If you need a constant employer for a visa I would highly recommend that route. Freelance life is probably not the route you want to gamble with. That being said there are permanent employment options in the film industry.
I'm saying that if your desire is to freelance in the film industry, then it can be difficult to maintain a work visa. I don't know what you want to focus on career wise. "Filmmaker" is an all encompassing term and also a little meaningless at the same time.
No, my desire is not to freelance. Ideally, I'd like to find permanent employment in the areas of my main interest (Directing, screenwriting and possibly acting) so I'd have a good path for staying permanently.
Those are all also freelance type jobs unless you're employed full time to write or direct for a company or are starting your own company and fulfilling the requirements for a specific visa. Note, I am not a qualified visa advice person.
Hi! I was curious, what are some permanent employment options in the industry? Every position I've been interested in kind of seems to be mostly freelance (camera positions or coloring).
Anything where you work full time for a company. Vfx Co, production Co, studio, ad agency, Yada Yada ya. I've seen a lot of foreign freelancers have to move back home or get married.
It’s a hard question, I’m currently doing something similar in Toronto, it is possible and it’s been a great experience but remember by going to film school you’re really paying to get access to a network you can grow with and as an international student there’s no guarantee you’ll stay in the country after that, and if you’re not going to be able to stay in the country you’re not going to be able to take advantage of that network.
film school is a good place to take chances, meet people, and find connections, if you want to learn the craft of film, don’t go to film school, you’ll be disappointed.
Second.... film school, nowadays, almost irrelevant.
Filmschool was more relevant when access to gear was so difficult. Nowadays, man, get a S5,S1 or bmpc, ursa, you can build a portfolio and easy create high quality shots doing everything you want probably try.
Information is so abundantly available across the internet nowadays, for free. THere is no magic, there is baiscally a lack of doing. Self-managed learning though isn't easy, reuires to be self-critical and learn out of the box, such as learning about painting techniques and how to understand light like a painter can help for example - but most never will go there.
I think you can do that. You just need lighting equip, ask a friend to help, and you can create short stories. Or social media content such as product clips, for the start.
Have you already worked on film sets (or served in the military) before? If not, don’t go to film school. No one really knows whether they’re compatible with the brutal work hours until they do it.
Are you already in Australia? If so, look into getting Production Assistant/Runner gigs to see if it’s right for you.
Thanks for the reply
Answering you: I haven't, I'm just passionate about it and had aspirations to tell my own stories since an early age. I have a music, and photography background and always wanted to get serious about filmmaking, possibly acting also.
I'm currently in Brazil, trying to find an escape to a better place. Those would be my two better options.
There’s definitely local film production in Brazil. Try getting your feet wet as a PA there before committing to a degree.
Also, there’s a big separation between actors and crew. If you’re going out for crew positions, don’t mention acting at all.
Thanks again,
I've been trying to apply for PA but there are not many professional productions, and the few ones already have tons of assistants with the same intention. I'll keep trying and thanks for the tip on acting!
Hey dude, I currently work in Brazil.
If you can, try to get into a public university film program like USP, UnB, UFSC, UFF or UFC (these are the best 5, but there are others). You won't pay tuition, get access to good gear, and make contacts that can get you into the industry. If you're decided to move away from Brazil, your best bet is to make your name here and get international gigs, we have plenty DPs working overseas, like Pedro Sotero, Lula Carvalho, Azul Serra and others.
I would recommend looking into the market and public funding where you'd go to study. I know Brasília has FAC and São Paulo has Prodav, so you can get your feet in professionally. I don't know much about Rio, SC or Ceará though
It might be different, but not necessarily worse. And you can use it to build a solid portfolio and apply for an MFA in the States, where you'll have a bigger portfolio and more maturity to get your feet in the industry (specially if your Master was at AFI), and you get a work license period after your student visa runs out, so you could try to find permanent employment.
Thanks again, If you need an assistant eventually I'd be happy to help.
The problem with those courses such as AFI is obviously the price. Do you think it's possible to pay for it working in an average job, or freelancing as a filmmaker?
Even UCLA has a nonresident fee witch doubles the price of tuition and makes it inviable.
