Purdue University College of Liberal Arts
Information for
Adam Camacho
B.A. 2004
The following letter appeared in The Exponent: "Trouble finding job bothers graduate" (Wed. July 21, 2004, p. 4). He writes:
"I am a recent May graduate from the department of film studies [sic]. I live in Oregon and I am having the damndest time finding a job. Will someone tell me it if is possible for a college grad – regardless of major – to get a job better than a cashier at Wal-Mart or something? I discovered my major late so I didn’t have time for internships and what not, but come on! Can somebody help me? I want a writing job or a job in the entertainment industry, not a freakin’ telemarketing position! Did I not work hard enough for my education? Did I takeout student loans for nothing? Is President Bush to blame? For the love of God, someone give me a job that pays slightly more than or slightly above minimum wage. Be prepared now fellow Boilers, get as many jobs, internships and extracurriculars [sic] as you can because if you don’t you might still be pushing cigarettes at the Discount Den years after you graduate"
Adam Camacho, Alumnus
A. Mr. Camacho’s letter raises a number of thought-provoking questions and reiterates a number of points that I made when we finally met towards the end of his relatively brief time at Purdue University. In order of importance from his perspective, the first question that demands an answer is: “Will someone tell me it if is possible for a college grad – regardless of major – to get a job better than a cashier at Wal-Mart or something?� More specifically, he asks, “Can somebody help me? I want a writing job or a job in the entertainment industry, not a freakin’ telemarketing position!� Mr. Camacho answers his own question when he writes: “get as many jobs, internships and extracurriculars [sic] as you can.� This is precisely what I told him and what I tell everyone who comes to talk to me about majoring in the IDIS Film/Video Studies program [if you are majoring or minoring in Film/Video Studies, or even thinking about it, come see me, sooner rather than later! Ben Lawton, Chair, IDIS Film/Video Studies lawton@purdue.edu]. But, as he says, “I discovered my major late so I didn’t have time for internships and what not.� I can understand his position. School is expensive and he was anxious to graduate. Unfortunately, as he discovered, an education, even a good one, will not guarantee you the job you want. An education should help you to understand better the world in which we live, to be a better citizen or this country and of the world, and to become a better person [ok, so I am a naïve idealist]. It will also help you get into a good graduate or professional school. That is one path towards your dream job. Many of our alumnae and alumni have gone on either to the best film schools, from California, Florida, Chicago, and New York City, while others have gone on to law school and other professional schools.
If you don’t want to go to grad school, the other way to get that dream job, is to show your prospective employer that, in addition to being educated (and civilized), you also have at least mastered the basics of the given occupation. That is why we have incorporated the Hall of Music Productions courses and internships into the Film/Video Studies program. See Q3 (What does the Film/Video Studies Program offer me?) and Q4 (What is the relationship of Hall of Music Productions and the Film/Video Studies program? Why is Hall of Music Productions teaching the Film/Video Studies production courses?). In particular, read carefully Hall of Music Productions - 2003/04: Making an Impact - Making a Difference. In one way or another, our students have the opportunity to become involved in virtually every one of the Hall of Music Productions events. In addition, our students have worked as interns and in paid capacities with any number of entertainment organizations and individuals, ranging from the CMA Music Festival, to the tours of Jimmy Buffett, Hilary Duff, Hootie and the Blowfish, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, and with corporations such as Ford, Qwest, and Verizon. The problem we are now having with the students who have followed this track is not to find jobs for them, it is to keep them off tour and in school long enough to graduate!
The situation is somewhat more complicated for those who want to make a living writing and talking about film. Very, very few people make a living solely as film critics. The concentration of all media in the hands of a limited number of conglomerates is making the situation even more difficult. Still, if this is your calling, if you must write/talk about film and are willing to work at Wal-Mart or as a telemarketer in order to do it, you might as well start here since you have to begin somewhere .Just because you worked hard and received good grades in school does not mean that you will be paid for your efforts for some time. In fact, you may assume that you will not be paid until you have learned your craft and have some “product� to show. Whether you are interested in talking or writing about film, or both, you must have a good general sense of the history of film, of the evolving trends in cinema production and theory, of the differences in national cinemas, of the evolution in film technology, etc. If you are interested in reviewing films for radio and television, you will find useful courses in Theater and possibly in Communication. You will also want to find outlets for your talents among the local radio and television stations (broadcast and cable, on and off campus). If you are interested in writing about film, you have to know how to write in standard written American English. And then you have to find some place to publish your reflections. There are several newspapers locally that might be interested, including our campus paper, The Exponent. Starting this fall, this web page will begin posting reviews of films shown locally, of new DVD film releases, and of classics. If you are interested, see me.
