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How do you make it into the film industry as a director?

To be honest I don't know where I would start after collage.

film film-production director television cinematography
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Ben’s Answer

Yes trying to get a starter job on a film set is a good “foot in the door” so you can get a sense of how it all works. This won’t be easy, but you have to be industrious and take every contact and make the most of them!

I’d also say you can just start making short films. We all have phones with cameras on them these days! Laptops with even basic editing software. There are many short film festivals etc for your work to be seen and recognised, and of course online.
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Hank’s Answer

As you may know, the film industry is very much an apprentice-driven enterprise. It is also a very "Catch-22" environment--to be brought onboard a project as a director you need successful and recognizable directing experience. Uh, huh...

I mean, you could go to film school and focus on "directing" but who is going to hire you right out of school?

I always suggest that if you are truly passionate about this--and you need that passion because the climb is pretty much vertical--then try to volunteer on significant projects (not your friend's student film) and make yourself valuable. It would definitely help if you also had some facility with screenwriting. A Director is, after all, a storyteller.

Also, in my opinion, "film school" is a waste of time & money if you are indeed intending to have a career in the industry. Why? No production is going to hire you just because you graduated from film school. And that means you've spent all that time and have ended up in the same place where someone who never went to film school is.

If you can muster the resources, you can direct your own films which can serve as work samples.

Hank recommends the following next steps:

There is only one "Director" (generally) for each film. There are many, many other jobs. Performing lesser roles on productions can "get you in the door."
If you have a project you directed to use as a calling card, consider asking a well known Director to mentor you.
You can make a film with a smart phone. But you will need a dynamite screenplay and an outstanding cast (not just a bunch of buddies).
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