Graduating film school can be one of the most daunting moments in a filmmaker’s life. Unlike people who choose more traditional majors, such as engineering or medicine, most film graduates don’t have the luxury of applying to “entry-level” jobs or intern positions with the hope of working their way up the ladder. So how do you propel your film career in those first months out of film school? Here are 4 tips to get you started.
Keep In Touch with Your Film School Friends
While you might be busy trying to find a job that pays the bills (or applying for internships), it’s important to find a way to keep in touch with the connections you made in film school.
Take advantage of the fact that you and your film buddies are on the same level in terms of success and collaborate with them on as many projects as you can. Help them on their projects and ask them to help you on yours. This is the time to strengthen your bond and show your connections that you have what it takes.
You never know if that one friend you shoot a 2-minute skit with will end up landing a studio job in a few years. And if that happens, having kept in touch with them might get you a foot in the door if an opportunity arises. Networking is one of the most important aspects of a filmmaker’s life, so make sure you get an early start.
Produce a Calling Card
To get hired or to interest others in working and collaborating with you, you need to be able to showcase your skills — whether you’re a cinematographer, a director, a production designer, or something else. One of the best ways to sell yourself is to have a strong sample of your work, also known as your “calling card.”
However, you don’t need to break the bank or spend months filming to produce a solid calling card. When you’re just starting, quality is more important than quantity. So instead of trying to stretch a $100 or $1000 budget to make a five or ten-minute short film, make a 30-second or 1-minute short film instead.
This will allow you to ensure your micro-film has a high production value, which is much more important and impactful than the length of your film.
Shoot anything and put it online!
The beauty of platforms like YouTube and TikTok is that you don’t have to have professional film equipment or a full film crew to make videos that people will like. YouTube is full of examples of people who have found success in non-traditional ways.
What’s important is to focus on the story. However long or short your video is, people will watch it if your story is funny or smart. The goal of starting a YouTube channel or a TikTok account is not to become an influencer or a viral star — although that wouldn’t hurt! The goal is to put your skills into practice, create a few pieces of content you can add to your portfolio, and keep your creative juices flowing.
Plus, having a place where you can showcase your work will allow you to reach new audiences and connect with other content creators who might be open to collaborating with you
Look for Niche Grants
Being fresh out of film school doesn’t always have to mean you get the short end of the stick in the filmmaking world. In fact, there are many organizations out there looking to empower up-and-coming talent. A quick google search could help you find many grants that are open only to first-time filmmakers or recent film school graduates.
To increase your chances of receiving a grant, make sure to apply to the ones where you can prove to bring value to the organization giving out the grant. For instance, if you’re interested in LGBT issues, look for a grant supporting LGBT filmmakers. Or if you’re interested in documentary filmmaking, you’ll be sure to find grants open exclusively to aspiring documentary filmmakers.
It’s Okay to Say No
One of the most common issues beginner filmmakers will encounter is that everyone wants you to work for free. And while it’s true that sometimes the experience alone can make the work worth your time, knowing when to say no to unpaid work is important.
For instance, If you don’t have a car to get yourself to a low-budget film shoot in a remote location, don’t dip into your savings just to Uber yourself there. No experience is worth risking you not being able to pay the rent.
And when you do take unpaid work, make sure to request beforehand that you get a tangible reward for your work such as a recommendation, timely IMDB credit, or footage that you can add to your portfolio.
The Takeaway...
Stepping out of film school and into the real world doesn’t have to be as intimidating as it seems. Remember that no one’s path into becoming a successful filmmaker looks the same. Just be sure to do things that keep you creating, stay connected to other creators, always be on the lookout for opportunities, and take care of your sanity!
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Note From Tongal: "Stepping Into the Industry: Tips for Graduates Fresh out of Film School" 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. You can read more Tongal Community-written posts here.
