Well I just want you to know, and no fool yourself, that making it in the film industry in any capacity is not easy. It's nearly impossible. You not only need lots of experience/talent you need to be lucky as well. When I did some acting I knew loads of talented actors that got no where. You actually need luck and networking skills more than anything.
Having said that, you only live once, and you can only give it a shot. Just don't stick at it forever if it is not working out. The cutbacks you mentioned are hitting arts even worse.
My general advice would be to pursue film and acting as an aside just now in your spare time. You have an entire life to pursue it when the economic climate changes for the better. I would either get that degree, or something quite vocational.