Why Should I Work Free Of Charge In The Film Industry?

By Owen Jones

If you are dreaming of a career in the film industry, you share a dream with millions of other young hopefuls whether you want to work before or behind the camera.. The problem is that there are too many people chasing too few posts. This means that the film industry has the luxury of being able to pick and choose who works for it.

With so much competition for even the lowliest of lowly entrance level jobs, you require an edge over your competitors. This edge is education at university degree for most young individuals, but for others it is previous experience or, even better, a degree in the film industry and previous experience.

This is where it gets difficult. How can you obtain previous experience, if you need previous experience to get work? It is the Catch 22 that discourages most beginners from jumping that final hurdle into the film industry. The answer is to offer your services free of charge as a volunteer - what is often called as an intern.

In the bad old Victorian days and before, it was standard for apprentices to pay their master for their education. Well, those days are back again in the film industry, if they ever went away. These days, you pay by working free of charge for a year or two.

This is not so dire in countries where school leavers may rely on social security payments, otherwise you need wealthy parents who can support you. A personal recommendation from someone already in the industry is very helpful too.

This is why the sons and daughters of well-known media personalities appear to be cropping up everywhere in the industry. Nepotism is alive and well.

However, acquiring that first job, paid or not, is a great thrill and fills the volunteer with hope of a new job in the glittering world of the film industry, although you may not find it so glittering once you see the industry from the inside. The hours are long and the money is not fantastic at the bottom of the pile.

The good news is that the experience of your first job, paid or not, will go on your resume and establish your entry into the film industry.

For the rest of your life. you will always be able to say: "I first went into films in 2011" and the second and following jobs will come more easily if you were good at it.

You will not only have a CV proving experience but you will have names and private phone numbers in your telephone book. This is worth as much or more than the experience. Networking and making friends is vital in small, tightly-knit industries like filming. Everyone in the business knows everybody else.

This method of gaining a foothold in the film industry is built-into many university courses nowadays, because it is recognized as one of the only routes in, if your parents were not in it first.

About the Author:

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on lots of subjects, but is at present concerned with professional studio photographers. If you have an interest in cameras, please go over to our website now at cameras Studio Cameras