ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

8 years, 9 months ago - AndBut Films

*Networking events:

We host filmmaker networking events: filmpartners@andbut.co.uk

There is also the monthly London Collaborative: nick[@]theclapperbored.com

Other events are sometimes announced on Shooting People
https://shootingpeople.org/events
https://shootingpeople.org/hosts/
https://shootingpeople.org/blog/2015/01/catch-up-at-shooters-in-the-pub/

*Short courses. Many organisations offer short courses in filmmaking
http://www.raindance.org/london/
https://nfts.co.uk/our-courses/short-courses
https://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk/find-a-course/

*Film festivals http://filmlondon.org.uk/whats-on/film-festivals-london Great places to see the latest work in film and meet other filmmakers

*Contact production companies directly. Show up in person. Offer to work as a runner. Be persistent.

8 years, 9 months ago - Star Kennedy

Raindance have a monthly Boozin' N' Schmoozin' event which is free for members. Membership is £50 a year.
They're having their Hallowe'en Ball on Monday 31st of October at the Cafe de Paris in London.
Have a look at their website. www.raindance.org
They are lovely people.

8 years, 9 months ago - Dan Selakovich

Find a feature shooting in London. Offer up being a P.A. for free. Most production managers will jump at the chance to have free labor. Do a really good job.

8 years, 9 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

What Dan says! If you've got access to London, offer to help someone for free for a month, you'll meet a lot of people, run yourself ragged, and get an IMDB credit. An IMDB feature credit is what counts.

8 years, 9 months ago - Fergus Walsh

Thanks for the advice guys, very much appreciated. As a newbie to this I am not sure how to find a feature film in London so where and who do I need to go to in order to find one because from what I have seen on Shootingpeople, I cannot seem to find an opportunity like that (unless I am just being silly and the typical example of a newbie...). Thanks again!

8 years, 9 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

Have you sent a message to any of the jobs that have advertised on SP? Do a search of producers on SP and ask if they have capacity for a free and energetic runner on their project.

Go to some of the SP or Raindance events. Go to any of the events. Get yourself some business cards and hand them out. Get other peoples business cards or contact details. Follow up in a couple weeks time or so. To be honest it isnt hard or rocket science to find films in prep or production and then ask to get involved. Whats the worst that can happen? They say no! But if you keep it professional and not hassle people, they might think of you for their next film.

You could also make films yourself. All you need is a script, camera and some friends and you can start making all the mistakes that get you ahead of the learning curve.

Just because you're not in London shouldn't hold you back. I grew up in a small town in the midlands and still made loads of films and gained lots of experience.

The bottom line - make it work for yourself. No one is going to come to you if you dont put the work in. There are thousands of hopefuls trying to get in the industry and more importantly, stay in. It's hard work. It's tough. And sometime you just want to quit. Keep at it and you'll survive somehow.

Good luck.

Wozy

8 years, 9 months ago - Dan Selakovich

Try the British Film Council. They have listings of all films in production in the U.K. You want films that are listed as "In Pre-production." Work out which films at the biggest. Big budget, stars, experienced directors, etc. by cross matching them with IMDB. Start by contacting the biggest productions first, and work backwards (there's no reason to start on a micro budget if you don't have to). Find out who the Production Manager is and write them a good cover letter. DO NOT email them. Everyone does that, and you'll just get deleted with everyone else.

http://film.britishcouncil.org/british-films-directory/in-production

8 years, 8 months ago - Tristram Anyiam

I am doing a feature film and would love some help on it please pop me an email if this finds you tristramanyiam@hotmail.com speak soon hopefully

8 years, 8 months ago - Franz von Habsburg FBKS MSc

SP hold local meets and there is the monthly Lunch Club in central London for serious professional networking organised by Gareth Owen who runs Roger Moore's office at Pinewood. Google Media Lunch Club to find it. Usually third Friday in the month.