How to Get Into the Film Industry Without College

Find a job behind the camera, no college degree required.

A college degree is no longer a surefire way to get ahead in your chosen career and may only lead to large piles of debt. What it takes to break into the film industry is what it takes to break into other competitive industries: experience, networking and creativity. While going to college for film can help in all three of those areas, academic experience will only get you so far in the real world. To get your foot in the door, start small and see where you go.

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Instructions

- 1
  
  Learn about the film industry by staying up-to-date with industry-specific publications like The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. Read specifically about the film industry job in which you are interested.
- 2
  
  Sharpen the skills needed for your desired job by creating your own videos (e.g., editing, cinematography, writing). Upload your videos to public forums like Youtube.com or Vimeo.com, and invite critiques.
- 3
  
  Gain more experience and network connections by working for filmmakers in your area. Use your area's film bureau website to scope out gigs by finding out what is filming in your area or listing yourself as available in the appropriate category. For example, Massachusetts has a section on its state film bureau website called the "Production Guide," which lists all sorts of film industry workers in the area, such as location scouts and camera assistants.
- 4
  
  Submit a film to film festivals such as the Atlanta Film Festival. Create a Withoutabox account. Click on the "Add a Project" button on the left sidebar. Follow the instructions on the website. You will need to provide the project's title, type, genre and niche, if applicable.