Salary (Or Lack Thereof)

"He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money."
-Benjamin Franklin


In this business, although large sums of money may be somewhere on the horizon, as a creative executive you can expect to make next to nothing. That is why I’m telling you this one time and one time only. DO NOT get into this business if you have a grand illusion of being featured on Cribs in the near future. If you don't have a drive, a love and are inspired by movies or television programming then think about changing professions. The money will come (I’m still holding out, but HOPEFULLY down the road...it will come). If you have the misfortune of being a recent graduate with a fancy little degree in "Film" or "Media Arts" (like myself) then this may come as somewhat of a shock to you. If you are standing, sit slowly, take deep breaths, inhale...exhale...breeaaath. If you just bought that new D&G Striped Sateen Sport Shirt...now would be the time to return it.

I believe that the small, trite little paragraph above is something that they should disclose to all liberal arts students before they decide on going down the path to becoming what every college student in this field would like to become...a director. Think about it though. Give it some real hard thought. Why WOULD they tell you? They want YOUR money.

Before I get into disclosing the base salary, I’d like to give you some advice on schooling. There is NO NEED to attend: NYU, USC, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, UF, EMERSON or any other school offering courses in Media Studies. Any one of the above will run you over $40,000 a year to attend and in this business they are simply a NAME. In the industry what matters are not your grades or your blinged out diploma or the little student films that you made Sophomore year. What matters is REAL LIFE JOB EXPERIENCE. Go to the CHEAPEST school possible (Preferably a state school). Drink large sums of alcohol. Party. Have sex with multiple partners (safely please). Get it all out of your system. Then, your last semester of senior year, get an internship in either Los Angeles or New York. Make sure that you know which city you would like to end up in because this internship will be your one way ticket out of Palookaville. In 99.9% of cases you can only participate if getting college credit (so take advantage of it while you can) and statistically 70% of all interns move into full paid positions or are recommended to another company for employment. Do it.

So, you have your college degree (or not) and intern experience. It's now time to get a REAL job. So you put your feelers out, wait the average two years for the interview that gets you in the back door and it's now time to finalize the deal. Now comes the SALARY talk...well...it's really less conversational than you would think. You will be glowing from your recent job offer, excited that after two years you have finally done it, feel that sense of raw accomplishment. At that point what does it matter how much you make? You DID it. You're IN. So your hiring manager leans back and gives you the results. $400 a week (::insert shudder here::) no benefits. The end. You begin to panic. How do I live on $400 a week? How will I pay my rent? How will I make the commute? How will I eat (come on kid they don't call them starving artists for nothin')? Simple answer. Start begging your parents to take you back OR invest in a cardboard box and a .42 caliber.

On average I take home $625 dollars every TWO weeks. Just as a refresher, that's what $800 looks like with all the taxes melted off (think George Forman Grill, but like...in this situation leaner isn't better). That equals $1,250 dollars a month. A MONTH.

Lets do some basic mathematics:

$1,250
-$230 (Monthly train pass)
-$500 (Food)
-$100 (Car Insurance)
-$250 (Health insurance, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)
-$100 (Gas)
__________________
=$70

What you are left with is $70 dollars a month. If you have an automotive repair to do, a doctors or hospital visit deductable or get into a pinch, you, my dear, are screwed. So in all honesty, make good with your folks, swallow your pride and move back in with them until you can get on your feet. I'm a member of the Failure to Launch club. It isn't all that bad and you really don't have much of a choice.

Yes. It's a crime that you're a smart person, have a college degree, a large knowledge of cinema (which is very rare in this business), a sparkling personality and you are making less than a full time employee at McDonalds. The important thing is, do what you love. The money will follow. If you REALLY want something, you will stop at nothing to get it. Keep telling yourself that you are cut out to become the person you wish to become and if can't do that much...at least lie.