HOW TO GET A JOB ON A FILM SET.....

Director_by_nature

Director_by_nature

Hi again...

So lets say I have an 4 or 8 week deploma from the NYFA... and a few demo reels of what I can do... What is the chance of a 16 year old getting a job on a major movie? Even as low as P.A???? or a higher possition... Im willing to work as a P.A for FREE if the Film is large enough, and they give me a screen creadit. I just want to work on a large film set, and be able to see how things are run on large budget films....
And also, Do you know who I would contact about getting a job on the set? Is there a certain person, or is it just a luck type thing?

Thanks a million!!!!
Landon Parks
darkcaver@sbcglobal.net
 
Odds are pretty good you can get a job as a PA. Find out what films are shooting in your area from your local film commission.
 
Im willing to work as a P.A for FREE if the Film is large enough
Click to expand...

Cut off that end qualifier, if literally trying to get the foot in the door. ;)

The most important thing you mentioned, for getting started, is that you say you have some reels of what you can do. That's it.

The toss-away "diplomas" mean absolutely nothing, if you have nothing visual to show for it. (I do need to mention that I am not familiar with NYFA at all, and they may be great for all I know.) I also know that you can learn a lot of hands-on experience at hundreds of schools (including community colleges) across the U.S. that is valuable, but the fact that they almost all issue some kind of paper document at the end still means nothing.

I once took a class in Visual Basic for Access that was a walkthrough of the Beginner's Manual. No tests. No homework. No assignments. Once a week for 6 weeks. I guess I could call myself "certified VB programmer" now... all I did was show up and stay awake. :p

That's not to say that you would not learn a lot from attending short courses... most often you do. (It's why i still do.) But often the "degree" you get at the end is a feel-good freebie. You should definitely research your school's system.

**********

As far as getting into a large film set?

Meet some people. Then meet some more people.

Hard time meeting people in large film projects? Meet people in low/no film projects. While biding time getting into the "big" ones, you could be networking with a wide range of people in the lower ones.... which means when you finally get to meet Spielberg, you have one of two things to say...

1) I've waited years to get into something like this.. let's start.

or:

2) I've been working hard to get into something like this. In the past X years, these are the films I have worked on. (Insert reel)

***********

Worst comes to worst and you can't get even a FREE position somewhere? Start your own project! While it can be difficult, it can have the effect of networking in reverse, after you get a few people and need more... and they know a few people... who know a few people....

***********

All done waffling.

Your reel(s) will be far more valuable than any 4-week diploma.

One says that you paid a tuition fee. The other demonstrates what you are actually capable of.
 
Thank you Zen.... I Personally want to make my own film. Be tje Producer / Director/ Cameraman / Editor.... Sort of a Robert Reodrequez type thing..... However, Dont get me wrong. If I get the chance to Direct a Feature for a big-name Producer, I wont turn the possition down.

Is there like a message board were Chris Columbus, George lucas and other's post there Job Openings for film's?

Thanks,
Landon
 
www.CraigsList.org

Find closest city, then tv/film/video.

It will have a lot of low/no pay projects, with a small mix of the bigger things that agencies haven't been able to fill. Updated daily. Very active for work-seekers.

If you are in Los Angeles area....

http://p215.ezboard.com/bplanetshark

Lots of crosspostings from Craigs, but categories much better organised.

I'm pretty sure Mr Lucas doesn't post there himself, though. :wink:
 
Let me tell you real quick how I got involved with my first film under Oscar nominated director John D. Hancock (Prancer
, Weeds, Bang the Drum Slowly, etc...).

I was driving down the road one day when I heard that was going to be auditions for a hollywood movie. I jotted the date down and when the time came about a month later on October 27, 2000...I made sure that I was there. It was actually a casting call but I am not an actor, I'm a filmmaker. But I figured that I could still check out the production and see if I could weasel my way in.

It turns out that they had a sheet that you could fill out if you were interested in helping with production, probably on a volunteer basis. So I filled out the sheet and mentioned that I had been editing since 1996. The producer called me a few days later and asked if I would be interested in a assistant editor type possition. He didn't know if it would end up paying or not.

So I started showing up everyday to learn their AVID editing system (which I had had no experience with before then) by going through about 5 2" thick manuals. I learned the system inside and out and in fact knew it better than anyone else there.

Then one day about 1 month after I had started, the Production Manager came into the editing suite and said, "don't forget to turn out the lights when you leave, assistant editor."

I said, "Is that what I am?"

"Yes. You'll be making $250 per week. Congratulations."

I worked on the $2mil High Def film for the next 8 months and learned so much. It was a great opportunity and it was all just because I showed some passion and continued to show up EVERY day, even though I was just a volunteer.

I love telling that story. The movie was called Suspended Animation by the way. It was picked up by First Run Features and the DVD was released nationally on March 23, 2004. I produced and edited the behind the scenes featurette for that DVD as well.

Hopefully this encourages you to just get yourself out there and make connections and inject youself into the scene, no matter how small the job seems...it can lead to bigger things.
 
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