If you want to work in film getting a job can be very difficult. Here are a few tips to help you along the way and get you working on your first feature in no time.
Network
The film industry is all about who you know. If you have friends involved in the industry, keep in touch with them. If your friends have friends involved in the industry, get to know them. You never know who will land a great job on a movie you want to work on, and can help you get in as well. It’s important when networking not to seem like you’re friends with someone just to get a job., that can come off badly and hurt you more than help you. If you’re throwing a dinner party, send them an invite. Just keeping casual contact with some people can help keep you in mind should an opportunity become available.
Work For Free
No one wants to work for free. In the film industry working for free can however open the doors to bigger and better thing later on. The more experience you have the more attractive you will be to potential employers. Sometimes getting that experience will require you to work on some films for free. No one is going to pay you to work lights for their feature film, if you’ve never run lights before in a feature film. You can however often get jobs as a newbie on independent films. Small independent films are a great way to develop some real movie experience, and network with other people in the business. You may not get paid in cash; you will get tons of experience that will pay off in the long run.
Keep a Reel
Your reel is one of the most important things you can have as a film maker. Keep copies of every film that you work on, as well as contact information for other who worked on the film. Many films will want to see samples of your past work before hiring you on to work on their film. Having a reel already on hand can help speed up your hiring process and showcase what you can do.
Be Persistent
Often times film jobs are created and hired all within a week’s time. If you see an ad for a job you are interested in, be persistent. Apply the way the ad specifies, but follow up with a phone call or a personal visit to the location. Often times a personal visit may earn you a job. If you’re there, and the other applicants are not, you’re in!
Be On Time
Film hours can be long and hard. If you are given a 3am call time, make sure you’re there and on the set at 2:45am. Being on time and ready to work will look good in the eyes of the producers and make them think of you first when looking for people to work on their next film. Being late however, even by one minute can get you fired.
Work your Way Up
Be prepared to start at the bottom of the ladder and work your way up to the job that you want. Everyone in the film industry has at one point or another been the person who got the coffee. Remember every film is a networking opportunity. Look for any and every job you can do that will get you on the set. Once you’ve started making contacts you can quickly earn your way up the movie hierarchy ladder into the position that you really want.
