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Can I still work in the film industry with a degree in business & management?
I didn't have the chance to major in film or the arts (e.g graphic design) because of family. However, I do make a lot of video edits, 3d models, design and illustrations that I post online (mostly of my favourite shows or video games). I really want to be able to be able to have a creative job and for now my interests are in the art department in the film industry. However, I am not sure if I can do that when I graduate with a bachelor's in business and management? Can I still pursue my dreams? Maybe get a masters in the arts or some other way?
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8 answers
Updated
Wafaa’s Answer
Hi Dawn,
You can definitely work in the film industry with a Business & Management degree. Many film professionals have diverse educational backgrounds, and your creative portfolio is often more important for art department roles. Here's how to get started:
1. Build a Strong Portfolio
Create and share video edits, 3D models, illustrations, and designs. Focus on high-quality projects that showcase your skills and style. Consider setting up a website or using platforms like ArtStation or Behance to display your work.
2. Gain Relevant Experience
Seek internships, assistant roles, or freelance projects in the film or TV industry. Volunteer for independent films, student projects, or local studios to gain on-set experience. Collaborate with other creatives to grow your network.
3. Consider Further Education (Optional)
A Master's in Fine Arts, Film Production, or Animation can help if you want formal credentials. Short courses in 3D modeling, visual effects, or concept art can boost your skills without needing a full degree.
4. Use Your Business Degree
Your business skills are a plus. They help with management, budgeting, marketing, and project coordination, which are valuable in film. You can combine creative and business skills for roles like production coordinator, creative producer, or project manager in art departments.
Focus on building your portfolio, gaining experience, and networking. Your business degree can give you a unique advantage. Good luck, Dawn, your creative future in film is within reach!
You can definitely work in the film industry with a Business & Management degree. Many film professionals have diverse educational backgrounds, and your creative portfolio is often more important for art department roles. Here's how to get started:
1. Build a Strong Portfolio
Create and share video edits, 3D models, illustrations, and designs. Focus on high-quality projects that showcase your skills and style. Consider setting up a website or using platforms like ArtStation or Behance to display your work.
2. Gain Relevant Experience
Seek internships, assistant roles, or freelance projects in the film or TV industry. Volunteer for independent films, student projects, or local studios to gain on-set experience. Collaborate with other creatives to grow your network.
3. Consider Further Education (Optional)
A Master's in Fine Arts, Film Production, or Animation can help if you want formal credentials. Short courses in 3D modeling, visual effects, or concept art can boost your skills without needing a full degree.
4. Use Your Business Degree
Your business skills are a plus. They help with management, budgeting, marketing, and project coordination, which are valuable in film. You can combine creative and business skills for roles like production coordinator, creative producer, or project manager in art departments.
Focus on building your portfolio, gaining experience, and networking. Your business degree can give you a unique advantage. Good luck, Dawn, your creative future in film is within reach!
Updated
Helanda’s Answer
Dawn,
Your degree and or university major tells an employer that you have attained academic experience. Academic experience tells an employer that you have an aptitude for learning new skills, organizing ideas and task implementation.
Therefore, you are steps closer to gaining employment approximately 80 percent of potential applicants do not have college degrees.
It's never to late to begin your passion.
Suggestions for pursuing your dreams could be:
1. Use your videos for creating a portfolio of your work. (Post some of your work. You will need to look for forums focused on beginner videotograpy and film)
2. Research the film industry. (There are several areas of interests that may be great for entry-level employment)
3. Find and complete online or adult college coures on film and video. ( You should know basic filmography, possibly video production).
4. Join film and video social sites. (Join discussions and ask questions).
5. Look for a mentor (You may find someone willing to direct your creative journey on social media forums).
These suggestions are points of discovery. You may choose what works best for you.
Hope this answer helps.
One creative to another, Good luck!
Your degree and or university major tells an employer that you have attained academic experience. Academic experience tells an employer that you have an aptitude for learning new skills, organizing ideas and task implementation.
Therefore, you are steps closer to gaining employment approximately 80 percent of potential applicants do not have college degrees.
It's never to late to begin your passion.
