Secret for your first feature film

You only have to work a little bit harder than the other newbies a crew has worked with to impress them.

You want to be successful in the film industry.

You want to prove to everyone you’ve got what it takes.

You want to make contacts who will hire you in the future.

But are you willing to put in the extra effort to get what you want?

Before you stepped on set with the professionals, there were dozens just like you who came and went. I bet most of the crew didn’t even bother to keep in touch with them. It’s not that they weren’t nice people, or that they weren’t capable of the job, it’s that they didn’t approach it in the right way.

The real secret is you can’t be satisfied with the job you’re doing.

That’s the key to your success – always ask what can be done and what you can do. Where people often fall flat on their first film jobs is by sitting around waiting to be told what to do.

The minute something has been taught to you is the minute some responsibility has been transferred to you. You only get one chance to learn something on a film set, maybe twice if it’s complicated. After that, it’s up to you to make sure it’s done right.

Crew are surprisingly forgiving on certain tasks, but they do expect — and notice — when there is marked improvement.

But the reason their expectations are so damn low for newbies is because so many show up, do what they’re told, and then wait to do what they’re told next.

Take the initiative and prove you’re worth working with again.

Rise Above Expectations If You Want Success

Establishing a career in the film industry requires a high level of perseverance while combating severely low expectations.

When you finally land that first gig, don’t blow it by being a lazy, complaining greenhorn. Shove your foot in the door willing to bust your ass as hard as possible.

I never did see Marshall again after that first encounter, but I’d love a chance to talk to him today about how I beat the odds and how hard I had worked on that first shoot to overcome the obstacles thrown my way.

You only get one chance at your first job and, if you execute it correctly, you can start the domino effect that leads to more jobs and more contacts.

That’s a lot of pressure, I know, but rest easy knowing that many have come before you and failed simply by not trying hard enough. If you’re willing to go one step further than them, you’ve got a real chance at becoming a solid crew member — just don’t tell anyone I told you, OK?



Evan luzi (take from nofilmschool)


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