Getting Started in the Industry

What to Do with your newly acquired skills

Presented by Fred Ginsburg CAS PhD

Cold mailing will NOT get you any work! Job offers come from co-worker

recommendations or networking. Resumes should not reveal everything; they

should only present enough information to invite questions…

Think of them as a TEASER AD CAMPAIGN.

Resumes

Expect to create customized resumes for each job position that you apply for.

Hollywood does not believe in the Jack of All Trades approach.

Choose a specific skill and tweak your resume to best reflect your qualifications and experience in that area.

Resumes

At the top of your resume, present your name and contact information.

Phone Email (keep it professional); Website Mailing address (for personal security reasons,

try to avoid your real street address if you own lots of gear or are female). PO Boxes are great, or c/o local business, etc.

Discarded resumes are often picked up by nefarious persons looking for vulnerable actresses!

Contact Information

Be as specific as you can about what position you are applying for.

Examples: Production Sound Mixer, Assistant Camera, Sound Editing, Assistant Editor

Never just imply… “Any Entry Level Position Available”

If you cannot list a specific position, at least show a department or category, such as “Post Production”

Specialization or Objective

If you belong to a union, show your union & local number, classification, and status.

Example: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Local 695, Y-1 Production Sound Mixer, Group 1.

Warning: Although display of union status will enable you to obtain work on a union show, it will discourage non-union producers from hiring you.

Consider having two versions of your resume.

Union Affiliation

Or could be “ADDITIONAL AREAS OF PROFESSIONAL EMPHASIS”

Summarize your other tech skills & prod skills, besides your specialization.

Don’t get overly specific and list every camera or software program.

Add any special skills/hobbies that would be relevant to the position and be an asset to the production, such as PADI scuba or equestrian, foreign language.

Areas of Professional Achievement

List employment, full or p.t. that support your specialization.

Create a summary listing for FREELANCE, if applicable. Do not list every gig!

Do not show jobs that were not relevant to your profession. Feel free to “tweak” job descriptions where applicable to sound more professional and relevant.

Okay to list internships.

Professional Experience

You might embellish what you have done, but never exaggerate what you know how to do!

Professional Experience

List college degrees in descending order. Indicate college, city/state, years attended. Show the degree earned and major. List any awards or special ranks. Embellish within reason. Dean’s List, Dept

Honors, (Greek) cinema honors societies, etc. Sounds impressive and usually not on

transcript. Only list high school if special academic

degrees or relevant awards. Otherwise, no one cares.

Education

In our industry, no one really cares about your basic education.

They just want to know that you finished college and were a good student.

Hollywood does not trust your college taught skills, since so many film schools are a sham.

It’s not about the transcripts, but about what skills you can really bring to the table in order to be a productive employee.

Education

No one cares about your student film experiences, unless you won a major award.

Show titles and production companies of films you worked on.

Indicate nature of project, such as 35mm feature, commercial, corp, pilot, MOV, etc.

Capacity in which you worked: Sound Mixer, Boom, 2nd Asst Cam, etc.

Most credits should reflect or relate to your specialization.

Production Credits

May need to creatively embellish. Choose title similar to MOV or B-movies. Never claim credit on a real production that

you did not work on! People find out. Good to list industrial or corp credits.

Mundane training films are common and impossible to verify credits, yet show good experience.

Production Credits

Pay close attention to time constraints and academic schedule.

When did you find the time to work on all these productions? Do not overdo it.

If you list (student) productions, then make them read as (professional) productions.

At end of this category, insert a disclaimer that in addition to all of the above, you also worked on numerous STUDENT films. No one cares, but lends credibility to your pro credits.

Production Credits

List any publications or blogs that you have published.

List any awards that you have won. Create some minor awards that you or a

film worked on won. Small community or ethnic film festivals, perhaps. Second Place or Honorable Mention are more humble and less likely to be suspect.

Publications & Awards

List membership in professional associations such as SMPTE, CAS, MPSE, LAPPG, SOC, ACE, NAB, ITVA, UFVA, etc.

Organizations should be relevant to the industry.

Okay to list them, even if you are a student or associate member.

Indicate any positions or committees.

Professional Affiliations

This is the tag line that ends your resume. No need to list references unless they are

major players and well recognized by name. Even Al Capone could list some references,

so just names of professors or minor employers have no clout.

References Furnished upon Request

Your completed resume can be one or two pages in length. Even three pages, if the content warrants it.

But generally try to keep it down to two. Format is up to you, so long as it is

graphically neat and consistent. Make sure that it is arranged logical and

easy to read. Avoid super small type that may be hard to discern without a magnifier!

