Why DKA

A professional collegiate society is made up of students and alumni that collaboratively focus on strengthening personal character and professionally developing their careers in the cinematic arts. Students come together because they share similar ambitions, personal values, and create lifelong community through the learning and practice of the cinematic arts.

Collaborative Interaction

A common feature of both DKA and entertainment industry companies is collaborative interaction. DKA is a gender-inclusive society, which is a significant distinction from typical collegiate organizations that go through recruitment. This gives members a more diverse network of people to interact with and engage with as a professional support system, both at the collegiate level and beyond.

Professional Network

Professional development and networking are vital parts of the DKA experience. Students are members for life, which allows current students to network with graduated peers. Alumni may help students with transitioning to work after college. Professional fraternities also emphasize student learning opportunities and productivity. With DKA alumni networks in cities including Los Angeles and New York, students have access to many major entertainment industry hubs.

Resume Development

DKA also gives students significant opportunities to develop their experiences for resume and portfolio refinement. Guest speakers are commonly invited to present to members on career-related topics. Producer students might go out and deliver a practice pitch to alumni members already established in their fields, for instance. DKA Job and Internship Bulletin Boards also present another pathway to find internship opportunities to meet school requirements, explore career opportunities and gain industry experience.

Prospective Student Opportunities

DKA is open to students of all majors. Therefore, a freshman unsure about their field of study or career path can opt for DKA and immediately immerse themselves in a professional and collaborative atmosphere instead of a more general social organization. In fact, networking with members in a particular field may help a student decide which specific career path is best for them.

The DeKA Difference

The supportive collaboration, career development, artistic education, personal growth, and community our members find in DKA makes all the difference in their personal and professional success.

We call that undisputed value The DeKA Difference.

In addition to the desirable attributes of a national organization, DKA offers a common bond: a collaborative, ethical, and professional pursuance of the cinematic arts in its various branches. It is more than just a club to which one belongs for a couple of years while a student.

Membership in DKA is for life.

Not only is DKA interested in developing professional skills and habits, but it is also deeply involved in developing character. Character includes those qualities that make an individual distinguishable as an upstanding leader in their field. The cinematic arts are advancing so fast that technical knowledge is changing at an ever-increasing rate, but professional character remains regardless of an artist’s career path.

DKA’s chapters provide a professional program of activities and resources to meet the shared needs of its members. A professional development program generally includes workshops, speakers, productions, skill-building exercises and projects, screenings, and interaction with members from other chapters and alumni. Chapters have community service projects through which the charitable organizations and local service groups benefit from the philanthropic and volunteer efforts of members. Most of all, DKA members are part of a national family, connected to the top film students from the top film schools in the world, who share a high standard of professional mastery and personal character.

DKA differs from other organizations to which our members often belong. DKA combines the desirable features of professional fraternities, technical societies, honor societies, and training programs to prepare and support its members for their cinematic arts professions and a lifetime of supportive community and creative fulfillment.