Suggestions for pursuing your dreams could be:
1. Use your videos for creating a portfolio of your work. (Post some of your work. You will need to look for forums focused on beginner videotograpy and film)
2. Research the film industry. (There are several areas of interests that may be great for entry-level employment)
3. Find and complete online or adult college coures on film and video. ( You should know basic filmography, possibly video production).
4. Join film and video social sites. (Join discussions and ask questions).
5. Look for a mentor (You may find someone willing to direct your creative journey on social media forums).
These suggestions are points of discovery. You may choose what works best for you.
Hope this answer helps.
One creative to another, Good luck!
Updated
Wan Naglaa’s Answer
Hi there! Absolutely, you can do it! I'm still working in the film industry, so it's definitely possible. Wishing you all the best on your journey!
Steve Jacobson
Creative Leader/Content Creator/Producer/Editor/Storyteller
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Steve’s Answer
There are so many great answers here, and I hope to add some helpful thoughts. Having a business degree is really useful in the film industry. If you enjoy production and being creative, you can bring a lot to the table with your business skills. Things like organization, schedules, budgets, and teamwork are all important in film. If you're interested in creating, writing, or directing, definitely pursue those passions. It's important to know your goals and connect with people who can help you start your journey. Keep your options open and continue making your own films. If you want, take some filmmaking courses to improve your skills. And remember, keep networking. You can do it!
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Dawn,
I am sorry that you didn't get to follow your passion and study film or arts. I would suggest to use your business degree to find a business/management job in the film industry and use that as a basis. You'll get a foot in the door and have an income. Make contacts on the art side and learn.
You can take online courses in film editing and other artsy subjects on the side. You could even work part-time to pursue your film/art education and work on building your portfolio.
But the most valuable part will be the opportunity to network. Be on set when you can, meet people, volunteer your help and learn from people where you can. Film and art is not only (or even mainly) about having the "correct" degree. Skills and hands-on experience and knowing the right people to get opportunities are even more important.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
I am sorry that you didn't get to follow your passion and study film or arts. I would suggest to use your business degree to find a business/management job in the film industry and use that as a basis. You'll get a foot in the door and have an income. Make contacts on the art side and learn.
You can take online courses in film editing and other artsy subjects on the side. You could even work part-time to pursue your film/art education and work on building your portfolio.
But the most valuable part will be the opportunity to network. Be on set when you can, meet people, volunteer your help and learn from people where you can. Film and art is not only (or even mainly) about having the "correct" degree. Skills and hands-on experience and knowing the right people to get opportunities are even more important.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Updated
Anthony’s Answer
Absolutely you can, I think your management degree will help set you apart when pursuing your creative goals. Many creative professionals are very disorganized (including myself) and highly value someone who is not just artistically brilliant but also razor sharp in organizing their ideas.
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Dawn !
Although I work in America, I think that I may be able to encourage you and provide a bit of advice that you could try. Even though you do not have a degree in or the path for Film Editing, there is a chance you could be hired in the British Film Industry.
You can prepare for this by applying for work as a runner or in a junior position on a film set or in post-production in order to obtain the experience on a film set. Make a list of all post-production houses and production companies, particularly those based in London, the South East, Bristol, Glasgow, and Manchester because those would be where you would start applying to. Include a link to the collection of the videos that you've edited, too. This type of work demands very heavy networking whether or not you have a degree in film. You might want to start this journey now.
Start out slow by joining Facebook film groups, creating a Linked In Profile and following all film production studios, and using Grapevine. You can consider joining the Production Guild of Great Britain, as it is the UK’s leading membership organization for professionals working in film and high-end television production. It is also a central hub for industry support, advocacy, and development. Membership is for professionals working in film and TV drama production, particularly crew members responsible for the day to day technical and operational aspects. That is why obtaining experience as a runner or other position will be important. Other industry unions that you can explore would be the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the Motion Picture Editors Guild, and the Animation Guild. It will be a process gaining experience and networking but you very well could reach your career goal.
There are numerous film production studios in England. You can start applying for work at Working the Films, Heyday Films, Blueprint Pictures, Number9 Films, Warp Films, Archer's Mark, Cowboy Films, Wildgaze Films, Tiger Aspect Productions, Praktika Films, 42video, Gramafilm, Spectacle Productions, Studio Wonders, The Carousel Media Company and so many more that you can find through an online search.
