What are some ways to gain hands-on experience in Film Production while still in school?

There are some great free and low cost filmmaking courses, often linked with theatres, cinemas and universities. We run Screen31, a free filmmaking course in school holidays in collaboration with Gulbenkian theatre in Canterbury. It's free, funded through Arts Council England and welcomes around 15 students who have never made a film before to come and have a go with professional equipment and editing software.

Seek out an internship with a local affiliate, or owned & operated, TV, or radio, station through your city film commission. If your college has a cable channel and radio station make sure to work in as many departments as possible from marketing and promotions, to being a PA on a senior level production. Even networking in the media department to become a cam op for campus sports broadcasts. I also recommend not overlooking your mobile phone & YouTube University, ie, free videography, and filmmaking, tutorials. Take advantage of what is in your hand all day everyday. Lastly, join campus media clubs if they exist. If they don't, start one and get it approved by the campus student affairs office.

All the teachers at our school, Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema, Brooklyn College- are working in the industry. Our practical real world approach helps students make valuable connections for jobs. I hired former student to work with me and she was a rock star. We also have the most diverse and global group of students which expands everyone’s network.

While in school, seize opportunities to gain practical film production experience. Join film clubs, participate in student projects, or intern at local production companies. Seek mentorship from professors or professionals in the field. Offer to assist on independent films, gaining exposure to various roles. Utilize school resources like equipment rentals or studio spaces for personal projects. Additionally, attend workshops, film festivals, or industry events to network and learn from professionals. These hands on experiences can significantly bolster your skills and knowledge in film production.

One simple way is to get an opportunity is, just offer to shoot 'Behind The Scenes' of a project. It could be the best way to interact and be close to all the processes of the filmmaking. Being there is almost like being hands on. Who knows ? The Behind The scenes cinematographer can also shoot a silent B Roll or a C Roll shot :) and It can be shared with the DOP or Director team as a gift shot. :)

Volunteer or intern with any larger or smaller production inside and outside of your school. Especially outside of your school. This is so important. That degree will not mean much, but what you learn on set will mean a lot. Keep a record of what you have worked on diligently. Work hard, and be humble. One of my experiences earlier on was of wrangling cables. I had made a small mistake on set, I was in my first semester of film school, and my key made me wrangle cables for the rest of the shoot. I did it, later on he became a good friend and at one time, some years later, I was directing a shoot where he was one of the keys. He is still a good friend.

Volunteer to do anything needed, even if it's doing nightly laundry for the costume truck. You will still be on a film set and around film people. Making friends and creating a community in the business is how most people begin. Knowing someone who knows 'someone' is a great way to get started.'

Doing an internship alongside studies, even if it isn't related directly to film production can be extremely helpful because it teaches you how to manage your time effectively and complete high priority tasks while completing low priority tasks in the background as well. It gives you the important soft skills you need to work as part of a production and work with people at different levels and perspectives. A bonus is that it also looks great on your CV!

Internships are harder and harder to get due to some litigious people who have forced prodco's & studios to change their practices. Some of this is, obviously, for the better in terms of curbing abuse, but it has also limited the field of opportunity. People with little or no experience are rarely hired but then you have the chicken & egg scenario of "how do you get experience if you can't get hired?" The best way to get. practical, on-set experience (as @AlexanderCicak noted) is to go out for P.A. jobs (either on set or in the office depending on where you one day want to end up). There is no better position to see every part of the process. Just don't get stuck unless your goal, in the long term, is to join the DGA as an A.D.

Volunteering in high school for film production offers hands-on learning, skill development, and networking opportunities. It builds a portfolio, helps discover career preferences, and boosts confidence. Engaging in real projects early on provides insights into industry dynamics and enhances resumes, setting a solid foundation for future endeavors in the film industry.

As prestigious as your school might be, nothing will prepare you for the circus of studio production than hands on experience...so don't be afraid to take any opportunity that might come your way. If there's a studio production in your area, chances are they'll need dayplayer production assistants for a big day. Ask around, beg, borrow, or steal, your way into a job. Even volunteering to be an extra can be eye-opening experience into the scale of production even if you have no interest in being on screen. If you're not in a production center, it might be worth spending the summer somewhere that is. In Hollywood where jobs (and the competition) are plenty, try getting a job at a vendor or volunteer at a film festival to gain connections.

During my academic journey, opting for courses or workshops became a pivotal means to acquire hands-on experience in film production while enhancing my knowledge and skills. Exploring reputable online or in-person options aligned with my interests, goals, and budget allowed me to learn from industry experts, receive valuable feedback, and apply my learning to real projects or assignments. The added benefit of earning a certificate or credential not only bolstered my credibility but also instilled confidence in my capabilities. This structured approach not only deepened my understanding of filmmaking techniques but also provided a tangible pathway to hands-on experience within the discipline.

