That is, indeed, SUPER normal in this industry. There are very very few full time jobs available and they get MASSIVE applicant pools. Try to apply as early as you can (when I've posted full time gigs before we've gotten 50-100 resumes on the first day), and a lot of media companies don't have a full time HR person to respond to all the people not getting interviews.

The technology has changed but painting with light is still great.

I'd also take a look Blain Browns book on cinematography, lots of good info on lighting in there.

I watched burnt by the sun in college and remember loving it.

Though, maybe I'm old, but the 90s doesn't seem like "old" movies :)

There are plenty of jobs in film that make enough to pay back student debt, though of course debt should be kept as low as possible.

check out Feirstein.Brooklyn.Cuny.Edu, I teach there, amazing place, and it's a CUNY so it's an affordable option.

More info would help: post some dates (3 months? 7?), and maybe a contact link so folks can get in touch. I think a lot of folks might jump at the opportunity but need more info.

Also, and full disclosure I'm a professor there so I'm biased, but look at the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema in Brooklyn:

https://nyti.ms/2mzI0wV

Amazing school, great facility, great faculty, and since it's a public school (CUNY) about 1/3 the cost of comparable programs like NYU or Columbia.