RTF Meets the Entertainment Industry
Success in the entertainment industry requires more than creative talent. It requires industry knowledge, professional networks, and real-world experience. Through rigorous coursework, hands-on learning and strong industry partnerships, RTF prepares students to thrive in a rapidly evolving media landscape. Both inside and outside the classroom, we provide students with the practical skills and critical frameworks to understand the state of the business today and shape it tomorrow. Students connect with leading professionals through internships, guest speakers, festivals, networking events, research opportunities, and mentorship experiences that help them build careers in film, television, media, and entertainment.
Opportunities In and Out of the Classroom
Inside the Classroom
RTF students learn not only how media is created, but also how the entertainment and media industries work. Courses in media business, industry operations, and strategy complement hands-on training in production, screenwriting, and media studies, giving graduates the creative and professional skills employers value.
Media and Entertainment Industries Minor
Non-RTF majors are invited to minor in Media and Entertainment Industries. Examine the industry’s evolving production contexts, business models, ownership laws, and marketing and distribution practices from legacy media to emerging digital forms. Open to all students other than RTF majors.
Outside the Classroom
Internships
From working on film sets to studios to sports production and more, internships provide a breadth of experiences and industry connections. Required for all RTF majors, internships are an excellent way to practice skills learned in the classroom while sharpening professional expertise and becoming industry ready.
Guest Speakers and Networking Events
Industry experts often visit RTF classes and participate in speaker series to share insights and experiences with our students. These visits are often open to students beyond those enrolled in a course and allow students to meet and learn from a broad array of professionals in the media and entertainment industries. Guests discuss their career trajectories, give advice for the next generation of media leaders, and share insights on today’s entertainment landscape.
Stay tuned for a link to upcoming events!
Festival Strategy and Distribution
The RTF Department helps students navigate the film festival circuit through the Student Production Coordinator’s Office. Complete the Film Festival Submission Support Form below to receive personalized advice on festival strategy, runtime, and funding opportunities. Students also benefit from industry connections and a film festival course offered each fall and spring, providing expert guidance throughout the submission process.
Hands-on Opportunities
Numerous opportunities exist to participate in student, faculty, and local productions. Collaborations with local media and technology companies, government organizations, and non-profits are excellent ways to build networks and gain industry experience. RTF collaborates with the Texas Film Commission, Austin Film Festival, ATX TV Festival and Austin Film Society.
UT in Los Angeles
The UTLA program is a chance to get hands-on training at an internship, take classes taught by industry insiders, network throughout the industry and explore new career paths to set yourself up for success after graduation.
UT in New York
The UTNY program is designed to give students an edge with the competitive industries based in New York while exploring the sights, networking with alumni and industry leaders, and being immersed in the culture of The Big Apple.
Connect with Us
Industry Partners
Are you interested in connecting with students, building your workforce or learning more about RTF?
Join our LinkedIn
Discover news, opportunities and networking connections through the Radio-Television-Film LinkedIn community.
Research and Scholarship
RTF faculty and graduate students are involved with a wide range of research initiatives. These include:
Roadmap to the Texas Media Industries
Articles by RTF faculty and graduate students explore the impact of film incentives in Texas.
International Screen Industries Book Series
The International Screen Industries series highlights media industries around the world, examining the organizational structures, working conditions, institutional cultures, and social contexts in which they operate.
Media Industries Journal
RTF is an institutional sponsor for Media Industries Journal, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal that supports critical studies of media industries, institutions and policies worldwide.