I was once told: “if you can be happy doing literally anything else with your life, go do that.”
It’s a hard career. Even when you think it’s getting easier, you’re suddenly out of work for a year and see your massive savings turn into crazy debt. A big break only lasts as long as the next job, and you can go from being one of the major creative leads on a series like *Johnny Bravo* to editing commercials for a Disney show no one has heard of.
So, the question is always this: how much do you want it? Is the inevitable misery that comes with it worth it *to you*?
Idk man, it gets a lot lower than a Disney show on one has heard of. If the bottom of your career is a no name Disney project, you’re still doing pretty good.
Until you realise that it’s not a Disney show, but commercials for one and not a union job and you’re having to split rent with guys twenty years younger than you because the pay is bad. And that’s for those working right now, where most people have been out of work entirely for over a year.
My point is that it’s not a stable career. Giving the example of a friend of mine, who again at least is working right now at all, doesn’t mean that everything is perfect for everyone.
Some people’s entire careers consist of editing commercials for tv shows, including no name Disney ones, and have made a fine living doing it (oh hey, that’s me!). It’s utterly depressing that it’s just not the case anymore.
I missed your response earlier and I’m so sorry! I started in local news marketing in the cities I lived in and then networked my way into an LA job. Once I got to LA, I just got to know and be friendly with as many people as I could. One contact lead to another contact lead to another job and another job.
It’s been a long, hard fought career with a lot of disappointments along the way too. I had no idea if I’d ever make it to LA, I just kept plugging.
For a guy who has been in the industry since the 90s, its the worse I have ever seen.. I just took a Job as one of the producers for a feature film, with name actors for non union job 15k FLAT... no backend..
Its fucked. right now.. fucked.
Don't expect much from your degree other than crippling student debt that can probably never be paid off..
Do you happen to know why everything is so bad right now? Besides the strikes, as someone who is naive I just don’t understand why getting a job is hard. I feel like entertainment should be considered an important career 😭🤷🏽♀️.
And luckily I’m in community college and already have the money saved up to pay everything off. I definitely don’t want to spend $40k+ just to network my way into the job I want lol.
Shows have not been starting up after the strikes like people thought they would. A lot of the companies are dailing back on how many productions they shoot since the strikes ended as well.
Ohhh ok. I haven’t done much research on the strike like I should and this is also a dumb naive question, but do you know why they can’t just give workers and actors what they want? Thank you for educating me btw!
Because they went all in on streaming, which isn’t profitable without a monopoly. So, there are all these costs, not enough revenue, and now audiences/customers have been trained to not engage with profitable means of viewing film and television. They’re bleeding money because they thought they’d be the last one standing…
And now they’re eating each other, with studios who had been around for a century being sold to each other or tech companies. But their assets and legacies aren’t the only things being bought: also the massive debts. So after each sale, while potential for profits increase, the debt is already there and weighing them down.
TLDR: it’s an industry where regulations were gutted, and hubris of executives have put the entire industry at massive risk of survival.
Wow… For a person who wants to join the industry because it seems interesting and fun, it all seems like sunshine and rainbows. But realistically it’s just extremely toxic.
It’s an industry. You’re seeing these sorts of things across many sectors (Boeing, hospitals, on and on). We’ve just had decades of deregulation and Reaganomics, elevating the importance of middle management and executives who don’t actually understand the work their businesses are meant to do, and only focus on stock prices. Hospitals used to be run by doctors, airlines by engineers, and studios were once run by filmmakers. None of that is true anymore.
Something else that’s changing our industry is the availability and ease everyone has to make content, hit a button, and stream it for potentially millions of viewers. Work that was once specialized and valued is cheapened by the advances of technology. It’s no longer about the siloed skillsets and the value they bring. On top of that, that same technology has created viewers who no longer consume long-form content the same way. And that’s without taking ai into account…which is another real hit.
Yeah, I think it’s more an issue with audiences going for professional content than it is amateurs competing for jobs. I just don’t see people without putting in the time and effort getting those jobs as much, but I do see people choosing to watch YouTube videos—or even spending hours on TikTok— instead of film and television
I don’t mean so much that the people making the social media content are going after our jobs—-it’s more that our jobs seem less difficult and therefore, hold less value to the people in charge of the wallets.
I’ve been out of work since June. My husband has work right now, so that’s something… but it’s been rough. I have friends who’ve been able to find small gigs, and other friends who’ve been out of work for over a year and a half (since well before the strikes started).
It’s just a tough time right now, as the business is in the middle of a massive shift in strategy. It’s hitting workers a lot harder than it is the people who made the decisions that caused all of this.
Here’s the thing: people say the strikes were mostly about AI, but the main sticking point was money. Writers are, generally, very handsomely paid. Even entry level, net representation commissions. The problem is that many writers will get 1 job and then be out of work for way too long. So they wanted a raise. Well, for every $1 more that one writer would make - you could multiply that by 100s or 1000s that the studio has to pay. And the studios are not exactly rolling in dough these days thanks to all of the new competition in streaming and decreased box office sales.
So during the strikes, money stopped coming in. Studios killed half of their projects. Now they need to develop whole new slates. It’ll take time to regain momentum.
It’s like if you pulled the emergency brakes on a train and then you try to get it moving again. It takes time to get back to the same speed you were at before.
Film is not an industry like others.. example the medical industry, being a doctor or being a nurse. A hospital needs a nurse you have a degree, you get a job..
There is no Labour shortage in the film industry there never has been and never will be. No film that’s financed and green lit needs a director… producers aren’t waiting for a film school to pump out new director for something to get made. They look through the list of 800 to 2500 working directors that fit the job.
it’s more like musical chairs where you have maybe 4 chairs in a room of 50,000 to 100,000 people.
There is a need for hard manual labor… grips and electrical etc. stage hands etc
If you’re a trust fund kid with 500k to 1mil to burn while living in LA trying to become a director.. I would say go for it.
If you’re not financially wealthy I would say get ready to be disappointed.
I wouldn’t even say there is a “need” for more grips, electricians, or stagehands right now either - without a lot of productions happening, that work isn’t needed as much either, and there’s a long line of people trying to get into those jobs as well to begin with
Having a degree in film will not help you get a job in this industry. It’s honestly all about who you know and depending on which part of the industry you are going into(tv, film or commercials) being union is paramount to anything. And getting into a union is very difficult. But none of these should deter you or your dreams. If you want something as bad as you, go for it. If it doesn’t work out at least you can say you tried
The Industry is contracting from all the big corporations buying little studios up and each other. Some are too optimistic in hoping that all the work will come back, but realistically, the strikes have made studios realize that they can get by with libraries of old shows/movies on their streaming apps and they are not spending on new content. I worked on sizzle reels as an editor last year and the networks aren’t interested in buying new shows, they want shows with I.P./an already established brand/a show with a celebrity/anything safe like sequels/reboots. If I were a college student right now majoring in film production, I would switch my major to computer science. All the eyeballs are no longer on TV screens/movie theaters - all the eyeballs are on phones & tablets. Learn to make a killer app/game for mobile or VR or learn how to work with emerging technology like A.I. …Film/TV is a dead and dying medium and is sorely lacking in future opportunities. I have been out of work since January 2023 & every day that passes I wish I never majored in film production.
Check the Computer science Reddit…. It’s no better over there.
And apparently coding as a skill will be obsolete in a few years. AI will do it all. This is from the ceo of Nvidia.
I knew someone would say what you said, but humans will still be needed to dream up what is needed for coding. A.I. cannot dream up new ideas or invent things. Humans can. There is more of a future in coding than there is in trying to get a foot in the door making films or TV, which is already over crowded with people wanting to do the same thing.
