[MCOWPB]

I hope I'm not committing a City Data faux-pas by askng about a specific undergraduate program, but I'm curious if anyone knows a thing or two about UNLV's film department. Reviews, details of any kind would be greatly appreciated.

[ddrhazy]

Another liberal arts program that will have you unemployed in the future?

[SportyandMisty]

I've met a few graduates of the program. It isn't USC, but it isn't bad, they say.

One of the key issues in building a thriving film industry is tax incentives. Nevada has some pretty good incentives for film production companies to produce here -- but such incentives are in danger of going away. These things are cyclical, of course; if they cut them, production dries up, and a few years later the incentives would be reinstated, and production would return.

https://www.nevadafilm.com/tax-incentives/

If it were me, I'd think about USC or NYU as a first choice.

[SportyandMisty]

Originally Posted by ddrhazy

Another liberal arts program that will have you unemployed in the future?

Actually, it isn't a liberal arts program (at least in the traditional sense). It isn't a trade school either. But you do learn about the mechanics of production, and that is better, career wise, than majoring in philosophy. Depending on your interest, you would study everything from script writing to technical aspects of post-production.

[SportyandMisty]

One more thing - if you're seriously considering the film program at UNLV, I suggest you head to the alumni office, do some research, and contact a half dozen graduates to see what they are up to & what they have to say. I'd also suggest contacting leadership at some of the key film festivals such as Sundance Film Festival (on my mind as they just wrapped up). Sundance Institute . Contact some of the people in the film festival industry where independents are screened & sold to distributors; ask a few questions of them about UNLV.

[MSchu]

interesting topic...

[von949]

Originally Posted by ddrhazy

Another liberal arts program that will have you unemployed in the future?

Especially when you have amateurs on YouTube making six figures using the camera feature on their smart phone.

[MCOWPB]

Originally Posted by ddrhazy

Another liberal arts program that will have you unemployed in the future?

Let me guess, next you're gonna tell me to pursue a degree in Computer Science if I want to make money.

I'm well aware that degrees like this are an uphill battle in terms of return on investment. But I'm not going to go to school for 4 years, accrue debt, and flunk out because I hate what I'm studying.

Thanks for all the other responses guys

[EA]

Originally Posted by von949

Especially when you have amateurs on YouTube making six figures using the camera feature on their smart phone.

Most of them are using a dslr. No one should use a phone camera for anything, ever.

There is a wide array of uses for a film degree. Youtube videos. Yes, some of them are film school graduates who used their skills to make money on youtube. Tv shows, commercials, movies, in house productions, production houses, and a lot more. I'm not sure I would go to unlv for the degree, though.

[MCOWPB]

YouTube celebrities are just that - YouTube celebrities... I'm glad they found their niche and have come into so much money by doing something so easy, but I don't really care for it or pay attention, and would like to do something a little bit more fulfilling to say the least