What can you do with a media arts degree? 7 careers in film, television and screen production

1. Director

Directors execute the creative vision of a screen production. They work across elements such as storytelling, performance, visual style and pacing to turn a script into a finished production.

Directors can work across many different types of screen content, including feature films, television series, documentaries, online content and commercial productions. The role involves working closely with other members of the production team, including actors, producers, writers, cinematographers, designers and editors.

A media arts degree can give you the opportunity to explore directing alongside other areas of production. At UTS, students develop skills in directing, producing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing and post-production, giving them an understanding of how the different parts of a production come together.

This broader understanding can be useful when developing your own creative ideas and working collaboratively on-screen projects.

2. Producer

Producers shepherd screen projects from an initial idea through to production and, ultimately, to their audience.

A producer’s work can include developing projects, hiring people and managing resources, overseeing schedules and budgets, and working with creative teams throughout all stages of production. While the exact responsibilities may vary between productions, producers need to understand both the creative and practical aspects of making screen content.

If you enjoy organising projects as much as developing creative ideas, producing could be an area to explore.

At UTS, Media Arts and Production students learn about producing as part of their broader screen production studies. Working on projects with other students also gives you experience of the collaborative nature of media production.

3. Screenwriter

Screenwriters create the stories that form the basis of films, television programs and other screen productions.

A screenwriter’s work involves developing characters, dialogue, scenes and story structures, as well as adapting existing ideas for the screen. Screenwriters need to understand how stories work visually, as a script ultimately needs to be translated into images, performances and sound.

Studying media arts can give you the chance to develop your screenwriting skills and prepare you for what happens when your script enters the production pipeline.

At UTS, screenwriting is one of the areas you can explore as part of Media Arts and Production. You'll develop an understanding of the wider production process, helping you see how writing connects with directing, cinematography, editing and other aspects of screen production.

4. Cinematographer

Cinematographers are responsible for all the images that are captured on a screen production and the production’s look and visual style.

Working closely with the director and production designer, they make decisions about cameras, lenses, lighting, composition and camera movement to create a particular atmosphere or visual style. A cinematographer needs both technical knowledge and an understanding of how visual choices can support a story.

It's a career that could suit someone who enjoys the technical side of filmmaking but also wants to make creative decisions.

Cinematography is one of the areas explored through Media Arts and Production at UTS. Students can develop practical production skills and work with industry-standard equipment and facilities as they create their own screen projects.

5. Editor

Film and video editors help shape the final version of a screen production.

Once filming is complete (or underway), editors work with the footage to determine how the story will unfold. They consider the order of shots, pacing, sound and other elements to create a coherent final piece.

Editing skills are relevant across film and television, as well as advertising, online video, social media and other digital content. Editing is the perfect role for someone who would prefer not to be working on set.

At UTS, editing and post-production skills form part of the practical Media Arts and Production curriculum. Students have access to dedicated post-production facilities and develop skills through hands-on projects.

6. Post-production specialist

There is a lot more to finishing a screen production than editing the footage.

Post-production can involve a range of creative and technical processes. Depending on your area of interest, you could work with picture, sound, visual effects or other digital elements to help create the finished production.

Post-production specialists can work across film, television, advertising and digital media, with different projects requiring different technical skills.

A media arts degree can give you a broad understanding of the production process before you develop more specialised skills. At UTS, students explore post-production alongside directing, producing, screenwriting, cinematography and editing, helping them understand how each stage contributes to the final work.

7. Digital content producer

Screen production isn't limited to cinemas and television screens.

Digital content producers create videos and other screen-based content for platforms such as websites and social media. They might work on branded content, online series, social videos, promotional campaigns or other digital projects.

The role can draw on many of the skills used in traditional screen production, including planning, storytelling, filming, editing and post-production. The difference is often the platform, audience and purpose of the content.

This is one reason media arts skills can be applied across a broad range of creative industries. At UTS, students can create screen projects for different formats, from social content through to feature-length work, while developing practical skills across the production process.

Where can a media arts degree take you?

A media arts degree can open up different paths across film, television, digital media and screen production.

You might be drawn to the creative direction of a project, the technical work behind the camera, the storytelling involved in screenwriting, or the detailed work that happens during post-production. You could also apply these skills to digital content and other emerging forms of screen media.

The important thing is that a media arts degree doesn't necessarily prepare you for one specific job. It can give you an understanding of the wider production process while allowing you to develop the creative and technical skills that interest you most.

At UTS, the Bachelor of Creative Production in Media Arts combines practical production experience with the opportunity to explore different areas of screen production.