Every day on my Facebook or Instagram feed, I feel like I see a new post advertising a Zoom call with a famous cast reuniting for a table read or a general discussion answering fan questions. And while the idea of me talking to the cast of The Goonies is certainly out of reach during normal times, we’re in an unusual time where the walls of filmmaking are a little relaxed and people want to help one another.
This got me thinking, what are the best ways to network during a pandemic? With everyone home, is access to top directors or DPs actually a bit easier? While we miss aspects of filmmaking, like collaborating on larger sets or sitting in movie theaters, filmmakers can use this time to expand their base and even make some new connections. So here are my top five tips for networking during a pandemic, in the random order I felt like typing them.
The Goonies cast on a Zoom call. I wasn’t invited.
#5 Change Your Mindset
I have admittedly received a few emails during this pandemic from freelancers asking to be hired. I think this is the wrong way to go about things, as a lot of people don’t have steady work right now (myself included). Put your FOMO aside and rest assured that you’re not alone. Now is the time to change your mindset from ‘looking for work’ to looking for advice and building connections.
#4 Just A Lil’ Check-In
Think of this as a time for reactivating relationships from a genuine place. Are there people you started to build a professional relationship with right before everything went into lockdown? Reach out and ask about having virtual coffee one morning, offering up things you’re working on, or hope to start working on, in an organic way. You don’t have to stop building these relationships just because of the circumstances.
#3 Finally Start Using LinkedIn
This is some advice I should probably take myself, but there really are some great features on LinkedIn that can help you network. Post past work, show off those great BTS pics, and give your relevant info an update. While you’re at it, there’s no reason you can’t be using this time to stop procrastinating on that new reel you’ve been itching to cut, new website design you’ve wanted to try, or even just getting old work online.
I bet she’s cutting a new reel. Why aren’t you cutting a new reel?
#2 Get Involved With A Filmmaking Group
There are many excellent online communities offering fantastic live, chat-based interviews with some big industry names. I would recommend seeking out and hopping on some of these virtual calls while the wall between regular folks and industry titans remains porous. The other filmmakers who are watching and commenting can be valuable connections, and group networking calls sometimes pop up from these chats.
Three valuable online communities I know of are:
Cinematographers Insight (run by the awesome DP and fellow Tongaler Rob Ruscher) is a private group, but just request to join. Members regularly link to live calls with big-name DPs and Gaffers.
Hurlburt Academy on Facebook has also been posting great live Q&As and creative discussions with top talent like DP Polly Morgan and Gaffer John Higgins.
And Filmmaker U has been doing wonderful live videos with a lot of post-production talk.
#1 Create Content That Creates Opportunities
If you really want a reason to talk to someone in the industry, starting your own podcast or YouTube channel might be the perfect excuse. Two incredible filmmaking friends who run a documentary production company, Vinegar Hill Creative, started an amazing podcast called School of Doc because they wanted to connect with and interview documentary filmmakers. If you have a great way to collect interviews and share that knowledge with others, industry people will want to connect with you. After all, people have time and do want to help.
I hope you’ve found these advice nuggets delicious and helpful (I’m not very good at analogies). Just keep in mind that people really do want to help others and, to a certain degree, we’re all facing similar circumstances. One last adage is that it’s okay to not be your most productive during a pandemic. While I know plenty of other articles have said this, I really believe it. Happy networking!
About the Author: Andy Kelemen is a commercial director who has worked for Disney, American Express, California Almonds, and Jack Link’s. He’s based in Pittsburgh and refinishing all aspects of his house while not working.
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Note From Tongal: "How to Network During a Pandemic" is part of a series of Tongal Community-written blog posts that were originally sourced in the Tongal Blog Open Call Project. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Tongal. Read more Tongal Community-written posts here and then Pitch us a topic you'd like to write about for the Tongal Blog!
