5 answers
Tahj
Student
Louisville, Kentucky
1
Question
Asked
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As someone aspiring to work in and produce film, along with screenwriting and acting, what are the best moves to make while in college to set up a promising career?
Will be returning to college as a sophomore, majoring in Cinema, Television, and Emerging Media Studies.
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5 answers
Helena Y. Wu
Film director / producer
26
Answers
Pasadena, California
Updated
Helena Y.’s Answer
I would say, try to get your hands dirty on everything : directing, producing, videography, writing, editing, whatever you feel passionate about. Try to work - including volunteering - on whatever film sets you have access to. Be an assistant, a runner, whatever roles you think you are a fit, so as to get familiar with the industry and try to network with the filmmakers. Be sincere, polite and friendly. The industry's door will gradually open for you.
Hope this is helpful. Good luck!
Hope this is helpful. Good luck!
Gradually open. I like that! Thank you!
Tahj
Steve Jacobson
Creative Leader/Content Creator/Producer/Editor/Storyteller
94
Answers
Westlake Village, California
Updated
Steve’s Answer
Pursue a strong education that matches your dreams of becoming a filmmaker. There are many great choices available now, so pick a program that fits your goals.
Meanwhile, start creating your own movies. Write your stories, gather friends and family, and begin filming. Keep your projects short and simple to build experience. Keep trying and learning about storytelling, directing, casting, editing, and filming. Mistakes are valuable lessons, so don't fear them. Embrace challenges and find ways to overcome them.
Good luck on your exciting journey!
Meanwhile, start creating your own movies. Write your stories, gather friends and family, and begin filming. Keep your projects short and simple to build experience. Keep trying and learning about storytelling, directing, casting, editing, and filming. Mistakes are valuable lessons, so don't fear them. Embrace challenges and find ways to overcome them.
Good luck on your exciting journey!
Thank you, Steve!
Tahj
Melinda Bryce
Writer/ Producer
1
Answer
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Melinda’s Answer
In addition to your classmates’ student films, get on professional sets in any capacity even as a PA. Remember, humility and solid work ethic go a long way. You’re much more likely to get a job because one of those crew members just worked with you and remembered you than by sending out all the inquiry emails in the world. Success in this business is about genuine connections with people who have boots on the ground.
I really like this persepcive. Thank you, Melinda!
Tahj
Jerrold Ridenour
Director/Writer
2
Answers
Hesperia, California
Updated
Jerrold’s Answer
Take advantage of the schools resources and stay up late. You won't have another opportunity to play with all of the toys without renting again.
READ. All the books you can as fast as you can. Take notes.
Get to know ALL if the equipment and find which toolset speaks to you.
-Is it painting with light? Is it capturing nuanced audio and sound design? Is it technical expertise with the camera?
Really important to DO THE WORK. Make a film every weekend and make friends with everyone, these will be your future colleagues.
Most importantly have fun!
READ. All the books you can as fast as you can. Take notes.
Get to know ALL if the equipment and find which toolset speaks to you.
-Is it painting with light? Is it capturing nuanced audio and sound design? Is it technical expertise with the camera?
Really important to DO THE WORK. Make a film every weekend and make friends with everyone, these will be your future colleagues.
Most importantly have fun!
Michelle M.
Actress
3276
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Tahj !
There really is a lot you can do to get the most out of your academic path for a career in the Film Industry. It starts with finding a Film School or university Film Department for a Bachelors Program in Film since that's what you stated you will pursue. By focusing on film, you will gain the knowledge to have a film career, but education and training is a start. You will need to make very strong contact with the film department, fellow students and professors to stay informed of opportunities. Since you want to do several aspects of film it will be important to go to Film School or a university that has a strong Film Department for majors.
If you do not want to take a Film path and plan to do the Cinema, Television, and Emerging Media Studies. there are some things you'll need to find out and/or be aware of with this path. Many media studies courses can be more like history and survey courses, being rooted in film history, theory, and culture. rather than hands on. You'll need the opportunity during this path to do film projects since you want to produce, write and act for Film. Media studies also consists of many media - film, television, radio, web content, print, photography. Some programs emphasize theoretical and analytical study over hands-on production. These are what would be focused on.
If you do the media studies academic path, you'll need to be doing film a lot, so you can do volunteer work at local film studios to get an idea of what the work is like. Some places to inquire about doing volunteer work are Valere Studios, Two Shirts Productions, Mfilms, LLC, Outrider Entertainment, JuddFilms, LLC, Monkey Productions LLC, The Film House, Silver Screen Arts, Namesake Entertainment, Encore Production Services, Kentucky Film, LLC and Blackfish Films.
Another thing you can do if you decide to take a media studies path is to apply for Federal Student Financial Aid and check the Work Study option. You could get a job on campus at your college's Film Department and that would be a good way to focus on film. You can also take some Film Courses online and read books about filmmaking, screenwriting and acting since those are the areas you've stated that you want to do for film. Take a film acting class in your community, too. If you decide to take the Film School or university Film Department Major, you will learn how to do all of it for film. A good friend obtained his Masters in Cinematography from the American Film Institute in Hollywood and he works in all media, so you can do it all through a film path.
So this advice is only for your educational and academic preparedness and experience. Whatever path you choose to follow for your film career, I wish you all the best !
There really is a lot you can do to get the most out of your academic path for a career in the Film Industry. It starts with finding a Film School or university Film Department for a Bachelors Program in Film since that's what you stated you will pursue. By focusing on film, you will gain the knowledge to have a film career, but education and training is a start. You will need to make very strong contact with the film department, fellow students and professors to stay informed of opportunities. Since you want to do several aspects of film it will be important to go to Film School or a university that has a strong Film Department for majors.
If you do not want to take a Film path and plan to do the Cinema, Television, and Emerging Media Studies. there are some things you'll need to find out and/or be aware of with this path. Many media studies courses can be more like history and survey courses, being rooted in film history, theory, and culture. rather than hands on. You'll need the opportunity during this path to do film projects since you want to produce, write and act for Film. Media studies also consists of many media - film, television, radio, web content, print, photography. Some programs emphasize theoretical and analytical study over hands-on production. These are what would be focused on.
If you do the media studies academic path, you'll need to be doing film a lot, so you can do volunteer work at local film studios to get an idea of what the work is like. Some places to inquire about doing volunteer work are Valere Studios, Two Shirts Productions, Mfilms, LLC, Outrider Entertainment, JuddFilms, LLC, Monkey Productions LLC, The Film House, Silver Screen Arts, Namesake Entertainment, Encore Production Services, Kentucky Film, LLC and Blackfish Films.
Another thing you can do if you decide to take a media studies path is to apply for Federal Student Financial Aid and check the Work Study option. You could get a job on campus at your college's Film Department and that would be a good way to focus on film. You can also take some Film Courses online and read books about filmmaking, screenwriting and acting since those are the areas you've stated that you want to do for film. Take a film acting class in your community, too. If you decide to take the Film School or university Film Department Major, you will learn how to do all of it for film. A good friend obtained his Masters in Cinematography from the American Film Institute in Hollywood and he works in all media, so you can do it all through a film path.
So this advice is only for your educational and academic preparedness and experience. Whatever path you choose to follow for your film career, I wish you all the best !