If you’re an actor or aspiring actor and planning to make a career for yourself in a big market, you’ll eventually need to get an agent. In this video, Tamara talks about her experience with gaining representation as an actress, including some important potential pitfalls!

In the acting world, networking and relationships are just as important as your acting skills. In the beginning, you’ll be getting acting experience on free shoots to get the necessary materials to make a reel and the credits to build a resume. You can then shop those to agents, agencies, and agent scouts to get represented.

The skills you’ve already developed throughout life will set you apart from other actors. You can actually cultivate a personality that connects you harmoniously with other people; you don’t have to be born that way :) Department heads will see that, as well as the directors and producers who fill acting roles, and remember you for it. That will lead to future work in both production and acting, because who wouldn’t want to be around someone who makes them feel great?

By working in production, you’ll be music to the ears of film professionals who hire you. They want someone who understands everything happening on set, how the different departments interact, and what everyone needs.

In this video, Staci gives some examples of how a solid network has benefited her and her friends on set. Staci has worked on numerous TV shows including Madam Secretary, Mr. Robot, High Maintenance, and Broad City. They are always working to make new connections and maintain strong friendships with film professionals working in NYC. Having these relationships has helped them create a prolific career in just one year.

How do you ensure you have a steady workflow as a freelancer? From the day you are on your first set, you’ll be meeting people, exchanging info with them, and starting to make friends. As you get on more and more sets, this web of connections will grow and your friendships will deepen. You can reach out to this network to let them know when you have openings in your schedule, and if they have a job opportunity, they can send it to you. That’s another set where you can meet people and expand your network even further.

Everyone in film is closely watching how COVID-19 is changing the future of the industry. One thing’s for sure: it’s a good time to start a career in film. Although we’re seeing some changes in the way we do things on set, like wearing PPE, there’s a surge of production on the horizon and we’re seeing signs that it might be closer than people think.

For a while, production had almost completely halted. Union work was stopped entirely. But most of those shoots were delayed, not cancelled, and they are looking to start up as soon as possible. Combine those with the shoots that were already planned for the fall, and with content being written right now, and we’re looking at a lot of shoots battling for the same resources like production houses, crews, and equipment.

Is it really possible to make $1000 per day as a producer? Yes! Even if you have the dream but no experience as a movie producer, you can take the first step toward becoming one by working on set as a Production Assistant, learning from producers in production offices and assisting them on set.

You can get into the film industry from anywhere. You don’t have to move to a big city to find opportunities.

“How do I find auditions?”

It’s the most common question we get from aspiring actors. The problem they are running into is that easily found auditions are not the professional work. They are mostly shorts, freebie shoots, and student films. While you can get some valuable experience from shoots like that, they won’t be pushing your career forward in any meaningful way.

In this case study, Jocelyn talks about film school and explores a few reasons why film school might not prepare you for the industry. If you are thinking about going to film school, acting school, or any other industry related education, you’ll want to listen to what Jocelyn has to say.

It’s true that there is a lot to learn in film. However, film school is NOT the most effective way to learn what you need to know. The best way to get this necessary knowledge is to form mentor-to-apprentice relationships right on set. Then you’re learning while building professional relationships, simultaneously gaining both pieces you need to have a successful career in the film industry.

Minor markets are a great place to begin a career in film. There aren’t as many people to compete with for PA jobs, the position almost everyone in the industry does when they get their start. The shoots will be a bit smaller, but there will be enough of them to give you a chance to get on set, make some mistakes, and learn your craft. This will prepare you for the big leagues of the film industry, especially for union shoots where you don’t want to be messing up.

Many people chase their dreams of working in the film industry. With little to no experience and a nonexistent network, they pack their bags and move to a major city like LA or NYC. When they get there, they expect they are going to succeed. People who don’t have inside connections in the major markets often remain on the outside.

What do you do if you go after a position with Disney or Netflix and they pick someone else?

Don’t take it to heart. You don’t know the reason you weren’t chosen, and it might have nothing to do with you and everything to do with that other person. When successful people experience setbacks, they focus on the future they’re working toward. They immediately pivot to what’s next and go after that with the same zeal and enthusiasm they threw at that first opportunity. This is called “falling forward,” when you have a vision that allows you to keep things in perspective.

The film industry is a freelance business. A wider, stronger network will speed up your career progression. If you get stuck in a scarcity mentality, your career becomes dependent on one or a small number of professionals. You might feel secure because you put so much time and effort into these few relationships, as though you could damage them to look elsewhere too, when in actuality this both holds you back and puts your long term career in jeopardy.

Here’s an example: You work for the same production company for a long time because it feels safe and you have a good relationship with the person who does the hiring. They get you enough work. Then, they move up into another position, maybe even to a different market. They are replaced, but this new person already has their own list of professionals they offer work to. Now you’re out of the job, and worse, you’ll realize you slowed down your career by limiting the size of your network.