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What options in media or film can I do when only doing 4 years of college?
I'm curious about what kind of jobs in media or film I can do after college. I don't want to do extra classes in college, only doing 4 years. Is it possible? If so, are there many in SF?
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3 answers
Updated
Jerrold’s Answer
I would suggest anything with daily deliveries. News stations are a great way to cut your teeth, figure out which equipment and specialties become your happy place. Another great top is to interview people working at companies you’d like to work for get tips and working knowledge of the institutions. Good luck!
*read as much as you can!!!
*read as much as you can!!!
Thanks for the advice! I considered doing jobs related to radio or journalism, so this helps out a lot with expanding my options.
Lilith
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Hi, Lilith! Okay... so, after college, you'd like to know about working film & tv in SF, correct? Here's the answers to your questions:
1. As others have said, you don't need to take any extra classes. Graduate, then get to it. You're going to get a job on any local SF productions as an intern or low paid crew to start. That's fine, that's how it works on the first couple gigs.
2. Keep a very close eye on SF media, tv & film production. This is not LA, but there is production here. Keep tabs on it. By your senior year, you should be cold-calling or cold-emailing local productions. There are currently no tv series being shot here. But there is:
a. Commercial Productions. 2 or 3 days, sometimes a week's work. Get on the first one as an intern or low-paid crew, then go gig after gig.
b. Local Sports TV. Yes, you can be a storyteller in sports, too. Both pro and college sports are continuously hiring at the entry level in their video departments. That's 9ers, Giants, Dubs, Valkyries, Sharks, Stanford, Cal, etc. There's also the Pac-12 Network which features some NorCal teams. I did sports tv for over a decade here in the Bay Area, after a decade working in LA as a screenwriter.
c. There's storytelling opportunities in tech. And you live in the heart of tech. All the big players have multiple creative teams within their companies. And they like hiring graduates. That includes fintech. Yes, even fintech needs good storytellers!
3. Keep it balanced. Don't take your input and industry news all from one place, platform, or format. Sure, scrub through Reddits to get one take, and read all the industry trades and articles, but also "get out there" and actually get face to face with local filmmakers. On their sets, in their offices. Ask the hard questions, get real answers from the people actually working. You are young, educating yourself, and not a threat to anyone. Anyone confident in their own work will gladly share their time, insights and knowledge with you.
With that, I wish you the best in school and sincerely hope you do become another great Bay Area filmmaker or storyteller. Good luck, Lilith!
Patrick
Bay Area
1. As others have said, you don't need to take any extra classes. Graduate, then get to it. You're going to get a job on any local SF productions as an intern or low paid crew to start. That's fine, that's how it works on the first couple gigs.
2. Keep a very close eye on SF media, tv & film production. This is not LA, but there is production here. Keep tabs on it. By your senior year, you should be cold-calling or cold-emailing local productions. There are currently no tv series being shot here. But there is:
a. Commercial Productions. 2 or 3 days, sometimes a week's work. Get on the first one as an intern or low-paid crew, then go gig after gig.
b. Local Sports TV. Yes, you can be a storyteller in sports, too. Both pro and college sports are continuously hiring at the entry level in their video departments. That's 9ers, Giants, Dubs, Valkyries, Sharks, Stanford, Cal, etc. There's also the Pac-12 Network which features some NorCal teams. I did sports tv for over a decade here in the Bay Area, after a decade working in LA as a screenwriter.
c. There's storytelling opportunities in tech. And you live in the heart of tech. All the big players have multiple creative teams within their companies. And they like hiring graduates. That includes fintech. Yes, even fintech needs good storytellers!
3. Keep it balanced. Don't take your input and industry news all from one place, platform, or format. Sure, scrub through Reddits to get one take, and read all the industry trades and articles, but also "get out there" and actually get face to face with local filmmakers. On their sets, in their offices. Ask the hard questions, get real answers from the people actually working. You are young, educating yourself, and not a threat to anyone. Anyone confident in their own work will gladly share their time, insights and knowledge with you.
With that, I wish you the best in school and sincerely hope you do become another great Bay Area filmmaker or storyteller. Good luck, Lilith!
Patrick
Bay Area
Thank you for the great insight and advice! I will think through what options for internships and opportunities in films and media. I'm hoping to be able to get these opportunities right after college to stay within the flow.
Lilith
Updated
Kelly’s Answer
That’s a great question , and yes, it’s absolutely possible to work in media or film after a 4-year degree without taking extra classes.
Most film and media careers don’t require additional schooling beyond your bachelor’s degree. What matters most is your skills, experience, and portfolio/reel. If you use your four years to build strong projects, intern when possible, and develop relationships, you can absolutely enter the industry right after graduation.
San Francisco and the Bay Area aren't as production-heavy as Los Angeles, but there’s still a market. SF is also a major tech hub, many companies hire in-house video teams to create branded and digital content, so the work isn’t just traditional film production.
Most film and media careers don’t require additional schooling beyond your bachelor’s degree. What matters most is your skills, experience, and portfolio/reel. If you use your four years to build strong projects, intern when possible, and develop relationships, you can absolutely enter the industry right after graduation.
San Francisco and the Bay Area aren't as production-heavy as Los Angeles, but there’s still a market. SF is also a major tech hub, many companies hire in-house video teams to create branded and digital content, so the work isn’t just traditional film production.
Thanks for the feedback! I didn't quite know if industries in the city would accept a bachelor's degree, so this helps ease my mind a little. How big would the projects have to be to gain the notice of employers?
Lilith