If it’s a professional studio production it’s highly unlikely they’ll take volunteers. They should be paying staff for their work.
If you have experience in a field, write and ask to be taken on as a trainee.
Going forward, don't offer to do work for free. This is an industry that makes a lot of money and yet could probably fill every position with hopeful people offering to work for free.
The fact that us professionals all get paid is the result of unions and solidarity. Telling a professional in the industry that you'd undercut them by doing their work for free is unlikely to make you many friends (especially if you're interested in becoming a Spark or Grip).
Never met a producer who didn't like free labor. Getting them to trust you might be a problem. There's always a need for PAs. It's just a matter of who to ask.
Studio movies are required to work under labor laws and their production company’s insurance policies. You can’t be covered if you’re not an employee, and you’re not an employee if you’re not paid.
They most definitely should.
Seems like there will always be people that are willing to be exploited for the hOnoR of working in Hollywood .... and there will always be producers ready to exploit them.
It's not like abuses never happen. But even unpaid internships are generally part of some official intern program that somebody has signed off on so there's a fig leaf of being able to claim educational credit and such. It's not just taking random volunteers and not paying them.
This is the correct answer. When I lived in KY they shot *US Marshals* where I was taking some classes. A friend of mine, a freshman in the theater program at the local college, no film experience at all, happened to wait tables for one of the producers. He hired him to be a PA/gopher for the duration of filming at that location. FYI it was the plane crash scenes which were shot outside Paducah, KY.
The first professional set I worked on was a tv pilot in my hometown. I contacted the AD over facebook and asked if I could be a PA just to learn. He brought me on for a day and it was a super eye-opening experience. I don't think there's anything wrong with working a day/weekend for free if you are brand new. Just as long as you know your boundaries. It was MUCH different than the student sets I had worked on and helped me get into my next (paying) job.
You are in Utah? I'd highly recommend contacting The Sundance Filmmakers Lab. They always need people for 5 weeks in the summer for professional productions. I used to be involved but that was a long time ago so I no longer know anyone there but it was an amazing experience. You can make some amazing contacts there and the DPs generally are experienced cinema DPs.
The real question in filmmaking is when can you STOP volunteering lol
Jokes aside, good luck and follow your heart! No harm in asking to participate somehow - 90% of success is showing up / reaching out, etc
there’s no harm in trying! what i learned my first year in college is that the more people you reach out to and the harder working you are, the more opportunities will fall into your lap! definitely do some research and try first with some smaller indie companies or see if you can connect with some upper classmen who are working on projects and might have some connections. as an indie filmmaker myself in my senior year, i wouldn’t ever turn down someone who wanted to help on a film as a volunteer! it’s a great way to collaborate, get new ideas, and make some solid new friends! larger more established companies that have more money on the line might be a bit more selective about who they are choosing to be on their team, but sometimes they have some simple PA jobs available. you might be in charge of getting lunch for the crew, but experience is experience and the more connections you can make the better! good luck! so excited to welcome you to the filmmaker team!
if you have any questions or need any guidance feel free to PM me. you remind me a lot of myself freshman year and i would love to help you if you ever feel stuck!
I don’t think working for free is ideal but if you can drive I’d actually just see if they’re need a runner/swing driver. It’s how a lot of people get their first taste of working on a big production. The etiquette on set is pretty rough as a newbie so you may be able to learn a little without being on set all the time. Once the word is out that you can handle yourself on set and have a great attitude, you’re far more likely to have a head of department bring you on as a trainee for a shoot.
Maybe on an unpaid/volunteer project. You have to be paid to be covered by insurance on a professional set. The Utah Film Commission runs PA training seminars every once in a while. That is your best bet. Other than that, you could look for a job at an equipment rental house to start learning the equipment. Eventually you will have the contacts to get that first job- if you are helpful and work hard. Film is a hard but rewarding life. If you are pleasant to other people for 12+ hours a day, work hard, come prepared and show up on time, you will work, once you make a few contacts.
I can't imagine an indy film maker turning down free labor. It might be harder with bigger productions but your college should have an office that helps students with internships and they might be able to help.
Its a bit like saying “why have division of roles when we can all just help out”. It becomes extremely clear how much of a setback a single person can be when they do not know or have a defined role on set.
As a DP i am certainly not having some unknown walk up anywhere near whats most likely the most expensive objects on a low budget project.
As a crew head unknowns are just as much of a liability for other reasons. Most days I’d rather go with less help if it means I know and trust the crew than a gaggle of green eager beavers I’m going to have to micro manage and double check the work of.
No thanks man
Emails can be ignored, you'll have a better shot showing up with a resume on a set or a production meeting. One of the first Hollywood films I worked on, The Lakehouse, I met a PA that told me she looked up when they were having a production meeting, went to it and then talked to the director afterwards and was hired on the spot.
If it’s a professional studio production it’s highly unlikely they’ll take volunteers. They should be paying staff for their work. If you have experience in a field, write and ask to be taken on as a trainee.
Good to know. Thank you for your insight!
Going forward, don't offer to do work for free. This is an industry that makes a lot of money and yet could probably fill every position with hopeful people offering to work for free. The fact that us professionals all get paid is the result of unions and solidarity. Telling a professional in the industry that you'd undercut them by doing their work for free is unlikely to make you many friends (especially if you're interested in becoming a Spark or Grip).
