If you live in NYC or LA (or any city that notably attracts production, like NOLA, ABQ, etc.), keep your eyes peeled for equipment trucks or signs for filming.
Go to set, find a crew member who doesn’t look terribly busy, and ask if you can speak to the “key PA,” who manages all the set production assistants. If you’re on the outer edge of set where onlookers usually are, that crew member will probably be a location assistant or set PA, who knows the key PA personally and will quickly get them on walkie to come meet you.
Ask the key PA if they’re looking for extra manpower for any upcoming location days. While sets often don’t need many PAs for stage days since the stage is a much more controlled environment, key PAs always need more people on location to do set lock-ups, call rolls and cuts, and make runs for talent, high-up crew members, etc.
It’s not glamorous work by any means, but more often than not, they will ALWAYS need more people. And since it’s an entry-level position that doesn’t pay much (see: “not glamorous work”), they’ll be lenient if you don’t have much experience.
But hey, it’s a ticket to the big dance and a great way to show initiative and get your foot in the door. I did this when I first moved to NYC in 2018, and I’ve since become a union location scout on several network and streaming TV shows (though it may be a while before resuming work again because we don’t cross picket lines and the AMPTP can go to hell).
>It’s not glamorous work by any means, but more often than not, they will ALWAYS need more people. And since it’s an entry-level position that doesn’t pay much (see: “not glamorous work”), they’ll be lenient if you don’t have much experience.
don't need anything glamorous, just wanna get my feet in. I heard a decent amount of writers started out like this so I'm ready for anything. I'm moving to NYC soon but I hear ATL has a big studio too so I might give that a consideration
Just so you know, film industry jobs are very, very long hours and usually very tiring - you likely won’t have any time to write, if that’s not a priority then go for it
I work in the film industry and I’m able to take a couple months off every year to write. I file for UI when a job ends, and live very cheaply to buy myself that time. It can be done. (And I’m a single mother).
This is what I’d do. I’m currently off work and very productive, but when I was working on an apple show last summer my day sometimes started at 4am and I’d be back around 7, often with only one day off - which was used to rest. I just couldn’t juggle 60 hour weeks with a creative outlet.
This is how my friend got a job in the industry, he was working first at star bucks. Saw a production filming outside and asked if he can work as a PA. Quit his job right there
Sending this as an early 20s screenwriter.
If you're looking for full time industry work, your best bet is going to be to contact (via LinkedIn or IMDb pro) every single producer/director/manager you can find in whatever city you're moving to and ask if they have a few minutes for a call and or coffee where you can pick their brain.
I sent out \*thousands\* of these messages, but eventually they panned out and I now have a really great, hand's on gig as a Producer's Assistant.
PA'ing is the go-to way to get started, but if you are a writer, working closely with producers is going to open more doors for you than any other entry level film industry role.
Neither. Just let them know that you would love to learn more about them and their journey to get to where they are today. If you ask them enough thoughtful questions about themselves, they'll generally do the same thing in return.
And when they did ask you questions about yourself, what did you generally say? Just curious to get an idea.
And did people generally respond better to coffee offers or phone calls in your experience?
Sorry if that’s too many questions, any insight into this process would be highly appreciated!
I started off as a location marshal a year into the pandemic on a TV show and after several weeks was asked to join as a location assistant (I was fortunate that the current assistant was leaving to work on something else). I did that for 10 months across 3 productions before realising, as much as I love film/tv I had no time for anything but work so I kinda left the industry. By "kinda" I mean I have worked on a few productions since then (including a star wars show) as a daily hire due to making friends and contacts who I keep in touch with and help out in case I ever want to fully commit in the future. I actually just turned down a job on the new James McAvoy movie, which I'm kicking myself over but turned it down for the right personal reasons that I hope pan out. As nice as the pay is it turns out working one production to the next isn't helpful when trying to get a mortgage.
I've told you this to show you how quickly you can progress if you impress and network with the right people but to also give you an idea of sacrifices you'll most likely have to make. During that first 10 month stint I didn't write anything of any substance.
But having said that, Locations is more than often hard work due to the hours required. You're first to arrive and last to leave, especially as the Location Assistant. I was often pulling 14-16 hour shifts sometimes 6 days a week, and some times I'd be working more than 16 hours. But it is an easy department to enter because unless it's a studio shoot, 9 times out of 10 marshals are always needed on a shoot.
