Career Girls

When you think of Hollywood, I’m sure you think of bright lights, the red carpet and celebrity encounters. Sounds glamorous, right? What you see on screen is only a small portion of the production world. On a film or television set, there are many different positions that exist. Although being the on-screen talent may be the most recognizable, it is not the only important position. Other jobs on a set include the director, assistant director, producer, writer, director of photography, camera assistants, editor, and set production/designer to name a few. It simply depends on what interest you have behind the scenes.

There are many programs that can help you explore different aspects behind the scenes.  Start locally or with your school and see which classes or after-school programs they have to offer. When I was in high school, I took a media production class freshman year and from this class I began watching shows and movies differently. I started thinking more about how they created certain scenes, rather than following the storyline. Once we started making our own movies in class, I really got a sense of how much went into one small scene. Every detail counts and every person on a set makes a difference.  Each position works together, much like a team. The writer and director work together to ensure the story line is told properly, while the director of photography works closely with both the director and the set designers to make sure what we see on screen follows the director’s vision. All the details eventually come together and there is no better feeling than watching your final product on the big screen!    

While the industry is still mainly male dominated, more women are breaking through the walls and creating a path for young girls in the future. According to the Center for Women in Television and Film's Independent Women Report “In 2014-15, women comprised 26% of all directors, writers, executive producers, producers, editors, and cinematographers working on documentaries and narrative features screening at more than 20 high-profile film festivals in the United States.” -Martha M. Lauzen, Ph.D.

To make it in this field you have to stand strong and follow your passions and instincts.  This will not always be easy, and you may encounter different types of roadblocks, from people discouraging you with unfriendly remarks to physically not being able to lift the heavy equipment. Don’t let this intimidate you, stay positive, take the unkind words and turn them into motivation. When you are kind and helpful to everyone, karma will make sure there will be someone to help you in return. Remaining positive and social with everyone around you will help build your network. And as you may have heard, it’s all about who you know!

Check out our playlist of inspiring behind the scenes role models!