Making films can be a difficult and sometimes thankless task. Many filmmakers deal with being shunned by family and friends and don’t get paid. However, if they are ambitious enough to reach the highest levels of success, they will be rewarded with fame and glory.
Whether your goal is to have a film-making career or just become a better filmmaker, there are many steps that you’ll need to take to achieve either. This article will focus on seven simple ways to help you build your film-making career during college.
Start Creating Your Work
As a student, you’re probably looking for ways to build your film career. But how do you do that?
The first step is to start creating your work. Don’t wait until you graduate from college to start making films. Start now!
You don’t need much money or equipment to get started with filmmaking. All you need is inspiration and creativity.
The best way to get started is to find a subject that interests you and then create something about it. It doesn’t have to be a feature-length film — even a short video can help you build your skills as a filmmaker.
Make Friends With Other Filmmakers
One of the best ways to improve your skills as a filmmaker is by meeting other filmmakers who can help guide you along the way. They will also teach you new techniques to make your films better than before (or at least give them new ideas).
If there are no other filmmakers at your school, the best way is to reach out online via social media sites like Facebook or Twitter, where people in similar fields tend to congregate and share information. The Internet has made it easier than ever before for students.
Learn the Foundations of Film-Making
Film-making is a multi-faceted industry with many different roles and responsibilities. However, at its core, it is a collaborative process that relies on communication between people with different skill sets.
If you’re looking to build your career in film, you must understand how to work as part of a team and communicate effectively with others. This means learning how to communicate ideas clearly and understanding how other people communicate theirs.
Film making is also highly technical — knowing how to use the tools of the trade: cameras, lighting equipment, and editing software. The best way to learn these skills is by attending workshops or classes in school or at community centers or colleges near you. You’ll gain hands-on experience while learning from professionals working in the field today who can guide you on your path to becoming a filmmaker yourself!
Join a Film Club
Film clubs are a great way to meet like-minded people and share ideas. You can organize your own or join one already existing at your school or local community center. The best thing about film clubs is that you can choose exactly what kind of films you want to make — short films, documentaries, animations or music videos.
Once you’ve joined a club, try pitching an idea for a project and see if anyone wants to collaborate with you on it. If they do, then great! If not, don’t worry — move on and keep looking for collaborators until someone agrees to work with you.
Ask for Help on Projects Outside of Class
Film-making can be complicated and expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Many resources help you make your films without spending too much money or getting in over your head.
If you need help with a project outside of class, don’t hesitate to ask other students who may know more than you do about certain aspects of film-making. You never know when someone might give you some advice or point out something they think would work better than what you have in mind.
Take Advantage of Opportunities at School
There are several ways you can get involved in making films at school. This will give you experience and help you connect with other filmmakers, which is especially important if you want to work professionally in the industry later on.
If there is an option for a film class at your school, then take advantage of it! You will learn about camera angles and lighting techniques, how to shoot scenes, and much more. If there isn’t a class available at your school — or if the class is too expensive — consider taking private lessons with someone who knows what they’re doing (and check out our guide on how to find a good tutor).
Create a Portfolio of Work
If you’re going to make films, you need a portfolio. But what is a portfolio?
A film-making portfolio is a collection of your best work. It’s your chance to show what you can do and how well you can do it.
Your portfolio should include all the films you’ve made, whether they were successful or not. It should also include any written work that shows your ability to write scripts and any other skills you might have (such as animation).
When making films at school, it’s important to make films and learn from them. Look at each one critically and think about what worked, what didn’t, and why this was so. Use this information when making future films so that they are better than the last ones you made.
Create a portfolio of your best work and update it regularly so people can see how much progress you have made over time.
Takeaway!
There are two ways to succeed in any field: work hard or smarter. You need to do both. But the most important thing you can do is always learn, especially from your peers and the pros, so you don’t have to make the same mistakes.