What can you do with a Film Production degree?

First, some facts. Of the Film Production graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 56 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? On par with the average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 67%, Film Production graduates have about the same likelihood of finding work in this field as the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 67%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 8% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Film Production graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Film Production graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 78%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2018 from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Production. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
First Assistant Camera
Something Else (Feature Film, 2018)
May 2018 - Jun 2018
As a First Assistant Camera, this position requires specific technical skills and knowledge in film production, which are directly relevant to the Bachelor's degree in Film Production.

Camera Assistant
Frame, LLC
Apr 2018 - Aug 2018
The role of Camera Assistant directly utilizes camera operation skills and knowledge from film production studies, making it highly relevant.

Gaffer/Electrician
Motion Pictures and Television
Nov 2018 - Dec 2022
While the position of Gaffer/Electrician involves some technical skills that might overlap with those learned in film production, it does not primarily focus on core film production competencies, thus it is only partially relevant.

Director of Photography
[NAME REMOVED] W. Bevis, DP
Jul 2019 - Present
As the Director of Photography, this role directly utilizes the skills and knowledge necessary for film production, making it fully relevant to the Bachelor's degree in Film Production.

ABOUT

Director of Photographyrobertwbevis.comNew York, NY

What jobs can you get with a Film Production degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When analyzing the career paths of individuals who graduated with degrees in Film Production, a clear trend emerges: many graduates gravitate towards roles that are either directly related to the film industry or tangentially connected to it through their skills. Among the common professions, positions like production assistants, editors, and roles in creative production showcase the strong relevance of their degrees. For instance, numerous graduates work as assistants, whether as production assistants or in editorial capacities. These jobs directly utilize the film production skills learned during their studies, such as editing and organizing filming schedules, providing them with practical industry experience.

However, not all job roles maintain a strong connection to film production. Some graduates take on positions that seem unrelated, such as roles in marketing, administration, or customer service. While these jobs may engage certain transferable skills, such as creativity and project management, they often don’t draw upon the core competencies taught in Film Production programs. This leads to a mixed landscape where some graduates are deeply engaged in film-related tasks, while others find themselves in roles that, despite their connection to the media or creative fields, do not fully tap into the filmmaking expertise they acquired during their education. Thus, it’s a mixed bag: while many are thriving in relevant positions, a significant number are navigating through roles that are less than directly related to their film education.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Film Production graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Film Production graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Examining the career trajectories of Film Production graduates, it's clear that their paths can vary significantly, but there are some common threads woven through many of their experiences. Generally, after graduating, a significant number of these individuals start in production assistant roles or internships, which are typically entry-level positions—this is a standard first step. For example, people who graduated from Chapman University and California State University landed internships and production assistant roles shortly after completing their degrees. This is not surprising since these positions provide crucial on-set experience and networking opportunities, critical for breaking into the industry.

As we look at the careers of these graduates five to ten years down the line, we see a mix of success and setbacks. A lot of graduates lean towards roles related to editing, production coordination, and other technical positions that are closely related to their field. Those who graduated from schools like Dodge College and Brooklyn College show a commitment to accumulating relevant filmmaking experience, often moving up within production houses or freelance environments. However, a significant number of graduates also drift into roles that appear quite disconnected from Film Production, such as office management, digital marketing, and other unrelated positions. This suggests that while some individuals find their stride in Film Production roles, others may struggle to maintain relevance in a competitive market, leading them to seek employment outside their trained field. In other words, while there are definitely success stories within this group, there are also many who may not have found the fulfilling careers they initially hoped for upon graduation.

How hard is a Film Production degree?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Film Production can be a bit of a mixed bag in terms of difficulty. It’s not necessarily harder than other majors, but it does require a lot of hands-on work, creativity, and long hours, especially when you're involved in projects and filming. You’ll be juggling a variety of skills like scriptwriting, cinematography, and editing, which can be a lot to handle if you’re not super passionate about it. Plus, there’s often a collaborative aspect that means you'll need to work well with others, which can add another layer of challenge. Overall, I'd say it's about average in terms of difficulty, but it really depends on your interests and how much effort you're willing to put in!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Film Production.

Do Film Production graduates tend to make good money?

Looking at this group of Film Production graduates, you can see a mix of career trajectories that suggest varying levels of financial success. The graduate from CUNY-Brooklyn College who started as a Podcast Producer is likely making a decent salary especially with additional roles like Co-Founder and COO in a creative production company. Similarly, the graduate from Dodge College of Film and Media Arts seems to be well-established as a Video Producer, which often pays reasonably well.

On the flip side, you have those with a lot of experience in lower-level positions, like multiple assistant editor gigs, which might indicate that they’re not raking in the big bucks just yet. Plus, some folks are still stuck in entry-level or internship positions even after several years. So, while there are some standout success stories here, many others are still climbing the financial ladder in the competitive film industry. If money is a huge factor for you, the path might be a little rocky for some of these graduates for a while.

What buzzwords do Film Production graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Film Production. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Film Production?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Film Production (ordered by the average relevance score of their Film Production graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count