u/Sleepawake77

Hey everyone, I’m 24, based in Florida, and looking for advice from seasoned ACs.

I’m at a Full Sail University with tuition and rent covered until mid-2027. While Full Sail is an average film school, much of the skills and set etiquette I feel I’m already learning on real productions. I’m much further along than most classmates; many aren’t even working at all or taking school seriously. I’ve already been working on many non-union professional commercial and indie sets as a 2nd AC, Camera PA, Grip, and I’ve done PA work a bunch as well.

Now I’m at a crossroads. Option 1: Switch to a certificate undergrad, stop spending the remaining $70k of my parents’ money, and invest $10–15k in a 1AC kit, like a Teradek transmitter setup, CTRL.5, a smallHD monitor, and other essentials, for example. (Just some basic suggestions I’ve heard of and used, then jump fully into small commercial/indie gigs, aiming for a bigger market later down the road.) I fully understand I won’t start as a 1AC day one and will need to climb the ladder again if I move to bigger market states like NY or CA, and I’d have to try to join the 600.

Option 2: Stick with the fully covered bachelor’s, keep working between classes, build a smaller starter kit, rent gear as needed, and decide after graduation. I’ve made great connections and have a-lot set hours, but I wonder if owning gear now makes me more appealing and if I’m wasting my time with a useless degree. I fully understand nobody cares about degrees in this industry and it’s fully based off networking, commitment, attitude, etc.

If these options don’t sound realistic, I’d love more input and feedback on what to do to get myself into a good position and make the most of my time and family’s money. I recognize I’m extremely privileged to have tuition and rent covered, so I want to be smart with this. I’m extremely hardworking regardless and am determined to make this my career like the many of you professionals who do this every day. I don’t want to seem like I’m looking for an easy cut around either; that’s not the case. I want to earn my keep and just be as smart and efficient as possible.

Thanks

Wondering if that has been released yet?