We all dream of going into different careers, but surely the world of film is one of the most appealing for many. It may remain as nothing more than a pipe dream for some, but for others it represents a real career opportunity. This article explains more.
The world of film and television is a glamorous one, isn’t it? Or at least that is the way it always seems. Watching completed films at the cinema or on television is a great experience, but it only tells a mere fraction of the story. You don’t see all the things that go on behind the scenes that all play a part in bringing the story to the screen.
If you want to work in this industry you will need a thick skin and plenty of determination. In fact, being a little pig headed in refusing to give up is a good skill to have – more important, perhaps, than any other skill you may possess! It is important to remember that many experienced people in the industry still have to apply for jobs and prove their worth. In this sense you stand more chance of getting work than you may think.
The first and most important thing to do is to gain some experience, and this is where the problems seem to begin. There are jobs in the industry to be sure, but there is also a lot of competition. This means you will be up against countless other people for any kind of job at all – even if you are merely applying for work experience. Don’t be disheartened though. Remember what we said about perseverance and determination.
A good place to begin is with the many film production companies. London in particular is a haven for such companies as many films and television programmes are filmed here. It is also the capital and that means you have more chance of finding work experience here than elsewhere in the country.
You can start off by looking online for websites belonging to film production companies. London based ones will undoubtedly have their own websites, and you may find information here that will help you in getting the experience you need. Be prepared to do anything to get to where you want to be – even if it involves nothing more exciting than making the tea. Many people in all manner of positions in the industry started out in such jobs on work experience, before progressing to become runners. You never know where any opportunity will end up taking you.
You can probably start to see now where determination can get you. Without it you will find the whole affair far too difficult and challenging to carry on with. If you are determined about having a career in production you need to explore all avenues open to you – and even the ones that aren’t! It might pay to make connections wherever you can as well. If you are able to get a job as a runner at the end of your work experience, you can start learning more about how things work on the inside. This in turn could lead to new opportunities in the future as well. You could look back on this and smile at where you started.
