Advice to students about to graduate and looking to get started in the film industry. Guide to creating your resume, how to network and get noticed, making the most of trade shows and film festivals, creating your own internship, and how to survive working deferred on your first films.

1. What to Do with your newly acquired skills
Presented by Fred Ginsburg CAS PhD

2.  Cold mailing will NOT get you any work!
 Job offers come from co-worker
recommendations or networking.
 Resumes should not reveal everything; they
should only present enough information to
invite questions…
 Think of them as a TEASER AD CAMPAIGN.

3.  Expect to create customized resumes for
each job position that you apply for.
 Hollywood does not believe in the Jack of All
Trades approach.
 Choose a specific skill and tweak your resume
to best reflect your qualifications and
experience in that area.

4.  At the top of your resume, present your name
and contact information.
 Phone
 Email (keep it professional); Website
 Mailing address (for personal security
reasons, try to avoid your real street address
if you own lots of gear or are female). PO
Boxes are great, or c/o local business, etc.
 Discarded resumes are often picked up by
nefarious persons looking for vulnerable
actresses!

5.  Be as specific as you can about what position
you are applying for.
 Examples: Production Sound Mixer, Assistant
Camera, Sound Editing, Assistant Editor
 Never just imply…
“Any Entry Level Position Available”
 If you cannot list a specific position, at least
show a department or category, such as “Post
Production”

6.  If you belong to a union, show your union &
local number, classification, and status.
 Example: International Alliance of Theatrical
Stage Employees (IATSE), Local 695, Y-1
Production Sound Mixer, Group 1.
 Warning: Although display of union status will
enable you to obtain work on a union show, it
will discourage non-union producers from
hiring you.
 Consider having two versions of your resume.

7.  Or could be “ADDITIONAL AREAS OF
PROFESSIONAL EMPHASIS”
 Summarize your other tech skills & prod
skills, besides your specialization.
 Don’t get overly specific and list every camera
or software program.
 Add any special skills/hobbies that would be
relevant to the position and be an asset to the
production, such as PADI scuba or equestrian,
foreign language.

8.  List employment, full or p.t. that support your
specialization.
 Create a summary listing for FREELANCE, if
applicable. Do not list every gig!
 Do not show jobs that were not relevant to
your profession. Feel free to “tweak” job
descriptions where applicable to sound more
professional and relevant.
 Okay to list internships.

9. You might embellish what
you have done, but never
exaggerate what you know
how to do!

10.  List college degrees in descending order.
 Indicate college, city/state, years attended.
 Show the degree earned and major.
 List any awards or special ranks.
 Embellish within reason. Dean’s List, Dept
Honors, (Greek) cinema honors societies, etc.
 Sounds impressive and usually not on
transcript.
 Only list high school if special academic
degrees or relevant awards. Otherwise, no
one cares.

11.  In our industry, no one really cares about
your basic education.
 They just want to know that you finished
college and were a good student.
 Hollywood does not trust your college taught
skills, since so many film schools are a sham.
 It’s not about the transcripts, but about what
skills you can really bring to the table in order
to be a productive employee.

12.  No one cares about your student film
experiences, unless you won a major award.
 Show titles and production companies of
films you worked on.
 Indicate nature of project, such as 35mm
feature, commercial, corp, pilot, MOV, etc.
 Capacity in which you worked: Sound Mixer,
Boom, 2nd Asst Cam, etc.
 Most credits should reflect or relate to your
specialization.

13.  May need to creatively embellish.
 Choose title similar to MOV or B-movies.
 Never claim credit on a real production that
you did not work on! People find out.
 Good to list industrial or corp credits.
Mundane training films are common and
impossible to verify credits, yet show good
experience.

14.  Pay close attention to time constraints and
academic schedule.
 When did you find the time to work on all
these productions? Do not overdo it.
 If you list (student) productions, then make
them read as (professional) productions.
 At end of this category, insert a disclaimer
that in addition to all of the above, you also
worked on numerous STUDENT films. No one
cares, but lends credibility to your pro
credits.

15.  List any publications or blogs that you have
published.
 List any awards that you have won.
 Create some minor awards that you or a film
worked on won. Small community or ethnic
film festivals, perhaps. Second Place or
Honorable Mention are more humble and less
likely to be suspect.

16.  List membership in professional associations
such as SMPTE, CAS, MPSE, LAPPG, SOC, ACE,
NAB, ITVA, UFVA, etc.
 Organizations should be relevant to the
industry.
 Okay to list them, even if you are a student or
associate member.
 Indicate any positions or committees.

17.  This is the tag line that ends your resume.
 No need to list references unless they are
major players and well recognized by name.
 Even Al Capone could list some references, so
just names of professors or minor employers
have no clout.

