Welcome to The Friends In Film Blog

Like many people in the film industry, A-list Mentor Crystal went to film school thinking a degree would get her ahead in the film industry. Upon graduation, she found that not to be the case, and was having a hard time figuring out how to even get in. There’s another, better way to break into the professional industry.

Film is a creative field built on something very similar to apprenticeships. When you’re getting started in the industry, you’re going to need mentors to teach you and help point you towards resources and connections if you want to move fast. There are many opportunities to create these kinds of relationships on set.

Watch this Hotels.com shoot at my house! Getting into the film industry can be a great decision. There are all kinds of creative career paths you can take in the film industry. I work in commercials and I love it.

Are you dissatisfied with your regular job?

I came across a good article about pain many African Americans experience. I read an article that really impacted me. Below I put the section that stuck with me the most.

I feel that what people need is to be seen and loved. They need to feel validated, like they matter. There’s still work to be done, but more than ever before marginalized people are being given a voice without fear of being seen as lazy or like they’re complaining.

What actors think casting directors and producers want is often different from the reality of what they want. This knowledge can’t be found in film school and will drastically increase your chances of getting a role.

Bonnie Gillespie and Judy Greer came to my house recently. Bonnie is a casting director and Judy is an actress. I got to ask them what directors and producers look for in the audition room. Their answer boils down to this: they don’t want an actor. They want you— “1000 watts” of you, as they said. They want to see someone interesting and passionate, enjoying their life. They want a personality.

Parker is an inspiration to everyone hoping for a career in film. Through the network she built, she got a job with the Disney Channel in Maine. She was the only production assistant they flew out for the shoot. Parker hopes her story will inspire you to keep rolling.

In this video, notice how her connections lead to more work with more responsibility. Her success isn’t an accident, it’s something she built intentionally.

A-Lister Danielle wasn’t just out of college, she’d been in the corporate world for a long time. She was depressed and dissatisfied with her job. She followed the methods in the FIF Into The Industry Certification Program and wound up on set in less than a month. Within ten months, she had developed a name for herself. People come to her because they’ve heard of her. She has jobs flying all around, and works mostly as an assistant director today. That’s an absolutely INSANE pace, and that’s what we want for everyone in our program.

We don’t want people to be stuck as production assistants for 10 years. That’s why our methods are designed to get you on set as soon as possible and give you the necessary tools to move up quickly. It’s our goal for you to be forced to quit your survival job in the corporate world, in food service, wherever, because there’s just too much film work coming in. In short: we want you to be in demand.

That’s it, that’s the post :) VIDEO

When you know how to work when you’re worrying, then you’ll be a powerful force in the film industry. Most people get nervous about working in the film industry. Opportunities abound to make a big impact on the world, and you can connect with top industry insiders on set. The key is to work anyway.

The last thing you want is for worry to derail your career. Everyone in this industry has their fears. We think that the more we worry the more we can figure things out. All of your worrying is only going to make you suffer.

I thought I had this morning as I am reading the news and learning more about black lives matter, history, oppression and reading about these police forces.

I’m wondering, even in the wake of understanding the racism out there that exists, and it is something that our black people have been putting up with their whole lives, and now the world is getting educated on what that has been and how that feels.