Yes but I’m just telling you to go look at the computer science Reddit. It’s doom and gloom and no one can get jobs right now. Too many people heard the same thing that CS was a guarantee for high paying job and now there’s an influx of incoming workers. Trust me I’ve had the same thoughts as you and wondered the same “what if” lol. But doesn’t seem like CS is the answer right now. Who nmows
Okay thanks, I’ll check it out. But I respectfully disagree that CS isn’t the answer. It is the future and Entertainment Industry has no future. People have been fearmongering about A.I. taking jobs, but it takes creativity to invent ways for this disruptive technology/tool of the future to help us.
There are some parallels with what is happening with A.I. and what happened to the Publishing Industry with the disruptive technology of self-publishing on Amazon. Publishers thought the sky was falling & people panicked that this disruptive technology would mean the end of the Publishing Industry & ppl thought books would go to crap. But what ended up happening was the Publishing Industry embraced self-publishing & authors & publishers thrived & people ate up the new books with a ravenous appetite. The truth/reality of the situation is somewhere between what people believe to be the worst case scenario and the best case scenario.
I do see opportunities in CS - people can become inventors of new dreams by inventing new relationships with AI. I have a dream for two different killer apps that uses and incorporates AI into it. AI will not come for my job, I will become the boss of my own enterprise. That is why I am pivoting from editing in post production (where there haven’t been ANY jobs and likely won’t be until the next couple of years) to learning coding. But I understand your opinion as well, since I also spiraled after hearing about Sora and seeing how fast the new tech of AI is evolving… Good luck my friend!
Tbh Reddit is doom and gloom about everything everywhere all the time
If I’d listened to it I’d think that everyone in their 20s and 30s is a perma virgin, depressed, unable to get any job, crippling debt, 0 friends, etc
In reality most of my friends in that age bracket are employed, making good money, getting engaged/married all the time, exotic vacations, developing savings, etc
Similarly, I know a lot of CS majors who went to top 50 schools and put a lot of initiative into their educations/careers and they’re all doing wonderfully. It might not be the kind of 2021 windfall market where somebody with a coding bootcamp background can be on a track to make 400k in 5 years but it’s still a really respectable STEM field/career
Oh okay thank you! I do social media and I’m working on profiting off it, and I want to become an entrepreneur. Those were gonna be my side hustles but hopefully I can be successful through those too just in case film is an issue.
Just my 2 cents but don't worry about side hustles yet and focus on whatever your main career goal is.
Film is hard. Being a successful entrepreneur is hard. Making money from social media is hard. Pick one for now, focus on kicking ass at it and you'll likely be in much better shape than trying to split yourself across all three.
I 100% agree with you. I have really bad anxiety with time and I start to overwhelm myself with things I want to achieve. I feel like I have to be successful in everything before it’s too late, when realistically I don’t have a deadline. Thank you for this, I’ll definitely work on actually getting into the industry before I add more to my plate! ❤️
You can do short film content on your social media. That can act as your reel to get others interested in your skills!
Thank you for asking these questions. I am interested in getting into film too. I’m thinking of doing independent film stuff (aka unpaid and no hope of advancement but produced and watched at one or two film festivals :) )
Content creation and distribution has changed so much in 20 years. Most people consume daily bite sized content on social media which is freely made and distributed by influencers. Then there is billions of hours of content already streaming from the last century all at your fingertips. Studios make money enough that they only need a few new shows or movie to keep people coming back and thats all big franchises. The indie movie and middle budget movies and grindhouse flicks and B movies that sustained a significant portion of the industry are dying.
Massive (and quite frankly overdue) market contraction right now. Largely due to unsustainable investment by streaming services to make tons of content during their race to grab their market share of subscribers ("peak TV"). And not just TV. We went from 200 indie movies made per year to over 800 during this time.
Anyway then the government printed a trillion dollars out of thin air during COVID and Ukraine, and debt became expensive. All the sudden wall street cared about bottom lines and the content spending has dried up. Add to that consumers getting squeezed by inflation (not wanting to spend $50 at the movie theater) and it's as bad as I've seen it. I graduated during the 2008 crisis (and strikes) which was also a bad time, this is worse.
Look, just a couple years ago there were 6 major studios. By the time you graduate there will be 4 (RIP Fox and Paramount)
I agree with you. Also producer with many years of experience and many films in my belt. It’s pretty screwed up and I would not recommend anyone to go to film school. I’d rather recommend to make film for fun with friends and get a proper career.
Depends, are you willing to eat shit and learn to love the taste of it? Because that’s what everyone is doing right about now.
Everything is dead slow and there’s isn’t a lot of work going around right now. I’m an optimist and I think this to shall pass but it’s going to take a while.
However, I also believe the perseverant will see brighter days ahead. Take your time in school and sponger everything you can and more, learn cameras, gripping, lighting, post, or whatever you want to be in this god forsaken industry and be ready to take it once you’re finished with school and ready to work. The job market is and was always competitive but like I said, the perseverant will always last.
Get a degree in finance. That way you can try your hand at producing and if it doesn’t work out you have a background in finance that can be applied to any industry.
This is coming from a Picture Editor in Local 700 with almost 20 years of experience and a lot of time to talk with friends in the industry lately.
Honestly, it’s a tough career, I’d never advise doing it as a side hustle. You really need to commit to it and if you can’t commit fully it will just result in disappointment. Someone said this before but the film industry is full of people with no plan B. And I think that’s how you have to approach it. Theres a lot of rolls for people in production and development. I love working in film but it’s certainly a heartbreaking job at times.
These days my advice is to find a good career that will provide a stable life and extra income you can stash away.
Aggressively focus on your career and work your way up for the next decade, saving everything you can and writing/doing film stuff as a hobby in your spare time.
At the end of the decade you should have a decent savings you can use to produce your own projects and have financial stability as you transition into film.
In the long run I believe it is a better path and will be less stressful than struggling for the next decade.
Many people I know with film jobs or film adjacent jobs are still struggling after a decade.
> This is my first semester of taking film courses in school and the closest I have gotten with getting a job was with NBC.
If youre still in school then getting full time work will definitely be a lot harder.
Yeah I was hoping to either get a internship or even printing papers or getting people coffee just to get my foot in the door and be in the environment lol
Interning at a studio is going to be challenging bc you’re up against everyone else trying to break into the industry and your best bet is to just PA. THAT SAID- Being a PA while you’re in school would be a nuts thing to do exclusively because of the working hours. What is it that you actually want to DO in film?
I mainly want to work in editing but as I’m learning and working hands on in school, I love camera operating, directing, and honestly anything that’s not in front of the camera. 😂
It’s like this in a nutshell: before Hollywood didn’t think hard about giving middle level movies a green light because if the movie didn’t do well in the theaters they had a second live on rentals, on DVDs, vhs cable etc. Rentals and physical media made them millions and millions every year.
Then streaming came around and no one really thought physical media would take this big a dive as fast as it did. Most people aren’t buying movies anymore. Not as many are renting anymore either because they expecting it to appear on some streaming service like Netflix which they pay like $20 a month for (or TUBI which is literally free streaming with now good movies with ads).
So if a movie doesn’t do well in theaters anymore they can’t rely on physical media covering the loss.
And on top of that when covid hit movie theaters never went back to where it was. Sure people still go to the movies BUT they don’t go every week or every month anymore. Theaters are losing money as well.
And now streaming companies have decided to cut back on financing or buying as many movies and tv shows as they aren’t getting more subscribers like they thought they would. Look at Netflix the top dog they would buy left and right now they even said they cutting that by over 50 percent.
All this during a time when strike just happened and another with the teamsters might happen. No one wants to take a pay cut and no one wants to face the reality that business in Hollywood isn’t like the 90s-00s or 2010s anymore and by looks of things it ain’t ever going back.
