Advice to Young Film Pros. (Make it easy to say YES)
When I first moved to Chattanooga in 2016, I was starting over from zero. I had a great introduction to high end portrait and product photography, corporate marketing, and project manager earlier in my career, but this was my chance to create something fully of my own. My mindset was to Network hard! beginning by meeting with a couple key people, who were close friends, and that I knew were well connected in the city and ask them three basic questions.
Where do I fit in Chattanooga
What should I know about Chattanooga
Who should I know in Chattanooga
This ended up paying off huge. I knew it wouldn’t be quick, and if I’d had more success in still photography, I might not have had such a successful film career thus far. It also helps that the people I work for invested in me by sending me to professional development classes and gave me some reading material that has been invaluable over the last 5 years.
My 3 questions helped me network and meet a lot of new people, when I would meet with those people I would ask them the same 3 questions. I’d get great advice such as what free networking opportunities I should be taking advantage of, how people want to know you are a part of the city and not just passing through, and how I might be able to use my skills to help their companies or business contacts.
I started a google sheet where I would track the people and companies that I met and wanted to meet. I noted their contact info, status of the relationship, their contact recommendations, when to contact them again, etc.
Some people fully embraced me while others made it obvious they didn’t care to link up with me because of my lower status & lack of connectedness within the city. Some of these people still only know my name if I’m in a group of people they want to meet. In the years since, I have kept a mental note of these people and how they treated me. I do all I can to pay it forward now.
One of the best (45min) pieces of reading materials that was ever shared with me, and I share with every young professional that I meet with is Ramit Sethi’s “50 e-mail Scripts” - This is a .pdf that explains how to email and actually get responses from busy people. I think that few people know how bad their e-mail writing skills are.
My favorite and most used Sethi method is the wide/narrow, and I use it a couple of different ways.
Subect: New creative in Chattanooga, Looking to network, Gary recommended I meet with you.
(Don’t be afraid to use the entire subject line)
E-Mail Body:
“Hi Jamie,
I was recommended to you by Gary Smith. I’m new to Chattanooga and would like to buy you a coffee and pick your brain on building a career here in the city. Do you have availability any of the following times, if not, I can be flexible to your schedule.
Monday at 9am
Tuesday at 1pm
Wednesday at 4pm
Meet at Mean Mug on Main st?
Thanks, Derek”
(Of course it’s best to ask Gary to write a warm introduction rather than hitting Jamie with a cold call (It’s also great to ask Gary if you can draft up an introduction for him to send to Jamie.) Make it easy for people to say yes.)
With this method, I limit my e-mail to a single question. I make it easier for Jamie to pick a day than to put me off for later, and potentially lose track of my e-mail. Also, I did a little cyber stalking and saw that Jamie’s office is across the street from Mean Mug on Main st. - Jamie won’t have make a big commitment, deal with parking and will need a break at some point in their day. I made sure to spread the days and times out wide and let them know that I will be flexible to their schedule. I also looked at Jamie’s instagram and see that they do drink coffee.
Here’s how I (& Ramit) want to see every young pro’s email.
Subject Line: Write something here that will get my attention
I have one impressive young pro and here are her three most recent subject lines. (Holla VLM)
Hello From the Other Side
One Step at a Time?
Good Content Shot Anywhere - We Love to See It
Just last week a kid sent me a picture of himself holding up a notebook with his to do list for the day. In big bold letters it said '“E-Mail Derek at Pathfinder Films” I wasn’t interested in what he was selling but I rewarded him with a response.
E-Mail Body:
“Hi Derek,
I’m new to Chattanooga / Recently graduated from University Film Program. I’d like a chance to work with you and get some additional film set experience. I had a look at your company reel and was particularly impressed by your work with ArtsBuild. “The Arts are Everywhere” has a great storyline and inspired me to (bla bla bla, people like compliments, again Cyberstalk your prey) I’m most interested in working in X Department.
Director of Photography
1st AC
2nd AC
Or I’m flexible to whatever crew positions you need filled
I’m willing to work at a reduced rate if needed, Do you have any upcoming productions where I could be of service?
Thanks, Kered”
Here’s the formula:
Quick Intro
Compliment
Proof I did my homework (See I even linked the video to show that this isn’t just a generic e-mail I sent to 40 companies)
Wide/Narrow (I’m interested in these specific positions, but I’m flexible)
One, Most important question
Pro Tip: Consider the geographic location of who you are e-mailing. North of the Mason Dixon Line keep your e-mails short and to the point of the email. In the north it’s rude to waste people’s time with pleasantries. South of the MDL Say hello, give a few sentences of pleasantries, then get to the point of the email. (No more than a few sentences of How are the kids/the dog/the weather)
Pro Tip 2: Be sure you are in contact with an actual decision maker or person of influence within the company. In film, that’s usually The Producer. Don’t bother a Director or a Grip, with hiring inquiries unless you know they are actually in on the hiring process. Find out what job title within the company is most likely to have power to hire you.
