Friends In Film Podcast

The importance of connections is often overlooked. Spending time crafting connections and your ability to connect is just as important as learning the craft itself.

In this episode, Janet talks about why it's important to have a big goal set for yourself and what's usually overlooked when it comes to having a goal of the caliber.

In this episode, we hear from someone who is moving up in the film industry much faster than expected.

Here's why you shouldn't be hesitant about the big goals and ambitions that you are trying to achieve in the film industry.

In this episode, Janet speaks with Derek who has just recently directed a music video.

In this episode, Janet shares a resume with one of her students who is only ten months in the program.

In this episode, we share discussion with Ibrahim as he shares some experiences and stories on set of what he thinks he's done right and what can be improved as he wraps up his time in the program.

In this episode, Janet talks about what it means to try and reach "critical mass" in your film career. That means getting enough film jobs that they just keep coming in at a consistent rate. After that, Janet speaks with someone who's looking to achieve the same result.

In this episode, Janet talks about the changes you'd need to make as an actor who's trying to jumpstart their career and leave their survival job.

Are you feeling stuck or lost in your 9 to 5 office job? Would you rather be working on a nature documentary and traveling the world getting paid to make movies? Omar shares stories and lessons from his projects last month. From commercials to documentaries, there are shoots for every type of personality. And yes, you can have a career doing this type of work.

In this episode, Janet talks about how to think about where you are in your own film career by being aware of your own thoughts. We also hear anecdotes from Ibrahim who also reflects on his current career.

In this episode, Janet goes over a resume of one of her students and gives pointers on how to make it even better.

Everyone knows the most obvious roles that are involved with a film set - director, producer, writer etc. But what about the many other jobs that exist on a film set? In this episode, Janet breaks down the many jobs you'd find on set along with their hierarchy.

Are you stuck working freebies and passion projects?Omar just wrapped Art Directing a couple commercials and Sound Mixing a student film. He explains the lessons learned on professional film sets and lower budget film sets. Omar also shares a conversation he had with a professional DP and Director who decided to film school and why he regretted it.

In this episode, Janet answers questions on a call that people have about the film industry. Is it all just luck? Does film school make a difference? Where should I invest my time and effort? Find out more in this weeks latest episode.

Have you wondered what it takes to get hired back as a PA on a professional film set? Or how to move up from PA to a craft like directing, acting or camera operating? This is advanced training from our paid program that gives an overview of how to be the best PA on set and how to create relationships (its all connections) that help you move up in to a craft. Brian is a Friends in Film mentor who is now producing and directing big stuff. He did the FIF program, got on professional film sets as a PA and moved up into producing. If you're interested in more training like this then go to http://friendsinfilm.com/industryEnjoy!

In this episode, Janets breaks down the steps needed to be an in-demand professional in the film industry.

In this episode, Janet talks about the ways to increase your levels of experience that lead to the biggest results.

In this episode, Janet discusses the idea of narratives. She explains how we not only create narratives for ourself, but how it affects what we think is possible.

In this episode, Janet details her process of giving out holiday candy to those on her email list and the opportunities that can happen because of it.

In this episode, Janet talks to us about not just the goals that we want to accomplish, but the goals that we have already achieved and how those can take us much further than we realize.

In this episode, we discuss deciding what you truly want for your career in the film industry. And sometimes, that includes having to change your initial decision.

In this episode, Janet talks with Luka who has been moving forward with his career in the film industry. They discuss several projects that he's worked on and what characteristics helped bring him those opportunities.

Friends In Film Graduate Vic (Animal Planet Network, A&E Network) has a serious discussion with me on the importance of building your connections and networks during this time (especially those of us who already have lots of videography experience). The key thing to remember here is Videography Is Not Production. And never think PA work is below you because you're "good with a camera". If you don't want to be become decrepit carrying around equipment and working into the wee hours every night editing someone else's project in 20 years, watch this.

In this episode Jana, a professional casting director, gives us insights on how to respond to a job posting that delivers exactly what is being looked for.

In this episode, Janet responds to concerns that young film professionals have. We learn that the thoughts we have surrounding the career that we want might not be the most beneficial mindset and helps us figure out how to shift that mindset.

This episode is from an Instagram Live. We cover topics a variety of topics from how to get paid for your creativity, to generating acting work, what is the best way to get casted, and how to move to a new market.

Whether you're pitching your project, networking at a festival, or simply meeting new collaborators, confidence can make all the difference. But how do you cultivate that confidence, especially in a field as competitive and sometimes intimidating as film? Today, we'll explore practical techniques that can help you present yourself with poise and assurance.

In this episode, Janet speaks with Abraham who shares an experience he recently had on set to hear her thoughts on the situation.

