Here's how you can navigate the lack of experience when starting a career in the film industry.

In today's day and age you have 3 avenues of getting noticed. Contacts, Experience, and Portfolio. Having all three is ideal, however, when you're starting out, you may have only one or two of those options. Without work experience you're best option is to spend your efforts making an exceptional demo reel for professionals to review. If you teamed up with other artists be clear about what you were responsible on your reel. Use social media to your benefit. Instagram Reels, Tiktok, and Youtube are great ways to show off what you can do and get noticed. Many self-taught artists have had a successful start that way.

If you're lacking experience and didn't go the traditional route you might also lack contacts. For example someone who is self-taught wouldn't have school related industry contacts, like professors or other students currently in the industry. I suggest reaching out to professionals to ask if they'd be willing to review your reel. This might be gamble but someone might be willing to give you some insight. Consider posting to 3D communities or even Reddit, asking for a review. Eventually, you'll meet people and if you've got an outstanding reel you might even get a recommendation out of it.

The key is to hone in your skill sets specifically in the area you're looking to get into. One other suggestion is to take additional online schooling. Some programs offer zoom reviews in which you'd be able to speak to a teacher directly and get to know them. Without work experience your resume might look a little sparse, but many students have gotten a great start from teachers recommending students for junior level rolls. You may even consider applying for an apprentice program. I believe Disney might have a well known one. Other companies have started their own training programs. Reach out to the companies you're interested in and find out if that's an option, should you feel like that's a good route for you! Best of luck!

If you're creating online content to get noticed, make sure you compare what other professionals are doing. Set a goal and don't post anything you don't feel like it truly represents your abilities. Each clip you post is a representation of your abilities. Make sure to only post your best, and don't rush anything. If you feel like you could still add a little extra to make it better, hold off posting it, make it better then post it once you feel like it is to the standard people at your level are expected to create. One last thing, if you have a website, make sure all the links to your social media works correctly. The last thing you need if for a potential employer to see the dreaded 404 link error. Good luck!