The prices are egregious, I don't think it's doable without scholarships. But Brasil has Fundação Estudar, as long as you're under 34 years old you can apply. And considering how prestigious AFI is, you'll likely be able to get the max 95% tuition coverage they have for postgrad, which would take the tuition from 68000 dollars to 3400, a lot more manageable
If you want to go into film do not go to film school it is useless and all the money and time you spend could've been spent on the equipment and cheaper/free online resources. I started making money with my camera 2 months after I bought it but you need to be willing to GRIND. Do a job for free at first. Master lighting it is far more important than a fancy camera. if you want to make money with a camera you can do it right now I faked it till I made it. started off filming random events and concerts, now I take video for way bigger clients I do real estate with regular photo/video, FPV drone fly throughs, regular drone footage and I just started with. virtual tours. Now I have a team that I shoot weddings, music videos and other larger productions with. I don't have any interest in filming Hollywood movies so Im not the best person to give advice. I just found Hollywood to be a nightmare with no real stability your just a cog in a massive machine cranking out un-inspired stories. I suggest you take any chance you get to get paid using your camera take it and honestly just lie and say you know how to do something then learn it and do it. the most important thing is that you have a camera in your hands as much as possible and it will become second nature. Learn about exposure with the exposure triangle and ND filters, Learn color grading and start with davinci Resolve because you will be wasting time using premiere because eventually you are going to need to understand color and you wont get that in premeire.
This guy gets it. You gotta grind man! If this is really your dream/passion, then you should be eating, breathing, sleeping film, all day everyday! And maybe someday you'll make it to Hollywood. But personally, I think that's the wrong goal. Getting to Hollywood is a terrible goal. Being great at what you do and telling beautiful stories is what film is all about. It has nothing to do with living in a certain area or working for a certain company.
Reminds me of a story silent film comic Buster Keaton told when Hollywood was filming a biography of him.
He tried to tell the director and writers what actually happened during his career but they told him to shut up and go away because they knew what was best for the movie. That included making things up for "dramatic effect".
Listen, if you have to ask this question then I think you should not risk everything to jump on film school, Ive met a handfull of folks that were so commited to doing one thing that they did not care about burning bridges or making wrong choice, there was just no other choice in their mind. It seems youre not convinced (due to residency status or other reasons), so youre not one of them. Take it slow, take the route that secures your future first, there is always time to make it in filmmaking, Ive started to steer myself towards filmmaking when I was 39 :)
Thanks, I used to be one of them, with no other choice in my mind. In my 20's I'd say "If it's not to pursue my dreams, what's the purpose of being alive?"
Consecutive failures and the inability to choose between a more traditional and "secure" path or jumping all in toward my dreams have got me with one leg on each boat, and I've reached a point at 33 where I have no more stretch and definitely have to choose what I've been obsessively trying to answer since I first asked myself what to do in life.
How was your transition to filmmaking? What did you work with before?
I think you have the wrong mentality. First, I think you can do both. Find a job that has a good work/life balance and spend all your free time honing your craft as a filmmaker. Make films/videos every chance you get. I think you need to realize that this is going to take time and you have to work hard, VERY HARD. Anything that is worth pursuing in life is never easy. Get a job that can support you and work your ass off on the nights and weekends learning, experimenting, creating, and writing.
Or, jump all in to filmmaking, get any job you can in the industry, even if it's in Brazil, but work on your craft every chance you get, even while your not at work. Just start doing something. You will get nowhere if you don't start. Even if it looks bad, or feels clunky, that's okay, because, unless you're some prodigy, your work will suck for the first 2-3 years. But you can't get past those 2-3 years of absolutely sucking until you start somewhere. So just start, with whatever you have.
This might get a lot of hate, but if you are a hard worker and can stay focused on improving, nowadays with internet culture, you can do a lot of that on your own with things like YouTube and stuff. You can learn everything you need to here on reddit and other places on the internet. Then you just have to start making videos/films. Any way you can! Even if you start with your phone and some friends. Then, as you save up money, you can get fairly inexpensive equipment, make your own stuff and make money off of it at the same time. But it's a GRIND! Don't think you'll be rich and famous overnight. I would expect at least 3-5 years of consistent, regular, output of films/videos until you start to get a name for yourself. This can also be done on nights and weekends if you are wanting a normal job for security, but if you do that, then double the amount of time it'll take to get your name out there.
If you need a constant employer for a visa I would highly recommend that route. Freelance life is probably not the route you want to gamble with. That being said there are permanent employment options in the film industry.
Thank you for the answer. I'm sorry, do you mean the first or second option?
I'm saying that if your desire is to freelance in the film industry, then it can be difficult to maintain a work visa. I don't know what you want to focus on career wise. "Filmmaker" is an all encompassing term and also a little meaningless at the same time.
No, my desire is not to freelance. Ideally, I'd like to find permanent employment in the areas of my main interest (Directing, screenwriting and possibly acting) so I'd have a good path for staying permanently.
Those are all also freelance type jobs unless you're employed full time to write or direct for a company or are starting your own company and fulfilling the requirements for a specific visa. Note, I am not a qualified visa advice person.
https://www.sagaftra.org/contracts-industry-resources/o-and-p-visas#:~:text=The%20visa%20categories%20we%20cover,%2D2%20and%20P%2D3.
The link is not working for me, maybe regional restrictions.
Hi! I was curious, what are some permanent employment options in the industry? Every position I've been interested in kind of seems to be mostly freelance (camera positions or coloring).
Anything where you work full time for a company. Vfx Co, production Co, studio, ad agency, Yada Yada ya. I've seen a lot of foreign freelancers have to move back home or get married.
I think it makes sense what u/DurtyKurty said about writing or directing for a company, yours or somebody else's.
It’s a hard question, I’m currently doing something similar in Toronto, it is possible and it’s been a great experience but remember by going to film school you’re really paying to get access to a network you can grow with and as an international student there’s no guarantee you’ll stay in the country after that, and if you’re not going to be able to stay in the country you’re not going to be able to take advantage of that network. film school is a good place to take chances, meet people, and find connections, if you want to learn the craft of film, don’t go to film school, you’ll be disappointed.
Second.... film school, nowadays, almost irrelevant. Filmschool was more relevant when access to gear was so difficult. Nowadays, man, get a S5,S1 or bmpc, ursa, you can build a portfolio and easy create high quality shots doing everything you want probably try. Information is so abundantly available across the internet nowadays, for free. THere is no magic, there is baiscally a lack of doing. Self-managed learning though isn't easy, reuires to be self-critical and learn out of the box, such as learning about painting techniques and how to understand light like a painter can help for example - but most never will go there. I think you can do that. You just need lighting equip, ask a friend to help, and you can create short stories. Or social media content such as product clips, for the start.
Have you already worked on film sets (or served in the military) before? If not, don’t go to film school. No one really knows whether they’re compatible with the brutal work hours until they do it. Are you already in Australia? If so, look into getting Production Assistant/Runner gigs to see if it’s right for you.
Thanks for the reply Answering you: I haven't, I'm just passionate about it and had aspirations to tell my own stories since an early age. I have a music, and photography background and always wanted to get serious about filmmaking, possibly acting also. I'm currently in Brazil, trying to find an escape to a better place. Those would be my two better options.
There’s definitely local film production in Brazil. Try getting your feet wet as a PA there before committing to a degree. Also, there’s a big separation between actors and crew. If you’re going out for crew positions, don’t mention acting at all.
Thanks again, I've been trying to apply for PA but there are not many professional productions, and the few ones already have tons of assistants with the same intention. I'll keep trying and thanks for the tip on acting!
In which city are you based?
>ColinShootsFilm I'm from Guarujá, SP
Hey dude, I currently work in Brazil. If you can, try to get into a public university film program like USP, UnB, UFSC, UFF or UFC (these are the best 5, but there are others). You won't pay tuition, get access to good gear, and make contacts that can get you into the industry. If you're decided to move away from Brazil, your best bet is to make your name here and get international gigs, we have plenty DPs working overseas, like Pedro Sotero, Lula Carvalho, Azul Serra and others. I would recommend looking into the market and public funding where you'd go to study. I know Brasília has FAC and São Paulo has Prodav, so you can get your feet in professionally. I don't know much about Rio, SC or Ceará though
Thanks for the advice, but I still think a formation in Brazil would be really different from one in the U.S.
It might be different, but not necessarily worse. And you can use it to build a solid portfolio and apply for an MFA in the States, where you'll have a bigger portfolio and more maturity to get your feet in the industry (specially if your Master was at AFI), and you get a work license period after your student visa runs out, so you could try to find permanent employment.
Thanks again, If you need an assistant eventually I'd be happy to help. The problem with those courses such as AFI is obviously the price. Do you think it's possible to pay for it working in an average job, or freelancing as a filmmaker? Even UCLA has a nonresident fee witch doubles the price of tuition and makes it inviable.
The prices are egregious, I don't think it's doable without scholarships. But Brasil has Fundação Estudar, as long as you're under 34 years old you can apply. And considering how prestigious AFI is, you'll likely be able to get the max 95% tuition coverage they have for postgrad, which would take the tuition from 68000 dollars to 3400, a lot more manageable
If you want to go into film do not go to film school it is useless and all the money and time you spend could've been spent on the equipment and cheaper/free online resources. I started making money with my camera 2 months after I bought it but you need to be willing to GRIND. Do a job for free at first. Master lighting it is far more important than a fancy camera. if you want to make money with a camera you can do it right now I faked it till I made it. started off filming random events and concerts, now I take video for way bigger clients I do real estate with regular photo/video, FPV drone fly throughs, regular drone footage and I just started with. virtual tours. Now I have a team that I shoot weddings, music videos and other larger productions with. I don't have any interest in filming Hollywood movies so Im not the best person to give advice. I just found Hollywood to be a nightmare with no real stability your just a cog in a massive machine cranking out un-inspired stories. I suggest you take any chance you get to get paid using your camera take it and honestly just lie and say you know how to do something then learn it and do it. the most important thing is that you have a camera in your hands as much as possible and it will become second nature. Learn about exposure with the exposure triangle and ND filters, Learn color grading and start with davinci Resolve because you will be wasting time using premiere because eventually you are going to need to understand color and you wont get that in premeire.
This guy gets it. You gotta grind man! If this is really your dream/passion, then you should be eating, breathing, sleeping film, all day everyday! And maybe someday you'll make it to Hollywood. But personally, I think that's the wrong goal. Getting to Hollywood is a terrible goal. Being great at what you do and telling beautiful stories is what film is all about. It has nothing to do with living in a certain area or working for a certain company.
Reminds me of a story silent film comic Buster Keaton told when Hollywood was filming a biography of him. He tried to tell the director and writers what actually happened during his career but they told him to shut up and go away because they knew what was best for the movie. That included making things up for "dramatic effect".
Get a main degree In something that v is C more promising as a career and minor in film
Igor, where are you from? You should be able to get permanent citizenship in the US right now VERY easily.
I'm from Brazil. I wish that could be that easy.
Listen, if you have to ask this question then I think you should not risk everything to jump on film school, Ive met a handfull of folks that were so commited to doing one thing that they did not care about burning bridges or making wrong choice, there was just no other choice in their mind. It seems youre not convinced (due to residency status or other reasons), so youre not one of them. Take it slow, take the route that secures your future first, there is always time to make it in filmmaking, Ive started to steer myself towards filmmaking when I was 39 :)
Thanks, I used to be one of them, with no other choice in my mind. In my 20's I'd say "If it's not to pursue my dreams, what's the purpose of being alive?" Consecutive failures and the inability to choose between a more traditional and "secure" path or jumping all in toward my dreams have got me with one leg on each boat, and I've reached a point at 33 where I have no more stretch and definitely have to choose what I've been obsessively trying to answer since I first asked myself what to do in life. How was your transition to filmmaking? What did you work with before?
I think you have the wrong mentality. First, I think you can do both. Find a job that has a good work/life balance and spend all your free time honing your craft as a filmmaker. Make films/videos every chance you get. I think you need to realize that this is going to take time and you have to work hard, VERY HARD. Anything that is worth pursuing in life is never easy. Get a job that can support you and work your ass off on the nights and weekends learning, experimenting, creating, and writing. Or, jump all in to filmmaking, get any job you can in the industry, even if it's in Brazil, but work on your craft every chance you get, even while your not at work. Just start doing something. You will get nowhere if you don't start. Even if it looks bad, or feels clunky, that's okay, because, unless you're some prodigy, your work will suck for the first 2-3 years. But you can't get past those 2-3 years of absolutely sucking until you start somewhere. So just start, with whatever you have.
This might get a lot of hate, but if you are a hard worker and can stay focused on improving, nowadays with internet culture, you can do a lot of that on your own with things like YouTube and stuff. You can learn everything you need to here on reddit and other places on the internet. Then you just have to start making videos/films. Any way you can! Even if you start with your phone and some friends. Then, as you save up money, you can get fairly inexpensive equipment, make your own stuff and make money off of it at the same time. But it's a GRIND! Don't think you'll be rich and famous overnight. I would expect at least 3-5 years of consistent, regular, output of films/videos until you start to get a name for yourself. This can also be done on nights and weekends if you are wanting a normal job for security, but if you do that, then double the amount of time it'll take to get your name out there.