{"id":14602,"date":"2022-04-19T06:00:29","date_gmt":"2022-04-19T06:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmconnection.com\/blog\/?p=8293"},"modified":"2022-04-19T06:00:29","modified_gmt":"2022-04-19T06:00:29","slug":"tips-for-film-networking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/filmconnection.com\/blog\/2022\/04\/19\/tips-for-film-networking\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for Film Networking"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cIt\u2019s not what you know, it\u2019s who you know.\u201d – Just about everyone<\/em><\/p>\n

Nothing too earth-shattering about that quote. You\u2019ve probably heard it a hundred times while trying to find work in the film industry, or any creative industry really. You may have a great voice, an incredible eye, or a tremendous wit. But if you can\u2019t get in front of the right people, you may be stuck entertaining friends and family while working a \u201creal\u201d job.<\/p>\n

It\u2019d be a shame to waste that talent, right? But if it was easy to get in front of the decision-makers, sell your movie, and get it made in time for Oscar season, everyone would do it! It takes time, determination, a thick skin, and time. Yes, we mentioned it twice because it takes time to build the connections you need to gain a foothold in the entertainment business.<\/p>\n

Film Networking 101<\/h3>\n

Building relationships is rule No. 1 when you’re trying to start a film career\u2013it is definitely not an introvert’s game. If you find yourself blending in with the wallpaper at parties, you\u2019ll need to learn how to break out of that shell. At least in short bursts. Taking advantage of networking opportunities is how you can make your own luck.<\/p>\n

We understand that not everyone can be a smooth operator when it comes to literally talking with strangers. But the more you make the effort, the easier it\u2019ll get\u2013just remember to be yourself (another cliche we know). Maybe your quirkiness will hit the right person the right way.<\/p>\n

There is no hard and fast way of meeting people, but there are a few things you can do to make the experience more pleasurable for you and the person you\u2019re trying to network with.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Read the room \u2013<\/strong> Learn to take visual (and verbal) cues. If you\u2019ve worn out your welcome after a few seconds, take the L, move on, and try to learn from it. But if you\u2019re getting a nibble, it\u2019s okay to linger.<\/li>\n
  2. Let the conversation breathe \u2013<\/strong> There\u2019s no reason to go for the jugular from the start. If there\u2019s someone you\u2019re coming to see specifically, do a little research and lead with anecdotes that play to their interests. And let the conversation grow organically.<\/li>\n
  3. Listening is just as valuable as talking \u2013<\/strong> There\u2019s a general ratio when it comes to talking to others you\u2019re trying to influence<\/a>: listen twice as much as you talk. And this doesn\u2019t mean waiting for your turn to talk. Really listen to what they\u2019re saying. You may learn a thing or two.<\/li>\n
  4. Make the most of your opportunities \u2013<\/strong> When it\u2019s your turn, talk yourself up without being conceited. Don\u2019t drone on about your accomplishments, but how your skills may be of use to them. Getting technical can work if you\u2019re feeling that vibe. Then give them the opportunity to take your business card (have plenty on hand) and ask for one in return.<\/li>\n
  5. Help them out \u2013<\/strong> If it comes up in conversation that they\u2019re in need of a good camera operator, and you know of one, share that information. You\u2019ll help them, your friend, and yourself by showing you\u2019re a team player\u2013and maybe they\u2019ll return the favor. It\u2019s also another way to trade contact information.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Film Networking Events<\/h3>\n

    So where can you go to meet the movers and shakers? From Portland, OR, to Portland, ME, there are literally millions of search results for \u201cfilm networking events\u201d online. Producers, writers, filmmakers, and others get together to talk about film projects they\u2019re working on, trying to sell, or trying to get made.<\/p>\n

    Or maybe they just want to stay in touch with those they\u2019ve developed strong relationships with. These and other film related events (film festivals for example) are a great way to remain in touch with others in the industry. This includes getting online and joining social media groups and other online gathering spaces to keep you in the know.<\/p>\n

    These are the places where you can start building your own solid network of valuable connections. Show up, make yourself visible, and really make the effort to meet someone new. These are also great opportunities to find those who could help you make your movie, or offer solutions to difficult problems you\u2019re having.<\/p>\n

    The point is to immerse yourself in the industry whenever you can. You may not be living in Los Angeles or New York, but people are making movies, documentaries, TV shows, and videos throughout the U.S. Find those people and start making connections. Or let Film Connection do the heavy lifting for you.<\/p>\n

    We Bring Film Networking to You<\/h3>\n

    Film Connection places you in the middle of a production company<\/a> where you learn one-on-one with a mentor in a fully immersive environment. You\u2019ll be learning from inside a studio, on location, or wherever your mentor needs you. You\u2019ll learn how films, shows, and videos get made today and make many connections along the way.<\/p>\n

    It\u2019s something film schools just can\u2019t offer. Sure, they may bring a guest speaker for an hour or two or let you sign up for a lab once a week. But they\u2019ll also cost you up to four years of your life and entirely too much money. And when you’re done, how many connections will have you made?<\/p>\n

    With Film Connections, those networking opportunities are built in. And after 6-9 months, you\u2019ll have the experience and skill set producers looking for. The film industry can be notoriously difficult to break into\u2013we give you a seat at the table from day one. Are you ready to make connections in the film industry? Apply today<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    \u201cIt\u2019s not what you know, it\u2019s who you know.\u201d – Just about everyone Nothing too earth-shattering about that quote. You\u2019ve probably heard it a hundred times while trying to find work in the film industry, or any creative industry really. You may have a great voice, an incredible eye, or a tremendous wit. But if […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":14411,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[218,175],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14602","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-career-launch","category-learning-101"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmconnection.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14602","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmconnection.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmconnection.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmconnection.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmconnection.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14602"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/filmconnection.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14602\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmconnection.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmconnection.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14602"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmconnection.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14602"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmconnection.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14602"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}