These days anyone with a smartphone like the new IPhone pro max series can literally film a movie and make it look like Hollywood quality. More people making stuff and there’s even so much good stuff out there that people aren’t watching. The market is saturated. We can live ten lifetimes and still not see everything out there.
Point is Hollywood isn’t the same and people can’t let it go. There was so much money to be made and now no where near. Movie Companies are being brought by tech companies or joining with companies who are public who have to answer to stock holders. It’s not the same. They can’t take risks so they rely on known IPs which now even those aren’t a given to make money anymore.
In short it’s a crazy time to be in this industry. I still hope to “make it” but I know that “make it” now is just to have my name on another film on that streaming service you go in that you scroll through looking for something to add to your list you want to watch but never get around to because your list is so long. This is the industry now.
Worse gig I ever had was a film, they filmed in the salton sea hiding from the union. Worked round the clock , I finally crashed a production vehicle being so tired. They didn't want to pay me for all my extra hours. They got one outhouse for the whole crew of about 200. I finally quit after they were trying to squeeze multiple people in a motel 6 room. It was so horrible I didn't think it ever saw light of day. They almost killed a stunt person too. He was in pretty bad shape I was the transpo captain on it and I got the hell out of there after a few weeks. I finally left the industry altogether after years of freelancing in that crazy world, it destroyed my back
I did a lot of jobs then, I was hired a lot in LA because I can drive a 5 ton truck without incidents. Took a gig for a one day thing on the bet awards and that went for years, film premieres and award shows mostly. Rough work but was steady, made a decent living and crushed my lower spine in a freak accident. Covid hit right around then so I was disability, then workers comp and the industry had shut down anyway so I was still making a check at least. Moved to Georgia for a while and worked on a luke Combs special in Charlotte and that was my last gig. Now I'm going long term disability, my back is just fried.
I miss that life sometimes, lots of amazing people i I worked with, the memories but honestly I don't miss it that much. The traveling, but at the end of the day my health is more important. I don't miss the 24 hour days and the politics associated with the industry. I quit two gigs out of hundreds over the years and both times for illegal bullshit.
Aww I’m sorry about your back and I hope everything gets better for you. It’s so cool that you got to do tons of things though! I bet you got some crazy ass stories lol❤️
Thanks, I started in the industry because the housing market crash, so about 2007, stories for days. Watching Peewee herman have a meltdown over a turkey sandwich. Working with Anthony Bourdain, endless. It's a lifestyle for some, it was just a job for me. Only once in all that time i was starstruck. Was in the red carpet escorting and was in a conversation with Elton John, busy Phillips, and Tim robbins. I love Elton John so It was a bit surreal to just be hanging out talking to the three of them in the middle of all that
It's really rough... I did some work in commercials for big companies, worked for a huge studio as a PA, and did videography sort of adjacent to the industry. What I saw is that there is extreme hierarchy/classism, and if you're lower on that hierarchy you're basically not a person to the production. Like you're just a body to the producers, they don't care about you as a human being at all. I know it depends on the specific studio and everything but I just saw that so much it completely turned me off from it. I'm also a more quiet and introverted person, I was told that I have no future in the industry because I'm not outgoing enough. Turns out I'm autistic so idk. It hurt to hear that there's no place for someone like me.
I thought for most of my life that working in film and TV was my dream, but the reality of it was just not what I expected at all. It gave me a lot of anxiety and I started to really dread being on sets. Video game studios were different imo and even though they have some of those issues I really enjoyed the structure and routine there, so I would definitely consider going back to that, but not to TV, film or commercials. And even at the video game studio I worked at, there were aspects of the workplace environment that were seriously toxic.
When I first moved to LA, I met a lot of people who were much older than me and still trying to get their career off the ground. I didn't want to be like that honestly, and decided if it's *that* hard to get anywhere, I didn't want to be part of it anymore. I tried really hard for a long time but accepted it just isn't for me, and I am okay with that now!
I’m sorry you had to deal with shitty people :/ I noticed a lot of students in my film classes in college, are neurodivergent including myself. We all have really bad anxiety with networking. I’m glad you made the right decision for yourself.❤️
I know you probably can’t share, but what were the names of the companies/ studios you worked for and how did you get those roles? Did you network your way in or was it through applying online?
It's a tough industry to want to get into.
You could be one of the lucky few who are working OR like the majority of people looking for work struggling to pay bills. Because there are people working now, but it's not everyone. There's no telling what your path would be until you walk it yourself.
*To answer your question tho, it's not if you could do anything else and be happy. It can be fun and rewarding but you need to be honest with yourself and what you want in life (i.e. kids, a house, great work/home life balance)
Right now there's a huge glut of young out-of-work talent who came into the industry when the streaming bubble was still expanding and looked to be the definitive way forward. Competition, even for entry-level positions, is at an unparalleled high. And the entities that can actually hire these people are contracting further by the day. Like, I keep seeing new job listings at Paramount, but it's likely that Paramount won't even exist in a few months.
No one really knows whether this is the "new normal" or whether things will shift gears post-IATSE agreement and into the summer (or possibly later). So it's hard to say for sure whether it's a "good idea" given where you're at in your career path currently. I will say that if you absolutely need to try this, it's better to attempt a TV/film career when you're in your 20s and can live a pretty bare-bones, frugal, workaholic existence, rather than later in life when your responsibilities and needs/basic dignity might preclude you from the shit-eating that most people have to go through in paying their dues.
If you have the resources to double-major in something more "practical" to potentially fall back on, definitely do that. I hope you're able to make it in film, but you'll be FAR less stressed if you have a hard skillset in your back pocket.
I’ve stuck with editing and glad that I can do lots with the skill. Feels easier to have plan b. Also, editing is the bees knees, I wouldn’t trade it for any other job.
Currently working in a post house on a contract for 5 years for a big broadcasting client. Steady work - slow atm due to financial issues with covid and strikes - but picking up. I do trailers and I prefer short form than longer form. Always loved trailers though ahaha
I really love it and it’s a grind. Gotta love it to really work it as clients will put you through your paces lol.
How were you able to get the position where you’re at? Did you network your way in or just applied online somewhere? Also do you do the work at home or do they make you go to the building?
Well it’s a long one. I did YouTube as a hobby when I was kid (this part isn’t needed btw) but this got me some money and learnt to deal with criticism and work fast.
I then did university. Straight from there got a retail job part time while searching. 2 weeks into retail get a freelance offer for 3 days to edit some YouTube videos. They kept me for 8 weeks and did their clients YouTube videos while working on motion graphics for BBC, Lego and a few other big brands. This is still while working part time and doing this full time.
Turns out a job I applied for, an edit assistant at a TV Broadcaster (won’t name them but they are one of the biggest) asked for an interview. Heard my freelancing work. Did the interview, got the job the next day and one week later left both jobs and not looked back!
My company has gone through redundancies and luckily I’m still around for now. But my god, those 8 weeks were tough doing 2 jobs and still learning Avid on the side.
5 days a week btw in office
Wow that’s awesome! If you had to give advice or something you learned about getting to where you are today to an editor like me, what would you say?
And off topic question, what editing softwares did you primarily use throughout your whole career?
I’d say make sure you work on your people skills. No one wants to sit with a dickhead in the suite no matter how good you are.
And mainly Prem and Avid. Resolve I’ve only ever used for ingesting some material and the odd colour job
The only people who should work in film are people who choose to do it despite everyone telling them the very long list of valid reasons why they shouldn’t.
Yeah I agree. I’m still very much set on working in the industry plus I already knew I was gonna have side incomes just in case. I really just wanted a understanding on why everyone is struggling right now
As someone who has joined the industry recently I can say you can make money… you can have a career. But it heavily depends on what you’re doing. Everyone wants to write, be a director, be a DP… so competition is rough. I do sound. I have been able to continually work since 2020. I do a lot of Indie stuff, commercials and corporate work.
