Transitioning from a structured college classroom into a sometimes unpredictable workplace can be intimidating for many recent college graduates. Full Sail film grads are no exception to this adjustment. The good news is that there are several strategies Full Sail students learn as part of their curriculum that can make this shift a little easier.


Students should first build a foundation of fundamental skills in film production.

“The film curriculum is very deliberate in the steps that it takes and the skills that are added throughout the [courses],” says Larry Katz, a lab specialist in the film area of study and a Full Sail Hall of Fame inductee. “[But] many students are impatient and… there’s this misconception that to make a good movie, you just need an expensive camera. You've actually got to practice and get good at it.”

Larry brings his experience working on blockbusters like Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and Captain America: The First Avenger to the classroom. This includes Advanced Production I in which students assemble a production crew for their final film project. He also supports other undergraduate classes as well as a few courses in the Film Production MFA program. Plus, he speaks to incoming students during New Student Orientation.



Several film classes help prepare students for what to expect in the industry post-graduation. In Professional Development Seminar I and Professional Development Seminar II, students what the industry looks like today. Career Readiness covers researching the job market and exploring career paths. Students learn how to tailor their resumes and cover letters to specific employers.

“A lot of students are planning for the middle of their career instead of the beginning,” Larry explains. “Forget about 10 years in, what about day one and week one and month one and six months?”

To do this, he encourages reaching out to successful Full Sail grads.

“Any successful Full Sail grad has a treasure map that leads from where our students are now to where they want to go,” he says. “Our current students have access to that information if they reach out and ask in the right way. All it really boils down to is, ‘Hey, I know you have this map that you made. Can you just show it to me?’”

It’s also important to prepare for a meeting with thoughtful questions that can’t be answered with a simple Google search.

"[Oftentimes], the actual Q&A is the least important part of reaching out to somebody and networking because what you're trying to do is plant a seed that's going to grow for years,” says Larry.

He encourages students to carry a notepad and write things down during these interactions. Presenting oneself with a professional look and attitude is also a must. Other helpful tips include reading trade publications and using social media. Additionally, Full Sail’s Career Development department supports students and alumni.

For the past few years, Larry has hosted a panel presentation during Hall of Fame Week called Film Grads: Year One. The panels feature recent Full Sail grads who discuss their first year after graduating and what it took to carve out a path in the film industry. This is another chance for students to make real connections.

For entry-level opportunities in film and television, Larry believes the production assistant role is the best option for new grads. PAs work as a jack-of-all-trades on film productions, answering phone calls, coordinating meals, distributing scripts, and setting up equipment on set. This position provides a front-row seat to every aspect of a production. In fact, five PAs who worked on the production for season four of the Apple TV+ series The Morning Show in 2024 were Full Sail grads.

“There may be five full-time PAs on a movie, and so it's super competitive," says Larry. "There's thousands and thousands of people that would really want that job. And you don't get one of those jobs by sending out a resume on the internet. You’ve got to be sending it to somebody that's expecting it.”