2.3 Potential progression routes into the film industry and wider sector
Ways to get into the Industry
Create
Collaboration:
-joining groups and courses and maintaining contact with those you meet
-looking for online ads to work with or for people
-network: find people who want to make similar films to you, have different skills, higher up than you
Online Content:
-Youtube
-Vimeo
-Social Media
-Make a page/account for your film
-create an online network
Funding:
-BFI
-Kickstart/Go fund me
-Random Acts
-BBC Shots
-Sundance
Distribution:
-Film festivals: Sundance, IDA, Future Film Festival
-Social Media
-Calling the Shots
-Rife
-In Between Time
-Without a box
Networking
Networking is an effective way to get into the industry, it involves getting yourself out there and sharing your skills and experiences with other people with similar interests.
The word “networking” can seem very taunting but in this day and age it’s very different and it’s a lot easier to share your skills with people. Networking is almost like selling yourself and getting to know people with similar skills or skills that work well with your skills.
There are lots of ways to network like (Online networking, Event networking and work networking.
Online networking
Creative skill Hub west
Fiver
Upwork
Events
BFI
BAFTA
Film festivals
FAB
Education
College
University
Film school
BFI
Opportunity’s
Work
Production companies:
- BBC
- Doghouse studios
- Bottleyard
- Aardman
- films@59
- Omni productions
- Icon films
Post-production houses:
- films@59
- Doghouse
- Wounded Buffalo
Entry level jobs:
- Scriptwriting
- Production work experiment
- Set PA
- Floor runner
- Floor assistant
- Admin } emails, calls etc
- Trainee }department trainee, costume, Camera operator
Some other options that are less full work oriented include internships and apprenticeships. Some places you can go for these include:
- RIFE
- ITV
- BBC
- Channel 4
Learn
Film school/university :
- g. screen ology, UWE, Bournemouth, Falmouth
- The balance of good equipment, tutors, work opportunities/placements
BFI:
- BFI academy
- NFTS 2 week course
Training:
- Mentorship (through networking?)
- BBC, ITV, C4 Apprenticeship schemes
- Specialist skills workshops e.g. Steadicam operating
- Internships e.g. Rife
Self Learning:
- Making films, videos and learning from mistakes
- Watching films
- Online articles e.g. No film school
- Online masterclasses
- Youtube videos – tutorials, video essays etc.
Group Research
Create
Creating your own films/documentary/content and building up a portfolio to show to potential employees or to enter into festivals and get recognition etc.
Collaboration:
-Joining groups and courses and maintaining contact with those you meet
-Looking for online ads to work with or for people
-Network: find people who want to make similar films to you, have different skills, higher up than you
Online Content:
-Youtube – free distribution
-Vimeo – free distribution
-Social Media to promote your films and let people know what you’re doing
-Make a page/account for your film
-Create an online network/platform for people to express and allow you to connect
Funding:
-BFI
-Kickstart/Go fund me
-Random Acts
-BBC Shots
-Sundance
Distribution:
-Film festivals: Sundance, IDA, Future Film Festival
-Social Media
-Calling the Shots
-Rife
-In Between Time
-Without a box
Networking
Networking is a effective way to get into the industry, it involves getting yourself out there and sharing your skills and experiences with other people with similar interests.
The word “networking” can seem very daunting but in this day and age its very different and it’s a lot easier to share your skills with people. Networking is almost like selling yourself and getting to know people with similar skills or skills that works well with your skills.
There are lots of ways to network like (Online networking, Event networking and work networking.
Online networking
Creative skill Hub west
Fiver
Upwork
Events
BFI
BAFTA
Film festivals
FAB
Education
College
University
Film school
BFI
Opportunity’s
Work
Production companies:
* BBC
* Doghouse studios
* Bottleyard
* Aardman
* films@59
* Omni productions
* Icon films
Post production houses:
* films@59
* Doghouse
* Wounded buffalo
Entry level jobs:
* Script writing
* Production work experiment
* Set PA
* Floor runner
* Floor assistant
* Admin } emails, calls etc
* Trainee }department trainee, costume, Camera operator
Some other options that are less full work oriented include internships and apprenticeships. Some places you can go for these include:
* RIFE
* ITV
* BBC
* Channel 4
Learn
Film school/university :
* e.g. screenology, UWE, Bournemouth, Falmouth
* Balance of good equipment, tutors, work opportunities/placements
BFI:
* BFI academy
* NFTS 2 week course
Training:
* Mentorship (through networking?)
* BBC, ITV, C4 Apprenticeship schemes
* Specialist skills workshops e.g. Steadicam operating
* Internships e.g. Rife
Self Learning:
* Making films, videos and learning from mistakes
* Watching films
* Online articles e.g. No film school
* Online masterclasses
* Youtube videos – tutorials, video essays etc
Personal Progression Plan
What areas/specialisms in creative media you like to work in?
One area in particular that interests me is working in post productions, for example, working as an Editor or Animator. I have always found editing such a fun process and its nice to be responsible for putting everything together. Editing is so powerful and as an editor, you have power over how the final film will look. I also really enjoy 3D animation and see this as a potential job to work in.
Would you like to further study film/creative media?
After my Level 3 creative Film and Media production course at college, I am hoping to either try and get an apprenticeship or do a film course in university.
What courses interest you?
I am interested in doing a Film production course at Falmouth University.
If I don’t get in, I want to try and get an apprenticeship somewhere in Bristol.
Which local media companies would you be interested in working with?
Not 100% sure yet but a lot media companies’ interest’s me for example Aardman animations, BBC, Equine productions, Rumpus Animations.
What are the options for making your own content?
I make videos on YouTube and on my college course I am constantly making videos. I make animations and upload it to blender swap. Some of my best videos I put on Vimeo.
What would you make and how?
I would make funny videos for Youtube just to improve my technical skills and audience research.
At college i make a lot of things from adverts to music videos, I try to make it as professional as It can be. I sometimes do paid working making short 3D animations for customers on Blender.
What are the options for funding and distribution?
I guess if I ever need money, I would just work for it, but I can ask for funding on kick starter.
What networks will you join?
BFI, college, work experience at a film company, Upwork, Youtube, Vimeo
What do you hope to gain from these networks?
I hope to use these platforms and events to connect with people that are passionate about making films. Its good to have friends that are in the industry. Its good to have connections since it’s a very competitive industry.
Are there other opportunities you are interested in?
I would like to learn more about sound and how important it all is.
What are your next steps?
After BFI and college, I want to go on a gap year to take a break from education but during my gap year, I will make lots of videos gain more technical skill with editing animation. I want to enter Cardiff independent film festival and make a short film that I have been working on for 2 years. And after the gap year maybe go to University or become an apprentice.