by: Jeff Anderson
Film jobs are hard to find, but for the fortunate few, very rewarding. The key is not to set your goals so high that they cannot be attained. By that I mean, if your goal is to be in the next big Brad Pitt film, and you're a relative unknown, you're probably setting yourself up for disappointment. But there are plenty of film jobs that you can get.
The world of independent film is rich with opportunities for those starting out in the film industry. If you are prepared to make your services affordable and be persistant, you'll have a chance to succeed. When you first start out, you'll probably be working for credit, or at bestdeferred pay. This means that there won't be any up front money on the project, but you will begin building a resume and this has value in itself.
Once you have a few films on your resume, and clips of these films that you can submit as a demo reel, you will start being considered for more work. This type of experience is priceless. Let's face it, there are a lot of things that we think we can do, but we never know for sure until we try them and succeed. I always advise young composers to respect the work of those who have gone before. Believe it or not, there will be a time when you are one of these elder statesmen and will appreciate the respect.