Minneapolis Improv Boards

[andypdc]

I started at Metro State last spring. My plan at the time was to graduate with a psychology degree as that has always been an area of interest to me. Once I started taking psyc classes I found out that to make any money in the field you need a Masters degree or prefereably a PhD. I am noit that interested in it.
Then I took Intro to Criminal Justice as a required "goal area" course and I loved that topic of study. So I changed my major to Criminal Justice figuring I'd go to law school when I graduate, but I have talked to several law grads that are unemployed and buried in debt. One said she wouldn't advise anyone to law school unless it was a free ride at a top 20 law school. Ouch. An entry level crim justice job pays about $30,000/year. Hardly worth pursuing to me.
So, back to square one, I took Beginning Screenwriting last semester as another "goal" course and I loved it. The teacher gave me good notes and liked my writing. I feel great about my writing, and I love all of the classes that are required for a screenwriting major (creative writing, writing for television, etc.). I emailed my screenwriting teacher, who is also the advisor for the screenwriting dept, telling him that I would love to major in screenwriting but I want to be assured there are jobs out there for a screenwriting grad. I told him that I have hated every job I have ever had (which I have. I just worked dead-end jobs because you have to work) and he said that life is short and I should do what I am good at and what I like. He said that chances for jobs for screenwriting grads are good and that chances for jobs with a masters (MFA) in screenwriting are excellent. I would like to pursue a masters in screenwriting (unlike psychology) and I want to have a joib that I love.
I am leaning toward changing my major again and going for what I really love but I need to justify it with knowing what jobs are out there for me when I graduate. I don't know of any. Do you? Can you give me any advice that will make me pull the trigger on this (and at least be even more happy than I already am in school)? The big thing I am looking for are jobs that are out there. If there is a decent list, I will be a screenwriting major before fall semester. (what makes me nervous is that I went to Brown Institute out of high school for radio and never made a dollar doing that. I would be embarassed to graduate again, this time from an accredited college, and go back to working jobs that make me an alcoholic).

Thanks for reading/your help.

Andy
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[anvilheadboy]

If that's what you want to do, then do it. Although, this passion will most likely lead to more shit jobs that you hate while you pursue your screenwriting career.
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"just remember...there are still 6 billion chinese who don't care if we have
a good set or not." - Sean Tonko?

If the terrorists hated freedom, then the Netherlands would be fucking dust - David Cross

http://www.mikefotis.com

[andypdc]

See? That's what I am trying to avoid. More shit jobs. My thought is that I can work shit jobs w/o schooling, you know?
I am at a point where I am able to intern to get a foot in the door, but I am stumped on places to intern. Any ideas?
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[jillybee72]

I have met a lot of the people from the Minnesota Screenwriters Workshop and I don't get the impression they're making a living at it. I think they all have day jobs.

http://www.screenwritersworkshop.org/

They might have info on internships and stuff.
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I could be wrong.

[dogmatica]

I love screenwriting, absolutely love it. I love screenwriting in the classroom, both taking classes and teaching workshops when I get the rare chance, and think it's a great way to understand filmmaking language and be a better writer.

When it comes to choosing a screenwriting program, here's a litmus test:

If the screenwriting program you're interested in tells you that it's altogether possible to be a working screenwriting living anywhere but LA, they're basing that on anecdotal exceptions to the rule.

If the screenwriting program you're interested in fosters your talent and also says that ultimately, you'll need to move to LA if you want to make a living at it, they know what they're talking about.

And that's simply the truth. Almost every screenwriter lives and works in LA because writing is only half the job; the rest is meetings, pitches, conferences, and so on. If moving to LA, working to make a ton of connections without coming off as too smarmy about it, and paying your due by working thankless, low-rung jobs as you work at your dream are all in your game plan, then getting a degree in screenwriting to help you nab a screenwriting job is a great idea. Working to earn the degree, have the faculty help you make connections, and spend your school years saving up for the move to LA can all pay off as a great forward-looking combination for success. I suppose it's (highly rarely but conceivably) possible one could get one script out to LA and get a little buzz, but while that can be a foot in the door, a move to LA is likely necessary soon thereafter.

I have a BA in Film Studies and an MFA in Creative Writing with an emphasis in screenwriting. I knew during my MFA I wasn't moving to LA (and for as much as my faculty fostered my talent they made it clear LA would need to be a part of my future if I kept going and they were right), Still, I did screenwriting, anyway, because I really enjoy the genre (helps with short films and I write sketch in screenplay format) and it wasn't my sole focus; I was free to explore fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Those last three genres are areas of writing in which a writer keen on developing their talent can live pretty much anywhere and not have where they live hinder their ability to get work. As for me, when it comes to writing, it's something I really enjoy and pursue on the side but even with the MFA it's not the career I'm pursuing now because obviously, I'm still in Minnesota and have no plans to leave.

Check out John August's blog and search through it for some great writing both from him, a working screenwriter, and occasional guest articles from a handful of guys trying to break into the business. It's both a real and practical guide to how it all really works.

And good luck!
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[andypdc]

Thanks for your thoughtful response, Nate. What do you do for work now? Does writing/screenwriting have anything to do with it? I did change my major to screenwriting. It is my passion and I love it. I am minoring in criminal justice to have something to fall back on, but I would love to do anything related to writing if possible. It's a constant hustle.
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[dogmatica]

Well, I'm certainly not doing screenwriting (I'm still in Minnesota!). I'm the director of youth and young adult ministries at a non-crazy, progressive Methodist church and I'm in seminary these days. However, I've found my screenwriting experience has been helpful for my work when writing short plays and videos for the youth group. or reading and interpreting scripts for book clubs, movie clubs, and teaching in youth writing workshops. Plus, having a better understanding of story via screenplay has been helpful in terms of doing my part in holding my own on my particular denomination's end of the Christian spectrum of interpreting story for contextual meaning rather than go the literalist's route and people in my congregation appreciate this.

I also use it a bit when writing sketch and doing creative exercises.
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