People in the film industry, is it really that brutal and mean?

[thebestalt]

I'm a film student. And I'm trying my hardest to fully learn in my classes and retain the information as well as trying to slowly build my own resume. There are plenty of people in my program who work on sets and are already PAs for countless short films and independent projects. I'm trying to reach out to them and ask if any of the projects they're working on need extra help. Not getting responses back and my instructors are picking favorites and giving certain students connections to get on actual televised sets but not for other students such as me.

My instructors keep making the industry out to be this unforgiving and ruthless entity that any small mistake will be the death of your career so never make mistakes and know any and everything even in other departments. And if you were to make a mistake, you might as well quit now.

With my learning style, I'm more of a hands-on by myself learner and I'm introverted. It allows me to absorb and retain the info better but that can cause me to appear to learn the info "slower" than others. I also like to stay busy and keep doing stuff. Even if I'm done with a task, I don't like to socialize with everyone else about things not related to what we're currently doing. I always wanna do more and more so I'm not standing around. I also like to stay out the way sort of speak. I prefer to be on alert and be the first to grab gear but if many people already are, I like to stay out of the way as to not make it difficult for people to move around and to not cause traffic.

Is the industry really THAT unforgiving that me doing these things will leave a sour taste in peoples' mouths about my work ethic or ability to be on set even if I'm just a student/green?

[Gent207-2]

Yes the film industry is incredibly small and unforgiving. My best friend a CTV graduate like you attempted to make it out in California, he failed. He went out to China to teach English and try to break into the business out there abd that failed. Now back in the US he's in the Navy.

Best advice: concentrate on specific technical skills I. e editing etc. DO NOT sell yourself as a Jack of all trades.

Also have a backup career in case.

[thebestalt]

I'm thinking about talking to some of the heads of my Film program as well as getting some advice from professionals on the proper route to take. Such as (For example): Lighting Classes, Gaffer classes, Electrician classes, Production Assistant training, Gaffer training, being a gaffer. But I'm more so interested in becoming a Director so I can direct my own independent projects.

I know that if anything fails set wise, I can always go into Office Production Assistant work which will allow me to still be in the industry, I just won't be on the physical set.

[WanderingLoveWizard]

Having been in the music industry for however many years and seeing all the backstabbing, conniving chicanery that goes on there, I can't imagine what the film industry must be like.
At least most musicians are decent people

[Boomchakalaca]

When u said “film industry” i thought it was 🍆. I did a small thing on set. Like, being an extra. It can be stressful but also fun. I bumped into one of the actresses during shoot bc the walk way was so small and i had to awkwardly turn my body slightly 💀 it was like a truck dude. I didn't get yelled at but it was smthn to be addressed. So embarassing. Im introverted as well, but sometimes we have to go out of our comfort zone

[thebestalt]

I've been an extra beforehand as I'm also an actor (Theatre Student transitioning into Film) so I know how it is. I do go out of my comfort zones a lot and though it can be helpful, due to me being neurodivergent, I end up becoming overwhelmed and not able to operate at 100% because of it. I still try though.

[jennifer_bloom]

I read they work 14 hour days and it takes high intelligence cause you have to memorize long scripts too. That is why actors get paid so much, cause its a tough job that not everybody can do. You need a lot of patience, a high tolerance for cruel and rude bosses, a long tolerance for hours without rest or food, and a strong will to expose yourself to things you hate such has as very cold water for ocean scenes etc...

[thebestalt]

I've done stage acting in theatre such as lead roles in musicals so I'm aware of that and can handle it. I've done some commercial acting which wasn't as long shoot wise and I've done some extra work on HBO tv shows which were long hours. It's something I'll get used to.

Remembering lines is easy and I can remember a full script with minimal errors. I always want to do better and improve despite conflicts or issues so I do try to overcome things I hate as you like to say. It just gets hard with me having mental disabilities on my emotional regulation sometimes.

[FilmGuy93]

Yes, it is absolutely that brutal. I got out of film specifically because I got tired of how rampant the narcississtic bullshit is.

[Anonymous]

Yes. We are over worked, underpaid and under appreciated. Sometimes even sexualy assaulted :(

[Opinion Owner]

We may also never get paid for our work. They offer more roles as a 'payment' instead sometimes

[Opinion Owner]

One of my friends who worked over 60 hours a week still couldn't afford a place to live. He would eat the food provided at work or parties. Then sleep on sofas or sometimes on site

[Opinion Owner]

There was 8 of us living in a 2 bedroom apartment. It was hell and we could barely make rent. I left before the pandemic as I wasn't getting any roles. I got a job in a store and basically paid the bills for the next few months

[thebestalt]

What part of the industry are you in? Acting? And where are you located? LA, Newyork, Chicago, or another state?

[Opinion Owner]

I am in the UK and I am no longer in thr industry

[Anonymous]

that's your first mistake listening to your teachers. mistakes are a part of learning so whatever they say is horseshit

[thebestalt]

This is what I've been thinking completely. The only reason it's been bothering me is because of so many other students getting favored as well as having some instructors shush me or targetting me but not others.

If you're wondering now, no I'm not being disruptive or anything of that nature. I ask questions and answer what I now assume to be rhetorical questions they ask the class. As well, I don't have prior knowledge such as others so I ask more questions than my fellow students.

[Opinion Owner]

i never said or assumed you were being disruptive. what i was thinking was your teacher has it in for you has a dislike or disgruntle problem with you and is purposely targeting you

[Opinion Owner]

let me give you an example by what i mean.. back in college i had a japanese biology teacher who was a racist prick towards white people particularly white male students especially me and it showed by how he purposely failed me in his biology class even though i passed every one of his damn exams with an 80 or above he purposely failed me on the lab part which was 1 test at the end of the year cummulative and he didn't give a shit i passed every one of his damn exams either. he tried that stunt with me twice and half way towards the second time i had a class with him half way through the semester he brags to my face in the hallway in private how he already failed me and was going to fail me again

[Opinion Owner]

naturally the department head didn't give a shit since he was tenure and when a teacher is on tenure it's almost impossible to fire them.. the point is your teacher has it in for you some disgruntle grudge against you and is purposely targeting you.. look i don't know you from a hole in the wall and vice versa but based on everything you said here it sounds that way

[Anonymous]

This is a good question for that fuckin asshole Baldwin and the camera lady he killed.

[thebestalt]

We actually had a sit down lecture about this and safety and as well as Sarah Jones who tragically got killed by a train due to producers lying about having permission to film a train track.