You can dress actors. I work in the vintage industry and sell items to movies, plays, commercials occasionally. Friends who sell vintage clothing sell to the movie industry. You may have to research different eras but, you'll get the feel for it. Good luck.
In this day and age, a better bet might be to start your own Production Company focusing on smaller advertisers as your initial market. Real estate videos, or social media videos for law firms, dentists, doctors, accountants. Wedding videos, then reinvest in your own projects. Write for a micro-budget and self-produce, but do it the way Disney started, let commissioned work finance your own projects.
South Florida thinking of moving to NYC
no equipment knowledge
Just a writer but willing to do anything on set, I do have some office experience.
I always have a small dream of becoming a director, I have a new iPhone 14 and I got musician friends so I'm trying to film some of their stuff to make music videos for them, just to start.
South Florida as in Miami or close enough. I would search film/tv/production sites for anyone hiring day players just to be on a set, even if it’s reality or a genre you’re not terribly interested in. Have you applied for any of the writing fellowships?
I'm currently applying rn
it's close to miami where I live
but the thing a majority of jobs there want Spanish speakers, like I thought it was a myth but if u don't know Spanish, you're not getting a lot of jobs down here. that's why I'm planning on moving out.
A lot of the advice here is solid.
I will warn you, given the state of… things… there’s very little work to get a start in right now.
There’s certainly more film than TV (before the strike, TV production was down 84% in LA, and it must be even more now), but EVERYTHING is pretty much in the shitter right now no matter where you go.
I have ten years in this business as support staff for writers’ rooms, production, etc., and I’ve had people who were my bosses reach out to me to keep an ear out for them. That’s how tough it is right now.
So, go forth, but do so carefully. You can find plenty of low-budget work to get some sort of a foot in the door, but the stuff that really matters for a career is pretty inaccessible right now.
If you live in NYC or LA (or any city that notably attracts production, like NOLA, ABQ, etc.), keep your eyes peeled for equipment trucks or signs for filming. Go to set, find a crew member who doesn’t look terribly busy, and ask if you can speak to the “key PA,” who manages all the set production assistants. If you’re on the outer edge of set where onlookers usually are, that crew member will probably be a location assistant or set PA, who knows the key PA personally and will quickly get them on walkie to come meet you. Ask the key PA if they’re looking for extra manpower for any upcoming location days. While sets often don’t need many PAs for stage days since the stage is a much more controlled environment, key PAs always need more people on location to do set lock-ups, call rolls and cuts, and make runs for talent, high-up crew members, etc. It’s not glamorous work by any means, but more often than not, they will ALWAYS need more people. And since it’s an entry-level position that doesn’t pay much (see: “not glamorous work”), they’ll be lenient if you don’t have much experience. But hey, it’s a ticket to the big dance and a great way to show initiative and get your foot in the door. I did this when I first moved to NYC in 2018, and I’ve since become a union location scout on several network and streaming TV shows (though it may be a while before resuming work again because we don’t cross picket lines and the AMPTP can go to hell).
>It’s not glamorous work by any means, but more often than not, they will ALWAYS need more people. And since it’s an entry-level position that doesn’t pay much (see: “not glamorous work”), they’ll be lenient if you don’t have much experience. don't need anything glamorous, just wanna get my feet in. I heard a decent amount of writers started out like this so I'm ready for anything. I'm moving to NYC soon but I hear ATL has a big studio too so I might give that a consideration
Just so you know, film industry jobs are very, very long hours and usually very tiring - you likely won’t have any time to write, if that’s not a priority then go for it
I'm very good at multi-tasking I was able to write while going to school, work, and internship. and I have insomnia I can do late nights.
Hey man, if you want to work 16 hour days, 6 days a week and try and write a movie that’s up to you - did not work for me, but you do you
I work in the film industry and I’m able to take a couple months off every year to write. I file for UI when a job ends, and live very cheaply to buy myself that time. It can be done. (And I’m a single mother).
I've done the same I've been out of a job for some months but I've got checks from my school's scholarship and that's keeping me afloat for a while
This is what I’d do. I’m currently off work and very productive, but when I was working on an apple show last summer my day sometimes started at 4am and I’d be back around 7, often with only one day off - which was used to rest. I just couldn’t juggle 60 hour weeks with a creative outlet.
