The cinema belongs to one of the most trending and well-paying arts. It entertains and teaches, raises complicated questions or lets people chill without thinking too much. There are thousands of films fitting any taste, from newbies to experts. The industry behind any new film consists of many people whose job contributes to the story you can watch on the screen for a couple of hours. Filmmakers stand at the centre of this process. Who are these people and how to become one?
Specialists from Jooble, a leading job search engine worldwide, gathered tips on how to launch your career as a filmmaker and find a job in this sector.
Entering the film industry requires a set of skills, special training, taste, and expertise. You will learn most things at the schools or universities. Yet, some of them will come with the passage of time. Before describing how to embark on this professional path, let’s outline filmmakers’ duties.
What do filmmakers do?
They look for the best scripts, analyze, or write them on their own to turn these materials into films later on. Besides that, these specialists are often in charge of the movie budget, i.e. they find sponsors, pitch scripts, and make sure all the production expenditures are funded enough. Filmmakers select the cast members. They have the final say when it comes to giving roles. Filmmakers are often involved in hiring crew members to make sure all behind-the-scenes tasks will be run smoothly. The pre-production planning stage is also on filmmakers’ to-do list. They manage the process and handle obstacles on the way. Together with post-production and release stages, filmmakers are supervising the whole shooting process. They are in charge of films. It is a truly monumental work.
So, if it inspires you, where should you start?
Complete your education
Getting a bachelor’s degree in arts or filmmaking is an excellent starting point. You will get acquainted to film history and understand how to work with basic film equipment. Besides, numerous student film projects will help you realize the whole diversity of genres, scrip-writing techniques, and approaches to production. The last but not the least crucial factor is networking. Finding your soulmates and future colleagues will enrich your artistic background.
Proceed with an internship
Internships are brilliant opportunities to plunge into the real film industry, get more knowledge, and valuable practical skills. Try to keep track of internships, don’t hesitate to apply or ask your friends, colleagues, or professors, what opportunities they have seen in this field. Any experience is worth its weight in gold. Even if at first you will play a tree or help as a boom operator, every step brings you closer to the ultimate goal. The better you understand the subtleties of the process, the more successful and productive you will be as a filmmaker.
Deepen your knowledge in film related industries
Your first film won’t be released a year after your graduation. It takes time and work before you will be able to create a full-scale movie. Internships are also not enough to get a full picture of this profession. So, try yourself in the variety of roles and build relevant experience. Thus, you will become more mature while approaching filmmaking functions. Assist filmmakers, learn from them, film your own short movies, participate in festivals, and so on. This background will help you broaden your professional horizons.
As we mentioned above, filmmaking entails a long professional path that consists of different roles and lots of studying. However, once you embark on it, you will participate in a great journey with creative and challenging tasks, interesting people, and project-management duties. Filmmaking combines art, science, and psychology. If you want to try yourself in this sphere, follow our tips. Camera, action!