In my experience taking a workshop or a course helps one to gain the bare minimum basics to start off with. Mostly when starting your film career its hard to find the starting point. A simple course or workshop will give you a start

Hacer cursos y talleres, no solamente te va a ayudar a ponerte en contacto con personas nuevas del ámbito sino que te mantiene actualizado de nuevas técnicas o actualizaciones.

Coincido con esto, pero además, los talleres y cursos son lugares para entablar conexiones con profesionales de diferentes rubros dentro de la producción audiovisual.

Just do it! The best way to get into the industry from any position is just doing what you intend to do.... make videos and films using whatever equipment and skills you have however basic. Then just keeping doing it with friends and family feedback. The more you do it, the better you get plus it's a domino effect. 'Just doing it' will bring up questions that force you to research and speak to others, this in turn will open up doors. Publishing your proudest results on social media will build up a showreel so when you do speak to the right person, you've got something to show, that'll get you that foot in the door.

Making projects with bare minimum crew on tight budgets is the best way to learn the art, You understand a little bit about everything from pre production to post production when you do your own project also editing your project makes you a very efficient director as you can see the film timeline play in your head while you shoot and also improves your ability to think and structure a story.

As a film student in your early stages, leverage the freedom you have to experiment with various styles and genres. Take on exciting projects, even if they don't offer high pay, to build a diverse portfolio and discover your unique voice. This phase allows you to make mistakes without high stakes, shaping your portfolio without the burden of major responsibilities.

Go out and shoot, make mistakes, talk to people, be humble, learn everyday, be curious, try new things, work with the good people, repeat!

Creating our own projects we can learn lot of thing and we can fine Solutions for our own and you can get unlimited creativity.make a mistakes and learn from it and make again a new things

Participating in film contests or festivals emerged as a dynamic strategy for hands-on experience while showcasing my work and garnering recognition. Exploring local, national, or international opportunities tailored to my genre, theme, or format enabled me to submit existing projects or create new ones in alignment with specific rules and criteria. The experience not only provided exposure but also valuable feedback, awards, and potential career advancement opportunities in film production. Engaging with the competitive landscape of contests and festivals became an enriching facet of my academic journey, propelling me further into the dynamic world of filmmaking.

Showcasing your work at film festivals is not only a strategic way to build your career but also an amazing opportunity to connect with filmmakers around the globe. If you are selected for the same festival, you'll be more likely to have similar filmmaking interests, which opens the door for collaboration. I have made good friends whom I have worked with because of film festivals.

Networking and collaborating with filmmakers, students, and professionals proved pivotal for hands-on experience. Attending events and joining online communities enriched my understanding, fostering idea exchange, support, and opportunities. This approach not only expanded my knowledge but also built valuable relationships within the dynamic landscape of film production.

Absolutely agree with this point. While in school, I learned more about film and production by working on personal projects with friends and others in the program. We were all learning together, sharing our individual knowledge and expertise, and also finding the areas we were lacking that we could ask about in classes.

Network and collaboration will take you anywhere for example you are at level 1 but through network you can meet people at level 5 who are already practicing things that you ain’t even learning yet at your level, this gives you a huge step ahead! By the time you reach level 5 everything starts clicking that’s how you become an expert.

I always work together with students on production projects in and out of school. As soon as you have your name in the end credits of a published/screened film, it opens doors. A piece of advice: learn the rules, the genres, the history, and the industry. But do not watch too much other people's work. Try to develop your own style, based on your own vision. It's an art, and you are the only one that can make you an impactful filmmaker.

Small is beautiful! No need to make features to start with... Even more in this world where the media industry is been reshaped by internet productions. The web does not have strict formats like on TV. So, be creative and work on small production. And don't forget: a good story is what really matters, so work hard on this too!

One piece of advice I always tell new people is to work for free in the beginning. Use it as a resource to help build your portfolio with actual client work. Learn how to communicate with real industry people. The more you put in, the better you will be.

Focus on communication. Be a really effective communicator in the pre and post production phases. Of course everyone wants to be on set shooting (even tho it's typically only 20% of the job) but you'll put yourself in positions to be successful and land more work if you communicate effectively with clients and aren't flakey. Set boundaries around the scope of the work and stick to them as best you can. Artists have creative minds which sometimes (and understandably so) run rampant and can be unorganized, so staying focused on the boundaries and responsibilities you set around the task/job are paramount.

Many universities are hosting screenings with the directors in attendance. This is a great opportunity to learn, as you will hear your professors and peers’s questions and ask a burning question of your own. I gave a talk at Columbia University titled “How to turn research into a film” the example used was Golden Gate Girls.