The Hustle: Tips on Getting Involved in the Industry without Film School
Once upon a time, Dani Espinosa was a college student at The University of Tampa, majoring in advertising and public relations, with plans on becoming the next Olivia Pope. In her last semester, she got the chance to work on a documentary in Thailand- and thus was born her love for film production. Since then, Dani has taken on freelance content strategy for nonprofits and small media companies, as well as teaching herself how to edit through personal projects. Currently, Dani is a Post Production Assistant from 9 to 9; all other free hours goes straight to volunteering at TLL, reading tarot cards, caring for her fur baby Milan or binging the newest show on Netflix. In this edition of the Hustle, Dani breaks down how to get involved in the industry without Film School.
For the longest time, I felt that the odds were stacked against me when it came to working in film. In my head, there was no way anyone could take me seriously or would even consider me for any type of role on set without the prized title of a film school listed at the top of my resume.
It wasn’t until I landed a PA position for a bigger project and had some conversations with those around me that I realized what I had heard all along was true: you really do not need film school to land your big break. Sure, film school can be valuable in the connections you make, and perhaps even the projects you can say you worked on or created. The fundamental difference between a film school student and someone that didn’t go to film school is an understanding of film theory.
Here’s the truth though- nobody cares about your grasp on film theory when it comes to hiring PA’s and other entry-level folks on set. It’s all about experience and how useful you can actually be to the production team. And while you may think film students got a leg up on you again with experience- well, think again.
There are ways to not only learn the skills you need to succeed on set, but to also stay in the know for available jobs, gigs, and learning opportunities- all without needing a film school degree. Here’s how:
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE YOU DID GET.
If you have no actual on-set experience to list on your resume, the next best thing you can do is find ways to connect your education/work experience to what you hope to do.
In my case, I made sure to highlight all the skills I had gained from previous jobs to prove I knew how to handle office management, customer service, and other core skills I would need on set. No, I didn’t have big projects to list in my resume- but I had RELEVANT experience that would help me not be useless on a set.
Relevant experience may not be the exact fit they are looking for, but it still means you have a useful foundation to build off from and can still be valuable to the projects you take on. You just have to know how to spin it. For instance; you weren’t just a coffee shop barista that served coffee. You provided excellent customer service to a continuous flow of people, took orders and delivered food items in a high-pressure environment, and maintained a clean environment while working alongside a large team. Those are skills that Set PA’s need when it comes to managing extras on sets, going on runs, policing the area, taking lunch orders, etc.
RESEARCH WHAT WORKSHOPS, PROGRAMS, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AS A BEGINNER IN FILMMAKING!
Believe it or not, there are a TON of workshops, programs and organizations that WANT to help you get your foot in the door. Whether you are a total beginner and completely curious about the industry, or if you already have some experience under your belt but just haven’t had job security-I guarantee you there is an opportunity out there for you.
I recommend checking out if your city or state has a filmmaker board/website. For instance, the NYC Mayor’s office has a whole site for information on current projects ongoing in the city, how to get permits, etc. BUT more importantly, they have a production assistant training program that is free and open to NYC residents within a certain age range. Programs like this are not unique to just New York- but it is up to you to do your research and see what aligns with your interests and what you qualify for! There are also incubator labs, finishing grants with mentorship, local community orgs, events and so much more that you can tap into for knowledge and career success.
To make your life a little easier, check out our Opportunities page, where we list a bunch of workshops, labs, programs and more for filmmakers of all levels.
APPLY TO POSITIONS YOU WANT! YOU MISS 100% OF THE SHOTS YOU DON'T TAKE.
I know sometimes it can be discouraging to apply for a position or training program when you don’t think you have the necessary experience, but trust that within that pile of no’s is the one yes you are waiting for. If I had let my insecurity of not having a film school listed in my resume get to me, I would have never ended up getting any of the small PA positions that led me to my real stepping point. You can’t give up either. It’s not your job to reject yourself. It’s your job to put yourself out there. A hiring manager will take in resumes and assess them based on the job’s needs. You never know what quality you have that’ll make you stand out, so just go for it. Apply!
KNOW WHERE TO APPLY FOR JOBS. NOT EVERY SITE WILL BE AS FILMMAKER FRIENDLY FOR JOB POSTINGS.
Because film production jobs are often temporary or project based in some way, you have to know where to network and search for jobs. Regular job sites like LinkedIn skews more towards corporate gigs. To find film production and crew opportunities, you may want to go to the sites that film professionals prefer to use, such as staffmeup.com.
One thing to keep in mind; a lot of job sites with posted film positions typically are seeking highly experienced workers; they may not be the best resource for people seeking their first few gigs.
