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The Prep PeriodHere's something that took us far too long to figure out when we were starting out: by the time a production is shooting, the hiring is mostly done. The jobs got handed out weeks earlier, quietly, during prep. Prep — pre-production — is the stretch before the cameras roll. The production office opens. Departments get built. Locations get scouted. Schedules get torn up and rebuilt. And crucially, that's when phones get answered by people who are looking for bodies. Why prep is your windowOn set, everyone is buried. Nobody has time to read your email, let alone reply. In prep, there's still a little air in the room. A production coordinator staffing up an office, a locations manager who needs someone to hold a sign, an art department that suddenly realizes it's short a pair of hands — those decisions happen in the weeks before day one. So if your outreach is landing when a show is already shooting, you're late. Not forever, things fall through constantly, but you're behind the people who wrote a month earlier. Where the entry-level roles sitTwo broad buckets. The office side — production assistant, production secretary, assistant to a producer or showrunner — often starts in prep and runs through the shoot, so those roles get filled early. The set side — set PA, additional crew, trainees — tends to get hired closer to the start date, sometimes days before. Knowing which you're chasing changes when you send the email. The office roles are worth taking seriously even if set is the dream. You'll see how a production is actually assembled, and you'll meet every department head in the process. How to time itFollow productions, not just job ads. When you hear a show is setting up in your city, that's your cue to write — politely, briefly, with your availability and your phone number. Don't wait for a posting. Half of these jobs never get posted anywhere. And keep a list. Names, companies, who you wrote, when. Shows come back around. The coordinator who had nothing for you in March is staffing something new in September. What to do todayPick three productions or companies you know are gearing up near you. Write three short emails — availability, location, willingness to start tomorrow. Then check today's job list, because some of the roles on there are prep hires right now. Tell us if it works. Reply to this email — we like hearing about the wins. Community — connect with thousands of other aspiring filmmakers for advice, collaborations and opportunities in our facebook group and across our online community. Don't be a stranger — questions, career goals, or just checking in, we'd love to hear from you. All the Best, Liv Today's New JobsWe've got 172 roles open on the US board today, 25 of them brand new, and the new ones are at their quietest right now. Recommended Job of the DayOffice & Post Intern is our pick. It's with a production company making unscripted and documentary work in New York, and the mix is genuinely useful: cutting sizzles, organising footage, development research, festival submissions and tracking, PA work on set when they need hands, plus keeping the office ticking over. Paid at $18.50 an hour, full-time in the office, about ten weeks from October to December. Ideal if you edit a bit and want a credit-worthy run on real projects. Bring a short reel or two sizzle-style cuts. It closes this week, and they'll be reading and shortlisting as applications land, so get yours in today.
Feature Development Internship sits with a world-leading animation studio, and it's the rare one that shows you how a development department actually functions: research, coverage, writers lists, competitive tracking. Part-time, 24 hours a week, in person Tuesday to Thursday. If you want to read scripts for a living, this is the door. Applications get sifted as they arrive, so today beats Thursday. Video Production Assistant puts you on the live sports team at one of the biggest entertainment and streaming companies going. Cutting highlights, writing shot sheets, driving playback during live output, posting VODs. Nights and weekends, $24 an hour plus overtime. Fast, loud, brilliant training for anyone who wants to edit under pressure — and a desk like this won't stay empty long. Also on the board — 172 live roles, 25 new today
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Upcoming Virtual Workshops Thu 8 Oct, 7:00pm EDTMFJF Monthly Career Clinic Free for members
Starting a career in the film industry is a lonely business, but just imagine each month if you could speak with an experienced filmmaker and get answers to all your questions and concerns. Better still you can share your worries and listen to others, compare notes and learn all the tricks and tips to getting ahead in the Film Industry. Well, now you can via the MFJF Monthly Career Advice Clinic! Come along each month to get your questions answered and learn from our amazing community. The clinic takes the form of a virtual 60-minute workshop hosted by experienced filmmaker Christina Northrup. Christina will present each month and take live Q&A from anyone who wants to talk, if you want to just listen that is absolutely fine. The overall aim of these monthly workshops is to help you establish your film career! Starting a film career can be very lonely, constantly thinking you are on the outside looking in, desperate for somebody to recognise you have what it takes. And the truth is you are not alone, everyone feels the same. Sharing our concerns, listening to others and having an experienced filmmaker pass on her guidance is one very large step in the right… Book your place |
Today's Daily Job ListLocations PA Production Crew · TBA · Closes 7th October A Production Company is looking for an experienced Locations PA for three days' work in Downtown Toronto, on the 4th, 5th and 6th of October.