In this episode, Janet talks with Jonathan who shares some of his knowledge to become a professional in the industry.

Here's an example of how you become a professional creative without the uncertainty of whether you will ever make it.

The industry is changing, you are the future of the film industry, so come see how you can enter the industry and get inside opportunities from working on paying film sets. We shared our pathways that you can also take to get solidly inside working on major TV shows, getting your own film shot and distributed, and making $1,000 per day, up to $7,000 per month. It's all in our round table discussion at the FIF Annual Event that just happened on Sept 8. Next time, I hope you're there!

Omar answers questions from Instagram Live. What qualities and skills really get you hired? What is the best strategy to move up in the industry? How to start you own production company? Does age matter as an actor? How to generate work as an actor? How to get into art dept? How to tap into your local professional market?

The way you think and the thoughts you have make a big impact on how you see your career. Janet speaks to us about the importance of creating thoughts that put us in the perspective of being the person that we'd like to be in the film industry.

Is your goal to become a director or a producer? You could be making these mistakes that can hold you back for years!

Whether or not you believe in karma, your presence surrounding the film industry is very important to the future of your career. In this episode, Janet talks about the importance of karma and how you can use it to ensure you have an amazing career.

How powerful are your thoughts? In this episode, Janet answers questions on her Live in order to get us to think about our strategy to becoming professionals in the film industry.

Create the change in your life that you ultimately want.

5 Signs you're about to go from aspiring filmmaker to becoming a PROFESSIONAL: You realize: 1. It's been a year and you're still working for $100-350/day on passion projects, indie films, and your own projects. 2. You're still not making enough money to make film what you do full-time. 3. All your connections are people who want to break into film themselves too. 4. The film work you're doing (indie and projects) doesn't qualify for joining the union (DGA, WGA, Producer's Guild, or Local 600 or other locals). You are not accumulating qualifying paycheck stubs and your name on a callsheet doing a craft) 5. You are not on the list of producers, production supervisors, and coordinators in your area. Only other aspiring people have you in their phones. Not your fault, film schools, workshops, film challenges, and festivals keep you spinning in the same place. Always ASPIRING, but never getting on professional sets so you can become a PROFESSIONAL. When might be a good time to re-set your horizons? Now!

When we set a goal, it's easy to think that the best part will be achieving it. We imagine what life will be like when we finally get what we've been working so hard for. However, there is a lot more to consider and appreciate about the goal achievement process than getting to the end. Despite what you might think right now, the process is the point. Janet tells you about how the goal she made when she started on Los Angeles gave her the trajectory to the top film work with top directors.

It's all connections. What does that even mean? The film industry runs on relationships and trust. You will get hired if people can trust you to do the job and can trust you to be cool to work with. How do we get connected to the right people?

Are you concerned about the film industry and you working in it? Don't be. Go forward and learn and do what you want to do!

Watch this episode if you find yourself stalling out on doing what you need to do to get going in film.

In this episode, Omar shares some of his experiences that led him to cultivate a career in the film industry, as well as answering questions for others looking to do the same.

How did Janet start working in National Geographic? There are many genres, niches, departments and crafts in film. It is important to ask yourself what type of life do you want. What types of jobs do you want to work on? And how do you get those jobs? Janet, Omar and Brian sit down to talk about how to get into the job you're meant to do in the film industry.

The film industry is mostly freelance work, so its gig-based. Which means we need to make connections with people who will hire us, refer us, and mentor us. Do a good job so our names get passed around in this word-of-mouth industry. If you want to make film a full-time career then your time is better spent making connections than improving your creative or technical skills. I'm sure you know that there are a lot of skilled people who aren't getting paid for their skill. Learn how to get into professionals' phones have them hire you/refer you onto professional projects. This is the most valuable skill to work consistently in film - not creativity or technical knowledge.

In this episode, Janet brings on Arshia who shares some of her experiences as she came to Los Angeles from Canada just to get on shoots.

In this episode, Janet shares her captivating story about getting started in the film industry.

How do we get connected to professional directors, professional producers, professional filmmakers that actually work in the film industry full time? We can get work on professional passion projects! That's what Omar did. He went from PA-ing on a big budget commercial to working in a craft on a the commercial director's short film. This is how he did it...

In this episode, Janet speaks with A-list mentor Rolan. After working as a pharmacist, Rolan decided that the film industry was a better option for him and his lifestyle. He even set a goal of earning $10,000 in the month of January, and with the help of the Craft Certification Program, was able to achieve that goal.

In this episode, Janet shares an anecdote of one of the Craft Certification students, Derek. After just recently graduating high school, Derek's success after starting the program already has him on professional sets.