The Hustle: How to Navigate Unpaid Film and TV Gigs
Unpaid production gigs are common in the film and tv industry and can be helpful when building your credit and professional network. In this edition of the Hustle, UK based filmmaker, Jennifer Sizeland takes us through how you can take on unpaid gigs in film and tv without losing your sanity and keeping your dignity intact.
She’s a freelance writer and assistant producer with 12 years of experience in the media industry. Jennifer has written for many publications including the BBC, the Independent, Metro, Manchester Mill, Get Me Giddy, the Media Diversity Institute, Funny Women and her own sustainability blog called Land of Size. She lives in Manchester and you can follow her on Instagram at @lifeofsize. Keep on reading to learn how to navigate this common career struggle!
One of the most frustrating aspects about trying to get your foot in the door of so many creative industries and others is the spectre of unpaid work. This is especially a problem if you don’t have any contacts in the business and if you're not from a privileged background, which was the case for me when I started working in TV over ten years ago as I worked towards becoming a producer/director.
Photo by Vanilla Bear Films on Unsplash
It can be really tough to balance paid work with unpaid placements or so-called opportunities and even now I feel frustrated at how exploitative my first years in the industry were in hindsight.
In order to do it, I worked in an office as a temporary worker for a management company amongst other jobs like barkeeping to keep my head above water and pay the rent. Because of my intense work schedule, I know what it's like to not look after yourself as you should. It's so important to not sacrifice yourself as you work towards your career goals.
Now, I freelance as an assistant producer for the BBC, a big public service broadcaster in the UK and around the world as well as being a writer. I've worked in many of their departments including current affairs, radio, children's TV shows, educational content and the news. I've had a lot of ups and downs in my career so I have wisdom to share about navigating unpaid work as you try to nail down that first job that will set you on your way.
1) Consider the impact of those extra hours
Working extra unpaid hours can have a real impact on your mental health so consider how much you want to do on top of your paying jobs. It helps you to be more in control of how you spend your time if you put boundaries on it. I once worked a job that was 20 hours long on a music video for which I ended up being paid just a few dollars per hour. If a company is prepared to treat you this way then it’s a huge red flag for future jobs. Working more than 40 hours a week has been proven to be bad for your health and doing more than 55 hours for sustained periods can lead to strokes and heart attacks.
2) Know when to say no
Sometimes unpaid work isn’t the right thing for you once you realize what it involves or an ‘opportunity’ can drag on when you’re not getting paid. I worked on a small drama that was supposed to get sold but it turned into too many unpaid days so I had to walk away for my own sanity and bank balance. The producer told me that they would start paying people for 3 weeks in a row and it never happened so I knew it was a red flag. Saying no sometimes is essential as it means that you value yourself and your own time. While saying no to someone can be intimidating, nobody can argue with you for having respect for yourself.
3) Don’t pay your own expenses
Always clarify whether expenses are included before showing up on a shoot. For example, I have turned up to set and have been shocked to find out I was expected to pay for my own parking with money I didn’t have. You should never have to pay with your own money if you’re working for free - so make sure they have the budget before you set off! This can also be a budget for meals, or other expenses. Always, always ask. Keeping track of all of your receipts is essential for situations like these, and is also pretty normal for working in production as a whole. When you are being booked for the job, ask them who you are sending your expenses to and then if they say they’re not paying them then you can pull out of the job there and then.
Photo by Lina Kraftsoff on Unsplash
4) Tell people what you want to do
One of the most important things that you can do on placements is build real connections with people, even if it feels intimidating at first. I would never tell people what I wanted to do in those early days as I wasn’t sure but it's so important as then they will bear you in mind for future work.
Now that I recommend people myself, it's useful for me to know what they’re interested in. As being on set involves so much teamwork, it's easy to get chatting and there is always time between takes when you can talk, especially as people often travel together between sets. If there is somebody that you want to connect with, offer to help them, make them a drink or ask for their advice and people will always be happy to give it! Everyone knows how tough the industry is so if you’re easy to get on with, work hard and anticipate any problems that may come up then people will put you forward for work.
If you don’t get a chance to network on the day because you’re busy working, then send a follow-up email or make a phone call highlighting the skills you have to offer, your availability and your CV so they have it to hand. You can also connect on social media like LinkedIn or even Instagram if they have one associated with work.
5) Find a passion project
It’s inevitable that you won’t love everything you do and some of those jobs will be low-paid and maybe not creative at all. This is where it’s important to have a passion project that you really love, even if it's something you only work on for a few hours a week. I always like to have a writing project, even now, as it keeps my creative juices flowing and it isn’t reliant on anybody else!
Once you’re in control then you can ban all unpaid placements and make them a thing of the past! Until then you have to play the game and get in where you can in order to start your new career in a deeply competitive industry.