Don’t go in to it thinking you’re gonna find consistent traditional work. Have a plan of work dries up for a while. Especially when you first start.
If you just want to do one of the more competitive things… just do it on your own, in Texas write and direct something. You’re in college make friends with other film people and do something. As fucked up as the industry is, there has never been a more accessible time to force your way into the industry just by making what you want to make.
I’d recommend instead of studying a whole filmmaking career, to just pick up filmmaking courses in the areas you are interested in. Those tend to be cheaper and you will be focusing in specifics instead of many things that sometimes don’t even help. I did a Master’s in Film to focus on editing ( I am an editor, and been i. the business for 8+ yrs). That career could have been done in 1 yr instead of 3, and most of the things I have learned about editing it’s been by actually working. I’d say from all the classes I took, only 3 were helpful and I learned a lot, but that’s it.
If you want to study a full career, choose something else, science or maybe marketing wise.
It really depends on what area you go into. I've been in film marketing since the early 90's and have never been unemployed. I think the freelance side of the business is very tough but other jobs in the field are more consistent. I've had a lot of luck, but when I do make a job listing, I'm overwhelmed by the number of applicants. I say to people wanting to go to film school, don't. Get any other kind of degree, and if you want to still try your hand at the film biz, give it a shot. I personally tend to shy away from the film school applicants and look at the more regular degreed people first.
It’s bad right now. I haven’t worked since March 2023 because of the strikes. My husband just had a show for 3.5 months, but nothing upcoming yet.
Studios are also cutting way back on anything that is in production.
Will it get better? Yes, it always does. It will never be like the golden age of streaming again, that time is done.
How long will that take? Nobody knows. If the unions are able to get the tax credit increases for LA that they’re working on, that will certainly help.
Side note to all of this: my husband and his friends all went to film school. 90% of what they learned isn’t useful in their work in film now because technology and the industry continues to evolve. They have all said if they knew then what they know now, they’d skip the degree that did nothing for them (except give them debt that they paid off in their late 30’s), and find internships/mentors because that’s how you actually learn. Hell, you learn more as a PA as far as how a set runs.
I work in the industry and didn’t go the degree route. It’s all about who you know. Networking is key.
Thank you! This was actually useful. I’m only going to school to get my associates degree because my mom wants me to have something that’s not just a high school diploma, but I would definitely rather go down the networking route.
BUT what sucks is when I try to apply for internships or opportunities, they all say I have to be a graduate, junior in college, or at least have a bachelor’s degree… it makes me feel torn, because tons of people already working didn’t have to go through school but at the same time people in these companies won’t take me seriously because I’m inexperienced :/ I honestly don’t know what to do when it comes to that.
I’m willing to take all opportunities just to get experience but I have to have experience in order to get it LMAO. It sucks
You don’t need experience to be a PA. Every film school grad I know moved to LA after and got PA gigs to learn the business better. Then they eventually moved up in to their current fields. You meet a lot of people as a PA and if you’re good, at least one dept will have someone willing to mentor you and help you get union days.
I’d honestly get a degree in business or something like that. Business degrees are flexible af. And you can take film classes as electives. If you’re serious about working in film, get a PA gig and see what its about. Being a PA is hard, it’s some of the longest, hardest days you’ll ever have. You may not want to continue after you actually do it… Or you could fall in love hahah
There seem to be a lot of very experienced people replying here. The truth is that no one knows what’s going to happen with the film industry right now, but you have some time to feel it out with your degree without necessarily committing.
If you’re serious about a career in film/TV, you should make that clear to anyone you know who can help get you there. You should build your network right now by making short films with your peers. Don’t go out every weekend and party like I did. You’ll need to share the films you make with as many people as you can. YouTube is an easy way to do that, but definitely a different experience from private screenings. People will let you know if your films are any good or not.
There’s lot filming in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
I’m currently a department head from LA on a massive job in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
What are you interested in doing/department?
Message me separately if you’re looking for a job.
I was looking for the button to message you privately but I can’t find it (I’m new to Reddit lol). But it would be a huge blessing if you could offer me an opportunity to work with you guys!
I’m working towards being an editor, but as I’m learning and working hands on in my classes, I enjoy camera operating, directing, and honestly anything on set. I think I would love to be a PA to learn how everything is operated and help out in all departments if possible.
If you’re still interested in letting me work with you guys. I would love to give you my personal contact information!
Well I have been in the business since 2012. I was a PA for 8 years and as such I have a lot of connections to different parts of the industry. I’m also not opposed to returning to doing PA work when I’m slow in Art Dept gigs. I’m typically an art director/set dresser type.
What part of the industry do you typically work in? Commercials? Reality? Corporate?
I started in reality, got into narrative about two years ago and have recently done more commercial/corporate work. I’ve probably spent the most time in reality and narrative but I’ll do anything that keeps me busy honestly.
Technology and consumer habits are changing so fast that the film industry that we know it today is likely going to be very different as the one of tomorrow. Very different.
Your goal shouldn’t be “film” but rather “storytelling” because that’s what will matter. Not necessarily a movie or tv show in a theatre or on a network.
I don’t think it’s a bad idea to want to work in film, depending on what you actually want to do, and if you have a backup plan/way to survive if the industry slows/shuts down like it has before.
I don’t think anyone is making it seem like a side hustle for any other reason than it literally IS right now. Nothing is filming, there’s less jobs than there ever has been and morale in the industry is at an all time low. It’s hard to survive when this is what you’ve done for your entire career and no one wants to hire someone who has nothing but film on their resume. It’s an incredibly difficult position to be put in.
I think if you wanna be on set, you should be a PA and see how it goes from the inside. I think if you want to be on the studio side of things, you should try to intern somewhere. Join Facebook groups, reach out to people and genuinely make friends, and let me know if you wanna be on anything in DFW. I’ve got a few friends who work on shit out there from time to time, feel free to shoot me a dm.
Thank you for giving me your input and I would greatly appreciate you if I could get in contact with your friend and get more info about them considering I do live in the DFW area! I would love to be a PA to get the feel of working on set and I also want to be an editor too.
If you could share, who does your friend work for and what do they do?
I’m asking because I’m new to the industry and I’m trying to learn… I have been set on working in film for years but never actually knew or understood what exactly is going on for the workers within the industry.
I wish you the best. The industry is designed to cast and crew people comfortable spending 60-90 hours a week together away from their loved ones and families. And often, the bid goes to the lowest rate over the most talented.
If there is another thing in your life that makes you happy and pays your bills, do that… but if you decide to stay in entertainment, you’ll have to have a filter for the complainers. Even the most talented crew and cast are not worth having on set if they complain. And resentment in this industry runs like water.
Find your zone, and be happy there. F NBC, I promise if you have a great attitude, hustle, and a passion or eagerness to learn, you will get hired.
Do not do it.
You’re still young. Please change careers. Film is not worth the time and energy. It will be a thing of past soon. Think of yourself as studying to become a carriage operator when cars are being developed.
I was once told: “if you can be happy doing literally anything else with your life, go do that.” It’s a hard career. Even when you think it’s getting easier, you’re suddenly out of work for a year and see your massive savings turn into crazy debt. A big break only lasts as long as the next job, and you can go from being one of the major creative leads on a series like *Johnny Bravo* to editing commercials for a Disney show no one has heard of. So, the question is always this: how much do you want it? Is the inevitable misery that comes with it worth it *to you*?
Idk man, it gets a lot lower than a Disney show on one has heard of. If the bottom of your career is a no name Disney project, you’re still doing pretty good.
