Film and Television Producers

High School

High school courses that will be of assistance to you in your work as a producer include speech, mathematics, business, marketing, psychology, and English. Take computer classes so that you can develop a familiarity with this tool. If your high school offers any classes on the history of broadcast media or the use of broadcast media, be sure to take those courses. If you are specifically interested in producing entertainment shows, consider taking drama classes that will give you an understanding of scripts and working with actors.

Postsecondary Training

Formal study of film, television, communications, theater, writing, English literature, or art is helpful, as the producer must have the background to know whether an idea or script is worth pursuing. Many entry-level positions in the film industry are given to people who have studied liberal arts, cinema, or both.

In the United States there are more than 1,000 colleges, universities, and trade schools that offer classes in film or television studies; more than 120 of these offer undergraduate programs, and more than 50 grant master's degrees. A small number of Ph.D. programs also exist.

Graduation from a film or television program does not guarantee employment in the industry. Some programs are quite expensive, costing $70,000 in tuition alone for each year of study. Others do not have the resources to allow all students to make their own films.

Programs in Los Angeles and New York City, the major centers of the entertainment industry, may provide the best opportunities for making contacts that can be of benefit when seeking employment.

A number of organizations provide information on internships or sponsor internship programs. The Radio Television Digital News Association, for example, offers several scholarships and fellowships for college students who are pursuing careers in television, digital journalism, or radio. The Directors Guild of America sponsors Los Angeles- and New York-based training programs for a limited number of college graduates. The trainees in this program are paid and work on television series projects.

Certification

Some colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate certificate programs in producing for film and television and related areas. These programs typically last six months to a year and are available in online, in-person, and hybrid formats. One example is the film production certificate program that is offered by The School of Media Studies at The New School in New York City. According to the school's Web site, students will "explore all aspects of filmmaking and professional development, including pre-production planning, producing, writing, cinematography, directing, and editing and other post-production steps." Visit https://cpe.newschool.edu for more information, and contact schools in your area to learn more about available programs.

Other Education or Training

At its annual conference, the Producers Guild of America offers seminars and workshops about a variety of industry-related topics. Recent sessions included Hit the Ground Showrunning, Making the Leap: Producing TV for Digital Distribution, and Saving Time & Money, From Script to Screen, With Adobe. Contact the guild for more information.