Also take some online film editing courses and any professional certification that your country offers for this career. Some websites based in England that offer film courses are City Lit, The University of East Anglia (free), Film Oxford, Raindance, and Sparks Film School which is for children but contact them to see if they have adult online courses. I would suggest that the time it would take for you to get a Masters Degree in film, you may use those two years to get hands on work instead. A Masters program for film usually is a transition from skilled film students to a continuation of getting even more productive, so to jump into a masters for film may be a bit overwhelming without first having the Bachelors for it. Online courses, trainings, in person classes in the community will be fine and you'll also meet a lot of like minded people along the way that could be contacts for work.
Look for jobs in film in the business end, too. Look for entry level type jobs, runner, and any jobs that your Bachelors Degree in Business would support just to get your foot in the door. Film job websites for work in London are ProductionBase, ShowbizJobs, Reed (see the website link below), Indeed, The Independent Cinema Office, Film London, Creative Pool (see website link below) and Broadcast Jobs (website link is below).
I hope this helps and I wish you all the very best !
WEBSITE FOR REED FOR FILM JOBS Reed.co.uk
WEBSITE FOR FILM JOBS Creativepool.co.uk
WEBSITE FOR FILM JOBS - CREATIVE AND LONDON BASED FILM RECRUITMENT BroadcastJobs.co.uk
Although I work in America, I think that I may be able to encourage you and provide a bit of advice that you could try. Even though you do not have a degree in or the path for Film Editing, there is a chance you could be hired in the British Film Industry.
You can prepare for this by applying for work as a runner or in a junior position on a film set or in post-production in order to obtain the experience on a film set. Make a list of all post-production houses and production companies, particularly those based in London, the South East, Bristol, Glasgow, and Manchester because those would be where you would start applying to. Include a link to the collection of the videos that you've edited, too. This type of work demands very heavy networking whether or not you have a degree in film. You might want to start this journey now.
Start out slow by joining Facebook film groups, creating a Linked In Profile and following all film production studios, and using Grapevine. You can consider joining the Production Guild of Great Britain, as it is the UK’s leading membership organization for professionals working in film and high-end television production. It is also a central hub for industry support, advocacy, and development. Membership is for professionals working in film and TV drama production, particularly crew members responsible for the day to day technical and operational aspects. That is why obtaining experience as a runner or other position will be important. Other industry unions that you can explore would be the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the Motion Picture Editors Guild, and the Animation Guild. It will be a process gaining experience and networking but you very well could reach your career goal.
There are numerous film production studios in England. You can start applying for work at Working the Films, Heyday Films, Blueprint Pictures, Number9 Films, Warp Films, Archer's Mark, Cowboy Films, Wildgaze Films, Tiger Aspect Productions, Praktika Films, 42video, Gramafilm, Spectacle Productions, Studio Wonders, The Carousel Media Company and so many more that you can find through an online search.
Also take some online film editing courses and any professional certification that your country offers for this career. Some websites based in England that offer film courses are City Lit, The University of East Anglia (free), Film Oxford, Raindance, and Sparks Film School which is for children but contact them to see if they have adult online courses. I would suggest that the time it would take for you to get a Masters Degree in film, you may use those two years to get hands on work instead. A Masters program for film usually is a transition from skilled film students to a continuation of getting even more productive, so to jump into a masters for film may be a bit overwhelming without first having the Bachelors for it. Online courses, trainings, in person classes in the community will be fine and you'll also meet a lot of like minded people along the way that could be contacts for work.
Look for jobs in film in the business end, too. Look for entry level type jobs, runner, and any jobs that your Bachelors Degree in Business would support just to get your foot in the door. Film job websites for work in London are ProductionBase, ShowbizJobs, Reed (see the website link below), Indeed, The Independent Cinema Office, Film London, Creative Pool (see website link below) and Broadcast Jobs (website link is below).
I hope this helps and I wish you all the very best !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Anthony’s Answer
Absolutely you can, I think your management degree will help set you a part when pursuing your creative goals. Many creatives are very disorganized (including myself) and highly value someone who is not just artistically brilliant but also razor sharp in organizing their ideas.
Maybe offer your management / business mindset as an additional skill when reaching out to artists for internships / entry level jobs.
Anthony recommends the following next steps: