Entertainment

The entertainment industry is chock full of little known positions that require very little experience, and boom operators are among them. If youre just starting out in the industry, a boom is a long-handled microphone that is held above the actors and out of the shot. It is designed to pick up sound very clearly, and is used to record dialogue. While one doesnt need to go to film school to learn how to operate a boom, boom operators are still a crucial part of the team.

The Value of Good Boom Operators
When youve worked on a few film sets, youll start to understand the term, Time is money. In movies this is literally true. There is only so much time and so much daylight to get all the shots you need. If extra days of shooting need to be added to a shooting schedule, this can cost a production thousands.

Im telling you this because directors dont like to yell, Cut! for any other reason other than that theyve got the shot and theyre moving on. Boom operators who drop the boom down into the shot more than once are twice are going to be replaced very quickly. Ive seen even the lowliest of production assistants called on to replace clumsy boom operators by frustrated directors. Being a boom operator is a job that should be taken seriously.

Most boom operators do take their craft very seriously, and if this is what youre interested in, you should too. As a boom operator youll be close to the actors and the action. This requires a certain responsibility. Take your job seriously and do it respectfully and youll have a long, successful career in movies.

The director of photography is without question the most important of all the crew members, and if you are one, Im sure youll agree. It is the director of photography, or DP, who operates the camera and selects and frames the shots. The DP will work very closely with the director and must have a plentiful amount of both technical knowledge and talent. Becoming a DP requires extensive training, but much of it can be self-taught.

Becoming a Director of Photography
The beautiful thing about the movie business is that nothing is ever impossible. If you have a dream and the drive to achieve it, it can be done. The first step in becoming a DP is to shoot something–anything. Pick up any camera that you have available to you, a video camera, a Super-8 film camera, and start shooting. Pay attention to framing and composition, and read books and watch movies to learn the proper techniques.

When you get a little more advanced you can start working with things such as color and light. You will never learn it all, and some of the greatest DPs of all time learned on the job, so never get discouraged. It is the directors job to bring the writers vision to life. It will be your job, as director of photography, to bring the directors vision to the screen.

Director of photography is one of the most rewarding and respected entertainment jobs there is. It requires the patience of a priest and the vision of an artist. Your reward is that your vision will come to life on a giant celluloid screen for all the world to see and admire. If you can see the world through a lens the way others cant, then this is the job for you.

If you live in Little Rock, Arkansas or Sioux Falls, Iowa, entertainment classifieds probably arent listed in your local newspaper. Thank goodness for the Internet. Because the reality of it is that you dont have to live in Hollywood to be qualified and considered for entertainment jobs. There are hundreds of movies in production every single day, and each of them have film jobs that need to be filled.

Look Online for Entertainment Classifieds
If you doubt that you can be a part of a film crew, let me tell you just one entertainment classifieds success story. I have a good friend who lives in the Midwest, and also happens to be a fantastic pianist. I was browsing the entertainment classifieds one day and I saw a posting under film music jobs. There was an independent film in Seattle that was looking for a musical score.

I thought this might be something my friend would be interested in and I forwarded her the ad. She put some of her compositions on CD and sent them to the producers, and sure enough, she got the job! I believed in her talent and urged her to take a shot at it and something great happened. She has since scored over a half-dozen films and considers it her ambition to make a living at it full time.

All it takes is that one little break. Entertainment classifieds are posted every day because producers of films need you! Despite what Robert Rodriguez writes in his book, Revel Without a Crew, films cannot be made by one man alone. It takes a full team. With the help of the right classified ad, you could be on a film set tomorrow and living your dreams in no time.

If youre looking for entertainment crew jobs, the Internet is a great source of information. There are numerous online locations that list entertainment classifieds for all areas of the country. Many people make the mistake of thinking that Hollywood is responsible for all the films that are made, and while its true that Hollywood is the entertainment capital of the world, its also true that theyre making films every day in cities and towns all over the country.

Finding and Getting Entertainment Crew Jobs
The first thing you need to determine is which aspect of the industry you wish to get involved in. If youve already gone to film school, then you know where you fit into a crew. But even if you have high aspirations, dont be afraid to start at the bottom. Every great director of photography was once a camera assistant, and every camera assistant has probably been a production assistant at one time.

Being successful in the film industry is a matter of paying dues, listening, learning and waiting for the right opportunity to arise. If you are prepared when it does, good things will happen for you. Entertainment crew jobs are a very rewarding way to earn a living. Who doesnt love movies?!

Being on a film crew is being a part of a team. It takes a lot of very hard-working and dedicated individuals to successfully complete a film shoot. When one cog breaks down, the whole machine stops running. Always remember that no matter where you start, entertainment crew jobs are always opening up and there will surely be an opportunity to climb the ladder and get where you really want to be.

Film director jobs are not very likely to be posted in the classified ads of your local newspaper, but believe me, they are out there. You may wonder who would be looking for a film director. Youd be surprised at the number of films that go into production without a director attached. If youre a film director or an aspiring one, dont ever doubt how valuable you may be to a production.

Finding Film Director Jobs
There are many websites that list entertainment classifieds, and among these classifieds youll find postings for film director jobs. They may be posted by screenwriters who have a great script and a budget, but no director. There also may be students who are looking to learn from an experienced pro. Your talent as a film director is in great demand, you just need to know where to look.

Being a film director is among the most coveted entertainment jobs there is. Even huge stars like Mel Gibson and Clint Eastwood have put their acting careers on the back burner in order to direct. Theres just something about calling the shots and making it all happen that is very appealing. If youre a director you know the reasons why.

It can be very frustrating for directors looking for work to find scripts that are rich and satisfying. My suggestion is to take any film director jobs that are offered to you and try to make the best possible film you can with what you have to work with. Working within limits is always the best test of genius. Eventually, when you do have the script and cast you want, your experience with less will come in very handy.