Boston's next generation of filmmakers may be be home grown

The next generation of Massachusetts' filmmakers isn't coming from New York or LA, mostly likely they are home grown.

By Melissa Unger
4/30/10

The next generation of Massachusetts' filmmakers isn't coming from New York or LA, they are more than likely born, raised and educated right here in New England. Economics Prof. David Terkla, who co-authored a study Film and television production in Massachusetts: An industry overview and analysis, said students that who study film in the Bay State are now more likely to stay in Massachusetts to start their career. "If you had an inclination to stay in New England and if you happen to like it here," then you probably will stay as opposed to going to LA or New York, he said. "I think people are starting to see that [they] can start here and move up the career ladder path," he said, "especially if you're a student coming out of school as opposed to going to LA or New York and trying it for a while."

Dean Egan recently graduated from Emerson College in Boston and he has decided to stay. He said he chose to stay in Boston because he wanted a change of pace and scenery from his home, which is back out west. Also, he has been successful in working on big-budget Hollywood films that have come into the Bay State while he was still in school. He said working on big-budget Hollywood films has afforded him great contacts and connections within the industry. He feels he can find more success in Boston than in LA. "The thing that scares me about LA is that you are a little fish in a big sea whereas in Boston you are a little fish maybe, but you're in a little sea," Egan said. He also believes that Boston can help him in climbing up the career ladder quicker than out in LA. "If you play it right you can work your way up pretty fast in Boston whereas I feel like in LA everyone is clawing for the positions."

However, Egan is not the only Boston-educated film school graduate staying in the Bay State. Nick Pistorin, who recently graduated from Fitchburg State College, said he has seen the trend too. Pistorin said, "I do see a lot more of my friends staying in the area trying to make it work here in Boston. Mainly since Hollywood is coming to Boston more often it is at least viable to stay."

Economics Prof. David Terkla said his study found "ample evidence that a lot of students did want to stay here," and in fact, when companies started to expand and hire apprentices, they had no trouble finding students to fill them.

But it has not all been great news for the next generation of Boston's filmmakers. With the threat of a tax credit cap and the film industry loosing some of its steam some recent graduates have gone to LA. Pistorin said, "The only real reason I moved to LA is because as of right now it is still where the money is."