Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Filmmakers
Entry-level filmmakers can gain experience through internships or as production assistants (PAs), performing tasks like "getting coffee or arranging chairs," but using this "inside look into the industry" to learn various filmmaking aspects and build a portfolio of personal projects to showcase increasing responsibility and skills. This proactive approach, combined with networking, allows advancement from PA to roles like production coordinator, reflecting the industry's willingness to nurture talent.
Entry-Level Jobs, Networking, Skill Development, Production Assistant, Filmmaking Careers
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ming Lai
Filmmaker
Humanist Films
UCLA
CSULB, M.A., English
English
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Creative
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Internships and Production Assistant roles offer entry-level experience. These may involve mundane tasks initially, but provide an inside look into film production.
2. Proactively learn diverse filmmaking skills (cinematography, sound, editing, producing, writing) alongside your entry-level job to demonstrate initiative and increase your value.
3. Networking and building valuable crew connections are crucial for career advancement in the film industry. The industry values nurturing young talent, so actively seek opportunities and demonstrate your capabilities.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
At the entry level, as a college student, there are multiple things you can do. You can intern or become a production assistant. These are often low-level jobs.
Interning can sometimes feel like you're doing unimportant tasks. As a production assistant, you might get coffee, arrange chairs, or order lunch.
However, these roles provide an inside look into the industry and a production. If you do these tasks well, they will begin to trust you more and give you more responsibility.
If you hate getting coffee or doing assigned tasks, they can sense it and won't trust you with more work. The trick is not to do these tasks forever. You want to constantly push to advance your skills, learn more, and take on more responsibility.
While you're a PA getting coffee, study and learn all the different tasks of filmmaking. This includes cinematography, sound recording, editing, producing, and writing. Learn all of this on the side.
Make your own short films and take on the mantle of a producer for your own projects. When you're ready and they give you responsibility, you'll have already done it on your own.
It's surprising that they would hire a PA and not promote them to a production coordinator and move them up the ranks. All of my friends started at the bottom, got in with crews, and gained more responsibility from this initial inside look.
Over time, you'll gain in-depth experience of how a set runs and how things work. You'll also network with people and make valuable crew connections. All of these things come into play as you move up.
These are invaluable things to do as a student. The industry likes to give back and nurture young talent. The trick is not to be taken advantage of and not to do this forever.
Continue to work on your own and build your skills so you can advance. These are ways to get your foot in the door.
Advizer Personal Links
humanistfilms.com, craftofspeed.com, visionsofwarriors.com