Length and Format

Best deal is VistaPrint.com Avoid small fonts that are hard to read Avoid dark backgrounds that you cannot

write notes on Include a photo so people can associate

your face to the name Keep the back side blank to accommodate

notes

Business Cards

When networking a busy venue such as a tradeshow or festival, VIP’s are deluged by students and wanna-be’s.

Stand out and be memorable by creating a signature look for yourself. A unique style of wardrobe or accessories that serves as your “look”. Wear that same “look” every day, so that VIP’s will remember you from the days before and associate your business card with you.

Fred Ginsburg wears a cowboy hat which is easily spotted and recognizable at NAB and NAMM.

Create a Signature Look

Don’t be just another fan. Never ask for an autograph. Ask well structured questions based on in-

depth research. Don’t expect a job offer or invitation; but

ask if you can contact the VIP after the event to follow up on your conversation.

When meeting VIP’s

Film festivals are a chance to see movies a few weeks before the rest of us.

You may spot a Star or a major player, but odds are against any serious conversations.

Interning at Festivals usually involves being hidden behind the scenes and menial labor.

Unless your film is being screened, they are rarely productive to your career.

Film Festivals vs Trade Shows

Learn the new technology. Meet dealers and factory reps whom you

can contact in the future for info, training, etc.

Always introduce yourself to people standing around you at the booths; they are end-users and potential employers.

Don’t try to see everything; it is not a scavenger hunt.

Spend lots of time in a few booths so that you can really learn something useful.

Trade Shows

Remember your “signature look”, so that people may recognize you later on.

Bring water & snacks to the exhibit hall. Many vendors host hospitality suites up in

the local hotels. Avoid the large “everyone’s invited” after-

parties; they are noisy & crowded. Instead, seek out the smaller “users

groups” functions; more likely to learn stuff & network with new people.

Trade Shows

Preregister EARLY for trade shows. Most shows offer free registration to Exhibit Halls.

Last minute registration costs a fee. Never book a hotel with a travel site.

Instead, reserve directly with the hotel. Hotels will match internet pricing. Hotels will allow cancellations up to 24 or

48 hrs before, without any cancellation fee! If you cancel or change hotels, no problem!

Travel Tips

Rental Houses Non-profits (medical, charities) Government (police, fire, water & power,

transportation, council offices)

Places to find first employment

Best way to learn current technology. Meet professional end-users and producers

who come to rent equipment. Become trained on the hardware. If no immediate openings, offer to come in

for FREE in order to observe and be trained in procedures and protocols. Eventually, the rental house will need someone to fill in for an absent employee or help out during busy days, and you are the prime person to use!

Rental Houses

These organizations are more concerned about getting things done than impressing big money clients. More likely to let you get immediate hands-on experience.

Your level of expertise may be equal to theirs, so your opinions tend to be respected.

Many filmmakers in the dept came up from the ranks, and are not college trained (in film). Allows you to stand out.

Great opportunity to learn what really goes on in police, fire, hospital, etc. for mastering the genre.

Non-profits & Government

Join relevant associations as student member.

Attend monthly meetings to network and learn new technology.

Arrive early so you can help set up. Greet the members and introduce yourself. Eventually, volunteer for the

Newsletter/Journal or the Planning Committee.

Networking

Planning Committee goes around town to seek companies to host future meetings.

Excellent excuse to visit any company and speak directly to the boss!

Companies love to promote themselves to their peers. You will be warmly received.

Planning Committee

Always in need of content. Chance for you to be “published”. (And that

allows you to get an agent.) Excuse to visit any company and meet with

the boss. Everyone wants publicity. Choose your subject so that it is relevant to

YOUR GOALS. Explain that you are not writing an expose

and do not intend to make your subject look bad. Out to make friends in the business!

Newsletter, Journal, or Website

Promise to bring in a copy of your draft and let them check it for accuracy or unintended revelations.

After the work is published, be the first to bring them copies of the printed piece.

Newsletter, Journal, or Website

Aka Contributing Writer or Contributing Editor

Write articles for the leading trade magazines. Great way to get published and get your name recognized.

Always choose your own subjects; don’t take editorial assignments that will waste too much of your time. Magazines barely pay.

After you complete your draft, shotgun it around to the various editors and see if anyone wants to run with it.

Freelance Magazine Author

Usually, one or another of the trades will be interested. You may have to tweak the article to fit their magazine style.

After publication, get a stack of copies from the magazine and take them to the people you wrote about.

