How do I go about trying to start a career in Film production?

There is someone (can’t remember screen name) on Fluther who teaches at Full Sail University in Winter Park Florida. It is a film and video production college. I have been to the campus and found it very impressive. There are other film programs too. Of, course the famous one at UCLA. Google it.

I work in television, but it’s news, and a lot of our anchors and reporters finished school of journalism and mass communications.

I think you should make an appointment with a counselor at your school, they specialize in this, and will be major help to you. Good luck! Great field!

Loyola Marymount (LMU) in Los Angeles also has a big entertainment arts school, sponsored by MGM. It is one of the hardest schools there to get into and we were told that you have to declare it as your major from the start. I believe USC has one as well.

Depends on whether you’re willing to travel, and if you want to work in the ‘key’ market for film, which in case you weren’t aware, is L.A. If you’re looking for film schools, you have several options-vocational schools (L.A. Film School, NY Film Academy), private colleges such as AFI, CalArts, etc., State schools (Cal State Northridge has a decent film school, as well as the aforementioned UCLA), and the Universities (USC, LMU, etc.). One thing you should know is that there is no “right path” or sure-fire way to get in to the industry-it’s a balance between education/theory, application (including practical experience working on productions), your technical proficiency, and your portfolio. Lastly, many young students out of high school opt for community colleges, as many offer the same foundation courses that the universities offer wothout that university pricetag…it behooves you to research all options, and decide pretty early on what your specific area of focus will be-community colleges are a great place to do this.

Feel free to PM me if you need more info about L.A. area film schools and training.

I don’t have a link on front of me but if you google the title “reel jobs”, you should be able to find a publication that details the specific segments of that labor sector; your high school guidance counselor may also have similar materials.

http://www.entertainmentcareers.net/
http://lafilm.org/images/docs/Reel%20Jobs.pdf

These are two resources I share with my students regarding film industry basics and job sectors. That second link is a download link for a .pdf file (it’s 9.2MB, so be patient; you’ll need Adobe Reader to view it).

Hope this helps-good luck!

ONLY ONE WAY buy a camera doesn’t need to be very good, make a short film and enter it in a local (or at least not to far away) amateur film making competition. After you do this a few times (and win some prizes) go to a TV or Film producer who is auditioning to get a director for a low boget movie or TV show. Show them your work and some of your best short films and your prizes.

So you them get the job, now get some small town actors that you know onto the film THAY MUST BE GOOD you get the film to be moderately successful. Then you sit back for a bit soon angus at move produce calls you asking you to direct a film after he saw your first one,you do the film and is a box office sell out x3 and after that your at the top.

Happy fame and success. =^_^=

Surely* that technique will work if your aspiration is to become a big-time YouTube filmmaker; that has to be the poorest advice I’ve heard in awhile, with no technical, theoretical, or ethical merit. No offense, but even “Hollywood” film directors would shun those suggestions.

Obviously you’re free to choose your own path, but any working professional in the industry will tell you that this is an industry of hard work, stiff competition, and very advanced digital media technology. Training under the direction of professionals, who apply professional production methods, and bring years of technical and theoretical study to the experience is an environment that will position you to make a run at this career field. And know this: if “Hollywood”-style filmmaking is what you are interested in, filmmakers in that vein come a dime a dozen; it is indeed a very tough, competitive industry.

Lastly, I suggest that you do some soul searching early on, and figure out if your heart is in it to pursue this craft, as most successful filmmakers will tell you that the art and crafts its own reward-the fame and (eventual) rewards are merely ‘icing’ on the cake, and should never be the motivators of your desire to be a filmmaker.

Well i actually live in Toronto in Canada, so any school in the US is not an option just because my parents wouldn’t pay for it. But I did apply to a Radio and Television at Ryerson (apparently this is the best school for broadcasting in North America, which I highly doubt) and I did do a portfolio. It got great response from my friends teachers etc. but I ended up on the waitlist- they said I met their criteria but due to high competition there was not enough for me so unless they call me I’m going to another University. The thing though is that this program isn’t completely based on film so that is why I asked this question because I am completely wary of the fact that I might have the right education under my belt. I realize that the competition is huge and it is a tough industry but I believe that I have talent. I was just thinking that if I do videos indepently, if that could be an option instead of going directly into a program based on A/V.
Also I’m not wanting to go into this industry with hopes of being an actual director of Hollywood movies. The films I’m more thinking of are short clips such as music videos, commericials even movie trailers. Thanks for all your answers

I may have been thinking/writing extemporaneously when I mentioned the idea of “Hollywood” filmmaking; let me be clear in stating that I was describing the “entertainment/media industry”, which includes commercial film, television, music videos, etc., and in context, is really the broader picture when one considers a career in “the media industry.” Film and television is a subset of this, just as radio, broadcast journalism and music recording/production. Depending on the school, training focuses on one or more areas.

Many schools form their basis for “entertainment arts/media” training on a multi-discipline format or brand (I think someone mentioned Full Sail earlier in the discussion), with specific sub-categories of genres; in any case, a foundation in media production is really a more general approach to thinking about the “industry”.

Most schools these days focus on either film/video (narrative/documentary/short form) or broadcasting/journalism (news media); you’re right in your assertion that a Radio and Television school should give you the basic building blocks for an industry, but at its essence, a “good” school is one that emphasizes a balance of theory, technical and aesthetic preparation, and hands-on application of skills for students.

You should also find out if that school offers internship placement and off-site training as a component of the curriculum; many “art” schools bypass this important link, while many competitive schools find that component integral to education.

Reply: sndfreQ

I just read your first answer and I do understand that fame or money should not be my motivator. My motivator is I like to express myself visually mainly through videos. Also the feeling that I get after I make a video. It feel that it is my calling and that I deserve this role.I am also open to anything in the industry. Thanks for the advice, I am going to research which schools do have interships. Thank you

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