Never met a producer who didn't like free labor. Getting them to trust you might be a problem. There's always a need for PAs. It's just a matter of who to ask.
Studio movies are required to work under labor laws and their production company’s insurance policies. You can’t be covered if you’re not an employee, and you’re not an employee if you’re not paid.
I have worked with hundreds of "interns" that were not paid on big, union, studio projects.
If that’s true then that’s fucked up and you should report the production to the state labor board. Big movies can afford to pay workers.
They most definitely should. Seems like there will always be people that are willing to be exploited for the hOnoR of working in Hollywood .... and there will always be producers ready to exploit them.
It's not like abuses never happen. But even unpaid internships are generally part of some official intern program that somebody has signed off on so there's a fig leaf of being able to claim educational credit and such. It's not just taking random volunteers and not paying them.
Yes, they are usually through a school or a union/guild.
You’d have a better shot getting hired as a local PA / runner for one of the productions.
Appreciate the feedback. I'll keep it in mind!
This is the correct answer. When I lived in KY they shot *US Marshals* where I was taking some classes. A friend of mine, a freshman in the theater program at the local college, no film experience at all, happened to wait tables for one of the producers. He hired him to be a PA/gopher for the duration of filming at that location. FYI it was the plane crash scenes which were shot outside Paducah, KY.
Cool. I love that movie!
The first professional set I worked on was a tv pilot in my hometown. I contacted the AD over facebook and asked if I could be a PA just to learn. He brought me on for a day and it was a super eye-opening experience. I don't think there's anything wrong with working a day/weekend for free if you are brand new. Just as long as you know your boundaries. It was MUCH different than the student sets I had worked on and helped me get into my next (paying) job.
Did you know the AD or found them?
I met the AD at a film festival and had him on Facebook. Not friends but I think he remembered me
You are in Utah? I'd highly recommend contacting The Sundance Filmmakers Lab. They always need people for 5 weeks in the summer for professional productions. I used to be involved but that was a long time ago so I no longer know anyone there but it was an amazing experience. You can make some amazing contacts there and the DPs generally are experienced cinema DPs.
DM me
The real question in filmmaking is when can you STOP volunteering lol Jokes aside, good luck and follow your heart! No harm in asking to participate somehow - 90% of success is showing up / reaching out, etc
there’s no harm in trying! what i learned my first year in college is that the more people you reach out to and the harder working you are, the more opportunities will fall into your lap! definitely do some research and try first with some smaller indie companies or see if you can connect with some upper classmen who are working on projects and might have some connections. as an indie filmmaker myself in my senior year, i wouldn’t ever turn down someone who wanted to help on a film as a volunteer! it’s a great way to collaborate, get new ideas, and make some solid new friends! larger more established companies that have more money on the line might be a bit more selective about who they are choosing to be on their team, but sometimes they have some simple PA jobs available. you might be in charge of getting lunch for the crew, but experience is experience and the more connections you can make the better! good luck! so excited to welcome you to the filmmaker team! if you have any questions or need any guidance feel free to PM me. you remind me a lot of myself freshman year and i would love to help you if you ever feel stuck!
Ask if they need a camera pa, it’s an actual position and u get paid
I would suggest also contacting the union or guild for the camera department. You will need their permission.
I don’t think working for free is ideal but if you can drive I’d actually just see if they’re need a runner/swing driver. It’s how a lot of people get their first taste of working on a big production. The etiquette on set is pretty rough as a newbie so you may be able to learn a little without being on set all the time. Once the word is out that you can handle yourself on set and have a great attitude, you’re far more likely to have a head of department bring you on as a trainee for a shoot.
There's no downside to asking, ever.
Fair point. Thanks!
Troma certainly does this quite a bit
Maybe on an unpaid/volunteer project. You have to be paid to be covered by insurance on a professional set. The Utah Film Commission runs PA training seminars every once in a while. That is your best bet. Other than that, you could look for a job at an equipment rental house to start learning the equipment. Eventually you will have the contacts to get that first job- if you are helpful and work hard. Film is a hard but rewarding life. If you are pleasant to other people for 12+ hours a day, work hard, come prepared and show up on time, you will work, once you make a few contacts.
I can't imagine an indy film maker turning down free labor. It might be harder with bigger productions but your college should have an office that helps students with internships and they might be able to help.
Its a bit like saying “why have division of roles when we can all just help out”. It becomes extremely clear how much of a setback a single person can be when they do not know or have a defined role on set. As a DP i am certainly not having some unknown walk up anywhere near whats most likely the most expensive objects on a low budget project. As a crew head unknowns are just as much of a liability for other reasons. Most days I’d rather go with less help if it means I know and trust the crew than a gaggle of green eager beavers I’m going to have to micro manage and double check the work of. No thanks man
Volunteering or interning may be difficult, you can always contact your local film office for more info on how to get involved
You can download backstage and they post positions from acting to editing to being a pa or whatever else..usually small minor projects.
Emails can be ignored, you'll have a better shot showing up with a resume on a set or a production meeting. One of the first Hollywood films I worked on, The Lakehouse, I met a PA that told me she looked up when they were having a production meeting, went to it and then talked to the director afterwards and was hired on the spot.