George, I hope you're right.

In 2006, George Lucas not only made comments about the future of the movie industry, but he also made a very large contribution to USC's School of Cinematic Art. A $175 million contribution.

"In a lot of industries, the people in the industry give a lot of money to the schools that produce the people who are their employees," he said, pointing to the auto industry as an example. "The film industry doesn't seem to be too enthusiastic about that idea. I'd love to see the industry do more.

"As self-interest, it's good to have the best trained people working for you. And the best trained people come from film school.

"The world of moving images hasn't had a lot of respect (in academia)," said Lucas. "But it's the major form of communication in the 21st century."

This $175 million, he said, is meant to "put other universities on notice that this is an important discipline that needs to be fostered."

-From the October 4, 2006 article on Variety.com

I hope you are right, George. As a graduating film student looking for a job, this gives me a little hope. I'm looking forward to the industry seeing the hard work we have put in to our love for film. As much as possible, film students are producing films. However, our programs are one of the first to be cut from universities' budgets. Without this funding, our equipment is not what it could be and definitely not what it should be. UCF used to have three film degrees, and now we are down to two. One of which doesn't even get to go into the equipment room because there is not enough funding to insure all the students. The school does not have enough of the staff it needs for the film department, and after many years there is still just an interim head of the department. The film department needs more money so we can make better films!

Even though it is too late for some of who have graduated, or will be graduating soon, to receive extra funding, hopefully the industry will heed Lucas's words and see that film students are well trained and willing to do whatever it takes for the film. We have learned that the film comes first above all else. It is all for the film.