Sometimes you can collect fees from both ends: the company or mfr that you wrote about; and the magazine publisher.

Freelance Magazine Author

Never put people on the spot by handing them your business card or resume and hitting them up for work.

Instead, flatter them and tell them how respected they are in the industry, and ask them if they might know of anyone who might be hiring someone like yourself.

If they have a job for you, they will offer it at that point. If they do not have an opening, then they might steer you in the right direction, or even make a phone call introduction on your behalf.

Asking for a job

First, go to the company and SCOUT the place out.

How is the Receptionist dressed? Level of dress reflects the boss’s expectations.

Go to the restroom and hang out. How are the employees dressed? Check out the hallways.

Check out the company BRAG WALL. What are the plaques and certificates about? Awards, community involvement, hobbies.

Surviving the Interview

Go home and research the company as well as its key people. What is the company best known for? Any awards, inventions, technologies?

Key people: Who are they and what do they do? What companies did they work for previously? What accomplishments are they known for?

Surviving the Interview

When it comes time for your face to face interview, dress appropriately. About one level up from what you observed.

Turn your cell phone completely OFF. Not even on vibrate. No distractions!!!!!!!

Answer the question, and then finish your answer with a question! Your questions should reflect that you did your homework and know about the achievements of the company and its staff.

Surviving the Interview

The trick is to gradually flip the interview so that you are asking the questions and the interviewer is eager to answer them.

At the end of the session, even though the interviewer did most of the talking, they will consider it to be a most productive session and think highly of you.

Above all, they will be very impressed that you knew about their company, key employees, and accomplishments!

Surviving the Interview

Too many internships are just excuses for near-free labor and exploitation.

Interns should have the opportunity to observe the inner workings; not to be the office bitch.

Unpaid Internships are far more likely to be learning and mentoring opportunities.

Paid Interns are expected to earn their keep by doing all the crap work.

Internships

Find your own internship by seeking out someone in the industry.

Meet these individuals at the monthly meetings, or seek them out on the internet.

Flatter them, and ask if you could visit them on the set or in their studio.

Once they let you come out and watch them at work, ask them nicely if they could sponsor you for an Internship with them. Point out that it would not cost them a penny, and that you would be willing to assist them the best you could.

Internships

If they agree, then see the correct person at the college to work out the paperwork.

By creating your own Internship, you will maximize your time spent in the studio or learning from your mentor.

Except for the biggest names in the industry, most professionals are flattered to have a student ask to learn from them.

Your mentors will also introduce you to the other departments on the set, so that you can hang out with them as well.

Internships

Do not waste an opportunity by applying too prematurely for a potential internship.

Wait until you are close to graduation, so that you bring your best skills & knowledge.

And… if the internship works out so well that they offer you employment – you do not want to have to choose between a tempting job offer or finishing college!

Internships

Deferred means FREE. Sure, they always promise to pay you after

the film makes money, but it almost never happens.

Work deferred for the experience and the opportunity –not for the money!

Deferred Features

Never lay out or advance any personal money for the benefit of the production company, except for equipment you might purchase for yourself and charge rental for.

Never use your credit card as security deposit for hotel, airfare, rental car, or anything that is supposed to be PAID by the production company. If they flake, you get stuck with the bill!

Deferred Features

Make sure that you have your return airline ticket in hand, BEFORE you leave for the location. Verify that it is valid and fully paid.

Have a written contract (deal memo) that spells out how much you will be paid, and when.

Make sure that you will be paid at the same time as cash investors… pari passu

Your investment of time & energy is just as valuable as their cash!

Your deferred payment should be way higher than your normal salary, since it is a gamble.

Working Deferred

Get all your promises and assurances in writing. If you are forced to use your own credit card to cover “additional charges” to your room, then get it in writing (from the hotel) that your card can only be charged for your own personal charges and NOT for the basic room charges nor any production company charges.

If you bill the production company anything for expendables, rentals, etc. – demand payment at time of invoice. Do not extend terms (end of week, end of month, so on.)

Working Deferred

Always assume that the Production Company has no real money behind them, and will try as hard as possible to shoot this film on “credit” or fraud.

Be wary; be paranoid. History has taught us that although some producers are honest & sincere, there are many out there who are not to be trusted.

Try to investigate the principals of the production company and determine their reputation around town.

Dead Beats?

Think of yourself as a character in a script… What attributes would a potential employer

be looking for? Skills? Experience? Confidence? Demeanor? Wardrobe? Attitude? Become that character in real life!

In Conclusion