Working in the film industry sounds exciting, and it is! The film production business is an interesting mix of the creative and the technical. To know what's going on, your company needs a good grasp of the key terms in the cinema industry. You'll be able to "speak the language" when your business contacts film companies to promote its services.

No matter what part you hope to play in the film industry, you'll have to learn the names of equipment, directorial commands, personnel, wardrobe and makeup terms. Whether you plan to start your "education" in the field with film production companies or in the classroom, it's a good idea to study the vocabulary as you prepare for the adventure. To learn key terms for the film industry, do the following things

1. Use online sources to find film business glossaries.

2. Search movie industry encyclopedias and publications for important words.

3. Visit your community or college library to find film industry dictionaries.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find online glossaries of movie industry terms

It's helpful to know the words used in the film business, even slang and lingo. If you company works on the equipment side of the film business, find out what mixer, boom and flood mean to the property folks. Knowing key terms will impress your contact people in the business, so take some time to study a dictionary for movie production terms.

I recommend: Check the huge glossary of terms at Filmsite.org. The dictionary includes terms and definitions related to film genres, history, equipment, techniques and personnel and even includes slang. The useful glossary at Rosebud contains hundreds of terms and definitions. It is revised and updated frequently to reflect the latest terms being used in the business.

Study movie industry sources for key terms

So you want to be an actor? To do so you'll need to learn what the director means when he asks you to do your 'aside.' If you're working the camera, you'll need to respond correctly when directed to take the 'three shot.' Familiarize yourself with as many terms as your can to gain a better grasp of the whole cinema industry.

I recommend: Visit FilmDependent.com to track down movie industry terms and their definitions. It's a free film business learning site. The dictionary at Filmland contains terms related to all parts of the production process as well as film industry business terms.

Collect books on terms used in the global film industry

Whether you go to the bookstore, order online or check a local library, a collection of books will serve your business well. Use them to learn the definitions of new terms team members encounter in various film industries.

I recommend: Order the Complete Film Dictionary (2nd edition) from Highend3D.com. The recently updated tome is a film industry information standards. Register to use the resources of the Brown University Libraries. You'll get access to books, course notes and other sources of key terms for the film industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  One of the best ways to learn film industry key terms related to the film industry is taking classes. Consider enrolling members of your team in courses focused on their specialties. It will provide them the opportunity for hands-on experience with the terms and what they mean.

Break into the film industry with a bit of background knowledge and determination. The film industry business is one that can be tackled with a bit of education and the proper tools. The key, though, is knowing how to network and take advantage of the background and skills that you have to promote yourself and whatever project it is that you are working on.

The movie industry has thousands of resources available for use or purchase, and having a firm grasp on the latest film industry information will help keep you in the know and relevant opportunities and contacts. To start your film creation and editing experience:

1. Have in mind the equipment, props and costumes that you need and want. Use that list as your starting point.

2. Think through the entire film business process and create for yourself a timeline and service needs list. Who will edit? Who will produce? Who is financially backing? Where do I purchase items?

3. Choose reputable companies or educate yourself in the processes necessary to create a viewer quality film.

4. Take advantage of film business information as you meet new actors, vendors and contacts. Don't be afraid to put your name out there.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find movie industry vendors with ease

Film companies can outsource many of their movie making needs.

I recommend: Video Editing Services, Inc. can help you with concept design, script writing, video and film shooting, post scoring, sound design, 2D and 3D graphics and digital editing. Complete Video Productions, Inc. can help you with print design and development, video production, 3D animation, new media design and development, content development and copy writing as well as sound design. Digital Rebellion, LLC. offers online and offline video editing, digital compositing, color grading, tape dubbing and duplication as well as equipment and facility rental.

To know the film business, you need to educate yourself in the film business

For those of you choosing to create your own works in the film industry, you can't go into it blindly. You need to train and earn your place in the pecking order. To do so requires an education or a wealth of experience from someone willing to take you under their wing in the industry.

I recommend: Check out the Los Angeles Film School for film, animation and game Development education courses. There are also university programs like the UCLA Film School or the Dodge College of Film and Media Art at Chapman University. You can also look to the Independent Film Channel Film School. All of these institutions will give you a springboard to creating your own films.

Stay in the know about the movie industry

How can you expect to carry on a conversation with execs and producers if you aren't in the know about the comings and goings of the movie industry? How can you find the best vendors available for your project if you don't know where to start? Keep up with who's doing what projects and where, and have your finger on the pulse of the Hollywood happenings.

I recommend: Check out the latest global film industry news from Film Journal International. Read it the latest cinema industry happenings in the online version of Variety. You could also get up to speed with what's going on with the film industry companies through The Hollywood Reporter or LA Weekly.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Try to purchase your film industry prop and set needs from the same vendor to help cut your costs. Bulk or large orders might qualify for a discount.

