Author Topic: Transitioning to TV/Film?  (Read 3504 times)

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missliz

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Transitioning to TV/Film?
« on: Apr 13, 2012, 05:56 pm »
I'd never really thought about it before, but I have quite a few friends working in TV/film production who have encouraged me to try it because they think I'd be good at it. Specifically, as a PA, extras wrangler, or second-second. One of my friends is helping me get a day or two on her show as a PA just to try it out and see if I like it, but have any of you worked on jobs like this? Suggestions for where to start and how to get in? Thoughts?
I personally would like to bring a tortoise onto the stage, turn it into a racehorse, then into a hat, a song, a dragon and a fountain of water. One can dare anything in the theatre and it is the place where one dares the least. -Ionesco

babens

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Re: Transitioning to TV/Film?
« Reply #1 on: Apr 13, 2012, 08:29 pm »
I've been to the Mayor's Office of Film to obtain permits a few times for one of the companies I work with regularly in the city.  They have a "Made in NY - PA (production assistant)" program you may want to look into.  I'm not sure how necessary it really is, or how it even works, but here's the link to the website.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/employment/pa_training.shtml

stagebear

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Re: Transitioning to TV/Film?
« Reply #2 on: Apr 13, 2012, 09:07 pm »
I transitioned into Audio-Video production for an advertising agency - basically production management for commercials and videos. It proved to be an easy transition due to SM skills. I'd go for the day on set since you have the opportunity.

loebtmc

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Re: Transitioning to TV/Film?
« Reply #3 on: Apr 13, 2012, 09:35 pm »
Have you done a search? There are a couple of threads where this is discussed.

http://smnetwork.org/forum/stage-management-other/stage-management-tv/msg11661/#msg11661

Look around, see who has transitioned (or talked about it) and those folks might be good jumping off points for you - and yes, I know a few SMs who have transitioned and according to them, it pays a WHOLE lot better - but you are also on the producer's team rather than the performer's, and the work is far more tech than artistic. 

dallas10086

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Re: Transitioning to TV/Film?
« Reply #4 on: Apr 14, 2012, 04:13 pm »
I thought about doing this briefly before, but with Hunger Games and Homeland filming locally it kickstarted those thoughts again. It pays more, but there's just as much competition for jobs.
Starting as a PA is the best way to get a foot in - do a great job and you'll be asked back and for better jobs better suited for your SM skills. On the downside, much like any freelance, you can have huge gaps of time without work.

DeeCap

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Re: Transitioning to TV/Film?
« Reply #5 on: Apr 17, 2012, 02:25 pm »
I tried to transition, and I did work on a few small films/commercials/music videos.

It wasn't that easy. I was competing with film school students, plus I'm a bit too old to do the low pay/no pay jobs.
A few things that helped me was that I had a valid driver's license, you would be surprised how many in NYC do not have one. As long as you're comfortable driving a truck in Manhattan you can find work.
Also when I was on set I made sure I was constantly doing something and not standing around waiting for someone to tell you what to do. I hustled.
Mandy.com is another good website where I got some work.

What got me out of it was that I landed a gig that was supposed to be a 4 month long job on a Bollywood film. A week before I was to start I called the office to find out information. They weren't there.  I kept calling and no one ever answered.  I also felt at the time in order to make a living in film I would be much better off in LA and not NYC. I kept getting asked to do low paying jobs. Eventually I went back to theatre.

This was just my experience. 

 

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