And after the debt-enhancing thesis film, what?

For his thesis film, he made a 35mm short called The Recordist (2007), which starred Marling.

The buzz had begun with his 45-minute thesis film, "Fine Line," which earned him an agent at William Morris.

His graduate thesis film, the 15-minute short, Motorcycle was about a father grieving over the loss of his son in a motorcycle wreck.

Kleiser's award-winning Master's thesis film Peege launched his career; he graduated in 1968.

Screenwriting fellows have the option of writing two feature length screenplays instead of participating in a thesis film.

But a thesis film alone isn't enough, she cautioned.

He produced, edited and directed his thesis film, Bless Their Little Hearts.

His thesis film, Greener, won numerous awards and screened at more than 40 film festival worldwide.

His thesis film, "The Passion of Martin," about an obsessive love, was screened at more than 20 festivals.