Jobs in the film business can range from running a camera to acting and directing to working in emerging Internet video jobs. Film employment is a competitive environment because jobs in the film business are attractive to a lot of people. You need to get the right kind of training and make connections in the industry to get your foot in the door.

A degree in acting or video production can get you started if you are lucky enough to land one of the prestigious film jobs in LA. The film industry is notorious for recruiting from within its ranks when it comes time for promotions, so you must continue your training to move up. Keep up with new technology through training and find instructional centers with a reputation recognized by industry leaders. Watch for training for film jobs through a variety of reputable places.

1. Look for entry-level training for movie job opportunities.

2. Find alternative routes to train for TV film jobs.

3. Participate in trade groups that offer training and professional development for production manager jobs.

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

Find training for production jobs that provides hands-on experience

Whether you are interested in directing, acting or working a camera, look for a training curriculum that will give you the opportunity to produce your work and learn from the process. Many schools will help you to produce a body of work in your chosen field as part of their instruction.

I recommend: The Film Connection places students in on-the-job training positions to take full advantage of the learning environment. Find training in advanced courses that are made available in energized one-day workshops as well as private training from the Filmmaker’s Central School of Cinema that will take you to the shooting locations for hands-on experience that is vital to your career.

Seek alternative training avenues for jobs in the film business

While in training, learn to network make contacts. Look for training opportunities from instructors who can show you how to get yourself known in the industry while also teaching you the skills you need. Continue with your training while making those connections.

I recommend: Get A Mentor has opportunities for students to learn about the film industry first-hand from experts in the field. You can find loads of training that will be useful to a film career through the education initiatives of Avid, which manufacturers the leading digital editing solutions in the industry.

Join associations that offer members training to land film business jobs

Most trade associations offer continuing education and professional development courses for their members. For those who are interested in the business end of the film industry, some groups can guide you to courses that cover areas such as film presentation, box office strategy and theater management. Other organizations offer members more specialized training opportunities by industry experts.

I recommend: Find training tapes and videos at the National Association of Theatre Owners. The United Stuntmens Association sponsors a stunt school for aspiring stunt actors for films.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you choose to get a bachelor's degree in your chosen area of film before you start looking for jobs in production, make sure to participate in the clubs and societies at your school that will give you the opportunities to build a portfolio of your films.

The allure of Hollywood has many people looking for film jobs. But as any waitress in Los Angeles can tell you, the business can be hard to break into.

However, most people simply need to open up their minds if they are really committed to getting jobs in the film business. When most people think about film jobs, they think of the actors and actresses, the director and the cinematographer. One look at the credits rolling by and you'll see that there are many more jobs in film.

If you want to get jobs in film:

1. Move to Los Angeles or New York City. These two cities are where the majority of film and video jobs are. There is a lot of competition for these jobs and a company is unlikely to hire someone that is not in the area.

2. Consider production jobs. There is less competition for the production side of film and video making than there is for the creative side.

3. Learn about film and video production in school. You will have a better chance of getting a movie job if you know what you are doing.

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

Get an internship to learn about film and video jobs

The film business is notorious for the saying 'It's not what you know. It's who you know.' If you want to gain permanent film employment, you need to have good connections. Since most people don't have a relative in the business, it is only natural that they would turn to internships.

I recommend: EntertainmentCareers.Net lists several internships, many at big film companies. The Vault Internship Board also lists several available internships. Keep in mind that most of these internships are in Los Angeles and are unpaid. You will need to have money for food, housing and transportation.

Search for film jobs in production to break into the business

Production jobs are a great way to work in the film and video business without being in front of the camera. Every production has several people working behind the scenes to make it all happen.

I recommend: Find several different production positions listed at ProductionHUB.com. Alternatively, you can search for production jobs at ACTORS and CREW.

Take care of business behind the scenes with film business jobs

Perhaps not as glamorous or physically demanding as production jobs, film companies need many people to take care of the business end of movies. This could include funding, marketing and accounting.

I recommend: Look for film marketing positions at Juju. No guide to film jobs would be complete without mentioning Variety, which is the industry bible. They conveniently list finance jobs in the film business on their website.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Read industry magazines to stay current. Most film jobs require you to know about the latest technologies.

Many production jobs, video jobs and acting gigs are not advertised because there is more demand for these positions than there are jobs. If you want to secure a film job, you may be intimidated by the competition. However, there are many ways to build your confidence by developing your skills and gaining experience. To land the best jobs in the industry, you will need a good combination of skill-building, formal education from a recognized school and practical hands-on training. Training that allows you to network with industry professionals is also useful in helping you secure a job.

