A topical reference of how some of your favorite participants in the film industry enhanced their career choice and insured their future. READY FOR YOUR CLOSE UP? AFRICAN AMERICANS AND INTERNATIONALS IN CINEMA WHO ARE COLLEGE GRADUATES by G. Shields offers a core account of collegiate backgrounds of major and influential professionals in the film industry. Film aficionados will appreciate the select listing of awards, stage, film and television resumes of those profiled, who act, direct, write and produce for the big screen. Chapters include profiles of popular actors, actresses, athletes who transitioned to film, early pioneers, independent filmmakers, directors, producers, screenplay writers and a wide spectrum of international contribution. The list of profiled graduates is composed of talents that range from Samuel Jackson, Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Denzel Washington, Thandie Newton, and Spike Lee to Taye Diggs, Morris Chestnut, Taraji P. Henson, Kerry Washington, Steve McQueen, and Lupita Nyong'o, to name a few, and others who succeeded before and after them in their chosen academic and cinematic field. Aspirants in pursuit of a career in film will be apprised how armed with advanced education while trying to proceed can make the difference between working in non related employment to working in desirable career related positions with increased earning potential until sustained career breakthrough.