How to get an apprenticeship?

R

Ryan-Guy

Well-known member
What is the best way to find apprenticeship under a seasoned location sound guy? I don't know of any here in L.A. yet as I've only been here a year and a half.

I've been doing audio for myself for over 6 years, and professionally on the low-budget spectrum for ~1.5 years in L.A.. However, I'm completely self-taught, and to which I've hit a skill-set wall. I feel that I've come to a point where I can only grow by learning on set from someone with much more experience.

How did you guys find your way into the job professionally?
 
I did some database work for an editor who got a film and brought me on as an assistant. I also taught the editor how to use ProTools and had been doing sound for years. The other "break" was because I got a bunch of phone numbers of sound supervisors and I called them. One let me come out and see the studio and since we hit it off I checked in with him every month or so for about three years and then one day I got a call from him. That was a BIG job, but I had been working on lower budget films (as in 10 - 30 mill low budget) for a couple of years.

Internships may be hard to impposible unless you find someone doing a bunch of non union shows. Not sure if it's the same with production but post doesn't really allow interns on union shows. I know of a couple of exceptions but in one case it was because they were visiting from another country.

Since LA and film is so AI centric for shows that pay decently I would head to the union hall and talk to them. At minimum you would need a waiver to work on a union show so if you have talked to IATSE that might help. Also they may know of shows you might have a chance at working on.
 
In my opinion unions do not think much of freebee labor. In fact they are categorically against it. Their name for unpaid interns is "scab".

On the other hand every union I have ever heard of has an apprenticeship program. It is usually hard to get into, but frequent visits to the union hall will usually, at least eventually, get you info on how to apply. If there are more jobs than union members you may get to work as a "white ticket" (non-member).
 
Well I disagree.

He is in LA if he wants to get work that pays the union is the only real way to go.

Scab is someone who is replacing a union worker.

If you have skill's you should not be working for free, union or not.

I have worked both.

But "intern" is often an abused position. so YMMD?
 
graywolf said:
In my opinion unions do not think much of freebee labor. In fact they are categorically against it. Their name for unpaid interns is "scab".

On the other hand every union I have ever heard of has an apprenticeship program. It is usually hard to get into, but frequent visits to the union hall will usually, at least eventually, get you info on how to apply. If there are more jobs than union members you may get to work as a "white ticket" (non-member).
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I have no interest in doing freebie work for more than a day or two (if under a very seasoned pro). I get enough paid work doing sound for indie and small corporate work that I don't need to work for free for experience.

I am self-taught, and would love to work under someone for a while (low-pay) to learn all the little things that I don't know. Things like production notes, when to ask for another take, when to keep quite and let camera move to another set-up, how hard do you push wardrobe, camera, production for good sound vs their needs, etc. I just know that there is a ton of stuff that I am missing just because I have no mentor, just youtube videos and my own trial-and-error.
 
The problem is that everyone wants to work, so helping a newbie learn what they know is counter to staying employed. However, there are sound experts that are retired or late in their careers. They no longer have a need to protect their intellectual property. They will be more open to passing on what they know.

Research older movie crew lists and get names of the production sound crew. Then look them up on IMDB and Linkedin and see if you can figure out who is long in the tooth. Contact them. See if they will answer your questions. Maybe they can tutor you or take you on as an intern.
 
I would also get on Jeff Wexler's forum. It has a lot of working production sound folks in LA on it. You are really unlikely to get to be a helper on a film with a decent budget but sound folks who work on big projects are also often working on low budget stuff also, usually as a favor. So if you find one of those projects you might get in. JW's site would be a better place to ask though.
 
Ryan-Guy said:
I have no interest in doing freebie work for more than a day or two (if under a very seasoned pro). I get enough paid work doing sound for indie and small corporate work that I don't need to work for free for experience.

I am self-taught, and would love to work under someone for a while (low-pay) to learn all the little things that I don't know. Things like production notes, when to ask for another take, when to keep quite and let camera move to another set-up, how hard do you push wardrobe, camera, production for good sound vs their needs, etc. I just know that there is a ton of stuff that I am missing just because I have no mentor, just youtube videos and my own trial-and-error.
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Professional union sound mixers usually have two people working for them. A boom and a cable wrangler. The fact that you only want to work for someone for 'a while' would make them disinterested in hiring you if you get into the union unless theres some big scene temporarily requiring more wranglers. Pros in the industry want people they can depend on for a long term relationship until they 've earned the right to move on to a higher position. You're in a difficult position unless you want to spend some considerable amount of time in a lower position. That said someone might bring you on for a short intern period but I doubt you'd learn anything in a day or two. Noise2's advice is right on in both his posts. Go to the IA. Meet sound mixers. Tell them your situation. There might be someone willing to let you pick their brain.

Theres also plenty of higher end non union work in LA and for short term paid work thats where you might learn something. That might be your best bet.
 
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Taking a 'much easier to get' job as a PA (production assistant) also good way to connect with production sound mixers, boom ops and gives valuable 'on-the-set' experience (which can't be learned in schools or in books). And occasionally a PA is assigned to the sound dept. when a generic unskilled worker is needed..
Hanging out at your local fllm sound shop is a good way to connect with sound folks and get your name 'out there'.
 
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