Full Careers

Career in Media?

Is their any job that is the film making (movie, tv, anything) that has a entry level job and a salary and i can work my way up but still be able to have a successful life in movies and television instead of free lancing and having a job for a little whiile then having to go search for a new one.

Public Comments

1. I not sure what type of career you have in mind, but I recommend looking at the Motion Picture and Video Industries page in the Career Guide to Industries (see source) For instance one of the thing is says is Opportunities will be better in some occupations than in others. Computer specialists, multimedia artists and animators, film and video editors, and others skilled in digital filming, editing, and computer-generated imaging should have the best job prospects. There also will be opportunities for broadcast and sound engineering technicians and other specialists, such as gaffers and set construction workers. In contrast, keen competition can be expected for the more glamorous, high-paying jobs in the industry—writers, actors, producers, and directors—as many more people seek a fewer number of these jobs. Small or independent filmmakers may provide the best job prospects for beginners, because they are likely to grow more quickly as digital technology cuts production costs
2. Almost all production jobs in film/tv are essentially free lance. (and by production jobs I generally mean those that would be on or around a set) Directors, actors, grips, editors, writers - they all worry about their next "gig". Working in the feature film world invariably means hopping from picture to picture sometimes with large gaps of time in between. TV is also fickle. While some shows like ER and Law and Order have had long runs, the overwhelmingly large portion of shows don't make it much further than their pilot. And if you're lucky enough to be on a show that makes it past season 1, that still doesn't guarantee stability. Firing and hiring employees is the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to solve problems during production. Sometimes entire deprtments are let go when a department head is fired or chooses to leave. But, If you're good at what you do, times of unemployment can be rare and the high wages possible might make it worth it. Start as a PA (I recommend production office PA as set PA's are groomed to become AD's) and go from there. Mandy.com or Craigslist is a good starting point. The only semblance of stability offered in Hollywood is on the more corporate side - production companies, studios, agencies, networks, etc. All of these offer somewhat logical hierarchies for advancement: intern, assistant, coordinator, then onward and upward, hopefully. My recommendation would be to contact companies directly. You know, the ones you've heard of - Paramount, NBC, William Morris, Nickelodeon. Call them up and ask them what the procedure is to become an intern there. Good interns don't stay interns for long. Within a few months you hold be getting a paycheck. Another good start is temping. Find a temp agency that caters to the industry (most in Hollywood do, and moving there is really the first step) and sign up. Some places, like Disney, get almost all of their entry level hires through temp agencies. Unless you have an uncle in the biz, be prepared for long hours, low wages and treatment that sometimes borders on abuse. But, trust me, with a thick skin and a little patience, it will all be worth it. Like I said, the cream quickly rises to the top. Good luck!