USC film grads face 22 job applications per opening

Angela Henderson, a 22-year-old senior at USC, has applied for dozens of Hollywood jobs while sitting on the patio of the School of Cinematic Arts. The cinema and media studies major graduates in December 2026 and admits she is "a little freaked out" by the current state of the industry. She worries about the simple math of the market, noting that hundreds of students in film programs all want the same jobs and careers.

The industry is contracting due to media consolidation, layoffs at major studios, and productions leaving California. Netflix, Walt Disney, and Warner Bros., which was recently acquired by Paramount-Skydance, have all cut positions. Artificial intelligence and vertical video formats are also changing what gets made and who gets hired to make it. Despite these shifts, aspiring actors, screenwriters, and directors are still moving to Los Angeles to pursue their careers.

Miranda Banks, a professor of film, television, and media studies at Loyola Marymount University, said her students see "a lot of doom and gloom" but remain focused on human creativity. She believes students have a good chance of success if they are savvy and strategic about where the industry is headed. Banks noted that the industry has faced strange and challenging years before and that it will continue to happen.

Gianna Jordano, a 19-year-old film and TV production major at LMU, said she was nervous when she applied to film school because of the industry slump. However, recent theatrical releases like "Primetime," "The Odyssey," and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" have inspired her. Jordano plans to work her way up to directing, even if she has to take jobs in teaching or restaurants first. She said that being open-minded and willing to work makes it easier to find a job, even if it is not on the best set.

Teddy Abularach and Mitch Linebaugh, 18-year-old freshman screenwriting majors at USC, moved to Los Angeles from New York City and Des Moines, respectively. Both are determined to succeed despite the challenges. Abularach said he is preparing for a brutal postgrad life and that there is no plan B outside of entertainment. He described the stereotype of the L.A. writer as taking pitch meetings, getting coffee, and being in writers' rooms. Linebaugh worries that algorithms will make everything uniform but remains hopeful that executives and writers will still want to make good movies. He will consider graduate school or entertainment law if screenwriting does not work out.

Tomas Carrasco, a 25-year-old UCLA senior in the director's track, is preparing to shoot his capstone film, a surreal horror comedy. Growing up in the San Fernando Valley, he learned to love moviemaking by visiting his father, a soap opera editor, on set. Carrasco said he sees the industry turning toward technology instead of art-centered risks because movies need to make money. He plans to keep working at his family's Northridge cafe, Mate Conmigo, while pursuing his creative ambitions. He said one must be "delusional" about wanting a career in the arts, but he does not want to be naive.

Henderson said her generation of filmmakers is eager to incite change rather than feel discouraged. They are tired of Hollywood recycling the same material and want to bring new stories. She believes there is a huge renaissance in indie movies and that a breakthrough is about to happen. Henderson is open to any kind of job, including assistant work and food service, if it takes time to break into the industry.