6 Career Opportunities You Can Explore After a Degree in Film Making

A film maker can explore different formats and types under this segment, including:

• Feature films
• Television shows
• Documentary films
• Short films
• Music videos
• Corporate films
• Digital videos
• Advertisements and television commercials

Around the world, the film industry is blossoming like never before, with the rise of OTT (over-the-top) platforms, digital media channels, and the generally increasing popularity of video content across the board.

Think about it – India alone produces over 1,800 films in a year, according to Statista.

Add to that more than 850 television channels and the variety of content that is produced for them – different types of shows, soap operas, dailies, features, ads, etc. The new wave of web-based content and streaming platforms, too, is taking this industry to newer heights, while also adding to the huge pool of opportunities for creative and technical professionals.

It is important to understand that we are way past the days of film making being considered as a ‘glamourous, uncertain, and wild’ career. Realising creativity demands structure. And today, the industry is largely structured, with well-defined hierarchies, streamlined hiring, proper processes, and fair pay.

Read This Comprehensive Guide To A Successful Career In Film Making

What Are Some of the Most Promising Career Opportunities in Film Making? 

From pre-production to postproduction, and from planning to distribution, modern-day film making presents talented individuals with numerous opportunities to carve themselves a rewarding long-term career in the field. The film industry needs skilled, qualified, and innovative professionals to keep creating fresh content for a variety of projects.

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Here are some of the best jobs in the film industry and sought-after careers you can explore after a degree in film making:

• Writing

They say a film is only as good as its writing. The written word is what converts an idea into a story, and a story into a script. The writing process drives the film making process and serves as the primary point of reference for all departments involved in it. Scriptwriters, screenplay writers, and dialogue writers are employed by production houses to work on novel ideas and develop scripts. Alternatively, they can also be hired on a project basis by a producer or director, depending on their requirements. Writers are expected to be good with words (no kidding!), have a good understanding of literature, and be comfortable with at least two languages and dialects.

• Casting

Look at the very first name in this image – the role of casting has got a lot of prominence in the recent past and for all the right reasons. Imagine the effort that went behind finding, auditioning, and finalizing the perfect people to be cast as all the various characters in projects like Gangs of Wasseypur!

Today, casting companies and top casting directors like Mukesh Chhabra, Honey Trehan, Shanoo Sharma, Shruti Mahajan, and Nandini Shrikent hire dozens of young professionals to assist them in their scouting and casting efforts. Casting involves understanding the script, the director’s vision and the characters on paper, and finding actors (or non-actors) that fit like a glove.

• Production design

Production designers are in charge of planning the shoot and ensuring that it goes according to the plan. They are basically the heads of the visual planning and art department and are expected to coordinate with producers and directors to design and create colour palettes, sets, props, costumes, lighting, and anything else that the project requires. Production design is an indispensable aspect of film making since it plays an integral role at different stages of a film process. Production designersare expected to be flexible, smart and dynamic, with excellent problem-solving abilities and a creative bent of mind.

• Cinematography

A cinematographer is also called the Director of Photography (DoP) and is responsible for filming the entire motion picture project using a variety of cameras and lenses. DoPs are usually well-versed with the art of storytelling and work closely with the director to achieve their creative vision. Cinematographers work in the pre-production process to establish the visual treatment for a project and break down scenes into shots with inputs from the director. In the shooting process, they are in charge of setting up shots and frames by using various filming techniques. A cinematographer is the eye behind the camera and works with a team of camera and lighting experts to bring shots to life.

• Direction

The captain of the ship, the director, is the single-most prominent voice who takes all the final calls in a film’s production process. A director is generally hired by a producer or production company for a specific project and he or she, in turn, recruit a bunch of assistant directors and the rest of the crew to help out with the film making process. The most successful directors are the ones who have a unique way of storytelling and a strong voice that resonates with the audience. Assisting a director is the best way for aspiring directors to climb up the ladder and also gain priceless experience on the job.

• Editing

Also referred to as the invisible art, editing has evolved over the last few decades to become a fully digital postproduction process. Editing involves taking video footage and joining it together to narrate a story in a linear or non-linear manner, in line with the director’s vision. It is both a creative as well as a technical process and requires editors to have a considerable level of skill and knowledge of software. Editors work tirelessly behind the scenes to string shots and scenes together. Their work usually begins on the edit table after a film’s shoot is completed.

Some of the other popular film careers are:

• Sound designer
• Foley artist
• Original score composer
• Lighting designer
• Line producer
• Key grip
• Gaffer
• Set designer
• Location manager
• Hair and makeup specialist
• Costume designer
• Visual effects (VFX) producer
• Animation artist

The one common thread between all the aforementioned jobs or roles is that no matter what the specialization, it is essential that you have a solid understanding of the entire film making process. So, if you are wondering - What can I do with a film making degree? - well, you can explore ANY of these jobs in the film industry!

With such diverse career options available to those who dare to dream, the world of film making is a great place to be a part of. Contrary to popular belief, the industry welcomes young professionals from diverse backgrounds and places if they have the right set of skills and formal training.

You can find yourself applying to or working for the leading production companies in India after a degree in film making, including the likes of:

• Film and TV production houses like Yash Raj Films, Dharma Productions, Balaji, Eros, JA Entertainment, Fox Star Studios, Red Chillies Entertainment, Disney India, UTV Motion Pictures, Sony Pictures, Colour Yellow Productions, Excel Entertainment, Mukta Arts, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, Reliance Big Entertainment, SK Films, Viacom18 Motion Pictures, etc.

• Advertising agencies like DDB Mudra Communications, McCann-Erickson India, Ogilvy & Mather, JWT India, FCB-Ulka Advertising, Dentsu Aegis, Leo-Burnett, etc.

• Animation companies like Toolbox Studio, Wow Makers, Focus Animation, Maya Entertainment, UTV Toonz, Reliance MediaWorks, etc.

Like any other area of work, it is crucial to have a solid education in the field of film making if you really want to sustain and thrive.

Here’s a guide to help you kick-start your career in film making. Also, take a look at Seamedu’s professional film making courses in Pune and Bengaluru. As one of the leading film institutes in India, we offer all-encompassing degree courses in film making that are designed to help you learn the craft and become industry-ready within three years.