advice for job search?

Ralph D

Ralph D

Active member
I currently have a stressful, full-time job that nothing to do with film, even though I focus on my writing and directing projects on the side. I guess it's a common thing with a lot of aspiring filmmakers/screenwriters but at this point, I really feel the need to move on to something else that's film-related. The problem is that I'm not sure about what kind of job/position I should be looking for. I'm not looking to focus solely on freelance/temporary work (my past experience being a PA was awful) and I'm not looking for more unpaid internships, unless I knew for sure that it would lead to a job.

Do production companies offer entry-level positions that are full-time? I pretty much only see internships being offered.

Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on what I should be looking for and/or how I should conduct my search?

Thanks.
 
Yeah, great question. I'm stuck too. I'm going to be trying my hand at what robstar has recommended to get my own company going, but in the meantime, I'm going to need to generate some cash flow.

20, not married, loads of bills (school, car/insurance, credit cards, rent, gym) and I still live at home. I'm out in Toronto and I apply for any and everything I see, but my job hunting is limited to craigslist and mandy.com - any other suggestions? Even working at a news station editing or at least doing something related to film, would be a huge and welcome change (I know a lot of people complain about their go-nowhere film jobs, but it'd be nice to even have one for once).

Thanks,

Kegan
 
I say keep working with the PA jobs... hopefully with pay. If your parents are supportive, they'll let you stay there until things start to get rolling. Keep networking whenever you get the change and bust your arse on set. Make sure you're always the PA that people can count on. Word travels fast and if you're dependable and work hard, things will start to happen for you. That's my advice.
 
Thanks, Tom.

One of my issues with doing a lot of PA jobs is that they would take a toll on my health and the fact that each day would probably be least 12 hours. I was a PA on an indie feature and I ended up losing a lot of weight and I felt miserable every day. So, doing one PA job after another and so on doesn't sound too thrilling anymore.

I know this sounds odd considering that if I want to direct, I'd pretty much have to go through the same conditions. But, I wouldn't mind in that case because I'd be doing something I'm passionate about.

Someone I worked with on a film told me that if I want to direct, I should just focus on that and not bother doing PA work. I wasn't sure what to think of it at the time. Does anyone agree with this?
 
Well, if you are young and want in on pro work. PA stuff is the way to go. Be the one people want to work with. It pays off.

But if you want something in directing, I would focus on putting together a film for fests. At Sundance, and other fests, agencies send spotters with a quota of people to sign. So if you do some kick ass work and it gets on screen and someone sees it. Work can come at you fast.

Also, make a card and a website, and a reel and network until you die. Well don't actually die...because it wouldn't matter if you were dead.

Best of luck to you. And craigslist works well actually. But I think more stuff will become available when the strike ends.
 
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