What Should You Do After Graduating Film School?

Written by  //  2020/07/09  //  Career Planning  //  Comments Off on What Should You Do After Graduating Film School?

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Maybe you’re graduating from film school this coming year. Or perhaps, you just earned your degree after working tirelessly on your student films and post-graduation reel. In that case, congratulations! However, your next steps probably seem ambiguous right now.

You may be thinking, “How am I going to start my career?” But don’t fret—we’d be happy to present you with some options. Let’s break down what you can do after graduating film school.

Work on a Crew

Of course, when it comes to getting your foot in the door, crew work will be the most straightforward route. You likely already networked with industry professionals, as well as your professors, throughout your time in school. However, if you want to land an internship or full-time job with a production company, it’s worth reaching out to them again after graduation.

Often, the people you know may provide you with a variety of available opportunities. In fact, you’ll probably work on commercials, music videos, TV shows, and other exciting projects.

Freelance

Perhaps you want to work independently on a project-by-project basis, but you don’t necessarily want to be responsible for your own crew. In this case, think about becoming a freelancer—you can take on part-time gigs without committing to one specific company. These opportunities will allow you to shoot at small events and, in turn, you’ll gain experience and credibility by working on a variety of productions.

Go Solo

If you’ve always wanted to become an independent creator, now’s your chance to make that dream come true. Shoot a few documentaries or short films revolving around topics that interest you. You may even find yourself adapting one of your favorite books into a production!

Regardless of what you create, if you choose to go down this path, remember to market yourself, too. Social media has a way of bringing professionals together. And who knows, those you admire most might invest in you and your projects!

Start Your Own Company

If you’re itching to run your own productions, consider starting your own business. You can plan to complete larger projects for corporations or weddings, and you can hire on other creatives to help you make these films come to life.

One key thing to keep in mind, however, is that you’ll need to dedicate much of your time to explaining your vision to others. No doubt, conveying what you want your project to look like isn’t always easy.

But as long as you teach your crews to be mindful of common filming mistakes, you’ll be in good shape. Production quality is a crucial component of a film business’s success.

So what should you do after graduating film school? Ultimately, the choice is yours. You can start your career at the company of your dreams, or you can select the entrepreneurial route and create your own films.

No matter the direction you decide, we’re certain you’ll do great. After all, you have experience and education under your belt—now all you must do is put yourself to work. We wish you the best of luck!

image credit: twenty20.com

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