✨THE LIGHT LEAKS HIGHLIGHTS: EDITION #45✨

At The Light Leaks, we firmly believe that everyone should have access to opportunities in this industry, without any gatekeeping.  We understand that the film industry can be daunting, especially for those who do not fit the traditional mold.That's why we strive to create a safe and inclusive space where everyone feels welcome to share their experiences, stories, and perspectives.

We believe that diversity and representation are essential to the growth and success of the film industry. Our goal is to be a helpful resource for anyone who wants to pursue a career in film. As a friend who is also working our way up, we are learning what we can and sharing it all with you. In this edition of TLL highlights, we’re sharing a deep dive into one of our pieces, The Hustle: Tips on Getting Involved in the Industry Without Film School by Dani Espinosa 

• TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE YOU DID GET

  • If you don’t have any on-set experience to add to your resume, the next best thing you can do is find ways to connect your education/other work experience to the job you’re wanting to do. Relevant experience may not be the exact fit they are looking for, but it still means you have a useful foundation to build off from and can still be valuable to the projects you take on. You just have to know how to spin it. For instance; you weren’t just a coffee shop barista that served coffee. You provided excellent customer service to a continuous flow of people, took orders and delivered food items in a high-pressure environment, and maintained a clean environment while working alongside a large team. Those are skills that Set PA’s need when it comes to managing extras on sets, going on runs, policing the area, taking lunch orders, etc.

• RESEARCH WHAT WORKSHOPS, PROGRAMS, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AS A BEGINNER IN FILMMAKING!

  • Believe it or not, there are a TON of workshops, programs, and organizations that WANT to help you get your foot in the door. Not only do we have a creative opportunities page filled with workshops, labs, programs, festivals, and so much more for a variety of filmmaking levels, but you can also check to see if your state has a filmmaking board or website where you can find info on current productions, jobs, or skill-building like NYC’s production assistant training program.

• APPLY TO POSITIONS YOU WANT! YOU MISS 100% OF THE SHOTS YOU DON'T TAKE

  • I know sometimes it can be discouraging to apply for a position or training program when you don’t think you have the necessary experience, but trust that within that pile of no’s is the one yes you are waiting for. If I had let my insecurity of not having a film school listed in my resume get to me, I would have never ended up getting any of the small PA positions that led me to my real stepping point. You can’t give up either. It’s not your job to reject yourself. It’s your job to put yourself out there. A hiring manager will take in resumes and assess them based on the job’s needs. You never know what quality you have that’ll make you stand out, so just go for it. Apply!

• KNOW WHERE TO APPLY FOR JOBS. NOT EVERY SITE WILL BE AS FILMMAKER FRIENDLY FOR JOB POSTINGS.

  • Because film production jobs are often temporary or project based in some way, you have to know where to network and search for jobs. Regular job sites like LinkedIn skews more towards corporate gigs, so you might want to check out sites that film professionals prefer to use such as staffmeup.com. That being said, some of these sites tend to skew toward higher-level positions and may not be the best for finding your first gig. For emerging filmmakers, I highly suggest joining local filmmaker FB groups. It’s within these groups that you may be able to hear about job opportunities straight from the people looking to hire ASAP! A lot of these groups are also great in general for networking purposes, so make sure to join all the available film FB groups in your city/region.

Read more of Dani’s tips and this full piece at thelightleaks.com.

• Share your filmmaking journey with us! As we revamp our newsletter, we're seeking community testimonials to showcase the impact of TLL. If you've benefited from being a part of TLL and have a passion for filmmaking, we want to hear about it.Contact us at [email protected] with your name, location, and a quote about how TLL has helped you. Don't forget to plug any project or info you'd like to share. Join us in celebrating the inspiring stories of our members.

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