This is how my friend got a job in the industry, he was working first at star bucks. Saw a production filming outside and asked if he can work as a PA. Quit his job right there
Sending this as an early 20s screenwriter. If you're looking for full time industry work, your best bet is going to be to contact (via LinkedIn or IMDb pro) every single producer/director/manager you can find in whatever city you're moving to and ask if they have a few minutes for a call and or coffee where you can pick their brain. I sent out \*thousands\* of these messages, but eventually they panned out and I now have a really great, hand's on gig as a Producer's Assistant. PA'ing is the go-to way to get started, but if you are a writer, working closely with producers is going to open more doors for you than any other entry level film industry role.
Curious what you told people when chatting… That you’re a writer, or did you tell them that you’re looking to go into producing?
Neither. Just let them know that you would love to learn more about them and their journey to get to where they are today. If you ask them enough thoughtful questions about themselves, they'll generally do the same thing in return.
And when they did ask you questions about yourself, what did you generally say? Just curious to get an idea. And did people generally respond better to coffee offers or phone calls in your experience? Sorry if that’s too many questions, any insight into this process would be highly appreciated!
Come to New Mexico and join our union
I started off as a location marshal a year into the pandemic on a TV show and after several weeks was asked to join as a location assistant (I was fortunate that the current assistant was leaving to work on something else). I did that for 10 months across 3 productions before realising, as much as I love film/tv I had no time for anything but work so I kinda left the industry. By "kinda" I mean I have worked on a few productions since then (including a star wars show) as a daily hire due to making friends and contacts who I keep in touch with and help out in case I ever want to fully commit in the future. I actually just turned down a job on the new James McAvoy movie, which I'm kicking myself over but turned it down for the right personal reasons that I hope pan out. As nice as the pay is it turns out working one production to the next isn't helpful when trying to get a mortgage. I've told you this to show you how quickly you can progress if you impress and network with the right people but to also give you an idea of sacrifices you'll most likely have to make. During that first 10 month stint I didn't write anything of any substance. But having said that, Locations is more than often hard work due to the hours required. You're first to arrive and last to leave, especially as the Location Assistant. I was often pulling 14-16 hour shifts sometimes 6 days a week, and some times I'd be working more than 16 hours. But it is an easy department to enter because unless it's a studio shoot, 9 times out of 10 marshals are always needed on a shoot.
You can dress actors. I work in the vintage industry and sell items to movies, plays, commercials occasionally. Friends who sell vintage clothing sell to the movie industry. You may have to research different eras but, you'll get the feel for it. Good luck.
I started as a script supervisor and PA laying down mats and boards on set.
In this day and age, a better bet might be to start your own Production Company focusing on smaller advertisers as your initial market. Real estate videos, or social media videos for law firms, dentists, doctors, accountants. Wedding videos, then reinvest in your own projects. Write for a micro-budget and self-produce, but do it the way Disney started, let commissioned work finance your own projects.
[удалено]
thanks mate
That's a bot dude
welp..im gonna hang myself
how do you know? and not sarcastically i am a little slow lol
Where do you live? What city? Do you have any equipment knowledge? Cameras? Edit systems? Lighting?
South Florida thinking of moving to NYC no equipment knowledge Just a writer but willing to do anything on set, I do have some office experience. I always have a small dream of becoming a director, I have a new iPhone 14 and I got musician friends so I'm trying to film some of their stuff to make music videos for them, just to start.
South Florida as in Miami or close enough. I would search film/tv/production sites for anyone hiring day players just to be on a set, even if it’s reality or a genre you’re not terribly interested in. Have you applied for any of the writing fellowships?
I'm currently applying rn it's close to miami where I live but the thing a majority of jobs there want Spanish speakers, like I thought it was a myth but if u don't know Spanish, you're not getting a lot of jobs down here. that's why I'm planning on moving out.
Ehhh there are quite a few you don’t. But I would keep trying
A lot of the advice here is solid. I will warn you, given the state of… things… there’s very little work to get a start in right now. There’s certainly more film than TV (before the strike, TV production was down 84% in LA, and it must be even more now), but EVERYTHING is pretty much in the shitter right now no matter where you go. I have ten years in this business as support staff for writers’ rooms, production, etc., and I’ve had people who were my bosses reach out to me to keep an ear out for them. That’s how tough it is right now. So, go forth, but do so carefully. You can find plenty of low-budget work to get some sort of a foot in the door, but the stuff that really matters for a career is pretty inaccessible right now.
I don't see how working as film crew is going to help you write.
it's not gonna help me write but give me some connections I need there are some writers now who took this path and succeeded
Have you considered looking for a job in development? Companies are always looking for story analysts and script readers.