Working in film production
Toronto Film College
The actor walked into the movie studio and headed towards the small custom made machine, located at the back of the set. After examining it for a few minutes, he turned to me and asked, “Do you have something I can use as I deliver my lines that will convince the audience I built this”?
I showed him an electronic muti-meter, a device that measures the current in an electrical circuit. “That’s great”, he said, as I coached him on how to use the meter, and showed him where he could touch the circuit to get a reading. After a few minutes of rehearsing with the meter, the actor-Robert De Niro- greeted his co-star, Jane Fonda, as she entered the studio. Over the next few hours I watched as these Academy Award winning actors filmed the scene, creating Movie Magic.
For me, it was a typical day on the job. For you, it could be an exciting career choice.
Hollywood. New York. London. Paris. Shanghai. Mumbai. Hong Kong. Toronto. Everyday, Film and TV crews shoot film projects on location throughout the world. At Toronto Film College, you learn the skills necessary to work internationally. We teach you how to create world class motion pictures and television productions.
No other career will challenge you more than a career in film or television production. If you like to create, and have an interest using technical skills to solve creative problems, a career in the film industry may be ideal for you. So, what skills are required to break into film? What kind of training is required to work in the film or TV industry?
Making a motion picture or television program requires the skills -- and talents -- of a large number of craftspeople. Every individual on the set performs a task that is essential for creating a quality film or TV episode. To determine if a career in this field is for you, start by evaluating your experience and goals.
Do you like operating cameras or using computers? Are you good with tools, and do you like building things? Have you built models from kits? Are you creative? Do you like to write stories? Do you like to act in plays or student film projects? Are you into fashion and design? These are the skills that are required on every motion picture or television production. In fact, if you have answered yes to any of these questions, you are a candidate for a career in the motion picture/TV industry.
However, there are some other things you should consider if a career in the film industry appeals to you. Working on a feature film or TV series requires long hours and very hard work. If you like to work regular hours, this field may not be for you. Typically, film crews will work all night, or work odd shifts
On the other hand, if you want a career that provides time off and high pay when you are working on a project, a career in film is ideal. There are other advantages as well: working on film/TV projects is exciting! You work with famous actors, travel to locations all over the world, and create entertainment that will be seen by millions of people.
Depending on your skills and interests, there are a variety of positions available on a production. Employment opportunities include positions in the following departments:
- AD Department (Assistant Directors Department)
- Art Department
- Grip Department
- Camera Crew
- Lighting Department
- Locations department
- Special Effects
- Transportation
- Wardrobe
If your interests include fashion or design, the wardrobe department offers an opportunity to use your design skills. If engineering appeals to you, special effects provide unique challenges for anyone who wants to apply technical solutions to creative problems.
Similarly, if you have experience with tools you can apply your talents in the camera or lighting department. Do you have camera skills? Shooting scenes with the newest camera technology provides the ultimate challenge for anyone who has a passion for photography.
People who have a strong interest in art or interior design can apply their talents in the Art Department. The entire “look” of the movie-- including the furniture used in each scene, the design/building of the sets and the colors used to convey mood—are the responsibility of the art department.
Finally, there are a number of behind the scenes positions that are critical to creating a successful motion picture. These positions include scriptwriting, producing, editing, distribution and promotion. If you have a skill in writing or business, you will find that a movie production will challenge your abilities.
What training do you require to work in this industry? In the earliest days of film, everyone learned their trade on the set, by actually shooting films! Today, the fastest way to establish a career is to complete courses at a career college. Many people find that a career college offers some significant advantages.
To begin with, a career college can significantly reduce training times. Instead of years of training, a career college can reduce training time to a few months. In addition, the training you receive at a career college tends to be more practical. The goal is to teach you the fundamentals of film making, so you can apply these skills on the job. Further, the cost of attending a career college is more affordable than a 3 or 4 year degree program at a university.
What should you look for in a film program? Before enrolling, make sure the program has the following:
- Instructors who work professionally in motion pictures or television. This ensures that the training you receive is current.
- A career center that helps you prepares resumes and letters that are specific to the motion picture or TV industry. Resumes for the motion picture industry are different than the resumes used in the business world.
- State of the art digital cameras and editing software. You need experience with the most modern technology to get a job in the industry.
To succeed in the international film industry you require talent, creative ability, and training. No other career will offer you the satisfaction of creating entertainment projects that will be seen around the world by millions of people. Toronto Film College can teach you the professional skills you need to start a career in motion pictures or television production.
As I walked off the set, Mr. De Niro walked up to me and said. “Good work today. Everything worked perfectly, thank you”. It was a great day. The director was able to get the performances he required; the stars were happy with the prop machine we built; the director of photography was able to get the shots he required. And, as the special effects supervisor, I worked with some of the best talent in the world: a famous Director; two Academy Award winning actors; an Academy Award winning Director of Photography, and a talented crew of film professionals!