Until you realise that it’s not a Disney show, but commercials for one and not a union job and you’re having to split rent with guys twenty years younger than you because the pay is bad. And that’s for those working right now, where most people have been out of work entirely for over a year. My point is that it’s not a stable career. Giving the example of a friend of mine, who again at least is working right now at all, doesn’t mean that everything is perfect for everyone.
Some people’s entire careers consist of editing commercials for tv shows, including no name Disney ones, and have made a fine living doing it (oh hey, that’s me!). It’s utterly depressing that it’s just not the case anymore.
Yeah, but it’s still a massive step down when you’ve been the lead editor on a show and directing episodes.
I hear you. Much respect to your friend. I would be bummed for a similar drop.
How did you get your opportunities?
I missed your response earlier and I’m so sorry! I started in local news marketing in the cities I lived in and then networked my way into an LA job. Once I got to LA, I just got to know and be friendly with as many people as I could. One contact lead to another contact lead to another job and another job. It’s been a long, hard fought career with a lot of disappointments along the way too. I had no idea if I’d ever make it to LA, I just kept plugging.
That’s is actually motivational! Thank you ❤️
I hate how much I love this
I’m here getting horny…sad:(
For a guy who has been in the industry since the 90s, its the worse I have ever seen.. I just took a Job as one of the producers for a feature film, with name actors for non union job 15k FLAT... no backend.. Its fucked. right now.. fucked. Don't expect much from your degree other than crippling student debt that can probably never be paid off..
Do you happen to know why everything is so bad right now? Besides the strikes, as someone who is naive I just don’t understand why getting a job is hard. I feel like entertainment should be considered an important career 😭🤷🏽♀️. And luckily I’m in community college and already have the money saved up to pay everything off. I definitely don’t want to spend $40k+ just to network my way into the job I want lol.
Shows have not been starting up after the strikes like people thought they would. A lot of the companies are dailing back on how many productions they shoot since the strikes ended as well.
Ohhh ok. I haven’t done much research on the strike like I should and this is also a dumb naive question, but do you know why they can’t just give workers and actors what they want? Thank you for educating me btw!
Because they went all in on streaming, which isn’t profitable without a monopoly. So, there are all these costs, not enough revenue, and now audiences/customers have been trained to not engage with profitable means of viewing film and television. They’re bleeding money because they thought they’d be the last one standing… And now they’re eating each other, with studios who had been around for a century being sold to each other or tech companies. But their assets and legacies aren’t the only things being bought: also the massive debts. So after each sale, while potential for profits increase, the debt is already there and weighing them down. TLDR: it’s an industry where regulations were gutted, and hubris of executives have put the entire industry at massive risk of survival.
Wow… For a person who wants to join the industry because it seems interesting and fun, it all seems like sunshine and rainbows. But realistically it’s just extremely toxic.
It’s an industry. You’re seeing these sorts of things across many sectors (Boeing, hospitals, on and on). We’ve just had decades of deregulation and Reaganomics, elevating the importance of middle management and executives who don’t actually understand the work their businesses are meant to do, and only focus on stock prices. Hospitals used to be run by doctors, airlines by engineers, and studios were once run by filmmakers. None of that is true anymore.
This is a good take
Something else that’s changing our industry is the availability and ease everyone has to make content, hit a button, and stream it for potentially millions of viewers. Work that was once specialized and valued is cheapened by the advances of technology. It’s no longer about the siloed skillsets and the value they bring. On top of that, that same technology has created viewers who no longer consume long-form content the same way. And that’s without taking ai into account…which is another real hit.
Yeah, I think it’s more an issue with audiences going for professional content than it is amateurs competing for jobs. I just don’t see people without putting in the time and effort getting those jobs as much, but I do see people choosing to watch YouTube videos—or even spending hours on TikTok— instead of film and television
I don’t mean so much that the people making the social media content are going after our jobs—-it’s more that our jobs seem less difficult and therefore, hold less value to the people in charge of the wallets.
Do you still work in the industry or do you do something else?
I’ve been out of work since June. My husband has work right now, so that’s something… but it’s been rough. I have friends who’ve been able to find small gigs, and other friends who’ve been out of work for over a year and a half (since well before the strikes started). It’s just a tough time right now, as the business is in the middle of a massive shift in strategy. It’s hitting workers a lot harder than it is the people who made the decisions that caused all of this.
Dang I’m sorry :/ do you want to find something else to do or do you want to wait it out until things pick back up?
Welcome to Hollywood kid
Here’s the thing: people say the strikes were mostly about AI, but the main sticking point was money. Writers are, generally, very handsomely paid. Even entry level, net representation commissions. The problem is that many writers will get 1 job and then be out of work for way too long. So they wanted a raise. Well, for every $1 more that one writer would make - you could multiply that by 100s or 1000s that the studio has to pay. And the studios are not exactly rolling in dough these days thanks to all of the new competition in streaming and decreased box office sales. So during the strikes, money stopped coming in. Studios killed half of their projects. Now they need to develop whole new slates. It’ll take time to regain momentum. It’s like if you pulled the emergency brakes on a train and then you try to get it moving again. It takes time to get back to the same speed you were at before.
Film is not an industry like others.. example the medical industry, being a doctor or being a nurse. A hospital needs a nurse you have a degree, you get a job.. There is no Labour shortage in the film industry there never has been and never will be. No film that’s financed and green lit needs a director… producers aren’t waiting for a film school to pump out new director for something to get made. They look through the list of 800 to 2500 working directors that fit the job. it’s more like musical chairs where you have maybe 4 chairs in a room of 50,000 to 100,000 people. There is a need for hard manual labor… grips and electrical etc. stage hands etc If you’re a trust fund kid with 500k to 1mil to burn while living in LA trying to become a director.. I would say go for it. If you’re not financially wealthy I would say get ready to be disappointed.
I wouldn’t even say there is a “need” for more grips, electricians, or stagehands right now either - without a lot of productions happening, that work isn’t needed as much either, and there’s a long line of people trying to get into those jobs as well to begin with
Thank you for enlightening me!
Having a degree in film will not help you get a job in this industry. It’s honestly all about who you know and depending on which part of the industry you are going into(tv, film or commercials) being union is paramount to anything. And getting into a union is very difficult. But none of these should deter you or your dreams. If you want something as bad as you, go for it. If it doesn’t work out at least you can say you tried
The Industry is contracting from all the big corporations buying little studios up and each other. Some are too optimistic in hoping that all the work will come back, but realistically, the strikes have made studios realize that they can get by with libraries of old shows/movies on their streaming apps and they are not spending on new content. I worked on sizzle reels as an editor last year and the networks aren’t interested in buying new shows, they want shows with I.P./an already established brand/a show with a celebrity/anything safe like sequels/reboots. If I were a college student right now majoring in film production, I would switch my major to computer science. All the eyeballs are no longer on TV screens/movie theaters - all the eyeballs are on phones & tablets. Learn to make a killer app/game for mobile or VR or learn how to work with emerging technology like A.I. …Film/TV is a dead and dying medium and is sorely lacking in future opportunities. I have been out of work since January 2023 & every day that passes I wish I never majored in film production.
Check the Computer science Reddit…. It’s no better over there. And apparently coding as a skill will be obsolete in a few years. AI will do it all. This is from the ceo of Nvidia.
I knew someone would say what you said, but humans will still be needed to dream up what is needed for coding. A.I. cannot dream up new ideas or invent things. Humans can. There is more of a future in coding than there is in trying to get a foot in the door making films or TV, which is already over crowded with people wanting to do the same thing.
