ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXWhich paid positions do you have the most trouble filling?
7 years, 3 months ago - Vasco de Sousa
As I've said elsewhere, I am sometimes called upon to give career advice to young people. Even if I refuse to go to any more career fairs, I'm sure more questions about the film industry will pop up. (When people find out I have a film degree, and that I used to run a film company...they ask.)
I'm looking at paid positions that last for at least a month, full time, pay at least living wage. Which ones are the hardest to source? (If you don't pay at least a living wage, then I don't care which positions you have trouble filling, sorry. I get asked for career advice, not hobby advice.)
A related question, which talents and skills are needed for these positions? How can candidates prove they have these skills?
Where do you source these positions? And finally, would you recommend any training institutes for young people (or even older people) wishing to fill these positions? Or, are they just "got it or don't" positions?
For me in Aberystwyth, I never had trouble filling in a paid position. But, there were fewer local choices when it came to experienced sound technicians (outside of the music industry) and stunt directors. (Perhaps that's because I'm isolated here.) What about you?
If you wish to answer privately, my ebost is udigrudi, and the email provider is gmail.com.
Only members can post or respond to topics. LOGIN
Not a member of SP? JOIN or FIND OUT MORE
7 years, 3 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin
Grip and electrical for lower budget work.
Response from 7 years, 3 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin SHOW
7 years, 3 months ago - Vasco de Sousa
Thanks Paddy. If it's not too much trouble asking, how much do these get paid for "lower budget work", and what qualifications (or evidence of competence) do you look for when hiring a grip or electrical?
Response from 7 years, 3 months ago - Vasco de Sousa SHOW
7 years, 3 months ago - Mark Wiggins
I agree with Paddy. Grips and sparks. I've found on low budget shorts, you get people who are basically unskilled runners doing these jobs. I find that a lot of people producing the really low budget, expenses only type of short, think that these jobs are unskilled and that anyone can do them; which is not the case.
Response from 7 years, 3 months ago - Mark Wiggins SHOW
7 years, 3 months ago - Marlom Tander
Mains electrics being handled by people without the right qualifications ? I hope that these are never remotely damp locations.... (I once took a full three phase shock when it turned out that the OFF switch, (yes, I did turn it off), well, it had a short.... I do not recommend it)
Response from 7 years, 3 months ago - Marlom Tander SHOW
7 years, 3 months ago - Vasco de Sousa
Haha, I think it's funny that someone who couldn't even afford grips would think to include them. In a student production, you just basically have someone hold a camera, and if you have an extra set of hands, someone else holds the boom pole. If you're lucky, you have someone working reflectors.
To have the kind of set up that requires electricians, but not to have the money to pay them sounds strange to me. Just another set of breathing lungs to remove in post production! I'm just glad they're not working in construction, and having a novice working on a wrecking ball.
Anyway, I'm concerned with paid jobs here, or at least jobs that lead to union membership, not what people making short films for film-freeway one-day festivals are looking for.
Response from 7 years, 3 months ago - Vasco de Sousa SHOW