My personal experience was that professors cared about research first, PHD track students second, and career track BS degree students.. somewhere a few more not

My personal experience was that professors cared about research first, PHD track students second, and career track BS degree students.. somewhere a few more notches down I know little about film school, but in many research-based departments, there's a very practical motive for this. PhD track students work in your lab, and you are listed as an author on their papers. Basically, they help accomplish the first goal.