17 Nov 2019

Whether you fancy your face on the silver screen, you're constantly scribbling down conversations you overheard for a potential script or you can imagine the shots, angles and camera movement for the abundance of stories hoarded in your head, the film industry has tonnes of benefits that make it a super creative and rewarding career. Here’s just a handful of the perks of the industry.

1. There are a tonne of different jobs out there

The amount of jobs needed to fill to make a movie is astronomical. Maybe you want to be the director, in charge of the cast and crew to fulfill your artistic vision. Maybe you'd like to be the sound designer, making or breaking a scene with a score. If you pay attention to the production of a set then production design may be perfect for you. You can dabble in so many different fields, experimenting and learning while bringing your passion for film to the table. 

2. It's a collaborative process

This isn't like a school project where your back gets sore from holding the team up. Everyone in the film industry shares a collective passion for storytelling, therefore, they want whatever they're working on to be a success and something to be proud of.

Films can't be made with one person and it's awesome to share ideas and suggestions with other people. The fact that so many different people doing different jobs somehow perfectly comes together to make a funky film is pretty bloody cool. Sure, Steven Spielberg's name is the one in the spotlight, but it wouldn’t be without his whole crew. There can be hundreds of people collaborating to make just one idea come to life on the big screen. 

3. You'll meet a whole heap of different people

Since there are hundreds (potentially thousands) of people working on similar projects to you, you’re bound to meet an array of likeminded people, some eccentric, some full of stories, some bloody bonkers. The film industry is an extremely social field of work and every day will be full of banter, conversation and networking.

4. It's a chance to get creative

This isn’t your regular 9-5 job where you’re just a cog in the machine, working behind a desk day in and day out. This is an industry that requires you to get out of the box and turn on the right side of your brain. All your weirdest and wackiest ideas that you've been hoarding in your mind can finally be unleashed. People want fresh, unique ideas and perspectives to keep the world of film exciting, daring and engaging for the audience.

5. You don’t need any experience or an ATAR to get started

If you’re keen on getting into the film industry, then you don’t need to stress out about how you went in your final exams or whether you’ve ever stepped foot on a set before. Because film is such a practical and creative career pathway, there’s plenty of ways to get your foot in the door.

If you’re based in NSW, you should check out the legends at the Academy of Film, Theatre and Television (AFTT). Whatever your dream – to manage, perform, produce, direct, sing, dance or design – AFTT promises to deliver you into the heart of the industry, highly trained, experienced and ready to impress. They offer a one year Diploma of Screen and Media with the option to major in either Acting, Film or Live Production.

You don’t need any experience to get started, they’ll teach you everything you need to know and you can apply without an ATAR. Pretty bloody good, eh? You can apply now for their Feb intake (get cracking if you’re just finishing up Year 12) or get more info over here.