"JOBS, JOBS, JOBS" - FINDING WORK IN L.A.

There’s no magic formula to getting a job. The sad fact is there are wayyyyyy more people looking for film work than there are jobs in Hollywood. And most of these people are “qualified”- meaning they have some sort of film school degree and some experience. 

Damn!

So “who you know” is the way in. Think about connections you have- family, friends, friends of family, alumni from schools, etc. There is no shame in asking for help. That is how they all got their break. Don’t act desperate, don’t lie or backstab. It will come back to haunt you. Don’t be arrogant. Fetching coffee and sweeping stages is not beneath you. You are at the bottom rung of the LA workforce. Unless you are the son/daughter of a studio head, mega-agent or superstar, you will have to pay your dues. I P.A.-ed, worked in mailrooms, sold Timberland Boots and jackets, house-sat, installed insulation, did house carpentry, walked dogs and bartended. Best education I ever had. I met the people who years later got me my first Industry job, my current agent, bought my first script, helped finance my thesis film etc.

Things you will need to find work:

-Resume- one page, easy to read, up to date. 
Don’t lie. The people reading these things know the business better than you do and can smell b.s. on the page. Most folks also keep their resumes and other info on a website. 

-Website- If you don't have one, then you need to make one!  

Wix.com, Squarespace.com and other website design engine sites are out there making it easy to create and maintain a site. Make sure they are clean, simple to navigate, professional and fast.  Look at the sites of people in the field/area you want to work.  Use them as guides for your website design and content.  Remember you are presenting yourself as a professional in an industry, so make sure they make you look professional.

-Business Cards:  Really? in 2026?  Yes. You may be Gen Z but many of the people in the positions to help you are Millenials and Gen X-ers who still like a piece of cardboard with your phone number on it.  They are cheap to make and essential to keep on you at all times.  you never know where/when you will meet someone who you may wish to have look at your website/resume or contact again.  Professionals have business cards- so again, be a professional.  carry a business card.  And it like the website and resume, should be clear and clean and easy to read, with accurate and up to date information.  If your info changes, get new cards.  They are not expensive to make anymore (vistaprint.com), and you can write them off on your taxes as a business expense.  (fyi-yes, you are no longer a student and will start filing taxes in the new year....so keep your receipts!)

-Letters of Recommendation- these might help depending on who they are from, and what job you are going for. Often they will mean nothing. If you have one, use it, but unless it's from Spielberg saying you are the next Hitchcock, don’t expect it to open many doors on their own.

-Reels: Mostly for DP’s, editors, actors and directors. Make sure they are brief, professional and exciting/interesting to watch. Include a complete scene as well as the usual music video beauty shots version…try to look at reels of people who work. Copy them. They are working for a reason.  These will be on your website (see above).

-Good Attitude- Be positive, be professional. Arrogance is not an asset. No one cares that you won the Best Student Short Award at the Joe Blow Film Festival. They are hiring a PA, not a director. Be a professional, reliable PA, and they will notice that, and hire you again…and again- Bam! You are on the inside.

“TEMPING”: Can you type? Have a pleasant speaking voice? Neat appearance? Then temp! It’s decent money (anywhere from $15-$40 an hour). And most of the temp jobs put you in film production offices! You temp there, you get to know people, you hear about jobs opening up…bam! You are on the inside. Make sure that when you seek out a temp agency, you find out whether or not they specialize in working with entertainment and/or media companies. You can find out which temp agencies each major studio or network uses by contacting their human resources departments and simply asking the first person that picks up the phone. Also check as some places ask for fees. Some do not.

Try the following places:

-Barrington Staffing: www.barringtonstaffing.com (5 branches in Southern Cal)

-Elite Placement Group: 1901 Ave Of The Stars Ste 360 Los Angeles, CA 90067-6025 (310) 277-2600

-Permanent Success: 12658 W Washington Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90066-2300 (310) 305-7376

-Career Images: 2029 Century Park E Ste 1400 Los Angeles, CA 90067-2915 (310) 553-5208

...SE HABLA ESPANOL?You will be working alongside many people of Latin descent. Mostly, but not limited to, Mexican. You will be dealing with people over phones, at vendors, on sets etc. Knowing at least some Spanish can go a long way to not only making your job easier, but people will appreciate the effort and that may come back to benefit you in future, say when you forgot to pick up the extra dolly track on a Friday, for a Saturday dawn shoot, and Chapman Leonard is closing in five minutes and you’re 35 minutes away. Roberto the floor manager might remember your pleasant and professional manner, and stay late for you. Hollywood runs on favors and paybacks. Be a good person, and you’ll not only feel better, you’ll work better.

BLOG CATEGORIES:
-Home Page 
-"Eat, Drink, Do And See"- Stuff to do in L.A.
-"Jobs, Jobs, Jobs"- Finding Work in L.A.
-Shooting Movies in L.A.
-...Just For The Actors
-...Just For The Writers
-"Home Sweet Home"- Where To Live and Find An Apartment
-Compass- How To Know Where You Are
-Car Society- Navigating Freeways And Roads in L.A.
-Safety Points- How To Stay Alive and Injury-free in L.A.



These categories can be found at the bottom of every page so you can navigate your way from one to another.