How to make it in the movie/film/ TV industry

Monell S.

movie/film/ TV industryThere are so many areas of the movie and TV business that there is almost something for everyone.

Cinematographers work on set all day surrounded by hundreds of people while editors work largely alone in a dark room long after the production has "wrapped."

From pre- to post-production there is a job to fit almost every personality and skill set. Know what you're good at and where you fit in.

If you've studied art, then you might consider production design. If you've spent hours splicing together your own videos on your home computer, then go for editing. But in the beginning, you should get whatever you can.

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Be aware

Be aware that while a few positions in the industry are extremely lucrative, many more are less so.

Writers, actors and directors are sometimes paid obscene amounts of money while grips, editors, and the many people who fill out the various departments on a film or TV series such as costume, props, art, photography, etc.

Get paid much more modestly and work very hard. Hours on the set are long and grueling. People do the work because they love it and can imagine doing nothing else.

Prepare

When it comes down to it, the time were you finally have the opportunity to show what you have to someone really important in the movie industry your going to want to have everything on hand so your prepared and you don`t waist there time which leaves a bad impression.

Be organized and have best work on hand. For example if you want to be a top make up artist , you will want photos and want good quality in those photos to impress them

If you want to be a movie director you want to have a professional and again organized way of showing what you know about camera angles and have a strong story to go with it.

Business

The business is truly all about who you know. Most industry jobs are freelance, therefore, the most important aspect of getting a job, be it your first or your hundred and first, is who you know.

Get noticed to be in this industry you can not be quite and shy you need to be determined and well driven to get to your goal.

Work

Your ego is not your friend. While it is certainly advisable to get as much training as you can before you go looking for work, the best way to learn is in on the job.

In the beginning, get any job you can. ANY JOB. It will be lousy pay and long hours, but this is how you start learning and meeting people. A famous movie producer started out as a production assistant on horror movies.

He spent his time on the set working hard and asking smart questions. He then produced his first low-budget horror movie and promptly got a job on another movie as a dolly grip for pennies a day. He didn't turn down the job because it was beneath him. He took whatever jobs he could find and it paid off.

Jobs/internships

Find out what types of jobs exist in the industry and which ones you are best suited for. If you do not live in Los Angeles, New York, Vancouver or Toronto, get a sense of what kind of industry exists in your area. If there is none, consider relocating.

production assistants are not paid much but it is a great way to learn many aspects of the way a production works. You might be asked to run from props to hair to editing to an actor's trailer all within a day's work also interning is a good way to get a sense of what the job is like before you fallow through with it as a career.

Write a strong resume that promotes your strengths without being unrealistic. There are many crossover skills from other fields so be honest about your past experience.

contacts If you get an important number that can help you reach

your goal in the industry your going to want to have that number in 2 different places.

The possibility that you loose your phone and you wouldn’t get the number back right away can be trouble some . Have a notebook with names and numbers of contacts and make sure to keep track of these items.

When you go on interviews, keep track of the answers to your questions and if your being interviewed keep track of what there looking for.

Follow Up Know the business. Go to movies. Watch TV. Read the trades.

Learn as much as you can about the workings of film and TV production before you arrive on set for your first day of work. Know the difference between a Director of Photography and an Assistant Director.

Take classes at your local continuing studies program. You can meet people this way and begin to build up a network.

•Be professional and presentable. The movie business tends to be more casual than most, but that doesn't mean you can be sloppy. Dress to impress . The only one who gets to be the worst dressed person in the room is the director.

•Be nice to EVERYBODY. More than in other industries, today's lackey is tomorrow's show runner or Oscar-nominated director. Sucking up doesn't help. Keep your dignity and self-respect. Be helpful and determined, without groveling or begging. Your boundaries might be tested but in the end they will be respected.

Acting

If your jumping straight into the industry yet you’ve never been in front of a real camera or on a filming site your going to want practice.

For example, I took a year of acting at John Robert powers acting school ,were you get the opportunity to read scripts, learn about if you mess up while filming don’t say sorry. Keep reading and following the scene normally have the time no one notices the mistake.

Talk into a camera and act out scenes in front of other students. Also tongue twisters is a great thing to practice “sally sells sea shells by the sea shore” the faster you can say tongue twister with out messing up the easier it gets to read a script.

While taking this program you get opportunity's to perform in front of huge directors and talent agents like, IPOP, Disney channel and nickelodeon. Often times even agents looking for actors from up coming movies

Study trends, what's hot the coolest places to eat ,what to were and hairstyles. This gives you and opportunity to be up to date and many times you can be in the same place as a celebrity because trends are everything.

Your not going to want to show up in shoes with holes or stains on your shirt this is not impressive and it makes you look unapproachable. If money is an issue ,were going to go back to one of the first steps . GET A JOB! ANY JOB!

Do not wear tons of jewelry. If you’re an assistant or who ever you work for has you moving around a lot your not going to want all that extra weight on your body to slow you down and wearing a lot of jewelry can look to flashy. Instead try wearing flashy shoes this is a great way to be discreet while still rocking hot trends.

Trends

Sleep &health The movie industry is fast paced and your going to want all

the sleep you can get. A lot of the times you'll have to work late and/or study late so if you don’t get the opportunity to sleep much most the time your going to want to grab a coffee or energy drink to keep you up.

I would recommend eating healthy instead of drinking over 3 energy drinks a day, try eating a healthy meal. Vegetables and fruit have vitamins which keep your energy up and your immune system.

Your not going to want to be slow , groggy or call in sick while working. To many sick days can lead to getting fired and that is never a good thing so try to keep your health and working balanced while having a busy schedule.

Equipment

Know the equipment and what it dose, how the pieces contrast. You want to research about camera and lighting filters and want to know what each mood light gives off and how to make a scene intense to get your point across.

In a drama you would want Light that is dim and makes a scene look dark this gives it a dramatic effect.

If it is a scene of love you want to have a lot of light and often times this will make the actor look like there glowing this showing a scene of harmony.

Music

Pay attention to what type of music each film category uses. Lighting, acting, equipment and music is what makes a film. Some times there are silent film.

Silent films often intensify one of the other 3 things for example no music in a silent dramatic film you would want to have intense light and emotion in your actor.

You do not want to put the wrong music in the wrong movie for example if it was a happy movie you would not want the “Jaws” soundtrack playing the hole time.

How to make it in the movie/film/ TV industry.