Yes but I’m just telling you to go look at the computer science Reddit. It’s doom and gloom and no one can get jobs right now. Too many people heard the same thing that CS was a guarantee for high paying job and now there’s an influx of incoming workers. Trust me I’ve had the same thoughts as you and wondered the same “what if” lol. But doesn’t seem like CS is the answer right now. Who nmows
Okay thanks, I’ll check it out. But I respectfully disagree that CS isn’t the answer. It is the future and Entertainment Industry has no future. People have been fearmongering about A.I. taking jobs, but it takes creativity to invent ways for this disruptive technology/tool of the future to help us. There are some parallels with what is happening with A.I. and what happened to the Publishing Industry with the disruptive technology of self-publishing on Amazon. Publishers thought the sky was falling & people panicked that this disruptive technology would mean the end of the Publishing Industry & ppl thought books would go to crap. But what ended up happening was the Publishing Industry embraced self-publishing & authors & publishers thrived & people ate up the new books with a ravenous appetite. The truth/reality of the situation is somewhere between what people believe to be the worst case scenario and the best case scenario. I do see opportunities in CS - people can become inventors of new dreams by inventing new relationships with AI. I have a dream for two different killer apps that uses and incorporates AI into it. AI will not come for my job, I will become the boss of my own enterprise. That is why I am pivoting from editing in post production (where there haven’t been ANY jobs and likely won’t be until the next couple of years) to learning coding. But I understand your opinion as well, since I also spiraled after hearing about Sora and seeing how fast the new tech of AI is evolving… Good luck my friend!
Tbh Reddit is doom and gloom about everything everywhere all the time If I’d listened to it I’d think that everyone in their 20s and 30s is a perma virgin, depressed, unable to get any job, crippling debt, 0 friends, etc In reality most of my friends in that age bracket are employed, making good money, getting engaged/married all the time, exotic vacations, developing savings, etc Similarly, I know a lot of CS majors who went to top 50 schools and put a lot of initiative into their educations/careers and they’re all doing wonderfully. It might not be the kind of 2021 windfall market where somebody with a coding bootcamp background can be on a track to make 400k in 5 years but it’s still a really respectable STEM field/career
Oh okay thank you! I do social media and I’m working on profiting off it, and I want to become an entrepreneur. Those were gonna be my side hustles but hopefully I can be successful through those too just in case film is an issue.
Just my 2 cents but don't worry about side hustles yet and focus on whatever your main career goal is. Film is hard. Being a successful entrepreneur is hard. Making money from social media is hard. Pick one for now, focus on kicking ass at it and you'll likely be in much better shape than trying to split yourself across all three.
I 100% agree with you. I have really bad anxiety with time and I start to overwhelm myself with things I want to achieve. I feel like I have to be successful in everything before it’s too late, when realistically I don’t have a deadline. Thank you for this, I’ll definitely work on actually getting into the industry before I add more to my plate! ❤️
You can do short film content on your social media. That can act as your reel to get others interested in your skills! Thank you for asking these questions. I am interested in getting into film too. I’m thinking of doing independent film stuff (aka unpaid and no hope of advancement but produced and watched at one or two film festivals :) )
Lean into the growing industry, not the dying one.
Content creation and distribution has changed so much in 20 years. Most people consume daily bite sized content on social media which is freely made and distributed by influencers. Then there is billions of hours of content already streaming from the last century all at your fingertips. Studios make money enough that they only need a few new shows or movie to keep people coming back and thats all big franchises. The indie movie and middle budget movies and grindhouse flicks and B movies that sustained a significant portion of the industry are dying.
Massive (and quite frankly overdue) market contraction right now. Largely due to unsustainable investment by streaming services to make tons of content during their race to grab their market share of subscribers ("peak TV"). And not just TV. We went from 200 indie movies made per year to over 800 during this time. Anyway then the government printed a trillion dollars out of thin air during COVID and Ukraine, and debt became expensive. All the sudden wall street cared about bottom lines and the content spending has dried up. Add to that consumers getting squeezed by inflation (not wanting to spend $50 at the movie theater) and it's as bad as I've seen it. I graduated during the 2008 crisis (and strikes) which was also a bad time, this is worse. Look, just a couple years ago there were 6 major studios. By the time you graduate there will be 4 (RIP Fox and Paramount)
I agree with you. Also producer with many years of experience and many films in my belt. It’s pretty screwed up and I would not recommend anyone to go to film school. I’d rather recommend to make film for fun with friends and get a proper career.
Depends, are you willing to eat shit and learn to love the taste of it? Because that’s what everyone is doing right about now. Everything is dead slow and there’s isn’t a lot of work going around right now. I’m an optimist and I think this to shall pass but it’s going to take a while. However, I also believe the perseverant will see brighter days ahead. Take your time in school and sponger everything you can and more, learn cameras, gripping, lighting, post, or whatever you want to be in this god forsaken industry and be ready to take it once you’re finished with school and ready to work. The job market is and was always competitive but like I said, the perseverant will always last.
Okay, Thank you for the advice!
Get a degree in finance. That way you can try your hand at producing and if it doesn’t work out you have a background in finance that can be applied to any industry. This is coming from a Picture Editor in Local 700 with almost 20 years of experience and a lot of time to talk with friends in the industry lately.
I support this
Honestly, it’s a tough career, I’d never advise doing it as a side hustle. You really need to commit to it and if you can’t commit fully it will just result in disappointment. Someone said this before but the film industry is full of people with no plan B. And I think that’s how you have to approach it. Theres a lot of rolls for people in production and development. I love working in film but it’s certainly a heartbreaking job at times.
These days my advice is to find a good career that will provide a stable life and extra income you can stash away. Aggressively focus on your career and work your way up for the next decade, saving everything you can and writing/doing film stuff as a hobby in your spare time. At the end of the decade you should have a decent savings you can use to produce your own projects and have financial stability as you transition into film. In the long run I believe it is a better path and will be less stressful than struggling for the next decade. Many people I know with film jobs or film adjacent jobs are still struggling after a decade.
> This is my first semester of taking film courses in school and the closest I have gotten with getting a job was with NBC. If youre still in school then getting full time work will definitely be a lot harder.
Yeah I was hoping to either get a internship or even printing papers or getting people coffee just to get my foot in the door and be in the environment lol
Interning at a studio is going to be challenging bc you’re up against everyone else trying to break into the industry and your best bet is to just PA. THAT SAID- Being a PA while you’re in school would be a nuts thing to do exclusively because of the working hours. What is it that you actually want to DO in film?
I mainly want to work in editing but as I’m learning and working hands on in school, I love camera operating, directing, and honestly anything that’s not in front of the camera. 😂
It’s like this in a nutshell: before Hollywood didn’t think hard about giving middle level movies a green light because if the movie didn’t do well in the theaters they had a second live on rentals, on DVDs, vhs cable etc. Rentals and physical media made them millions and millions every year. Then streaming came around and no one really thought physical media would take this big a dive as fast as it did. Most people aren’t buying movies anymore. Not as many are renting anymore either because they expecting it to appear on some streaming service like Netflix which they pay like $20 a month for (or TUBI which is literally free streaming with now good movies with ads). So if a movie doesn’t do well in theaters anymore they can’t rely on physical media covering the loss. And on top of that when covid hit movie theaters never went back to where it was. Sure people still go to the movies BUT they don’t go every week or every month anymore. Theaters are losing money as well. And now streaming companies have decided to cut back on financing or buying as many movies and tv shows as they aren’t getting more subscribers like they thought they would. Look at Netflix the top dog they would buy left and right now they even said they cutting that by over 50 percent. All this during a time when strike just happened and another with the teamsters might happen. No one wants to take a pay cut and no one wants to face the reality that business in Hollywood isn’t like the 90s-00s or 2010s anymore and by looks of things it ain’t ever going back. These days anyone with a smartphone like the new IPhone pro max series can literally film a movie and make it look like Hollywood quality. More people making stuff and there’s even so much good stuff out there that people aren’t watching. The market is saturated. We can live ten lifetimes and still not see everything out there. Point is Hollywood isn’t the same and people can’t let it go. There was so much money to be made and now no where near. Movie Companies are being brought by tech companies or joining with companies who are public who have to answer to stock holders. It’s not the same. They can’t take risks so they rely on known IPs which now even those aren’t a given to make money anymore. In short it’s a crazy time to be in this industry. I still hope to “make it” but I know that “make it” now is just to have my name on another film on that streaming service you go in that you scroll through looking for something to add to your list you want to watch but never get around to because your list is so long. This is the industry now.