But, returning to Mr. Camacho’s question, will any of these activities guarantee you a job writing about film? No, but your chances will certainly be far better than if you had not taken part given the skills and habits you will have developed.
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Hi Ben,
I saw the newly displayed question and answer section of the website. I liked it a lot. If my frustrations can help steer undergrads in the right direction than that is awesome! I am still being published on a weekly basis.
I have written the reviews for Birth and Alfie and starting tomorrow there should be a piece I wrote about the Portland International Nature and Environmental Film Festival. So needless to say my head is in a much better place than I was when I wrote The Exponent. Still working a crappy job to make money though. I am hoping to be hired as a freelancer for
Willamette Week. Either way within the next year I will be moving to Chicago to pursue my writing career due to fact that possibilities for writing jobs there are far greater than in Portland with a grand total of 4 newspapers statewide (independent and conglomerate) producing there own film reviews. I hope to visit the campus in the summer perhaps. Anyway, let me know if you get to read the few short pieces I have written because I am very interested in your feedback.
As a film studies grad I to am trying to make a name for Purdue Film/Video Studies. It is a
shame that more people don't know the caliber of education that we are getting just because we aren't UCLA or NYU. What's in a name anyways. I'll take you, Professor White and Professor Hart over anyone at UCLA or NYU any day.
I will keep you posted. Again if there is anything the department needs that I can help with let me know. i am always here to help.
I've taken too much of your time. Talk to you soon.
Adam Camacho
P.S.: Just wanted to let you know that I got the internship with Willamette Week. It is cool and it is the paper that I have always wanted to work for. Thanks for your guidance and I will keep in touch to let Purdue Film/Video Studies know when I get some reviews published. See you later.
Adam
A. Dear Adam, Thanks for the notes. With your permission I will wordsmith them a bit and
add them to the web page.
I should be here this summer, so, yes, do call/write/drop by. I would love to see you.
I finally found the reviews. Bright, witty, well-written. Certainly better than the typical fare around here.
Incidentally, I thought I * Huckabees was hysterical. On the other hand, I don't think DW (whoever he is) really got American Team. There is an excellent review in a recent issue of The Nation. Check it out.
Ciao. A presto. Ben
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On September 6th I was hired as a script writer for a company called Lush Productions. Lush is based in the small town of Klamath Falls, OR., but has a Portland office as well. Lush Productions produces a syndicated television show (currently running in 27 markets all over the country) called This Week in Real Estate. The show consists of 20, 40, and 60 second property listings with voice over talent reading the scripts I write about homes whose images appear on screen. The images for the homes are created using photoshop. There are also short commercials, do-it-yourself tips, and cooking segments. Lush is also near a sponsorship deal with Home Depot that is sure to up production value a lot.
Production wise, there are teams that each produce a certain number of shows. There is an account manager, that makes sure everyone else has all the information they need to do their job, a script writer, a graphic designer that designs the photoshop templates, an audio engineer that records and edits what the voice-over talent reads, and an editor that puts the show together using final cut pro. After that the show is dubbed and mailed out to the stations that air the program, although soon we are hoping to cut out the tape altogether and send shows via internet.
The shows that I am writing scripts for are Montgomery, AL., Dallas and San Antonio TX., San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, CA., Phoenix, AZ., and Portland, OR. We will soon start production on Los Angeles. Chicago is probably the closet show we have to W. Lafayette, but you can stream any one of our shows under the This Week in Real Estate tab at www.lushproductions.net.
It's great to hear that the department is building up steam. And yes, I know I am prominent on the FAQ page. I am grateful I am there and happy if my previous frustrations can steer someone in the right direction.
Hope I have shed some light on what I talked about earlier. I owe a great deal of my success to you, Professors' White, Hart, and the rest of the Purdue film studies faculty. It took me 3 years or so but it was you all that finally made college fun. And it was you and the other faculties encouragement while at Purdue that gave me the confidence to know I could do whatever I wanted. I will definately take that with me as I move up in the world. Thanks. Sorry for writing so much.
Contact Information
Beaverton, OR
. 97008
(503) 367-7263
camachoa@lushproductions.net
astrojones2000@yahoo.com