Published August 29, 2023
The Best Double Minor for Tisch Drama Majors (In My Opinion)
The TL;DR
Studying drama is a blessing and privilege since it lets me explore my creativity. I love expressing myself but have always wondered whether there could be more for my role in the industry. A “triple threat” used to mean an actor, singer, and dancer. Now? It’s expanded into including being an actor and two of the following: director, producer, or writer. I was intrigued by these possibilities, so I decided to pursue a double minor.
Breaking Down Each Minor
The BEMT Minor
The Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology minor is one of the most popular minors for a reason! To be sure, this cross-school minor opens endless possibilities to study various parts of the industry.
Interested in studying movie marketing? There’s a class for that! Wondering how entertainment and media work together? Well, that’s a core lesson of this minor. What’s more, the minimum 16 credit limit lets students explore the industry in its entirety. Think of it as combining the brains of students from the Tisch School of the Arts, Stern School of Business, and the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development into one.
The Producing Minor
The Producing minor teaches you how to bring a project to life. Before the camera even rolls, you need to acquire the intellectual property rights. (I learned this jargon in class!) Producers seek and vouch for the stories we see on the big screen. That’s why they are so valuable. It’s why I want to be involved in these decisions. I feel women, Black women, and anyone whose narrative hasn’t yet been highlighted deserve to tell more stories.
Additionally, producers are involved in the budgeting process, which is essential to make these unique stories happen. My “Business of Film” class taught me the ins and outs of funding blockbusters and indie films. As a result, I became obsessed with searching box office information on newly released films! Now, I’m confident taking part in conversations on why certain films are more successful than others. To learn about the range of courses available, check out information on the Producing minor.
Double Minor = Double Work?
The bonus to this double minor? Numerous classes offer credit toward each of the minors! For example, “Entertainment and Media Industries” is required for the BEMT minor. This class teaches the foundations, marketing, and consumer patterns within film, television, and music. This class inspired me to learn more about the inner workings of the industry and counted toward my Producing minor. A win-win!
Turn Up the Drama (Major)
My double minor provides me with the courage to be a multifaceted creator. An actor who is also a producer sees projects from another perspective. They bring new color and life to a concept. The combination of my creative knowledge and my double minor means I immediately stand out in a room. I can testify to both sides of the process. I value the acting and craft process as well as the marketing strategies, budget, and production.
Now, when I’m at the movies, I look for the production credits: Who helped construct and birth this story?
Access to Networking and Clubs
My professor brought in guest speakers to our “Technology’s Impact on Entertainment and Media” class. So, I had various networking opportunities with people like Broadway producers, NBC Universal representatives, and NYU interns. My eyes opened to the breadth of jobs available in the industry. I never thought to combine my love of films with diversity advocacy until I met a representative who strives for diversity and inclusivity in media. I immediately was drawn to this because it aligned with my motivations for acting and was just coming from a business perspective. At NYU, you can do both!
Furthermore, I met several people in these classes who participate in clubs about media industries. I joined the Stern and Tisch Entertainment Business Association (STEBA), and I am so grateful I did. I was immediately welcomed into a space that values talking about the latest film acquisitions, which albums are in the top 100, and new television shows. The leadership board invite several spokespeople to give career advice and information on internship opportunities. STEBA is an incredible resource and community.
Go for It!
Pursing a double minor challenges you to be present throughout the idea of a project, its production, and its release.
I have always wanted to participate in some capacity where I can voice my ideas of how stories are constructed. Now I can.
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