The job pays $250 a day. You'll need to be comfortable driving… Various Crew Production Crew · TBA · Closes 7th October A team of award-winning filmmakers is looking for final Crew Members to join them for a 48 hour film competition in Toronto. They still need an Editor, Production Designer, Hair and Makeup, Boom Operator… PA Production Crew · TBA · Closes 7th October A production is looking for PAs in New York City.
This is paid work at $350 for a 12-hour day, running 13 to 16 October. They're also after Drivers and Conehead cover, with the Conehead shift running… Office & Post Intern Fixed Term Contract · 3 Months · Closes 13th October A production company is looking for an Office & Post Intern to join their New York team in Brooklyn for around 10 weeks, starting in October. In this job, you'll cut sizzles, organise footage, research… Junior Animator Permanent Job · 2 Weeks · Closes 19th October A world-leading VFX studio is looking for a Junior Animator. In this job, you'll animate entry-level shots, including cycles and crowds, working under Senior Animators and Animation Supervisors. You'll be… Assistant Editor Permanent Job · 2 Weeks · Closes 19th October An independent production company making original scripted series is looking for an Assistant Editor. You'll handle ingest, getting footage off cards, backed up, organised and proxied, then build and… Production Internship Internship · 2 Weeks · Closes 19th October An Emmy-winning unscripted television and documentary Production Company is looking for a Production Intern. This is a paid internship, and it covers a lot of ground: development and research, onsite… Social Internships Internship · 2 Weeks · Closes 19th October A global sports media network is looking for Social Interns to join one or more of its social teams. In this job, you'll plan, create and optimise content across Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, YouTube… Feature Technical Direction Internship Internship · 2 Weeks · Closes 19th October A world-leading feature animation studio is offering a Feature Technical Direction Internship. You'll work alongside Technical Directors, writing and testing tools for the production pipeline, building… AC & Grip Production Crew · TBA · Closes 7th October A Production Company is looking for an AC and a Grip for a feature film shoot.
It's two days of work in the Ottawa/Gatineau area: Thursday 8 October, 7am to 7pm, then Friday 9 October, 3pm to 3am. Both… Talent Acquisition Internship Internship · 2 Weeks · Closes 19th October A world-leading Animation Studio is offering a Talent Acquisition Internship. You'll work alongside the Recruiting team on job postings, interview scheduling and onboarding, help run early careers events… Junior Creative Permanent Job · 2 Weeks · Closes 19th October A creative agency working across influencer marketing, talent management and content production is looking for a Junior Creative. This one's social-first, so you'll need a strong eye for design and a… Feature Lighting Internship Internship · 2 Weeks · Closes 19th October A world-leading feature animation studio is offering a Feature Lighting Internship. You'll work alongside the CG Supervisor and Lead Lighter to hit the visual target on your assigned shots, taking them… TV Music Internship Internship · 2 Weeks · Closes 19th October A world-leading animation studio is looking for a TV Music Intern to join their Spring 2027 internship programme. In this job, you'll sit in on music meetings, recording and spotting sessions, process cue… Animation Production Internship Internship · 2 Weeks · Closes 19th October A world-leading Animation Studio is offering an Animation Production Internship. You'll be assigned to either a feature film or a TV production, working on day-to-day production tasks under a Production… Industry news
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