18.  Your completed resume can be one or two
pages in length. Even three pages, if the
content warrants it.
 But generally try to keep it down to two.
 Format is up to you, so long as it is
graphically neat and consistent.
 Make sure that it is arranged logical and easy
to read. Avoid super small type that may be
hard to discern without a magnifier!

19.  Best deal is VistaPrint.com
 Avoid small fonts that are hard to read
 Avoid dark backgrounds that you cannot
write notes on
 Include a photo so people can associate your
face to the name
 Keep the back side blank to accommodate
notes

20.  When networking a busy venue such as a
tradeshow or festival, VIP’s are deluged by
students and wanna-be’s.
 Stand out and be memorable by creating a
signature look for yourself. A unique style of
wardrobe or accessories that serves as your
“look”. Wear that same “look” every day, so that
VIP’s will remember you from the days before
and associate your business card with you.
 Fred Ginsburg wears a cowboy hat which is easily
spotted and recognizable at NAB and NAMM.

21.  Don’t be just another fan.
 Never ask for an autograph.
 Ask well structured questions based on in-
depth research.
 Don’t expect a job offer or invitation; but ask
if you can contact the VIP after the event to
follow up on your conversation.

22.  Film festivals are a chance to see movies a
few weeks before the rest of us.
 You may spot a Star or a major player, but
odds are against any serious conversations.
 Interning at Festivals usually involves being
hidden behind the scenes and menial labor.
 Unless your film is being screened, they are
rarely productive to your career.

23.  Learn the new technology.
 Meet dealers and factory reps whom you can
contact in the future for info, training, etc.
 Always introduce yourself to people standing
around you at the booths; they are end-users
and potential employers.
 Don’t try to see everything; it is not a
scavenger hunt.
 Spend lots of time in a few booths so that you
can really learn something useful.

24.  Remember your “signature look”, so that
people may recognize you later on.
 Bring water & snacks to the exhibit hall.
 Many vendors host hospitality suites up in the
local hotels.
 Avoid the large “everyone’s invited” after-
parties; they are noisy & crowded.
 Instead, seek out the smaller “users groups”
functions; more likely to learn stuff & network
with new people.

25.  Preregister EARLY for trade shows. Most
shows offer free registration to Exhibit Halls.
 Last minute registration costs a fee.
 Never book a hotel with a travel site. Instead,
reserve directly with the hotel.
 Hotels will match internet pricing.
 Hotels will allow cancellations up to 24 or 48
hrs before, without any cancellation fee!
 If you cancel or change hotels, no problem!

26.  Rental Houses
 Non-profits (medical, charities)
 Government (police, fire, water & power,
transportation, council offices)

27.  Best way to learn current technology.
 Meet professional end-users and producers
who come to rent equipment.
 Become trained on the hardware.
 If no immediate openings, offer to come in
for FREE in order to observe and be trained in
procedures and protocols. Eventually, the
rental house will need someone to fill in for
an absent employee or help out during busy
days, and you are the prime person to use!

28.  These organizations are more concerned about
getting things done than impressing big money
clients. More likely to let you get immediate
hands-on experience.
 Your level of expertise may be equal to theirs, so
your opinions tend to be respected.
 Many filmmakers in the dept came up from the
ranks, and are not college trained (in film).
Allows you to stand out.
 Great opportunity to learn what really goes on in
police, fire, hospital, etc. for mastering the
genre.

29.  Join relevant associations as student member.
 Attend monthly meetings to network and
learn new technology.
 Arrive early so you can help set up.
 Greet the members and introduce yourself.
 Eventually, volunteer for the
Newsletter/Journal or the Planning
Committee.

30.  Planning Committee goes around town to
seek companies to host future meetings.
 Excellent excuse to visit any company and
speak directly to the boss!
 Companies love to promote themselves to
their peers. You will be warmly received.

31.  Always in need of content.
 Chance for you to be “published”. (And that
allows you to get an agent.)
 Excuse to visit any company and meet with
the boss. Everyone wants publicity.
 Choose your subject so that it is relevant to
YOUR GOALS.
 Explain that you are not writing an expose
and do not intend to make your subject look
bad. Out to make friends in the business!

32.  Promise to bring in a copy of your draft and
let them check it for accuracy or unintended
revelations.
 After the work is published, be the first to
bring them copies of the printed piece.

33.  Aka Contributing Writer or Contributing
Editor
 Write articles for the leading trade magazines.
Great way to get published and get your
name recognized.
 Always choose your own subjects; don’t take
editorial assignments that will waste too
much of your time. Magazines barely pay.
 After you complete your draft, shotgun it
around to the various editors and see if
anyone wants to run with it.

