- Video production in San Diego, by Patty Mooney
Every year about this time, I get a slew of emails and phone calls from students looking for work in video and film, which is a big part of how I make my living, and has been for 30 years.
I have to say, the video and film world hasn’t changed much over the year in terms of how you break in — this despite an ever-increasing number of video and film undergrad and graduate programs.
Few of us can afford to hire someone full-time these days, plus we’d be reluctant to hire an untried worker. Once, I hired someone for the summer who ended up falling asleep during an interview. Yes, it was hot; yes, the interview was long. But still.
Another time, I hired a crew through a well-known crew broker (whom I love!), and part-way through the interview realized that there was a buzzing sound in the room. It was the audio guy. Asleep on a very comfortable couch in an air-conditioned suite in las Vegas. I’m just saying that it’s important to us producers and directors to hire the best of the best. Sir.
You might get lucky, if you have a friend or relative in the business. But most likely, you’ll start off by volunteering. Or even just watching — until someone says, “Hey, you! We could use an extra set of hands over here.”
But once you’re in, and you prove that you can show up on time as well as give 110% even after midnight, you’re in.
So here are my top three suggestions:
- Call your local film and video office (or find them online) and review the local directory of video and filmmakers. If you have one in your state or region, try contacting Women in Film and Video for a copy of their directory. In the listings, individuals and companies list either the kind of clients they have, or actual names of clients and productions. Choose some production companies that sound sympatico with your dream jobs.
- Call production companies. There are always names listed next to production companies. Tell them you want to volunteer. If you don’t hear back within a week or two, call again. Like any kind of marketing, persistence pays off.
- If this doesn’t work, or even if it does, call up people and companies who do the kind of work you want to do (camera, lighting, writing) and ask for half an hour of their time so you can interview them about their jobs. You’d be surprised how well this works. People who don’t have “a second” to chat on the phone with job seekers will clear their calendars to help people who genuinely want to know more about the industry.
Media is an exciting industry. The best way for you to get ahead is to be excited as well. I know you need a paycheck, but you’re young, right? Leave a day or two a month to help out on other people’s productions, and you’ll watch the world begin to open up to you.
Related articles
- Tips on How to Become a Freelance Cameraman (brighthub.com)
- Tips for Applying to Documentary Film Internships (brighthub.com)
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Tags: Arts and Entertainment, AudioVisual, Media Production, Production, Production company, Video production
Great article. I did some of these things, mostly by bothering friends of friends and now I work for an established video production company based just outside London.
I wrote some thoughts of my own as to how to get into the industry.
http://www.liquidproductions.co.uk/743/how-to-get-into-the-video-production-industry
I think it is great that there are articles out there for people to learn how to get into the industry. Getting into the film industry isn’t easy but it isn’t much different than any other industry. In almost any industry nowadays, the only way you are going to get a job is by having experience so you are going to have to find a way to get that whether through an internship or volunteering. You also have to be persistence and not just sit and wait. You need to also make yourself noticeable and show you have a strong work ethic. If you really love what you want to do then you will do anything to get it.