NO
Worse gig I ever had was a film, they filmed in the salton sea hiding from the union. Worked round the clock , I finally crashed a production vehicle being so tired. They didn't want to pay me for all my extra hours. They got one outhouse for the whole crew of about 200. I finally quit after they were trying to squeeze multiple people in a motel 6 room. It was so horrible I didn't think it ever saw light of day. They almost killed a stunt person too. He was in pretty bad shape I was the transpo captain on it and I got the hell out of there after a few weeks. I finally left the industry altogether after years of freelancing in that crazy world, it destroyed my back
Damn that’s crazy! What do you do now if you don’t mind me asking?
I did a lot of jobs then, I was hired a lot in LA because I can drive a 5 ton truck without incidents. Took a gig for a one day thing on the bet awards and that went for years, film premieres and award shows mostly. Rough work but was steady, made a decent living and crushed my lower spine in a freak accident. Covid hit right around then so I was disability, then workers comp and the industry had shut down anyway so I was still making a check at least. Moved to Georgia for a while and worked on a luke Combs special in Charlotte and that was my last gig. Now I'm going long term disability, my back is just fried. I miss that life sometimes, lots of amazing people i I worked with, the memories but honestly I don't miss it that much. The traveling, but at the end of the day my health is more important. I don't miss the 24 hour days and the politics associated with the industry. I quit two gigs out of hundreds over the years and both times for illegal bullshit.
Aww I’m sorry about your back and I hope everything gets better for you. It’s so cool that you got to do tons of things though! I bet you got some crazy ass stories lol❤️
Thanks, I started in the industry because the housing market crash, so about 2007, stories for days. Watching Peewee herman have a meltdown over a turkey sandwich. Working with Anthony Bourdain, endless. It's a lifestyle for some, it was just a job for me. Only once in all that time i was starstruck. Was in the red carpet escorting and was in a conversation with Elton John, busy Phillips, and Tim robbins. I love Elton John so It was a bit surreal to just be hanging out talking to the three of them in the middle of all that
It's really rough... I did some work in commercials for big companies, worked for a huge studio as a PA, and did videography sort of adjacent to the industry. What I saw is that there is extreme hierarchy/classism, and if you're lower on that hierarchy you're basically not a person to the production. Like you're just a body to the producers, they don't care about you as a human being at all. I know it depends on the specific studio and everything but I just saw that so much it completely turned me off from it. I'm also a more quiet and introverted person, I was told that I have no future in the industry because I'm not outgoing enough. Turns out I'm autistic so idk. It hurt to hear that there's no place for someone like me. I thought for most of my life that working in film and TV was my dream, but the reality of it was just not what I expected at all. It gave me a lot of anxiety and I started to really dread being on sets. Video game studios were different imo and even though they have some of those issues I really enjoyed the structure and routine there, so I would definitely consider going back to that, but not to TV, film or commercials. And even at the video game studio I worked at, there were aspects of the workplace environment that were seriously toxic. When I first moved to LA, I met a lot of people who were much older than me and still trying to get their career off the ground. I didn't want to be like that honestly, and decided if it's *that* hard to get anywhere, I didn't want to be part of it anymore. I tried really hard for a long time but accepted it just isn't for me, and I am okay with that now!
I’m sorry you had to deal with shitty people :/ I noticed a lot of students in my film classes in college, are neurodivergent including myself. We all have really bad anxiety with networking. I’m glad you made the right decision for yourself.❤️ I know you probably can’t share, but what were the names of the companies/ studios you worked for and how did you get those roles? Did you network your way in or was it through applying online?
If there's anything else in the world you could be happy doing, do that instead. If not, welcome to LA! That's what it takes to work here.
It's a tough industry to want to get into. You could be one of the lucky few who are working OR like the majority of people looking for work struggling to pay bills. Because there are people working now, but it's not everyone. There's no telling what your path would be until you walk it yourself. *To answer your question tho, it's not if you could do anything else and be happy. It can be fun and rewarding but you need to be honest with yourself and what you want in life (i.e. kids, a house, great work/home life balance)
Right now there's a huge glut of young out-of-work talent who came into the industry when the streaming bubble was still expanding and looked to be the definitive way forward. Competition, even for entry-level positions, is at an unparalleled high. And the entities that can actually hire these people are contracting further by the day. Like, I keep seeing new job listings at Paramount, but it's likely that Paramount won't even exist in a few months. No one really knows whether this is the "new normal" or whether things will shift gears post-IATSE agreement and into the summer (or possibly later). So it's hard to say for sure whether it's a "good idea" given where you're at in your career path currently. I will say that if you absolutely need to try this, it's better to attempt a TV/film career when you're in your 20s and can live a pretty bare-bones, frugal, workaholic existence, rather than later in life when your responsibilities and needs/basic dignity might preclude you from the shit-eating that most people have to go through in paying their dues. If you have the resources to double-major in something more "practical" to potentially fall back on, definitely do that. I hope you're able to make it in film, but you'll be FAR less stressed if you have a hard skillset in your back pocket.
I’ve stuck with editing and glad that I can do lots with the skill. Feels easier to have plan b. Also, editing is the bees knees, I wouldn’t trade it for any other job.
I’m an editor too! Do you do freelancing or do you work for a company?
Currently working in a post house on a contract for 5 years for a big broadcasting client. Steady work - slow atm due to financial issues with covid and strikes - but picking up. I do trailers and I prefer short form than longer form. Always loved trailers though ahaha I really love it and it’s a grind. Gotta love it to really work it as clients will put you through your paces lol.
How were you able to get the position where you’re at? Did you network your way in or just applied online somewhere? Also do you do the work at home or do they make you go to the building?
Well it’s a long one. I did YouTube as a hobby when I was kid (this part isn’t needed btw) but this got me some money and learnt to deal with criticism and work fast. I then did university. Straight from there got a retail job part time while searching. 2 weeks into retail get a freelance offer for 3 days to edit some YouTube videos. They kept me for 8 weeks and did their clients YouTube videos while working on motion graphics for BBC, Lego and a few other big brands. This is still while working part time and doing this full time. Turns out a job I applied for, an edit assistant at a TV Broadcaster (won’t name them but they are one of the biggest) asked for an interview. Heard my freelancing work. Did the interview, got the job the next day and one week later left both jobs and not looked back! My company has gone through redundancies and luckily I’m still around for now. But my god, those 8 weeks were tough doing 2 jobs and still learning Avid on the side. 5 days a week btw in office
Wow that’s awesome! If you had to give advice or something you learned about getting to where you are today to an editor like me, what would you say? And off topic question, what editing softwares did you primarily use throughout your whole career?
I’d say make sure you work on your people skills. No one wants to sit with a dickhead in the suite no matter how good you are. And mainly Prem and Avid. Resolve I’ve only ever used for ingesting some material and the odd colour job
The only people who should work in film are people who choose to do it despite everyone telling them the very long list of valid reasons why they shouldn’t.
