Date of Award

2025

Type

Thesis

Major

Communication - Communication Studies Track

Degree Type

Bachelor of Arts in Communications

Department

Communication Department

First Advisor

Mr. Cremel Burney

Second Advisor

Dr. Andrea D. Frazier

Third Advisor

Adam Bova

Abstract

The pursuit of a crew job in the film industry is a multifaceted endeavor, offering various pathways that cater to diverse aspirations and circumstances. Central to this exploration is the question of whether attending a university and obtaining a degree in film is essential for success. I was determined to answer the following: What is the likelihood that a higher education in Film Production leads to more efficient job acquisition in the film industry? The project is considered narrative, originating from the personal quality of the research questions. I used my resources to gather qualitative data through interviews of film production professionals, receiving their opinions on the subject. I also consulted literature to find methods that may increase the chance of career acquisition in the film industry as they relate to receiving a higher education.

I had several predictions of what the findings would be. To begin, I hypothesized that attending film school was not a requirement of attaining a job in the film industry. Secondly, I predicted that those who attend film school will have similar career success rates as graduates of other majors. As a final hypothesis, I believed results would indicate the success of film internships or apprenticeships on leading individuals into careers within the film industry. The qualitative and quantitative aspects of all included findings gave a very well rounded view of the chance that a higher education in Film Production leads to more efficient job acquisition in the film industry. Yet, the broadness of the findings lead to inconclusiveness, with no clear directive for aspiring filmmakers to follow.

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