How can you launch your filmmaking career in today’s competitive market?

Every year media companies receive thousands of CVs from hopeful applicants who are dreaming about starting their careers within the film, TV and online media industries. Though it might seem like an impossible feat to break into these competitive markets, with the right training it is possible to launch your career effectively and stand out from the crowd. If you are passionate about working within the moving image industries, it will come as a relief to know that there are more openings than ever before for qualified graduates in today’s evolving employment market.

The past few years have seen a wealth of exclusive streaming services whiz onto our screens, from Sky Go and Amazon Prime, to Netflix and beyond. These new platforms and technologies come attached to a wealth of brand-new roles – which industry employers around the globe are eagerly hoping to fill. “The opportunities are huge, if you choose to take them”, – says Jonny Persey, Director of Met Film School, one the fastest growing film, television and online media schools in the UK.

But while many prospective students dream of directing the next blockbuster hit, the fact is they remain completely unaware of the sheer range of roles they could potentially take on within the screen content industries. Met Film School provides students with the training they need in a range of disciplines in high demand by today’s market. Some of the key growth areas are listed below.

1. Consider a career in documentary and factual filmmaking

Documentary and Factual filmmaking is a key growth area within screen content across film, TV and web. Apart from creative and technical skills, a successful documentary filmmaker needs to know how to capture real people and everyday life. Because of that, making documentaries and factual content can be a challenging but very rewarding task. After graduation, students often continue working on their own projects or create work for corporates and charities where a factual style of shooting is increasingly in demand. Met Film School also operates alongside Met Film Production, the 2016 winner of the prestigious Grierson award for Best Documentary on a Contemporary Theme.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work on a number of exciting and unique projects, including the award-winning documentary Sour Grapes, which had its world premiere at the Hot Docs film festival in Toronto earlier this year”, – says Robert Panners who managed to secure a placement at Met Film Production after graduation. “I’ve also had the chance to provide a wide range of support by helping with research, organising delivery materials to send to domestic and international documentary festivals and providing feedback on scripts.”

Met Film School is launching a new MA in Documentary and Factual Filmmaking in March 2017, you can find out more here.

2. Break into cinematography

Cinematographers are otherwise known as Directors of Photography (DOPs), whose primary concern lies in the aesthetics of the film. We’ve all had those oooh aaah moments when the visuals blow our minds – well, it’s the DOP behind the lens who made that film or that classic TV moment look fantastic!

Your main responsibility as DOP is to use camera and lighting techniques to emotionally connect your audience to the story. After graduation, Met Film School students have gone on to work as cinematographers, camera operators, focus pullers and gaffers in film, TV, documentary/factual programming and commercials.

Ben Calloway is an example of the School’s DOP success, graduating from the MA Cinematography back in 2015. But Ben’s hard work throughout this intensive one-year programme certainly paid off, since he now works as a freelance camera assistant and DOP for feature films, shorts, TV commercials, and popular music videos.

3. Gain producing skills

Producers are, arguably, the most important people in today’s evolving moving image industry. They often have the last word on several aspects of the filmmaking process from casting to the final cut as they are ultimately responsible for the commercial success of the film. As a result, the screen content industry is always hungry for new talented producers.

This, partially, explains why MA Producing has the highest employment rate at Met Film School. Currently, 100% of Met’s MA Producing graduates find jobs in the creative industries upon completion of their Master’s course. For example, Isadora Laban, who graduated in 2015, is now working for Brazil’s 3rd biggest production house and the home of HBO’s Latin-American hit show The Business.

4. Become a screenwriter

Screenwriting is often viewed as one of the film industry’s most creative crafts. Screenwriters are usually seen as innovative visionaries, mindful storytellers and passionate narrators behind many of our best-loved screen tales.

 In addition, with the rise of high-end TV productions in recent years, the demand for well-trained screenwriters has grown incrementally. Met Film School offers a range of screenwriting courses at both degree and short course level to provide students with the core skills needed to succeed as professional scriptwriters across film, TV and the web.

Our graduates have gone on to work in a range of roles within the screen industries. Met graduate Renata Pereira, for example, secured a role of Assistant Script Editor at Big Light Productions, the company founded by writer and producer Frank Spotnitz (creator of The X-Files and The Man in the High Castle).

5. Learn the latest postproduction, animation & VFX techniques

One of the fastest-growing areas of employment within moving image industry is postproduction, animation and VFX. Editors play a key role in the overall production process, often making or breaking a movie. Demand for talented individuals skilled in the latest postproduction and VFX techniques is currently high, particularly within the UK.

Met Film School offers a range of postproduction and VFX courses at MA and short course level providing those interested in entering the industry with the practical skills for employment in this growing area. Through state-of-the-art technologies and industry-informed teaching, Met Film School is catapulting students to the top of the production game. The school’s alumni have worked on a range of blockbuster projects including The Jungle Book, The Avengers: Age of Ultron, and beyond.

“I am currently employed as an editor, working on a 3D animated TV series for Disney,” says Camilla Szymkiewicz. “With a wide range of both theoretical and practical modules, my degree helped me get a leg up in the job market and I feel that potential employers take me more seriously.”

Met Film School is a leading provider of screen creative education based in Ealing Studios in London and in YouTube Space in Berlin. Download a prospectus to find out more about its accredited and short courses.

Follow Met Film School on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and LinkedIn

All images courtesy of Met Film School

Liked this? Then you’ll love these…

Film studies: The life behind the lens

Top 10 things to look for in a film school