34.  Usually, one or another of the trades will be
interested. You may have to tweak the article
to fit their magazine style.
 After publication, get a stack of copies from
the magazine and take them to the people
you wrote about.
 Sometimes you can collect fees from both
ends: the company or mfr that you wrote
about; and the magazine publisher.

35.  Never put people on the spot by handing them
your business card or resume and hitting them
up for work.
 Instead, flatter them and tell them how respected
they are in the industry, and ask them if they
might know of anyone who might be hiring
someone like yourself.
 If they have a job for you, they will offer it at that
point. If they do not have an opening, then they
might steer you in the right direction, or even
make a phone call introduction on your behalf.

36.  First, go to the company and SCOUT the place
out.
 How is the Receptionist dressed? Level of
dress reflects the boss’s expectations.
 Go to the restroom and hang out. How are
the employees dressed? Check out the
hallways.
 Check out the company BRAG WALL. What are
the plaques and certificates about? Awards,
community involvement, hobbies.

37.  Go home and research the company as well
as its key people. What is the company best
known for? Any awards, inventions,
technologies?
 Key people: Who are they and what do they
do? What companies did they work for
previously? What accomplishments are they
known for?

38.  When it comes time for your face to face
interview, dress appropriately. About one
level up from what you observed.
 Turn your cell phone completely OFF. Not
even on vibrate. No distractions!!!!!!!
 Answer the question, and then finish your
answer with a question! Your questions
should reflect that you did your homework
and know about the achievements of the
company and its staff.

39.  The trick is to gradually flip the interview so
that you are asking the questions and the
interviewer is eager to answer them.
 At the end of the session, even though the
interviewer did most of the talking, they will
consider it to be a most productive session
and think highly of you.
 Above all, they will be very impressed that
you knew about their company, key
employees, and accomplishments!

40.  Too many internships are just excuses for
near-free labor and exploitation.
 Interns should have the opportunity to
observe the inner workings; not to be the
office bitch.
 Unpaid Internships are far more likely to be
learning and mentoring opportunities.
 Paid Interns are expected to earn their keep
by doing all the crap work.

41.  Find your own internship by seeking out
someone in the industry.
 Meet these individuals at the monthly meetings,
or seek them out on the internet.
 Flatter them, and ask if you could visit them on
the set or in their studio.
 Once they let you come out and watch them at
work, ask them nicely if they could sponsor you
for an Internship with them. Point out that it
would not cost them a penny, and that you would
be willing to assist them the best you could.

42.  If they agree, then see the correct person at
the college to work out the paperwork.
 By creating your own Internship, you will
maximize your time spent in the studio or
learning from your mentor.
 Except for the biggest names in the industry,
most professionals are flattered to have a
student ask to learn from them.
 Your mentors will also introduce you to the
other departments on the set, so that you can
hang out with them as well.

43.  Do not waste an opportunity by applying too
prematurely for a potential internship.
 Wait until you are close to graduation, so that
you bring your best skills & knowledge.
 And… if the internship works out so well that
they offer you employment – you do not want
to have to choose between a tempting job
offer or finishing college!

44.  Deferred means FREE.
 Sure, they always promise to pay you after
the film makes money, but it almost never
happens.
 Work deferred for the experience and the
opportunity –not for the money!

45.  Never lay out or advance any personal money
for the benefit of the production company,
except for equipment you might purchase for
yourself and charge rental for.
 Never use your credit card as security deposit
for hotel, airfare, rental car, or anything that
is supposed to be PAID by the production
company. If they flake, you get stuck with the
bill!

46.  Make sure that you have your return airline ticket
in hand, BEFORE you leave for the location. Verify
that it is valid and fully paid.
 Have a written contract (deal memo) that spells
out how much you will be paid, and when.
 Make sure that you will be paid at the same time
as cash investors… pari passu
 Your investment of time & energy is just as
valuable as their cash!
 Your deferred payment should be way higher
than your normal salary, since it is a gamble.

47.  Get all your promises and assurances in writing.
If you are forced to use your own credit card to
cover “additional charges” to your room, then get
it in writing (from the hotel) that your card can
only be charged for your own personal charges
and NOT for the basic room charges nor any
production company charges.
 If you bill the production company anything for
expendables, rentals, etc. – demand payment at
time of invoice. Do not extend terms (end of
week, end of month, so on.)

48.  Always assume that the Production Company
has no real money behind them, and will try
as hard as possible to shoot this film on
“credit” or fraud.
 Be wary; be paranoid. History has taught us
that although some producers are honest &
sincere, there are many out there who are not
to be trusted.
 Try to investigate the principals of the
production company and determine their
reputation around town.

49.  Think of yourself as a character in a script…
 What attributes would a potential employer
be looking for?
 Skills? Experience? Confidence?
 Demeanor? Wardrobe?
 Attitude?
 Become that character in real life!