The Fabulous Film Industry

The film industry is one of the most exciting and influential industries in the United States. Our society as a whole is fascinated by the people who work in it and the events that occur both in and around it. Just look on the cover of any popular magazine and you will see evidence of our complete captivation with Hollywood.

Because the film industry is so dominant, it is easy to understand why so many Americans spend money on movies. Prior to 1985, the major source of revenue for this industry came from movie theatres. People still go to the movies frequently – in fact, Americans surprised economists by spending nearly $10 billion at movie theatres in 2009¹, even in the midst of a recession. However, with the rise of communications and technology, the renting, purchasing, and watching of movies on television have become dominant markets as well.

Finding Jobs in a Growing Film Industry

The film industry as a whole is incredibly lucrative, with individual movies sometimes bringing in over $1 billion in revenue². It takes a lot of people to create, market and distribute a successful movie; therefore, there is great opportunity for those hoping to build a career in the film industry.

Although acting is not the easiest career to pursue, there are plenty of other opportunities available in filmmaking. Those seeking employment in this dynamic industry can work towards becoming a:

• Producer / production assistant / production manager
• Director / assistant director
• Screenwriter
• Scene designer, set decorator, costume designer
• Animator / multimedia artist
• Camera operator
• Film and video editor
• Sound engineering technician
• Sound engineering technician
• Advertising, promotions, or marketing manager

These jobs function within the three main phases of filmmaking: Preproduction, production and post-production. Preproduction is the planning phase, production is the creation phase, and postproduction is the editing phase. All three phases must work together effectively in order for a quality film to be produced.

Job Outlook for the Film Industry

Competition for jobs in this glamorous and exciting industry is fierce, but there is opportunity for success. There will continue to be great competition for the jobs of writer, actor, producer and director. However, opportunities will be better in the technical positions that involve skills such as:

• Multimedia manipulation
• Editing
• Computer-generated imaging
• Digital filming
• And more

Wage and salary employment in this dynamic industry is expected to grow 14%³, a rate that’s higher than the average growth for all industries combined. Local employment markets will, of course, vary. Filmmaking can be a difficult industry to break into though, so those attempting to launch careers in it may find the best starting opportunities with small or independent filmmakers. However, no matter where you start or where you dream of going, one thing is for certain: In this competitive, innovative and exciting industry, the sky truly is the limit.

This article is presented by Collins College. Contact us today if you are interested in designing a fulfilling career for yourself through one of our innovative and industry-current degree programs.

Collins College cannot guarantee employment or salary. All trademarks are property of their respective owners.

¹ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704789404574636531903626624.html

² http://www.mecfilms.com/moviepubs/memos/moviein.htm

³ http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs038.htm