Movie business?
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- cannada
I have never wanted to be an actor or filmmaker, but have always been interested in the movie industry. I've decided I want to give it a shot.
Is anyone on here in the business? If you're in LA, how does one try to be a PA, extra or something like an art dept. assistant? Are there thousands of people looking for these jobs?
I think it must be less glamorous than I envision, but I think it would be a good experience to hang around a TV / movie set. I have an art / design background, but would do more menial tasks.
- Boompapa0
I grew up in LA, have a film degree, have produced and directed low-budget pictures with cast and crew of 80+, and currently work for a major motion picture studio. Everything I write here comes from direct experience.
Reality: If you don't know anyone in the business, no one in the business knows you, and you'll never get hired. This business is expensive, and people only want to hire people they have worked with before, because they know first-hand they can count on those people, and sometimes they rely upon the recommendations of those same proven people. Nepotism flourishes in this business, and if you think about it, it makes sense. You don't have time or money to train people; you need people you can count on to do things right.
The best, most prudent way (in my experience) to accumulate experience and build those ever-important relationships that will keep you employed is to volunteer to work on lower-budget sets for free (found in LA craigslist), probably doing shit work, until you prove yourself worthy of being vouched for and being paid. Also, expect 12-hour days at a minimum (standard days in this biz) and only about $100-150 to start if you ARE getting paid (although your meals should be free). The more you work, the more you'll be on the radar, and once you prove to the right people you're worth your weight, then the magic starts happening and now you're a part of the crew.
As a young person, you'll be working around veterans who have seen a lot of people come and go. They're waiting to see if you're someone who can swallow their ego and do the shit work before they'll really begin to trust you. It's called PAYING YOUR DUES and it's something you experience in EVERY trade and every aspect of life, and not enough young people understand this. Shut the fuck up, do what you're told, and DO IT WELL and WITHOUT ATTITUDE. The important thing to keep in mind is that most of them went through the same process. No one wants to work with a weak little crybaby, or someone who thinks they know it all or are above it all.
When you achieve that acceptance, you will feel amazing. It means you've hit your stride, and you've proven to yourself and to others that you can buckle down and get things done.
By the way, most of what I said here applies to every significant endeavor in life. Jump in, volunteer, prove you can kick ass without complaining. People will recognize that, and opportunities will come as a result.
- cannada0
^ Great reply and what I thought. True about any industry really. I'd be good with volunteering / interning if I thought it might lead to some paying gigs relatively quickly. I looked online and it's hard to tell what is real and what isn't. Some postings are vague and I don't know if I'm going to be stuck in some guy's apartment making his home movie or on a porn set in the valley. Not to dismiss things, but you know......
You mention craigslist. Like these?:
http://losangeles.craigslist.org…
http://losangeles.craigslist.org…