Before I get started, I know it’s about who you know but I am new to this industry so that’s why I am here.

I’ve recently worked as a PA on a show for the last few weeks for the first time and now that it’s over. It started as me coming in for one day as a sub but the next week hired me on permanently. I quickly moved up in responsibility since I was able to create documents quickly and a quick learner. So now that it’s over, I am looking for more work. I created great relationships,however, jobs are a little slow at the moment in this type of work (tv shows).

I’m interested in more in office production assistants specifically and I do have technical and design skills as I’ve worked in supply chain and as an executive assistant in my prior corporate jobs.

Btw, I am open to PA roles as well. I’m looking for film time work at the end of the day.

Given how there's currently an industry-wide doom-n-gloom situation with respect to production output in LA (and not to mention smaller markets), I started wondering about the facilities themselves and what works and what doesn't.

My question is what type of facility in the next few years will studios and big production companies be looking for most? Is it still the traditional oversized facilities that can house very large productions or be segmented into smaller production spaces? Or will virtual filming with ILM-style StageCraft type facilities in smaller spaces be the preferred option? Or are there other type of filming facilities that are not really well known right now that will be vital to the production process in the future? Would love to hear what those in the industry think.

Does anyone know what is filming in NoHo this week? It’s got some beastly (expensive af I’m sure) street closures, for a stretch of like 4 days. It filed for the permits under Mad Leo Productions but I can’t find anything related to that name, or even anything about the company. Does anyone know what this is?

Hi everyone. Thanks for all your enthusiasm about the upcoming show. This is just a reminder The New Film Underground Volume 12 will be on Dec. 7th at 8pm in Sherman Oaks. twelve shorts by some of L.A.'s most visionary experimental filmmakers will be shown. It's a great way to discover the vast regions beyond conventional Hollywood filmmaking and see another side of this city! Tickets are $10. Find a list of filmmakers and other info here:

https://www.takeyourmedicineandsmile.com/

Hi all,

I just moved to Los Angeles in hopes of pursuing a career in film. I understand my timing couldn't be much worse, however, I do believe things will pick up in the coming year(s). So, while the industry simmers, I wanted to spend this time meeting fellow filmmakers and film lovers.

My question to you all is: do you have any recommendations for places to look in terms of networking/meeting people?

For a little background on me, my ultimate goal is to Write/Direct (very unique, I know). At the moment however, the extent of my professional work is as a Camera Trainee & an Editor. I'm 21 years old, and want to spend this period of my life learning and growing as a filmmaker. The ideal outcome of meeting people would be to make our own projects and grow strong connections. With finding "real" work being a bonus of course.

I understand and apologize if my question is too broad, I am not sure what else to ask in order to hone in on a more definitive answer (if there even is one).

Thanks everyone, stay strong out there <3.

Hello all,

I'm currently a Mid 20's South Asian actor trying to BREAK INTO Hollywood and I got signed to a talent agency in Dec 2022. I've done 4 short films and I actually write my own feature film scripts to streamline the process but since I'm still an unknown, none of my reps want to send them out to try and package it to production companies or agents.

My agency became my manager and then I signed with a new agency in May 2024 and literally the last 2 years have been THE WORST with the strikes and I'm literally getting like 0 auditions from my agent and some from self submitting.

With COVID, the strikes, contraction, work and auditions have dried up considerably and everyone has been saying this year is dead and "Survive till 25".

What is the validity of the statement? I frankly think it's a bunch of bullshit and I heard the industry is finished and that new people won't be able to break in anymore. Since the last 2 years were shit, was is the guarantee that next year will be better? Some people are saying normalcy will be back in 2026 as well.

Would love to hear your thoughts about it and what you guys are hearing at the moment. I know there's a lot of doom and gloom on the sub but just figured I'd ask since most y'all are in LA.

Just wondering what are the main platforms that talent agents use? Do a lot have their own system? Any help would be great.

A college friend of mine who I hadn't talked to in over 25 years popped up on my Facebook feed. Looking at his profile I saw he was an art director and set designer for some of the highest grossing feature films in the past decade, having started out on soap operas. Even though when I knew him in college his passion was writing and directing, he obviously found his calling and I couldn't be happier for him.

For me personally, I wanted to work on becoming a scripted development executive right when I graduated college. But after getting a job at a network, I discovered the programming/scheduling department and that became my passion and career. I loved the business aspect of it and having to remain objective while still being somewhat involved with the shows being put on the air.

But I think a lot of discovering your passion in this business comes from sheer exposure to side you didn't know it had. So many college grads come out saying "I want to write, produce, direct!" I think because that's all they really know of when they think of the business. And many of them do just that, but it seems a lot more find other avenues they love just as much.

SEMI-FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE SHORE SCRIPTS 2024 FALL SEASON SHORT FILM FUND!

Thank you to all of the writers and filmmakers who shared your work with us. Selecting the Semi-Finalists from so many high-quality, well-written, bold, and unique stories was extremely challenging. We look forward to watching many of these projects come to life.

This season, our Semi-Finalists represent the Top 3% of all submissions.

View the Semi-Finalists here: https://www.shorescripts.com/2024_shortfilmfund2_winners/

OUR TOP 15 FINALISTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON DECEMBER 4TH.

Watch some of the films that have previously come through the Short Film Fund by checking out our Produced Films page. And, learn more about the films currently in pre-production, production, and post by reading about the History of the Short Film Fund.

https://preview.redd.it/cwatosml8o3e1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=39b1652717a4384aa89d54f046a09a8aa41ef7e2

This may be a bit silly but I know Film Festivals are a good way to get involved with the film industry.