One thing your film production business probably already knows about the industry is that you need a seemingly endless stream of supplies to be successful. Not only do you need quantities of motion-picture quality film, you need equipment to film and record sound, video and sound editing devices, lighting apparatus and makeup. And that's just a start. The list of needed supplies goes on and on.

It's cost-effective for film businesses to order film supplies in bulk. To do so, you'll have to accurately estimate how much film you'll need for the entire project and locate the types of cameras that will give you the best quality with the most flexibility. Most likely you'll need more than one type to film longer pieces. The same holds true for recording equipment. As you prepare to order film industry supplies, keep the following things in mind:

1. Some film will be unusable and some will be lost in editing.

2. Your biggest decision with the audio and video supplies: Should I buy or rent?

3. Most film companies use a variety of video and sound recording devices.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Make sure your film business has the best film it can afford

Motion picture film comes in an array of sizes and speeds. Each has characteristics that make it preferred for certain filming scenarios. Invest in the right size and best quality your company's budget allows. It will make a difference in the quality of the finished product.

I recommend: Kodak is a key source for film for film production companies. Check its inventory for the size and speed your film industry business wants. If Kodak doesn't carry it, Fujifilm probably does. It is another leading supplier to the global film industry.

Use the right cameras to make your film industry hit

Like other movie business supplies, there is an array of camera styles. They vary in film speed, price and other characteristics. Check film business information for the models recommended for your intended shoot.

I recommend: Check with Transylvania Film & TV for video equipment. It stocks a variety of different models for different filming situations and budgets. Filming an action sequence or one with lots of motion? Consider Tango Head for cameras mounted to pivot to follow the action.

Record sound with instruments made for the movie industry

Different scenes might call for different recording devices. You might use boom mikes, lavaliere mikes or even wireless ones, depending on the scene. Your film production business can buy or rent individual units or a package. Don't forget the wires, mixers, connections and multitude of other electronic gadgets you'll need for clear sound recording.

I recommend: Trust Trew Audio for your location sound recording. It has an impressive online catalog for professional audio technicians. Find lavaliere, wireless and boom microphones at Wintech Video. It also provides sound mixers and packages.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If your company is just starting out in the movie industry, cost will be a factor. Seek professional advice on estimating the amount of supplies you'll need. Order in bulk or in packages whenever possible.
• •  For other potential savings on supplies for the film industry, especially for student films and similar productions, work with film industry businesses for costumes and makeup.

Film industry education and training is as diverse as the job titles on a movie set. The film business starts with a story so writers are the foundation, and their film industry education and training usually starts in a university setting and a writing class. The set decorators, makeup artists and the electricians, or grips, are vital members of the industry, but their education and training takes place in different settings including beauty and art schools.

Before heading west to the heart of the film industry, business people with an MBA or law degree responsible for the bottom line are often the executives of film companies. Although many of the key players in the film industry start in an academic setting, much of their film industry education and training starts with the first job that they find in movie industry.

1. Film industry businesses recruit candidates from colleges with prestigious departments or schools devoted to film studies.

2. Film industry education and training is the first step in establishing a network of contacts in the film industry.

3. Courses in film studies are available to test the waters without committing to a long-term program or career.

Action Steps
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Earn a degree from a university respected by the global cinema industry

Enroll in the University of Southern California or the University of California at Los Angeles for great classes, but most importantly, the people sitting around you could become important people in the movie business. You will make contacts during your studies at these prestigious institutions of higher learning that will prove to be valuable to a career in the movie studio and film industries.

I recommend: The University of Southern California graduates many students recruited by industry leaders. UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television is also a favorite training ground for work in the movie industry.

Take courses related to a specialty in the film production business

The film industry is glamorous and fast paced, the actors are famous and the directors revered, but the most visible jobs are not the only ones available. Makeup artists, electricians, marketing specialists and many others work behind the scenes in the same glamorous settings. A beautician for a Hollywood studio works with the stars while an electrician at a major studio fixes the lights for them.

I recommend: New York University provides courses in film production in their continuing education program. The Film Connection Film Institute has courses available online.

Attend workshops devoted to the careers needed by film industry companies

The competition is stiff in Hollywood, New York and other film production capitals, and a workshop will provide an overview of the prospects of landing a job in the film industry. At a workshop or seminar, professionals working in different careers in the film industry help students understand the advantages and disadvantages of working to make movies. Some workshops and seminars present an overview while others focus on particular fields such as acting or directing.

I recommend: Miami Dade College is located in Florida where many films are made so their workshops and seminars feature presenters with real experience. The Arts Center is located in Los Angeles, the heart of the film industry and film production companies.