Here are things every Young Film Pro should know or do (From a producers perspective):
All recent graduates are kind of the same, show some promise, but have minimal skilll & weak reels. I look back at my college portfolio and gag a little.
I don’t ever want to see your resume/cv. (All that matters is your reel the work I’ve seen you do)
I don’t care what college you went to, I don’t care about your gpa, job history, diploma, etc.
I want to see a short reel, around 90 sec long and well organized.
Follow up with me (and anyone you want to work for) once a month. 90% of young pros never follow up after the first meeting. (I assume they found gainful employment in Iowa)
Work a temp job that allows you to be flexible enough to actually be available if I call on you (or live with your parents and arrange with them to give you a limited amount of free food & rent to build your client base.) ((If you need such a job, I’ve got a lead for you))
Bring a damned notebook and 2 pencils to meetings! Dress a little nicer than you normally would too.
Ask good questions but listen more than talk.
Find people who are doing exactly what you want to do, interview them, ask them what is the more tedious, hardest part of their job. Ask them if they will teach you how to do those painful things so they won’t have to next time.
When you do get a gig, work so hard that when you aren’t on set, your department wonders why they are working so hard.
Research and memorize Film Set Hierarchy.
Put your damn phone away.
Don’t ever come to a producer with “I’m new, I’ll take anything”
We producers like to know where you fit, not guess. Tell us where you want to be on the crew roster. 90% of young professionals tell me “I want film set experience, I’ll take anything you’ll give me” and I roll my eyes every time. Tell me what you want!! Make it easy for me to say yes to a roster spot.
Give your e-mails a lot of thought and time. Don’t be lazy. I like to write e-mails and have them auto send 3 hours later incase I think of a detail I’d like to add or adjust.
Young professionals don’t need to work for free. I really hate seeing production companies in town offering Intern programs, especially when they are unpaid. I had one Young Pro tell me he worked at a company for over a year and their rule was '“Never touch our RED” — That is not the kind of company you should ever work for. Don’t work for a company that isn’t going to pay you for your time AND isn’t going to help you develop your skillset.
Don’t do accept a project if you won’t get at least two of the three following rewards
Fair Pay
Relationship
Portfolio/Experience
Follow up with your point of contact once a month. Just because you don’t get a response doesn’t mean it’s a NO. In fact, you should always assume the person you e-mailed lost track of your email in the bottom of their inbox. Don’t reply to the same e-mail each time, write a brand new, better email. Try new tactics.
Don’t know their email address? get creative. In most internet browser’s dev tools you can “inspect” the webpage, more specifically try inspecting the contact page. Try using the search bar for “.com” I’ve found people’s email addresses that way. In most cases if you can get the e-mail address of one person at the company, you can guess others. If my e-mail address is derek@filmproducer.co, then Melissa’s email address is probably melissa@filmproducer.co — I’ve had success by sending e-mails to several e-mail addresses that don’t exist. If you can even get the main contact email such as contact@filmproducer.co then you can try sending a bunch of emails to me and see if one of them works. dpeters@filmproducer.co, petersd@filmproducer.com, derek@filmproducer.co, peters@filmproducer.co — Try them all, the receiver will never know! Basically all companies use a repeating logic to their e-mail addresses.
Cell phones: No. — This gets it’s own section
I don’t ever want to see your phone. Get in the habit of never texting where you can be seen or posting your own film-set content on social media. If a company puts out a post from a set you worked on, share it! (when you’re off the clock.) Even if you see a 20 year vet doing it, don’t do it.
We all love our bf/gfs, sick aunties, or need to line up that next sweet gig, but step out (or sit on the toilet) - Send a quick text and get back to work. I had a recent graduate we brought in as an AD on a really low stakes production. I was doing BTS photos (it was that low stakes) every photo I have of him he’s on his phone. I found out 2 years later that my suspicious where accurate, he was texting with his girlfriend while he was supposed to be keeping the director on schedule. In turn, I was keeping the director on schedule and he’s never been hired back. We have a sound mixer who has never been hired back because the DP got tired of picking his headphones up all of the floor. Another audio guy I work with is known for talking too much, of all people, the guy who is supposed to keep our audio clean! I have a grip, aspiring gaffer who can usually be found on instagram or at the crafty table instead of being on the ready, aware of what’s going on and ready for the next step up.
It’s really easy to get a bad reputation.
Be the Crouched Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Be silent, unseen, and ready to pouch on the next task.
A couple very small things you can do to make your producer love you.
When you receive a call sheet, read it, reply (to sender only) “received” — it’s a small but really appreciated guesture.
When a project is complete, send an invoice within a week.
If it’s your first time working with a company, include your w9. (Rename it FirstName.LastName.w9.pdf)
Thank them for your meals. (Meals are the hardest part of a producers job)
Be conscious of Over Time. Yes you make the big bucks, but taking extra money from the production company keeps them from making the % they need to operate. If they don’t operate, they fold, of they fold you have one less source of income.
Communicate - If you have questions, needs, or concerns, just ask.
I hope this helps, this is some of the info I wish that I had on Day 1.
Have questions? E-mail me or leave comment.