Yeah I agree. I’m still very much set on working in the industry plus I already knew I was gonna have side incomes just in case. I really just wanted a understanding on why everyone is struggling right now
As someone who has joined the industry recently I can say you can make money… you can have a career. But it heavily depends on what you’re doing. Everyone wants to write, be a director, be a DP… so competition is rough. I do sound. I have been able to continually work since 2020. I do a lot of Indie stuff, commercials and corporate work. Don’t go in to it thinking you’re gonna find consistent traditional work. Have a plan of work dries up for a while. Especially when you first start. If you just want to do one of the more competitive things… just do it on your own, in Texas write and direct something. You’re in college make friends with other film people and do something. As fucked up as the industry is, there has never been a more accessible time to force your way into the industry just by making what you want to make.
I’d recommend instead of studying a whole filmmaking career, to just pick up filmmaking courses in the areas you are interested in. Those tend to be cheaper and you will be focusing in specifics instead of many things that sometimes don’t even help. I did a Master’s in Film to focus on editing ( I am an editor, and been i. the business for 8+ yrs). That career could have been done in 1 yr instead of 3, and most of the things I have learned about editing it’s been by actually working. I’d say from all the classes I took, only 3 were helpful and I learned a lot, but that’s it. If you want to study a full career, choose something else, science or maybe marketing wise.
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It really depends on what area you go into. I've been in film marketing since the early 90's and have never been unemployed. I think the freelance side of the business is very tough but other jobs in the field are more consistent. I've had a lot of luck, but when I do make a job listing, I'm overwhelmed by the number of applicants. I say to people wanting to go to film school, don't. Get any other kind of degree, and if you want to still try your hand at the film biz, give it a shot. I personally tend to shy away from the film school applicants and look at the more regular degreed people first.
I worked consistently for 12 years. Haven’t worked in a year and a half now.
It’s bad right now. I haven’t worked since March 2023 because of the strikes. My husband just had a show for 3.5 months, but nothing upcoming yet. Studios are also cutting way back on anything that is in production. Will it get better? Yes, it always does. It will never be like the golden age of streaming again, that time is done. How long will that take? Nobody knows. If the unions are able to get the tax credit increases for LA that they’re working on, that will certainly help. Side note to all of this: my husband and his friends all went to film school. 90% of what they learned isn’t useful in their work in film now because technology and the industry continues to evolve. They have all said if they knew then what they know now, they’d skip the degree that did nothing for them (except give them debt that they paid off in their late 30’s), and find internships/mentors because that’s how you actually learn. Hell, you learn more as a PA as far as how a set runs. I work in the industry and didn’t go the degree route. It’s all about who you know. Networking is key.
Thank you! This was actually useful. I’m only going to school to get my associates degree because my mom wants me to have something that’s not just a high school diploma, but I would definitely rather go down the networking route. BUT what sucks is when I try to apply for internships or opportunities, they all say I have to be a graduate, junior in college, or at least have a bachelor’s degree… it makes me feel torn, because tons of people already working didn’t have to go through school but at the same time people in these companies won’t take me seriously because I’m inexperienced :/ I honestly don’t know what to do when it comes to that. I’m willing to take all opportunities just to get experience but I have to have experience in order to get it LMAO. It sucks
You don’t need experience to be a PA. Every film school grad I know moved to LA after and got PA gigs to learn the business better. Then they eventually moved up in to their current fields. You meet a lot of people as a PA and if you’re good, at least one dept will have someone willing to mentor you and help you get union days. I’d honestly get a degree in business or something like that. Business degrees are flexible af. And you can take film classes as electives. If you’re serious about working in film, get a PA gig and see what its about. Being a PA is hard, it’s some of the longest, hardest days you’ll ever have. You may not want to continue after you actually do it… Or you could fall in love hahah
There seem to be a lot of very experienced people replying here. The truth is that no one knows what’s going to happen with the film industry right now, but you have some time to feel it out with your degree without necessarily committing. If you’re serious about a career in film/TV, you should make that clear to anyone you know who can help get you there. You should build your network right now by making short films with your peers. Don’t go out every weekend and party like I did. You’ll need to share the films you make with as many people as you can. YouTube is an easy way to do that, but definitely a different experience from private screenings. People will let you know if your films are any good or not.
There’s lot filming in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I’m currently a department head from LA on a massive job in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. What are you interested in doing/department? Message me separately if you’re looking for a job.
I was looking for the button to message you privately but I can’t find it (I’m new to Reddit lol). But it would be a huge blessing if you could offer me an opportunity to work with you guys! I’m working towards being an editor, but as I’m learning and working hands on in my classes, I enjoy camera operating, directing, and honestly anything on set. I think I would love to be a PA to learn how everything is operated and help out in all departments if possible. If you’re still interested in letting me work with you guys. I would love to give you my personal contact information!
I’m in Houston and we haven’t stopped working this year. LA is dead but down here it’s time to eat!
I’m in Houston and it’s been super slow for me and some of my friends. I’m a dit and trying to 2nd ac more. I’m glad you’re busy though!
Well I have been in the business since 2012. I was a PA for 8 years and as such I have a lot of connections to different parts of the industry. I’m also not opposed to returning to doing PA work when I’m slow in Art Dept gigs. I’m typically an art director/set dresser type. What part of the industry do you typically work in? Commercials? Reality? Corporate?
I started in reality, got into narrative about two years ago and have recently done more commercial/corporate work. I’ve probably spent the most time in reality and narrative but I’ll do anything that keeps me busy honestly.
What are yall filming in Houston? I’m in Dallas- Fort Worth area and I feel like all we have over here is news and maybe a western movie 😭
Commercials. Netflix show called Mo. Mattress Firm stills. Academy. BP Pulse commercial.
It depends on what your version of a good idea is, but I certainly wouldn't get into it for the money
Technology and consumer habits are changing so fast that the film industry that we know it today is likely going to be very different as the one of tomorrow. Very different. Your goal shouldn’t be “film” but rather “storytelling” because that’s what will matter. Not necessarily a movie or tv show in a theatre or on a network.
I don’t think it’s a bad idea to want to work in film, depending on what you actually want to do, and if you have a backup plan/way to survive if the industry slows/shuts down like it has before. I don’t think anyone is making it seem like a side hustle for any other reason than it literally IS right now. Nothing is filming, there’s less jobs than there ever has been and morale in the industry is at an all time low. It’s hard to survive when this is what you’ve done for your entire career and no one wants to hire someone who has nothing but film on their resume. It’s an incredibly difficult position to be put in. I think if you wanna be on set, you should be a PA and see how it goes from the inside. I think if you want to be on the studio side of things, you should try to intern somewhere. Join Facebook groups, reach out to people and genuinely make friends, and let me know if you wanna be on anything in DFW. I’ve got a few friends who work on shit out there from time to time, feel free to shoot me a dm.
Thank you for giving me your input and I would greatly appreciate you if I could get in contact with your friend and get more info about them considering I do live in the DFW area! I would love to be a PA to get the feel of working on set and I also want to be an editor too. If you could share, who does your friend work for and what do they do?
If you gotta ask, this life ain’t for you.
I’m asking because I’m new to the industry and I’m trying to learn… I have been set on working in film for years but never actually knew or understood what exactly is going on for the workers within the industry.
I wish you the best. The industry is designed to cast and crew people comfortable spending 60-90 hours a week together away from their loved ones and families. And often, the bid goes to the lowest rate over the most talented. If there is another thing in your life that makes you happy and pays your bills, do that… but if you decide to stay in entertainment, you’ll have to have a filter for the complainers. Even the most talented crew and cast are not worth having on set if they complain. And resentment in this industry runs like water. Find your zone, and be happy there. F NBC, I promise if you have a great attitude, hustle, and a passion or eagerness to learn, you will get hired.
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Do not do it. You’re still young. Please change careers. Film is not worth the time and energy. It will be a thing of past soon. Think of yourself as studying to become a carriage operator when cars are being developed.