10 Careers for Film Majors
From Hitchcock to Spielberg, you're fascinated by film of all kinds. You love to imagine new worlds and alternative endings. You drive friends crazy because you overanalyze all of their favourite TV shows.
Sound like you? Chances are, you're a film major. (Or, at least, you're thinking about becoming one.)
Film studies is a wide-ranging degree that combines technical skills with theoretical knowledge. Over the course of the program, students learn to produce film, edit footage, operate a camera and a boom, and more. They also dive into the analytical side of film. Topics like film history, genre studies, and critique all come into the mix.
Some students specialize in a single area, like screenwriting or production. Others graduate with a broad range of interests and knowledge. Whatever the specifics, all film studies majors gain valuable transferrable skills. They learn to manage their time, collaborate, think critically, and manage budgets. They understand the power of visual language, the art of persuasion, and the secret to crafting a compelling story.
Together, these qualities prepare them for success—both within the film industry and beyond.
This article will be covering the following careers:
| Career | Avg Salary | Satisfaction | Your Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filmmaker | $21k | 4.1/5 | |
| Fundraiser | $65k | 3.0/5 | |
| Journalist | $55k | 3.5/5 | |
| Project Manager | $85k | 3.1/5 | |
| Publicist | $55k | 3.0/5 | |
| Advertising Manager | $104k | 3.1/5 | |
| Event Planner | $29k | 3.5/5 | |
| Archivist | $44k | 3.3/5 | |
| Lawyer | $129k | 2.7/5 | |
| Teacher | $40k | 3.1/5 |
Are these careers suited to you? Our comprehensive career test measures your personality traits and interests and matches you to over 800 careers.
1. Filmmaker
Editor, producer, director, screenwriter, set designer—these are just a few film careers to consider. Depending on their skills, interests, and experience, film students can end up in any of these roles. Many start in an entry-level position, working as production assistants or editing interns. With time, they build connections and a portfolio, climbing their way up the ranks.
Filmmaker
A filmmaker is responsible for the conception, planning, and execution of films, ranging from short films and documentaries to full-length feature movies.
2. Fundraiser
Social fundraisers raise money for organizations through crowdfunding techniques. They use social media and other digital promotion strategies to connect to audiences. Film students understand the power of storytelling. They know how to craft campaigns that persuade and inspire, which helps them thrive in this role.
Fundraiser
Fundraisers play an important role in the nonprofit sector, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and other entities that rely on external funding.
3. Journalist
Journalism is changing. As more publications go digital, news is taking new forms. By 2021, 82% of internet traffic is expected to be video. Film studies graduates can take advantage of the growing demand for visual content. Using their technical skills, they'll produce high quality videos for news outlets of all kinds.
Journalist
A journalist investigates, gathers, and reports news and information to the public through various media outlets, including newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and online platforms.
4. Project Manager
Film school can be an extremely hectic experience. Students juggle multiple projects at once, taking on many different roles. They learn to collaborate with teams, set and meet deadlines, craft schedules, delegate tasks, and more. All of these skills make them excellent project managers. In this role, they'll work with organizations and businesses to set goals, then achieve them as efficiently as possible.
Project Manager
A project manager is responsible for planning, executing, and overseeing the successful completion of projects within an organization.
5. Publicist
Publicists build relationships between media and individuals or organizations. They craft press releases, pitch story ideas, and—hopefully—get media coverage for their employers. Like the film industry, this career is all about communication and connection. Extraverted film studies majors are perfect candidates for the job.
Publicist
A publicist is responsible for managing and promoting the public image of individuals, organizations, or businesses.
6. Advertising Manager
Advertising and film share some key qualities. Like film, advertising uses digital media to make audiences think and feel a certain way. It also relies heavily on storytelling—visually, textually, musically. With their screenwriting and video production skills, film studies majors are cut out for the role.
Advertising Manager
An advertising manager is responsible for planning, implementing, and managing advertising campaigns to promote products, services, or brands.
7. Event Planner
Pulling off a film production successfully requires a lot of planning. It takes people skills, organization, and a knack for creative problem solving. The same is true in the event world. As event planners, film studies graduates can use their skills to coordinate film festivals, conferences, and more.
Event Planner
An event planner specializes in organizing and executing various types of events, ranging from small gatherings to large-scale conferences and weddings.
8. Archivist
Audiovisual archivists are highly specialized professionals. They have deep knowledge about the history, preservation, and curation of audiovisual media—including film. Film studies majors understand the nuances of different genres, directors, time periods, and more. With the right training, they can make talented (and passionate) archivists.
Archivist
An archivist is responsible for the preservation, organization, and management of historical records and documents.
9. Lawyer
Entertainment or media law combines a love of media with thorough legal knowledge. Entertainment lawyers provide legal services to people in the entertainment industry. They work with copyright, trademark, intellectual property, and other issues. For film studies majors who are curious about the legal side of the craft, this can be an ideal match.
10. Teacher
Finally, some film students decide to go back to school post-graduation—not to study, but to teach. As film instructors or professors, they'll help others fall in love with film. Some teach technical courses, like video editing or screenwriting. Others lead theoretical seminars, diving into the style, technique, and cultural influence of their favourite directors. Either way, it can be a rewarding and intellectually engaging career.
Teacher
A teacher serves as a guide, mentor, and facilitator in the learning journey of students.