So you wanna be in the movies?
Thunderbirds. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Wimbledon. These are just some of the films being made in the UK right now. Even though these are big Hollywood pictures, the British Film Industry is actually quite a small place. And there are thousands of young people trying to get their big break into it.
We don’t make that many films so competition for jobs is fierce. So before you think about a career in film you need to realise that. You should also know that you won’t have a permanent job. Almost everybone who works on films is a freelancer moving (if they are very lucky and talented) from one feature to the next every 3 – 6 months. If you’re not put off by this, good! Well done! You’ve passed the first test. Determination and perseverance are the name of the film game. You won’t get anywhere without them.
A lot more goes into getting a movie on to the cinema screen than you might think. Investigate as much as you can so you get a good idea of all the jobs and how they work together as an overall business before approaching anyone for a job.
Pre – production: before filming the writer has to develop the script, the crew has to be hired, the finance to pay everyone has to be raised, and the locations for each scene have to be found and sets have to be built.
Production: filming of the movie begins. Here the grips, AD’s, and dresser props get to work. Grips are responsible for the tracking and dolly which the camera sits on and is moved around on, an AD is one of many Assistant Directors and dresser props set up the locations and backdrops to look authentic.
Post Production: now the scenes that have been shot need to be edited together and special effects need to be done and music added. For this Foleys, editors, and ADR (additional dialogue recording) are needed.
How do I get in?
Experience. Experience. Experience. Many Universities run film courses or you might apply to a specialised film school. But remember, there are no courses that can guarantee entry into a film career. The industry values experience and practical skills above all else so when looking at courses choose the ones that are hands on; that have good links with the industry; and that can get you work experience placements. There are some structured new entrants schemes which last 18 months to 2 years; give you a recognised industry qualification; and a series of vital practical work placements on movies ranging from Bond to Bend It Like Beckham. As you can guess, competition for places is fierce.
Write to companies. Pester them. Get hold of a copy of The Knowledge (it’s expensive so go to your library!!) which is packed full of addresses and contact names. To get your foot in the door you will be starting at the bottom as a dogsbody and some people do end up working for free just to get the experience. It’s not something that is encouraged by the industry but it is a realistic possibility so be prepared for it. If you still can’t get experience why not start making your own movies. Technology is changing. More and more films are being made cheaper using hand held digital cameras so if you want to produce or direct, get out there and show people what you can do.
Sarah–Jane Wright from Working Title Films, which made hit movies Bridget Jones Diary and Johnny English, suggests:
“Write to production companies and studios, find out what films are in pre production, be humble and prepared to start at the very bottom. Be persistent and dedicated and never underestimate the importance of enthusiasm. Producers want to see how keen you are to get into the industry and how much you know about the realities of the work. A vague dream to make movies will not cut it. And if you are going to work for 18 hours straight on location in often miserable conditions as a dogsbody possibly for free you are going to need a sense of humour.”