Film jobs education and training can give you the skills and knowledge you need to land a job. Whether you wish to enter jobs in production, writing, directing or acting, however, do keep in mind that the film industry is quite small. Work to develop contacts when seeking film jobs education and training. You will also want to consider:

1. Get a degree in film to gain the basic skills to create films.
2. Attend film seminars and workshops to network your way to a movie job.
3. Hone your abilities through a film internship that offers hands-on training.

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

Earn a film degree that can help you develop the skills you need for jobs in film

If you want to secure film employment, a professional degree can be very helpful. A degree in film studies from a recognized school helps you develop basic skills and lets employers see that you are serious about your career in film. In general, the best film schools offer faculty with experience as film professionals, some sort of internship program or other program that allows for networking and plenty of opportunity to get hands-on experience.

I recommend: FilmSchools.com offers a helpful overview of film schools and the programs they offer. AcademicInfo examines a film studies degree and describes the various programs available in film studies.

Attend film workshops and seminars to keep current in the skills you need for film employment

Film workshops and seminars help keep your skills honed for film business jobs. These events also help you network with people who are looking to fill jobs in the film business. Workshops and seminars are often held on very specific topics, so you can focus on those training events that pertain most closely to your niche.

I recommend: IFP has a listing of current film events across the country, including conferences, seminars and workshops. The Hollywood Film Institute offers online workshops and seminars on a variety of topics related to film making.

Secure a film internship to get practical training for film video jobs

Whether you want to advance your career through production manager jobs or other film jobs, a film internship is an important part of your career development. Film internships are similar to jobs, except that they have a fixed work term. You apply for a film internship and if you are successful, you work for a film company (while getting hands-on training and networking opportunities) for either a small stipend or college credit.

I recommend: SimonTay.com provides practical information about film internships. EntertainmentCareers.net offers a list of internships for the film industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you are considering film school training to get jobs in video or films, keep in mind that film school can be very expensive. Tuition can be costly, and the equipment required for your schooling will be an additional expense. Additionally, most film schools are located in large cities, where living expenses are high. Plan well in advance so that you will be able to finance your training. Apply for loans and scholarships and consider securing a job that will allow you to work while you study and attend classes.

Many people dream of being directors, executive producers, actors or screenplay writers, but few who want to have a career in the film industry consider the jobs on the less extravagant end of making a movie. It takes hundreds of people to make a movie and the majority of them are not directors or actors. This guide will help you explore other opportunities in film production.

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

First AD

First AD is one of the alternative terms for the first assistant director, also simply called 'the first.' The first AD assists the director by relaying messages and performing tasks, manages the cast and crew and helps to coordinate the production to be sure everything is on task.

I recommend: The Sector Skills Council for Creative Media Skillset website provides more details regarding the film position of first AD.

Cinematographer

Much to the surprise of most, cinematographers are not camera operators. Instead, their task is to coordinate the position, angle and composition of the shot in order to portray the mood the director feels the scene should convey.

I recommend: Visit ArtBistro for more information on the duties of cinematographers and how they coordinate with other people to get the movie on film.

PM

PM is short for property master or props master. These individuals read the script for the film and determine what props are necessary for production, set a budget for the props and obtain the props in time for each scene. PMs also make sure that the crew handles and stores props appropriately to minimize replacement costs.

I recommend: Access the University of Wisconsin Production website for more information on a prop master's job.

Production assistant

Production assistants handle the administrative and organizational tasks of the film process. They create reports regarding the production process, establish schedules for the cast and crew, book travel arrangements for shoot locations and perform other clerical-type duties.

I recommend: Find more information on a production assistant's duties and typical salary on College Crunch.

Grip

Grips mainly assist the camera crews and gaffers (chief lighting technicians) with menial tasks, such as pulling/pushing levers and cranks, making repairs to camera, lighting and sound equipment, and providing overall general assistance. Generally, grips are the laborers of film production.

I recommend: Discover a list of various grip duties on Career Planner.

Boom operator

If you've ever seen the large microphone at the end of a long pole that dangles just out of sight of the camera angle for a scene, then you know what a boom is. A boom operator is the person that holds this microphone in the correct position. Boom operators must maintain a steady hand and, to do so, need to have really strong arm muscles.

I recommend: Learn more about boom operators from Schools in the USA. Visit Filmmaking Careers or Matrixx Entertainment for more film job descriptions and key terms.