January 08, 2007
by Jessica Santina
Local Education Columnist
According to a report recently released by the New York Mayor's Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting (MOFTB), the Big Apple played host to $600 million worth of new productions in 2005. And that resulted in jobs for about 100,000 residents.
New York is enjoying a renaissance. Whereas filmmakers in recent years might have looked to low-cost alternatives like Canada for their location shoots, today they're realizing the benefits (and the many tax credits now offered by the state) that come with filming in New York. Through a concerted effort by the MOFTB, more than $5 billion now comes into the city's economy each year from the entertainment industry.
And those with training in digital film and computer animation couldn't be more thrilled.
Get Rolling In Digital Film
Hollywood movie execs and consumers alike agree, digital film is where the entertainment industry is headed--and with good reason.
- Shooting with digital cameras makes it much easier to mix together live and computer-generated elements, and there's no lost quality through reproduction.
- Digital film is much easier to send to theaters, because it's compressed and beamed via satellite, instead of shipped in bulky, expensive canisters.
- The quality of digital film is even higher than a high-definition television.
- Digital film is even expected to revive the 3D movie, by making it much easier to produce.
Many in the industry expect digital film to replace celluloid in the next year or two. And all of this is why earning an associate of applied science in digital film in New York is a great career move.
Picture a Great Career
An associate of applied science (AAS) degree in digital film will prepare you for an entry-level position in advertising, broadcast design, storyboarding or an animation or design studio. You'll gain skills in drawing and an understanding of movement through studying basic anatomy. And of course, you'll gain up-to-the-minute technological skills that employers in New York will expect.
When you've completed your associate of applied science in digital film, you'll be ready for a career in computer animation that might include web design, video game design, advertising, or even special effects for TV and film. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that multimedia artists and computer animation professionals will enjoy better job prospects than other kinds of artists, although they will have tough competition. Those with the most up-to-date training will have the best chances.
Median annual earnings for these professionals were $50,360 in May 2004. Salaries are generally higher for those with advanced degrees in the motion picture and video industries.
So take action! Begin your computer animation career in New York with an AAS in digital film.
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About the Author
Jessica Santina is a freelance writer with a background in media and marketing. She also teaches first-year writing courses at the University of Nevada, Reno.
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