Week 03 – Career Coach

Before putting in the prompt to start this week’s assignment, I went through each of the AIs listed. I was already familiar with ChatGPT, so I skipped that one in favor of the others to get something different. I’d say out of all of them, my favorite was probably Bard, so that’s what I used for this assignment. I was excited to try Copilot, but I could never get it to load properly.

 

Moving on, here’s the prompt I used to kickstart feedback: “I am about to graduate from college with a degree in Film and Media . I want to find a production design entry level position in the film industry. What skills do I need to demonstrate? What kinds of artifacts should I have to show I have those skills? What are some resources that I should pursue to help me learn about what I need to do to find my first industry film job?”

 

The long, and surprisingly helpful, response I was met with is as follows:

 

Congratulations on approaching graduation! Landing your first entry-level production design job in the film industry requires showcasing your skills and passion in a compelling way. Here’s how you can prepare:

Demonstrating Skills:

• Visual Storytelling:
  • Portfolio with your own set designs, props, and mood boards.
  • Student films you’ve designed for, highlighting your contribution.
  • Skills in digital rendering software like SketchUp, 3ds Max, or Cinema 4D.
• Technical Expertise:
  • Strong knowledge of construction materials and set building techniques.
  • Understanding of color theory, lighting, and composition.
  • Proficiency in 2D drafting software like AutoCAD or Vectorworks.
• Collaboration and Communication:
  • Experience working with directors, cinematographers, and costume designers.
  • Strong communication and presentation skills.
  • Ability to handle time pressure and adapt to changes.

Artifacts to Showcase:

• A strong online portfolio:
  • Professionally curated with high-quality visuals.
  • Clear explanations of your design choices and process.
  • Tailored to the specific types of projects you’re interested in.
• Relevant coursework projects:
  • Highlight impactful assignments that showcase your creative and technical skills.
  • Include mood boards, sketches, and final set designs.
• Independent projects:
  • Design personal projects that demonstrate your passion and initiative.
  • Collaborate with other student filmmakers to gain production experience.

Learning Resources:

• Professional Organizations:
  • Join the Art Directors Guild (ADG) or Set Decorators Society (SDS) for access to resources, workshops, and networking events.
• Online Courses:
  • Enroll in online courses by platforms like Lynda or Skillshare to learn specific skills like set drafting or 3D rendering.
• Industry Publications:
  • Read magazines like Variety, Production Design Magazine, and Set Decor to stay updated on industry trends and job openings.
• Shadowing and Internships:
  • Reach out to established production designers to shadow them on set.
  • Find internship opportunities with film production companies or studios.

Additional Tips:

• Network actively:
  • Attend industry events, film festivals, and career fairs.
  • Connect with professionals on LinkedIn and build relationships.
• Tailor your resume and cover letter:
  • Highlight skills and experiences relevant to the specific job you’re applying for.
  • Show your understanding of the production company and their projects.
• Be persistent and patient:
  • Breaking into the film industry takes time and effort.
  • Don’t get discouraged by rejection, keep learning and improving your skills.

Remember, passion, dedication, and a continuous learning spirit are key to succeeding in the film industry. By showcasing your skills through your portfolio, gaining relevant experience, and actively networking, you’ll be well on your way to landing that dream production design job!

 

 

I already knew most of the information that was given back to me, but I like how cleanly the AI explained it. They didn’t use any extravagant terms and actually made it seem like it was something feasible, rather than a pipe dream. 

I then went on to ask some of the following questions provided in the assignment post and Bard gave me some insight into the Set Directors Society and networking.

All in all, I think this assignment was genuinely helpful. For one, I didn’t even know about the SDS. The AI also seemed to take a comforting and supportive tone, if that makes any sense? It wasn’t just cold and factual. I’ve started to build a mock portfolio on Carrd (which is totally free) just to get a feel of how to navigate website controls. I’ve also set aside the time to start going back through my student projects to get material from those. I’m still nervous going into graduation, but I know it’ll all be okay in the end.

 

Week 02 – Job Reconnaissance

For this week’s assignment, I used a plethora of websites. My primary sources were Indeed, Glassdoor, and Facebook. Getting a foot in the door in the film industry can be daunting if you don’t have any prior connections, so I limited my search to terms like ‘production assistant’. I don’t have the funds to relocate myself at the moment, so I limited my search to Georgia and surrounding areas. The film industry has been growing here for the past couple of years, so I was able to get some results. Most of the ones I found were for news broadcasting or documentaries, which aren’t really the kind of stories or environments I’m interested in, if I’m being honest. Beggars can’t be choosers, though! I still looked at them as closely as the few fiction production assistant gigs I found.

Most of the positions weren’t looking for a lot of experience, per se, as much as they were looking for capability and a willingness to learn. Most of them highlighted ‘good attitude’ and ‘apt communication skills’, and that makes sense. Being a production assistant is a lot of being bossed around and told what to do. Some of the Warner Brother positions in Atlanta asked for Adobe licenses/experience, which, thankfully, I have. They asked that you be on time, which is a given. Some of the lesser-paying positions preferred that you have your own vehicle. Nothing was too specific in the realm of production design because production assistants are doing a plethora of things.

I do imagine, though, that if you demonstrated your interest in the industry for the long term, you would probably be favored over other candidates. They might see you as a potential rehire or just take more of an interest in you. I’ve started working on my portfolio for this class and beyond, trying to gather screenshots and items to use for it. I’ve worked as the Director of Photography, Production Designer, 2nd AC, and other positions in some short films, so I’m trying to get screen apps and pictures of sets to demonstrate my abilities. I’ve also written a pilot for another class and a pitch deck that I’m fond of, but I’m kind of scared to just put that out there on a website. I need to decide which website builder I’m going to use and get started on all of that shortly so I can hopefully get some feedback!

My experience doing this research just affirmed to me more than ever that I need to get my portfolio up and public for employers to see. Without it, they have no idea who you are or what you can do. It’s also reaffirmed for me that it’s going to be a long and hard road to get into the film industry, and I’m going to have to work for it if I want it. I think I’m a bit overwhelmed, as I’m sure most students are, but I’m also optimistic. The industry is only growing in Georgia, and I’m sure there’s somewhere for me to get my foot in the door!

 

 

Week 01 – Career Aspirations

Coming into college as a Film and Media major, I wasn’t 100% sure of what I wanted to do, originally. The industry itself is very broad. Put myself out there and act or direct? Stay behind the scenes, out of sight? Over the past four years, I’ve tried a lot of different positions, all of which are very unique and require different skill sets. I think I’ve come to narrow it down to two: script writing and production design. I have a large passion for both. Taking the GSU partner classes with Georgia Film Academy helped me out a lot in deciding. That, as well as taking on student projects with some of my friends. I’m almost at the end of my college career, and I want to utilize this class to help me shape my portfolio for the future. It’s basically your lifeline in the industry, so it helps to be presentable and organized. I think learning to build my portfolio digitally and having it established will help out a lot when applying to future internships or jobs. Hopefully, it can be a networking point as well and I can trade portfolios with others in the class with similar career aspirations. Networking is something I find to be a challenge, so I’m aiming to improve at it over the course of the semester with the help of this class.

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