We will talk about how to make a film portfolio today. You probably won’t get very far in the film industry if you don’t have a strong body of work. This is true even if you have a lot of contacts and the best camera money can buy. Your portfolio, which is arguably your most valuable asset, needs to be interesting and meaningful to get the attention of the people you want to meet and work with. Why did you put this portfolio together?
If you’re having trouble getting your portfolio going, here are six good places to start:
Start a TV show
When looking for work in the film industry, it’s helpful to have a wide range of skills. Set a goal for yourself to create, produce, and lead an original TV show right after you graduate. Do the whole thing, from coming up with the idea to making the finished product.
Whether or not the project works out, finishing it will teach you how to plan and put together a project from start to finish. Also, it will show potential employers that you have the drive and work ethic to finish the job.
Many film school graduates don’t have the skills they need to finish a project on their own or in a professional setting. The point is that if you can show you can make a whole series, that will speak volumes. Don’t worry too much about the number of views or trying to start the next season of Stranger Things.
Commercial Video
Even though every artist wants to work full-time in the movie business, opportunities don’t always come up. As you build your portfolio, corporate video is another option to think about. Offer to make online videos, commercials, marketing content, and other videos that business owners in your network may want.
Apply for jobs making corporate videos. If you get this kind of work, you can often use clips from these videos that look more like movies. This will let you make a full demo reel without worrying that anyone will figure out it was made by a small company.
Making Music Videos
Music videos are one of the more fun ways to add good work to your portfolio. Rappers, singers, and bands that are just starting out in the music business have to have music videos of their songs as part of their portfolio. They often ask up-and-coming filmmakers and video artists for help. It’s easy to make a network of musicians on Twitter or Instagram.
Because music videos are so important to these musicians, these kinds of projects usually get more money than short films. Making videos for music artists lets you be creative and adds things to your portfolio that commercial work doesn’t.
Try to find musicians whose videos they want to make more like movies. Even though most music videos are only two to three minutes long, they often have strange or creative ideas. It’s a great chance to show how good your visual storytelling is and get a few more pictures for your demo reel.
Try to learn as much as you can
You should remember that the school projects you’re working on now aren’t just for a grade; they’re your chance to build a portfolio. As a film student, it can be easy to get excited about plans for the future (or even the weekend). Even though film school might sometimes feel like it will never end, it’s probably one of the few times you’ll get to sit down in your whole life.
This is because you can give your full attention to yourself. During film school, you are only thinking about yourself and not your clients, employer, or producer. The best way to get your portfolio off to a good start is to make the most of this time and take it seriously.
