Careers in the Film Industry

Careers in the Film Industry
If you are looking for a career in the film industry, you
are looking at a pretty competitive business. The good news
is that many people are getting jobs in this area, even
when the economy is suffering from a slump, because
entertainment is the one thing people still spend money on
during tough times. Here are a few statistics pertaining to
careers in film.

Theater admissions did decline in recent years, but it
seems that the year 2006 ended a three year downward trend
as admissions increased 3.3 percent over 2005. Ticket sales
revenues increased by 5.5 percent, which made 2006 a $9.49
billion year. The total number of movies released in 2006 -
up 607 - marked an 11 percent increase over the number of
releases in 2005.

If you want to learn how to be a director or a producer the
latest published data from the US Bureau of Labor
Statistics indicates that the film industry provided
157,000 jobs for actors, directors and producers in 2004.
This number is expected to grow between 9-17 percent by the
year 2014.

In 2002, there were about 360,000 jobs in the motion
picture and video industries, but most of these workers
were involved in the production end of film making. There
are many companies in the industry employ 10 workers or
less. The good news is that a 31.1 percent increase in jobs
is expected industry-wide between the years 2002 and 2012.
Plus, this growth is roughly twice the 16 percent growth
expected across all industries combined over the same
period.

Do you want to know how much money you can make by getting
a job in the film business? Well, it appears that median
annual earnings for salaried producers and directors, were
at $46,240 in 2002. And if you were really good, and lucky,
the top ten percent earned over $119,760.

Those who are really serious about a career in the film
business should take a look at programs with film mentor
teachers from inside the industry, which takes you out of
the classroom of some film schools in colleges and onto
real movie sets. This is how and where you'll learn by
doing while you apprentice, one-on-one with a mentor, or by
working with a professional - a producer, actor, or a
director - in the area of film that you want to study.
There are plenty of Los Angeles film schools, and even New
York film schools, and many in between in just about any
major city in the U.S., but the reality is that in order to
really "break into the film business" you will benefit by
studying with a working professional.

The reality is that no matter what the economy has in
store, or what the job market statistics come in at -- if
you really want to work in the entertainment or film
industry, the best way to do it is to learn your skills
from a mentor in the entertainment industry who will help
you get a job once you graduate.

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Writer and social media expert Kristin Gabriel works with
the Los Angeles film school known as the Entertainment
Career Connection, Inc., a fully accredited academic
institution certified by the National Private Schools
Accreditation Alliance. The school provides educational
apprentice programs for the film, radio, television and the
music recording industries in more than 100 cities in 50
states. The schools provide the entertainment industry with
graduate apprentices and entry level employees.