It’s good for someone looking to break in because they make connections and network, sharing about the work they’ve completed, projects they’ve worked on, or their self-produced projects that are already in the festival.

I was also curious in what ways do film festivals benefit the film fan or person who wants to work with/in the world of film but doesn’t necessarily want to be a part of actual film making?

I know there’s film industry adjacent jobs such as film teacher, film journalist, film critic, film historian but what do you get out of volunteering at a film festival? Is it more for the experience?

Do people even talk to you if you’ve never made your own movie or worked on a movie? Thank you!

I know about the ones at Soho House, NeueHouse, and The Aster. Any other suggestions?

https://www.tagnegotiations2024.com/post/the-animation-guild-reaches-tentative-agreement-with-amptp

Looking for a rental company that leases unmarked box trucks which will be used in a music video- for some reason most of my searches are trucks with labels on them. Any tips? Thank you!

I recently read the book by Jerry Weintraub. If you haven’t read it, I really really recommend it.

The chapters where he talks about the film industry specifically really interested me.

I was wondering if there were any other autobiographies or books like that, where I can read about someone notables journey into film.

Long story short- I came up with an idea for a reality show. It gained some traction. I spoke with some producers who guided me through polishing my pitch. Got my pitch pretty enough to pitch to talent. Got some big talent on board. Currently looking for a producing partner which is a connection I am hoping to make through the talent’s talent management agency.

My question is- IF it gets to the point of talking $$.. How much do you think I can expect to be discussed for them to pay me for my idea & run with it? Is there an avenue for me to get paid AND get hired on to learn the field (I do not have a background in entertainment at all). Looking for this to be my foot in the door, but also content to just sell it & walk away if that’s all that is offered. Thoughts?

I was a travel PA a few years ago and want to try production accounting. An accountant from the production I worked on told me about a website for prod accounting jobs, does anyone know this website?

Working with a horror feature that requires a run down cabin in the woods. Trying to determine cheapest route to film this: Do we hire a construction team to build us what we need and set design make it look run down? Or, do we location search for homeowners that may already have run down cabins and film inside those (assuming infrastructure and roof are in tact or will require minimal work)?

Edit: Just some clarifying info: filming interiors and exteriors, located in the woods and doesn’t need running power or water as it’s abandoned

I graduated college in May and am applying for internships. The problem is that plan realistically has until the end of the year, where do I go from there

EDIT I should have mentioned this earlier, but I mainly want to be a writer and eventual showrunner.

I was wondering what effects the incoming presidential administration will have on actors and our agency will it become even harder to succeed by succeeding I mean get work?

I've read about and also heard from multiple people that fi core status is becoming more common due to more non union commercials and non union independent films being made.

It seems like most (if not all) of these people live in areas other than LA.

I was wondering if this was true for LA as well? For example, would you expect most, if not all, of the actors in a blockbuster like Gladiator II or Wicked to be full SAG-AFTRA members or would it not be a rarity for some to be fi-core?

What about in a lower budget film like Heretic or Anora?

Hello! I am a film student and I need people to fill out a survey about horror films to help with my research for my project.

The target demographic is for people who are 15-25 years old. It would be greatly appreciated if people could fill this out!!

https://forms.office.com/e/Gi0X6BSDkt

How are you guys surviving in Los Angeles? I’m just wondering how much you guys make a year?

I'm a graduate student at USC in media communications and I’ve been thinking a lot about AI and its role in creative industries, especially in film and art. I’m super passionate about combining creativity and technical skills—I’m a really artistic person, but I also love diving into the tech side of things like 3D art, videography, and content creation. Lately, I’ve been considering looking for AI-related internships, particularly in fields like AI filmography or AI-driven content creation. I feel like this industry is evolving fast, and I want to be ahead of the curve and use these tools to establish myself and stand out. But at the same time, I wrestle with the ethics of it.

There’s so much discourse around AI in art. Some filmmakers and artists are staunchly against it, saying they’ll never use AI because of the ethical concerns. I totally get where they’re coming from—it’s a bit unsettling how fast the technology is advancing without fully addressing issues like copyright, creative integrity, and even job displacement.

From a career perspective, I wonder if people in the creative world will eventually adapt and accept AI, or if there will always be tension around its use. I’m also curious about what kinds of AI internships or roles exist in this space. I know industries like film and entertainment are using AI to streamline production processes and push boundaries creatively, but I want to make sure I’m not stepping into something that could harm my reputation in the art or film community or limit how my work is valued in the future.

What are your thoughts on AI in film and art? Do you think it’s a good idea to explore internships in this field? Or should I stick to learning and leaning into traditional filmography skills? I’d love to hear your opinions and insights!

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts!

What are some great Black Friday deals to get as a camera assistant?

Hello! I've been freelancing as a 1st/2nd AC for about 6 months now. Sometimes gigs I would apply to requires me to send a demo reel. What could I send? The best I can think of is to edit scenes from all the films I've worked on and put a caption saying these are just my IMDb credits. Like I would understand if a demo deel is requested if I was applying for DOP/OP, but maybe they want to see shots I've focus pulled on? I don't know.

Hi all!

I’ve recently moved to the LA area and will be producing my first short in the area:) All of the locations I’d like to film at are requiring general liability insurance <1mil limit. Does anyone have a company they prefer? I’ve been getting quotes ranging from $1750-$2,000. My budget is 7,000 for the whole thing so that eats up a big chunk of my budget.

Anyone have a company they feel is priced fairly?

3 days - 2 locations