What other occupations are closely related to film?

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dioxholster

Member
In a perfect fantasy I can devote my whole life to filmmaking but since thats not a secure reality for keeping an income, what other creative occupations can I get into that will enable me to network with people in the film industry and hopefully by that one day I can become a filmmaker in some way? My experience at the moment is limited, I'm mainly interested in directing and screenwriting and maybe editing or other technical work; I'd be willing to do anything as long as it has something to do with being creative and storytelling. I want to go to film school however I'm a little wary of spending money on a film school as its not a guaranteed thing. I've read how many filmmakers or writers came out of other more easy to get into industries, and thats why I'm considering that option while there is still time.
 
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Well you can always work on film crews in any department. You can work at a camera house. Most of those jobs will not allow you to be creative, but you will gain experience and be on sets and learn a lot.

Alternatively you could go into accounting, graphic design, marketing, business management, etc. All of those skills can get you into the film business.
 
You need a flexible job with low hours and high pay. If you find such a job I'd love to know too. :)

You will be better off getting a job that isn't ceative or storytelling if you want to pay the bills. As suggested above take a job that develops skills in the less sexy aspects of filmmaking. These will come in handy down the track and may offer an opportunity to get into the business. Any creative job is going to leave you just as poor as your fantasy so you might as well just jump into filmmaking with both feet. Creatives determine the quality of a society but society doesn't value creatives. Advertising is possibly the only industry that places a dollar value on creativity. Maybe look into that.

The creative that makes sacrifices, if self-motivated has time to get things to developed. The creative with a real job has far nicer toys but no time to use them. I wasted many years trying to live my fantasy but didn't have the focus to get anyway or the resources to make them happen. I now work in tv broadcast (not broadcast tv, I'm a technician that maintains the 'pipelines' between the stations and the antennas, satellites and cable networks - totally not creative) and it has paid for all my gear. Now I treat the fantasy as fantasy, it's all I can hope for at this point. Still, that's my story. While you're young is the time to take risks. For all my wasted years, other than not owning a house I'm not that far behind the friends I grew up with.
 
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If you're interested in editing, it's not too difficult to work up the ladder. There is an established path there. Get a job as a gopher for a post production company, tv/cable network, trailer/promo house, or a working film editor. Use the equipment in the off hours. Show stuff to the people above you until they give you a chance to edit something. Build up your reel and gain experience. Someone will hire you eventually. It's one of the more predictable, stable career paths in the business. You'll also learn skills that are useful to directing to screenwriting.
 
Film is something that involves education in many areas not relating to film. Costume design for example, you may need to have an understanding of historical research, if the project you are involved with is a period piece. You'll also need knowledge of fashion and personality, because the character's clothing reflects their personality. Post requires you understand how to organize things, and a normal office job will help with that if you aren't naturally organized. Directing means knowing what you want and that you have an understanding of all aspects of production, as does producing. Screen writing also involves an understanding of all aspects of production. Also being communicative and knowing how to talk to people also helps, and that can be got in any industry. What makes film unique is that it combines the skills of many types of jobs and duties.
 
Armorer? No scratch that......I got enough competition.......

LOL, seriously......there are many jobs that involve "creativity" and are in the industry......

Now...yes this is starting on the bottom rung of the ladder.....but why not PA a few sets.....and on breaks.....TALK to people, see what they are doing. And biggest of all, get involved however and wherever you can, even if you only have the slightest interest. Do it....to confirm you don't want to do it.
 
sorry for late reply, Im really at a crossroads at the moment and whatever i do now will change my life forever so Im considering all options rather carefully. I respect the honesty here, chances of me being an actual director which is what i believe im suited for arent that great, just how everyone can't be an astronaut. But I'd still like to be part of the industry in any way. Editing I can do, but it can drive me insane sometimes and I don't want to edit wedding videos as like most folks I loath weddings. If I choose to work for advertising company, how can one apply for that? Do they need some degree for this sort of stuff? I'm probably better off choosing a non creative career but thats whole topic for another day.
 
Learn to do a little bit of everything, I've been working pretty much equally when it comes to shooting vs editing.
 
dioxholster said:
sorry for late reply, Im really at a crossroads at the moment and whatever i do now will change my life forever so Im considering all options rather carefully.
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Well....yes and no. I maybe assuming a lot here......but you sound fairly young, and if that is the case......you always have opportunities to course correct. And goals change with the more experience and exposure you get to the different aspects of production......and you may even find down the road you WANT to be the proverbial astronaut. And you may find a career outside of production that you really love and bag the whole thing.

My point is that nothing is ever set in stone. It's like using a road map. To get from A to B, yes there is a short way. But if there is a road block on that route......chances are you can still get there going another way. Or you may decide you want to go to a different point instead. Possibilities are up to you.

I used to think producing was a thankless job and never thought I would do it......but after producing a few things for people.......I still think it's a thankless job and hate it...but love it as well. Because of the feeling of satisfaction I got knowing if I hadn't done what I did....those films would not have been as good.
 
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There's no correct path. If you had the passion to deal with all the despair that goes with trying to become a director, you wouldn't be questioning whether or not you should work in a creative field or not. You need to actively imagine being 40+ when all your old friends are doctors and lawyers with big houses and families, and you're still living in a small apartment trying to finance some low budget feature. At class reunions, you tell people you're still aspiring to have the career you want, while everybody else has been living their lives for over a decade.

Basically what I'm saying is to imagine the worst possible outcome and see if you could handle that.

How old are you? I've been going through what feels like a never ending 'quarter life crisis' myself, but what I'm realizing recently is that the idea of, "What I do now will change my life forever," as you said, is not as true as it seems. It feels like when you decide on your profession, that's all you'll ever do and then you're stuck with it. But actually, people switch around all the time. It seems like odd advice, and maybe I'm wrong, but I say you just follow whatever you're passionate about from moment to moment without fear of having to completely start over at a later point. If suddenly you realize you have absolutely no money and no chance of supporting yourself, well, that's going to affect what you're passionate about and you'll probably start caring more about a high paying job. If you feel financially secure and suddenly realize you're utilizing your creative potential, that'll also affect your passion and you can switch over to a different path.
 
I'm a very cautious person, and not the kind of guy who just jumps into whatever he is after, its something that plagued me and has kept me from doing things other people normally just do. Maybe people switch jobs all the time, I don't know since my parents both worked for the government and never sought anything else. Am I passionate about film enough to sacrifice the opportunity for a normal life? I'm not sure, for me its about choosing a career that is stimulating and haven't found one outside of film.
 
dioxholster said:
I'm a very cautious person, and not the kind of guy who just jumps into whatever he is after, its something that plagued me and has kept me from doing things other people normally just do. Maybe people switch jobs all the time, I don't know since my parents both worked for the government and never sought anything else. Am I passionate about film enough to sacrifice the opportunity for a normal life? I'm not sure, for me its about choosing a career that is stimulating and haven't found one outside of film.
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Yeah, nothing in the film business is that stable, but anything on the post-production side will give you the most "normal" life if that's what you're after.
 
I would look at corporate communications and media production, as there is a fair bit of corporate film-making being done world-wide, and companies generally have the money to pay for good work.
 
Corporate is a good idea. Many places have in house staff positions that are about as close to a stable 9-5 job as you'll find in this industry. Or do what many people do which is hold down a day job and spend your nights & weekends working on labor of love projects.

If you are having to really talk yourself into making the leap into post/production then you probably shouldn't. Instability and flux is par for the course. You'll always feel over worked, under payed, stress that you won't land another gig and remorse over not spending enough time with you family. But you'll keep coming back for more because you can't fathom doing anything else.


-Andrew
 
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