life because:
a) I miss my girlfriend  Who lives back home.
b) I've been sick for a week. Headaches, nausea, coughing fits.
Now, in the topic of University, I decided I'd like to major in film, because I love the business. Is this stupid? Is a bachelor of Arts honours with a major in film really going to land me a job after University?
I'm stuck between doing it or not because:
a) You only live once so you should do what you love.
b) I'm pretty sure my mom will guilt trip me into oblivion, seeing how she's paying for my uni to get an "employable" major
I also have an uncle who works in the film business and is quite successful, who could get me onto sets starting as a grip or cameraman or whatever, like he did with his son (my cousin). I was also debating whether I should do a Masters in film at USC, or just go into the workforce directly after attaining my undergraduate.
What do you guys think?
Finally, my friend is a zerg player, while I am terran, and he thinks the 7 roach push is the end all be all strategy, I don't think he realizes it's an all in, and it's terrible. It's been bugging me for a few hours now.
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First your friend is bad, Second do what you want. You have to take risks from time to time, if you don't you will end up a drone hating your life and eventually just jumping off the roof of your office building with they lay everyone off. So Take Film and if you already have a connection your a lot further ahead than most people.
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everything will land you a job if you are really good with it. Talk to your mom, ask her point of view, do something you like (not necessarily the thing you like most), but don't do something you don't want, because that will fail.
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On September 22 2011 03:46 SigmaoctanusIV wrote:
First your friend is bad, Second do what you want. You have to take risks from time to time, if you don't you will end up a drone hating your life and eventually just jumping off the roof of your office building with they lay everyone off. So Take Film and if you already have a connection your a lot further ahead than most people.
I think I may, I'm going to explore my options in the next couple of years.
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If you get a job after major your mom paid for and you hate it in future, you will blame yourself for not being your own man.
Best option is tying the two. Also hardest. If you can't afford getting into film, take it up as a hobby, but get really into it.
Plus I feel bad for all you guys who have to pay for college/university... Such a rip off only to get a paper. And they don't teach you things you can't read in library for the most part.
For the most part only studying exact science or similar subjects gets you a job anyway.
PS. Talking to your mom, about how you feel and what options you consider is your best bet. Make her understand how "torn" you are, so she can't blame you and you won't feel guilt as you would by doing something without consulting it with her.
It's sometimes the case that we don't want to hurt our parents, but we can't live for them. Just our children won't live for us.
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I have a teacher who said that when he was a student, he wanted to major in film. He said "you either hit big or you lose"
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Katowice25012 Posts
I have a handful of friends with film degrees and none of them works anywhere near the industry, whereas the few people I know working in film have unrelated degrees.
I have no idea how common this is but there is my experience. I don't think the degree is terribly related except maybe to give you a place to meet like minded people.
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I think majoring in film is very much based, no matter how many degrees you have, it'll eventually come down to natural talent or creativity. I agree with the person a few posts up, doing it as a hardcore hobby while studying some more definite (maybe something which could also be used if you do get in to film?) seems like the safest option and allows it to remain your passion instead of a stressing major.
edit: can't speak english on 4 hours of sleep.
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Unless you're willing to move to LA, chances are you're not going to have a career in film. At least in the US. I can't speak for Canada, but LA is the hub of it all, and it's where the jobs are. As for how important the degree is, I'd say it's not as important as the experience you gain while in school, as far as producing and making films is concerned. If it's all theory and paper writing and studying book after book on film history and critique, it won't help you land a job outside of critiqueing film, or teaching film at a university.
What aspect are you interested in? What are your goals? You say you like the business, does that mean you want to produce, handle the money and bringing all the creative people together to make the film?
Also, you're going to have to do a lot of work on your own, starting and finishing your own projects, or hooking up with a group of people who are in a similar position. Most anyone you talk to who is in the industry will tell you that you spend at least 5 years doing your own thing, then people start to notice and want to get involved with you/pay you.
Just so you don't think I'm talking out of my ass: I'm currently in LA, pursuing a theater career (directing plays), while my roommate/best friend is trying to get his start directing films. We've talked to many people and met many people, some who are doing better than others. But really, the degree is not nearly as important as work ethic, experience, and sadly, talent.
Good luck 
edit: Sorry, I missed the part about you having an uncle in the industry. That will help you more than anything.
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Film major is worthless unless you're at very specific institutions and even then, it's very much about who you know and networking the shit out of yourself.
I knew a bunch of film majors in college and they're all doing bullshit jobs at 25, 26, 27, etc.
If you enjoy it that much and don't wanna give up, go minor in it. But from what I understand, it's not a degree that leads to many opportunities within the industry. Certainly not outside of it--everyone just thinks you were stoned as fuck all day
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I'm majoring in film studies too, but the truth is that no matter how much knowledge you have, the jobs go to the kids of those who are already in it. Or to those who have friends in it. Plus what you learn is quite theoretical too. Some students can write pages and pages comparing german abstract expressionism to the French poetical realism, but can't shoot anything without making it hilarious and awkward.
I'm not that passionate about films so I'm heading towards a political science degree, my dream goal being a job in the videogaming industry. But I feel it's important to have a solid diploma I can rely on later.
However, if your uncle is in the business and you're really passionate about films in general (not just the Hollywood "classics"), go for it.
Just a reminder: you'll make a living if you shoot porn movies. You won't if you try to innovate (or very rarely).
Edit: oh and yeah, as the previous poster said, you need to be in a big school if you want that diploma to be worth something. If people don't actually know the school you're in, there isn't much use.
And last thing, you'll learn by filming, not reading books. Eisenstein shot his masterpieces around his 25th year. So if you're really passionate and have the balls to work there (it requires balls to wake 20 people at 6 AM because you want that particular sunlight, and that's the easiest part), film and do stuff. Be active.
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If your uncle can get you work you should try now to line something up for the summer. As other people are telling you in this thread, experience means way more than education when it comes to getting production jobs.
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If you think your mom will guilt trip you, don't let her pay for your university... Take OSAP, they won't guilt trip you, just take a bunch of interest money off your ass lool, independence is worth it though.
Be your own man.
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EPT
