Q+A: Getting Paid In The Film Industry....

This is a rough guide that to be honest is mainly common sense but sometimes the simplest route is the right one.

Who you are...
This is important because you are working with other people in what usual at times becomes very stressful and tiring. This is the most important aspect for getting a job in the first place (paid) and getting referral work, which is like gold dust. The qualities you need such as team work and patience etc.. come from real life, though they are improved a lot after a few years of filming. Generally i like to believe if you are a good person to work with, it will get you a long way.

What do you know?...
Its all very well being the most patience person in the world but not everyone else is when you don't know what your doing, in fact they will have no patience!!. So learn your equipment and the area you are interested in. This is one of the inspirations for this blog because i hope it becomes a massive resource for people to understand more than they need in life and there job but all provide you with better ways of overcoming solutions and instilling confidence in people you are the man or woman for the job.

I have a degree....
This doesn't mean much if you didn't take anything away from it and your dissertation was on an obscure aspect of your field of expertise that has no real relevance to what you do day to day. My personal experience was since i was not keen on the written (ironic now i'm writing a massive blog) but instead focused on the equipment and gaining experience.

But i have no or little experience....
Well what did you learn? this is very important in establishing your skills and knowledge of your field and with you being that good person i'm sure if things went wrong and you learned something then being that good guy others forgave you because you did your best with what you had and you can get referrals.

But everything so expensive...
Loads of people have set up business with much bigger debts than £30,000 of sound equipment for instance and after all its all tax deductible haha... but seriously, getting on the ladder with expenses only films gives you at least a break even balance sheet and if you prove up front you are the best person for the job then you can even get an extra £50 here and £50 there to get your apatite going. I believe only people that truly want to work in this industry get there because its a lot easier to get better at things that don't matter like packing boxes at amazon.

So it's going to be easy now?!?!...
No, sadly not, but it makes it all the more worth while when you get that first job or you get that new microphone and see progress, even seeing that new job for £1000 a week can get you going. (if it doesn't forget everything above) Even to work on films there are no set hours and people expect a lot for not much money on most productions and for everyone to get along and be happy.. BUT i wouldn't want to be doing anything else!!

My success equation is: ((BG * K) * EQ = £) * Reinvestment + Referrals + Testimonials = "successful career"

BG = Being Good Person        K = Knowledge              EQ = Equipment         * = times by

Best of luck and Thanks,

- Matt Price