My son is a jr in a East-coast film program (not Emerson) and we (okay, I am) are wondering what his best course is for this last summer before he graduates. The past two summers he has either freelanced (weddings, reunions, etc. OMG never again) or worked for a business (venture capital startup that paid him handsomely to do quite a bit of work for their clients). His dream job would be editing, but not for feature films necessarily. He has no interest in directing.
He’s earned plenty doing these things, but I worry that since his program is not as high profile as NYU or Emerson, etc… that he needs something to bolster his resume. He’s thinking about taking some certification classes/exams in AVID and Premiere to make his skill level “official”. He’s also been looking for an internship that’s not quite so scattered as far as content. Problem? We don’t have the finances to have him live in LA or NY or the Bay Area with no pay, which most of the internships we find leads for turn out to be — no pay, find your own temporary apartment, etc…
Advice? He has been filming/editing, as a job,since he was in his teens, has a great gpa and references. But will that be enough to compete against high-profile students from immersive programs?
NYC and LA are were the jobs are and were the contacts are made that he needs in order to succeed in this industry unless he wants to continue to do the kind of work you’ve mentioned.
Networking is vital in this industry. He needs to take some risks and contact anyone and everyone he knows and look for opportunities. His school should be able to give some assistance with internship listings and there are some PAID summer internships out there. The time to look for them is NOW! As far as the cities you mentioned, he should contact anyone he knows who maybe went to/ or currently attending college in places like NYC and LA. Do you have any relatives or friends in these areas who can help with housing? Often NYC and LA students sublease space/share apartments for the summer. Using social media and friends of friends, etc. he should be able to come up with a place to stay. Colleges also sometimes provide summer housing to students in this category. Obviously, I’m recommending the Internship route. It will be much more valuable than a certification. During a summer paid internship my D had in LA, the company actually sent her for some training in a program they wanted her to use. More importantly, the contacts made during this time, not only with the company employees, but with other interns, students and friends of friends were invaluable, along with the experience of being in LA and getting familiar with how things really work.
In terms of the resume, talent and experience count. Perhaps sending a sample of his work along with his resume would help. Good luck!
filmnj gave excellent advice. Just posting to say, I agree. If he wants a career centered in LA or NYC (in other words, centers for highly professional films/tv etc), this is the time to make his move. Many who attend college in those cities do so, in part, to have a head start making important contacts, relationships and get toes in the doors. Of course, starting out is rarely a high paying proposition, but it takes a strong and resilient nature (and a certain immunity to borderline poverty) to persevere in the entertainment industry. Those who thrive in the competitive environment (and/or have some good luck!), can build a fine career.