For emerging filmmakers, I highly suggest joining local filmmaker FB groups. It’s within these groups that you may be able to hear about job opportunities straight from the people looking to hire ASAP! A lot of these groups are also great in general for networking purposes, so make sure to join all the available film FB groups in your city/region.
REJECTIONS ARE NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. TAKE THEM WITH GRATITUDE.
If you get rejected after an interview, remember that is still a potential contact you can keep in your pocket. I will never forget the day that I got the rejection email from a DREAM project and I cried for days. Once the sadness subsided, I re-read the email and realized while I had been rejected, the interviewer was kind enough to relay me info on another opportunity and offered to pass my resume along. I may not have gotten the job, but instead I gained a valuable ally that was interested in seeing me grow as a professional.
The next time you get hit with a rejection, use it as a learning opportunity. Send a gracious thank you for the opportunity. Ask for feedback if you deem it appropriate to do so. Include a line where you say something along the lines of, “Please keep me in mind should other opportunities like this pop up!” so that they know you are interested. The important thing is relaying gratitude for the chance to be considered AND interest in being kept in mind for the future.
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
SPEAK UP! GET TO KNOW OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY
Informational interviews are such a great way to really learn straight from the source if you do not have the option to shadow or get the experience yourself. Closed mouths don’t get fed! Tell people you’re working with what you’re interested in.
Talking to already established producers, writers and even other PA’s helped me in so many different ways- from learning how to best tailor my resume for film jobs, to ways I can set myself apart from other candidates to simply tapping into the general secrets and unspoken truths of sets. Always ask colleagues questions, compare stories and share knowledge.
If you’re not sure you want to go on the producing track, or prefer working in Post, or even still want to see if you prefer working in niche departments (art/sound/VFX!!), TALK TO SOMEONE ALREADY THERE! They will give you the exact run down of what they do, what they enjoy most about their position, what is most challenging and how they got there. Best question you could ask them: what would they do differently knowing what they know now? That’s advice that is going to be PRICELESS when it comes to your own personal journey.
NETWORKING SHOULD FEEL GENUINE. DEVELOP TRUE CONNECTIONS AND COMMUNITY OVER TIME VERSUS SHORT-TERM BONDS.
I feel like a lot of people tend to get burned in ‘networking’ situations because very clearly there’s one person using the other one for their connections, knowledge or skills. Getting to know people thoroughly may take time, but it leads to connections that are much more solid and reliable than just someone that hits you up whenever they’re unemployed. See the difference?
You can do this by simply being kind on sets, asking genuine questions in conversations and showing interest in the lives of those around you. Ask someone for a virtual coffee or an IRL one if they’re in your city. Go to meetups in your city and challenge yourself to introduce yourself to someone new. And of course, stay in touch with those you get along with at work and you will see your network expand with more genuine people.
GET FAMILIAR WITH JOBS OUTSIDE OF YOUR AREA OF INTEREST.
Photo by Sebastian Pandelache on Unsplash
Understand the role that others play around you, because this will ultimately make you better at what you do. A director that knows their equipment well is going to be knowledgeable about the capacities and limits of their vision with the gear they have. A producer that has had experience in different areas on set and even in office is going to have a better idea of preparing for potential crises, budget cuts and more. Production doesn’t just revolve around one part of the film process, every detail ladders up to the greater picture.
FIND A ‘HARD’ SKILL AND MASTER IT. YOU WILL BECOME INDISPENSABLE.
One thing that comes in handy from trying out different roles on set and learning from different departments? You get to see firsthand what skills are so desperately needed. Then, you’ll be in a great position, becoming the go-to person for something that your production will always need. Even better if it is an industry-wide need!
For instance; the more comfortable you are with driving, especially trucks, the more valuable you can be to your crew! You’ll always be tapped in to help drive around equipment, crew members and maybe even clients.
LASTLY, REMEMBER NAMES AND SMALL DETAILS. ALWAYS BE ON TIME. MANNERS WILL TAKE YOU FAR.
You wouldn’t believe how many times I heard from higher-ups the importance of being kind on set. Being a good listener. Respecting and enforcing rules on set. There is power in being a decent person on set. Trust me when I say your reputation isn’t just linked to the quality of your work. It is also how much people like working with you._
Film school is a wonderful opportunity to learn and create films alongside like minded peers, but it does not guarantee you jobs. Your tenacity, willingness to learn and overall passion is what will help you get jobs. If you don’t have that film school degree, don’t discourage yourself in the beginning of your film career. There are resources at your disposal, and there are people out there that are willing and excited to help. But, this all starts with you believing in yourself, making a plan and taking that leap of faith.