Getting Started
About Film & Video
A Film and Video major can be the foundation for a wide variety of career choices. For example, students with a strong interest in animation might choose to study film and video but also include courses from Art & Design, or Computer Graphics Technology. Similarly, students with an interest in more technical areas might double major with Electrical or Mechanical Engineering Technology in the Polytechnic Institute. Sports, Entrepreneurship, History, Philosophy, Business, Dance, Theatre, Art, Education, Creative Writing, other Languages, Women’s Studies, African American Studies…the possibilities for minors are almost endless! Students work closely with the faculty and their Liberal Arts adviser to select coursework both inside and outside the major to satisfy their education goals. This requires planning at three levels:
1. Selecting the right courses from within the Film and Video program.
- Selecting complementary courses from certificates, minors, additional majors, or generally from across the University.
- Developing a portfolio of work; including internships, class projects, outside personal projects, a capstone, and other professional and pre-professional opportunities.
INTERNSHIPS
An internship is a semester, summer, or even year-long opportunity to work in a campus, community, or national organization or company as a mentored student employee. The work provides the students with opportunities to network, to learn about various jobs in and out of their field, and to gain exposure to occupations and aspects of their field of study that they might not have otherwise known about.
As an intern, students are basically employees of a company or organization. Internships receiving academic credit may be paid or unpaid. To qualify for the program, an internship must offer an environment for the student to learn and grow from other professionals in their field. This mentorship is what separates and internship from a regular job opportunity. Additional CLA resources regarding internships may be found here:
https://www.cla.purdue.edu/students/careers/
https://www.cla.purdue.edu/students/careers/jobready/index.html
Students selected for the program are expected to perform duties, meet deadlines, develop good work ethic, and always behave professionally. The amount of responsibility assigned will depend on both the organization’s needs and the intern’s skill level.
Educational Goals
Present specific viewpoints in creative and cultural context
Develop influential/persuasion skills
Learn to synthesize information
Acquire interpretation skills
Practice reporting and editing skills
Create entertaining and persuasive messages
Evaluate ideas and presentation
Gather information and data; Compare and contrast evidence
Evaluate information and sources
Develop critical thinking skills
Encourage creativity and self expression
Measure media effects
Learn planning and managing skills
Work with deadlines
Work independently
Increase attention to details
Work in teams/small groups
Identify and manage different needs of individuals, groups, etc.
Understand institutional and cultural values
Collaborate in rewriting and editing with others
Explain processes, plans and concepts
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does the Film and Video Studies program offer me?
A. Our Film and Video Studies program has always offered an excellent liberal arts education in global national cinemas, film history, film criticism, ethnic and gender studies. Additionally, we offer professionally oriented production courses in all areas of Film and Video production. Students begin with a foundational course that breaks down the overall components of a professional production. Students may then continue on to study specific topics in Producing, Directing, Editing, Cinematography, Screenwriting, and/or Production Design. We also offer additional experiential coursework in Live Event and Sports Video Production, internships, and the opportunity to develop a capstone film! Here in Purdue Film and Video Programs, we believe in a broad based approach that allows students to explore all areas of aesthetics, criticism, and professional production and develop a variety of skills to prepare them for future success in any field. Our approach also allows the students to pursue a variety of story telling forms, both fiction and non-fiction, throughout the production program.
Q: What kinds of experiential training can I expect as a Film Video Studies major?
A. Industry experience, through internships and part time jobs, is crucial for gaining future employment in any industry. There are a variety of opportunities for paid and nonpaid experience both on and off campus. On campus, students can reach out to our partners such as Purdue Marketing and Media, Hall of Music Productions, Intercollegiate Athletics, and more! Off campus, students have found internships with local marketing companies and television news stations. Students have earned opportunities on films and television shows. Students have created their own small businesses and began to build client bases for their future. Students have been to New York (on Jimmy Fallon and Saturday Night Live), to Los Angeles and Chicago, and to Nashville to work in Live music and sports. The Big Ten Network takes interns from all over the Big Ten conference, and Purdue is one of the best!
The one thing that all of these opportunities have in common is that the students themselves seek out these opportunities based on their personal goals, and resources. Our staff is always ready and willing to help and guide students, but the work is up to you. More information can be found throughout this website as well as Purdue’s Liberal Arts Career Center: https://www.cla.purdue.edu/students/careers/index.html
As non-paid internships are common in Film and Video, check out the “Job Ready” award to get a little financial assistance with these opportunities as well: https://www.cla.purdue.edu/students/scholarships/j/job-ready-internship-award.html
Q: What kinds of jobs can a Film Video Studies major expect to find upon graduation?
A. Individuals who intend to work in any artistic and highly competitive field should maintain a realistic perspective about the personal and professional demands one must face in choosing such a career. While no degree or school can guarantee a livelihood in this area, Purdue's Film and Video Programs can allow the self-motivated student to create a solid interdisciplinary, individualized foundation program for further study of film, video, and developing media or entry into other areas of the workforce in a creative capacity.
Some example jobs include:
Entrepreneur/Television Director/Content Creator/Entertainment Lawyer/Film Director/Story Editor/Animator/Assistant Director/Camera Operator/Casting Director /Cinematographer/Censor Colorist/Independent Filmmaker/Industrial Filmmaker/Producer/Script Supervisor/Screenwriter/Sound Editor/Visual Effects/Dramaturge/Critic/Lighting Technician/Production Assistant/Press Agent/Actor/Drama Coach/Audio Technician/Special Effects/Prop Maker/Location Scout/Merchandising/Distribution/Sales/Personal Assistant/Theater Manager/Film Production Instructor/Casting Assistant/Costume Designer/Critic/Publicist/Rerecording Mixer/ Talent Representative/Film Editor/Multimedia Designer/Advertising Creative Director/Art Director/Teacher/Librarian/Professor/Film Archives/Historian/Technical Director/Video Engineer
Career Prospects
Individuals who intend to work in any artistic and highly competitive field should maintain a realistic perspective about the personal and professional demands one must face in choosing such a career. While no degree or school can guarantee a livelihood in this area, Purdue's Film & Video program can allow the self-motivated student to create a solid interdisciplinary, individualized foundation program for further study of film, video, and developing media or entry into the workforce in a creative capacity. Many Film & Video graduates have successfully used their major in a variety of creative occupations.To maximize their job prospects after graduation, students are encouraged to develop additional experiences through internships, co-curricular projects, capstones, certificates, and/or minors. Students should also connect their career goals with their interests and abilities by actively seeking real-world opportunities throughout their college career.
Film Studies Related Occupations
Film Archives/Television production/Animator/Assistant Director/Camera Operator/Casting Director /Cinematographer/Censor Colorizing technician/Independent Filmmaker/Industrial Filmmaker/Producer/Script Supervisor/Screenwriter/Sound Editor/Visual Effects/Dramaturge/Critic/Lighting Technician/Production Assistant/Press Agent/Actor/Drama Coach/Sound & Special Effects/Prop Maker/Scriptwriter/Studio Merchandising/Distribution Company/Personal Assistant/Theater Manager/Film Production Instructor/Casting Assistant/Costume Design/Publicist/Rerecording mixer/Film Director/Story Editor/Talent Representative/Film Editor/Talent Agent/Multimedia Designer/Advertising Creative/Art Director/Teacher/Librarian/Professor