How to get a job in the film industry

To get a job in the film industry, follow this guide:

Attend film school

There are many different routes to a job in the film industry, but one of the most common ones is by attending film school. Film schools provide the education, skills, and knowledge for work in the film industry.

There are many film schools across the country that provide a good education on filmmaking. You should attend one that is in or close to a popular filming market.

Los Angeles and New York are still some of the most popular hubs for filmmaking, not to mention they are the homes of the biggest film studios and production companies. They also boast some of the most prestigious film schools such as USC, UCLA, and NYU.

However, in recent times many other cities, such as Atlanta and New Orleans, have become prime locations for filming. The reason you want to go to a film school near a prime filming location is because of the networking opportunities.

Film schools also represent a unique opportunity to try out different roles on a film set. You may find that you ultimately want to be a director or producer, but you may also find that you are a talented cinematographer, editor, or sound engineer.

Another great aspect of film school is the networking you can do with fellow film students and professors.

Networking is essential

Networking is important in just about every industry, but in the film industry, its value is extreme and cannot be overstated. Nearly every member of a film crew is a freelancer to some extent. This means to get more jobs they have to know people in the film industry.

Film crew members establish good reputations for specific positions and are then recommended or even requested for future productions. They may work with the same production company or a different one. Most freelance film crews work for a variety of companies and do a wide array of projects.

Networking can give you the chance to capitalize on the web of connections that exist in the film industry. One job will lead to another, and then another, and so on.

Networking is perhaps the most important aspect of getting and continuing to get jobs in the film industry.

Volunteer yourself

If you choose not to go to film school, you can also volunteer to work on film projects. If you don't have any experience, short films are a good place to start. This will give you a window into what the process is like and, once again, present networking opportunities.

An alternative to film school is to make a low-budget film. This is highly valuable as most agree that the best education in filmmaking comes from actually doing it.

This option lets you create any type of film you want, include whoever you choose, and allows you to make a few mistakes while learning. Mistakes are a key to learning and getting better at filmmaking.

Once you have a film you are proud of, you can display it online, or include a portion of it in your demo reel. This is a viable way to get a job in the film industry. Your resume becomes the projects you've created or worked on.

Create a demo reel

As referenced above, a demo reel is a compilation or edit of some of your filmmaking work. These can be utilized when you are trying to become a professional in one of the more creative roles in filmmaking.

Here are the roles that you should create a demo reel for:

• Director

• Director of Photography (Cinematographer)

• Editor

• Sound Mixer

• Sound Designer

• Camera Operator

• Actor

• Set Designer

• Art Director

• Animator

Get a job as a PA

A PA, or a production assistant, is the lowest position in the hierarchy of a film crew.

A production assistant can be assigned to a wide variety of duties in film production, including transporting filming equipment, unloading and loading gear, helping to construct a film set, breaking down a film set, and being on call to bring anything that is needed to the set.

These are just a few possibilities and production assistant roles can vary wildly depending on the production.

PA jobs can sometimes even be obtained with little or no film experience and they represent a valuable opportunity to gain experience and network.

Production assistant roles can also be found in just about every kind of production, including films, TV, news, documentaries, web series, commercials, corporate videos, and more.

Utilize online film groups and film job websites

On just about every platform of social media, there are film groups that you can join. By doing so you open yourself up to even more networking opportunities.

There are also many job websites dedicated to film professionals. Here you can display or give links to your work, promote yourself, and apply for freelance film positions.