What spacific major should I choose for college?

English and Film

spacifically [sic] not spelling.

Major in Marketing so that you can move into a job distributing the skate videos.
That’s where the real skateboard money is at.

I want to film for a skateboard company. Will I even make enough money? Is it even worth going to college for?

Start with Photography, learn composition, and move onto Film. It wouldn’t hurt to minor in Radness.

@chica- LOL

Depends.

With film, it does help to have a degree to get into the industry, but it’s talent and passion that will get you far. Depending on the school and the program, a degree/diploma/certificate in “film studies”, “film production”, “media production”, or “multimedia” (or whatever) can be more production-focused or theoretical.

It also depends on what you want to do to make the videos. If you’re happy being camera op, I’m sure you can just take some cheap classes at a local organization, do your safety courses, etc. Start off with volunteer work. If you practice with some friends then use your work as a video “portfolio”, you can pitch your work to some companies. There is room for moving up in the film world, but it takes a lot of work.

If you want to direct these videos, I’d suggest film school. Then again, film school isn’t necessary if you can market your work well to organizations that will fund you or companies that will hire you. However, film school is a great place to make contacts. Even if you just take a couple classes at a community college, try to speak with the faculty and see who they know who could get you hired.

I’d also suggest not limiting yourself to skate videos. It may not be a sound career choice, and even if it is, what happens if you change your mind? Expand your horizons before narrowing them. IMO, every young person should strive for a degree in some field, regardless of their plans for the future. Unfortunately, the high cost of education prevents my vision from being fully realized.

Good luck!

English and Marketing. Learn to write well and you can move in any direction you desire.

Film school will make you better at making videos. Check out the requirements and apply to specific schools that offer filming and editing. The best way to get in the industry though is to intern with someone or company already doing it. Just be persistent and offer all your passion. There is not much to learn in general college for that.

Actually making a good skate video is easy. You shoot tons of video and edit it. Throw on a soundtrack and titles and your are done. That isn’t exactly easy but it isn’t something you need to go to school for.

Honestly, being someones drinking buddy will do more to get you into the industry than going to school. Unless you focus on the business part like marketing, sales, or distribution.

People who make skate videos for a living probably do other things as well, either in terms of filming, or within the skateboard industry, or just have another job to support themselves. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. As the economy tanks, so will the market for skate videos.

A side note: This question led me to look into what happened to a friend of mine from about 10 years ago. He used to skate for Invisable and went on to making skate videos. Turns out he commited suicide in 2006. R.I.P Trevor

I don’t think shooting tons of video will make it better, more like polishing your skills to come up with something like this in a few shots: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHX8jezNBTk