Survival After Graduation A Matter of Financial Preparedness As I've mentioned before, you have to plan for the future from the start. Moving on after graduation isn't an easy thing to do, nor is it a cheap adventure. I've seen so many students come to the end of their studies, and find that they have no means to pursue their dreams. If you don't plan, you'll end up staying in Orlando, or moving back "home". I built a small savings for the sole purpose of supporting myself after graduation, by taking out more Living Expenses money than I truly needed. The problem is that you must save this extra money or you'll lose it. Open a savings account and put your set fee into it each time you receive financial aid payments. If you keep it in your checking account, you'll include it in your calculations of how much money you have until your next payment, and you'll end up having to spend it. Don't tell yourself you're better than that, because you aren't. My experience as a Production Manager has illustrated how people will spend any money they're given. If something will cost $300, and I give you $400, you will spend $400. The only way to keep it at $300, is to only give yourself $300. The same is true here. Only keep what you're allowing yourself to spend in your checking account. Managing your finances at Full Sail is a tricky thing for most students. You receive your payment in just a couple lumps. Many students spend it rapidly, enjoying their new found sense of wealth, and find themselves poor in the last couple months before the next payment. If you do this, you won't have the funds to follow your dreams after graduation. Plan to have over $3,000. Even that amount will fade quickly. Renting a moving truck for a cross-country move, and the 10mpg fuel consumption, will cost you in the neighborhood of $1,300. Moving with a friend may cut that cost in half, but don't forget your vehicles in the equations! If you have a pickup truck, and you aren't bringing much with you, you're going to have a lot more money when it matters. You'll probably have to sign a 6-month lease, maybe even one year, and you'll definitely have to put over a thousand dollars down if you sign a lease. The best option is to move by yourself, and to find a room for rent. The Los Angeles Craig's List has many of these listings. Chances are you won't have to sign a lease, and the fact that you don't have a job won't kill you. That brings up another topic. Film is a freelance industry, you will be unemployed. Unless you manage to find a salary job at a rental house or production company (which isn't likely, but possible), you will be working job to job. Until you're in a union, you'll find it extremely difficult to get a car loan, sign a lease, etc. That's another reason why finding a room to rent, and already owning a car, is the best way to go about it. Full Sail's Placement department will do what they can to help you find leads, but you can't expect to find a job immediately. Chances are you'll have to make a move without a place to live, and without a job. If you do it wisely though, you'll have both soon. Of course, there are much safer ways to go about this. Playing it Safe - Other Ways to Do It If you come out of Full Sail with a reel, which isn't something they require or even help you do, your chances of finding work are greatly increased. For instance, a reel may land you a position at a post house, help you find crew work, and even get you in the door at an entertainment company. I didn't have a reel, and it hurt me. You can bet I have one now (as a beautiful DVD no less)! Also, before you leave, send out as many résumés as possible. Chances are you won't hear a thing, but if you do, you won't regret it! Always watch the various job sites for positions you'd like, and see what the requirements are. If you know this well in advance, you'll be able to work to meet the requirements. For what it's worth, when I head back to Hollywood, I plan on pursuing Cinematography. I expect to not be paid for half a year, and not be able to fully support myself, for a full year. The upside is that within two years, it's possible to be making a significant sum of money. I'll also have to humble myself by volunteering for jobs that my ego says I'm better than -- just think of these jobs as stepping stones. Two successful Full Sail Film graduates, which I met at an LA Alumni Association meeting, both worked for free for about three months, and now, after a year of hard work, are both looking at making almost six figures next year. In order to make the big money, you have to make no money. You can start making money faster below the line, than above or at the line. It won't take long for somebody who wants to be an Assistant Camera to start making money, on the order of three to four months. If you want to be a Director or DP, you'll have to find your own way of getting there, as you won't get paid for a long time. You'll also have to humble yourself, working on pathetic gigs, for free. You do that though, and it'll pay off. The way to do this is to save up. It's extremely important! Slack now, and your future will suffer. In non-major markets, you have more of an ability to secure a job prior to graduation. You might consider starting in a small market, where you might be able to secure a position, gaining experience, building your résumé (and/or reel), and building up a savings account, before heading to a major market. You have to keep the long term goal in mind though. If you plan to end up in Los Angeles or New York, never stop looking forward to it. Something else to consider is the cost savings or difficulties in going alone or with a partner. If you're moving with a 'significant other', they'll be able to help support you by working a more reliable job. They will also be less enthusiastic about moving though, and will worry about your financial difficulties. If you think it through, you'll figure it out.  Proceed to 'The Next Step' This article is broken up into four pages: - Deciding to Attend - Making the Most of it - Survival After Graduation - The Next Step - Networking - Frequently Asked Questions