r/FilmIndustryLA

Hello Reddit! I am currently two years post-undergrad and I'm still stuck in my minimum wage retail job, honestly feel like I've reached plateau. I didn't get into any internships at all during my time in college, highly regret not trying harder to get in, didn't know it was gonna be even harder after I got my BA in film. I'm not sure how to get entry-level jobs or like post-grad internships/apprenticeship and this might be a dumb question but I don't suppose it's worth it enrolling in grad school for connections/internships/unemployment stalling? hahah. If anyone was in a similar situation pleaseee I would appreciate advice on how to get out 😄

Could this work out? I’m thinking of going to really rich neighborhoods and knocking door to door, asking who works in entertainment and handing my resume to whoever does.

I feel like some people might be off put by it, but I think there’ll be some who just really like my spunk and go-get-em attitude.

Hey yall!!

I would like some advice. I recently got offered a job to be an assistant editor (I want to work for post) for a 3 month contract with a possibility to be a full time. The producer told me it’s a big chance and most of the time people become full time. Also they told me that I can start working next week but I can’t cause I have to finish a couple projects so I would ask to start later. I currently live in Monterey and work at the aquarium as an associate producer. I would make around the same amount of money $1200 a week or 30/hr. I have 12k saved. My partner have been wanting to move to LA for a the past three years and now I have a chance to move and bet on myself.

The problem is one I’m scared of the contract and the job not being totally stable. I don’t like the idea of 3 months I can have no job. Two is waiting until September to move in with my partner and friend. I currently pay no rent and live with my parents an hour south of Monterey. So I commute two hours everyday to work. If I take the job then I would look for a room to lease until then.

Should I say fuck it and move to LA to see what happens or keep applying to jobs and see what I get later down the road.

Hi everyone!

I’m volunteering this week at an event held for Paramount Studios staff (through a non profit org).

I’m currently a college student and I’m interested in working in the entertainment industry. In terms of career interest, I’m still exploring but I’m drawn to a few areas:
1 event coordination
2 production roles (or any creative hands on roles)

Since I’ll be there, I was wondering if it would be appropriate to network or mention career interests to the staff there? Of course I won’t be pulling up my resume and be annoying and pushy. I just want to step my foot in the door.

What’s the best way to go about it in a respectful way?

So many filmmakers had to go through devastating rejections before hitting a major milestone. Looking for stories of you or someone you know - what rejection did you face, and what got you to the next milestone?

Example - Spielberg getting rejected from USC and becoming, well, Spielberg.

Or more recently - a friend got rejected from an entry level job and started working at a gym. Months later, the company called and said the first guy didn't work out, and offered him the job. He went on to work his way up and produce multiple movies and TV series for them.

Or - my friend got to the final round of interviews to be an assistant to a major producer, but didn't get the job. Years later she was asked by the producer, who had forgotten they'd met, to guest speak in his adjunct class as an expert.

Edit: not looking for advice or opinions, just stories. Thanks!

I’m heading to Tokyo for basically two months in the hot, humid, sticky, summer. I had completely different plans for my time there, however, it’s very likely that they fell through. So, now I’m trying to use my time wisely in the city, and be productive, so, want to try and execute a short film during my time there. I have another filmmaker friend in the city that offered some insight on potentially how to go about this, but I wanted to see if anyone, in various communities on Reddit, has any insight they’re willing to offer.

I have several weeks before I touch down into the city, in the meantime, I’m drafting the script, then I’ll storyboard. When I land, and get readjusted to the time change, then I can execute principle photography and scouting the locations I want.

Now, after all this is done, the next part sounds rather daunting to me: how do I look for actors? How do I film on location in certain locations?

Also, according to the filmmaker friend, he recommended two options for filming on location. 1) rent the locations, in off-peak hours. Maybe over a ¥10,000 to ¥30,000 location fee to the owners, and 2) guerrilla filming.

Does anyone have thoughts, or insight to provide? I haven’t made a short in years, but this’ll be a first to 1) execute one in a different country, 2) work with potentially foreign(native?) actors.

Anything helps. This is Reddit, people love sharing their opinions or insight, positive or negative.

Please no hate in the comments; I’m just looking for some advice.

I moved to LA in November 2023. I’ve been working a decent amount, but this year has been incredibly slow. (I’m PA, working towards DGA to be an AD.)

I’ve moved my life across the country once, and I’ll do it again if I have to, to be in this industry.

Is it worth it to wait it out here in LA? Or is there somewhere I can move to get the consistent work I’m looking for?

I’m heading to Tokyo for basically two months in the hot, humid, sticky, summer. I had completely different plans for my time there, however, it’s very likely that they fell through. So, now I’m trying to use my time wisely in the city, and be productive, so, want to try and execute a short film during my time there. I have another filmmaker friend in the city that offered some insight on potentially how to go about this, but I wanted to see if anyone, in various communities on Reddit, has any insight they’re willing to offer.

I have several weeks before I touch down into the city, in the meantime, I’m drafting the script, then I’ll storyboard. When I land, and get readjusted to the time change, then I can execute principle photography and scouting the locations I want.

Now, after all this is done, the next part sounds rather daunting to me: how do I look for actors? How do I film on location in certain locations?

Also, according to the filmmaker friend, he recommended two options for filming on location. 1) rent the locations, in off-peak hours. Maybe over a ¥10,000 to ¥30,000 location fee to the owners, and 2) guerrilla filming.

Does anyone have thoughts, or insight to provide? I haven’t made a short in years, but this’ll be a first to 1) execute one in a different country, 2) work with potentially foreign(native?) actors.

Anything helps. This is Reddit, people love sharing their opinions or insight, positive or negative.

Hey all!

I am, or at least used to be, a post production professional. I haven’t had consistent back to back work since just before Valentine’s Day 2024. Was a Data IO coordinator before being unceremoniously dumped on the streets lol.

Anyways, I’m always told I’m not alone when I call myself an outsider looking in every time I have to deliver to post houses whose radar I was on pre-strikes, but I feel that way nonetheless. I feel inferior every time I see a production near me (even though that isn’t a bad sign necessarily), like what made them so special? Lol.

How about we make some kind of support group of sorts? We can mutually share tidbits of advice/guidance and we can all pull thru this industry-wide lul together.

Trailer Park will no longer make trailers.

“this may be a controversial topic- but curious to hear your input- is it still acceptable to walk on to a set and ask the AD for a PA job? or is that a big no no in 2026?”

This topic was brought up in a crew stories group I am in on Facebook and am taken aback by the large amount of comments advising this person to walk into a live set to ask for a job. Op doesn’t specify if she is apart of the crew or a random person see a filming set on location. Are random people just walking on set to get gigs now a days