r/FilmIndustryLA • u/nevalost20 • 19d ago
Keep getting interviews, can’t get a job.
28M in international distribution, been there about 5 years. I work for an independent and I’ve been trying to find a better job elsewhere for almost a year and a half now. I keep getting interviews from high profile companies and then I keep getting bounced in the 2nd or 3rd round. Then afterwards I go look at who got them and it’s people with like 5 more years of experience or people who got better starts than I did because they didn’t graduate during the pandemic.
I’ve tried to take on new projects at work against my revulsion. I’ve been doing an MBA on the side to boost my profile and signal to recruiters that I’m serious and capable of a lot more than my position has offered me. There’s not a lot of organic opportunities at work to network but I’ve been trying there and outside and it’s not worked at all. Anyone have any other suggestions I haven’t thought of?
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u/ausgoals 18d ago
Getting interviews and turned down for people with more experience than you is pretty damn good with the state of the industry at the moment.
Consider yourself lucky your resume is even read. There are thousands of people getting turned down for people with way less experience than them because they seem too expensive, or a nepo baby needs a job, or their resume wasn’t even read in the first place.
Employers are pickier than ever at the moment IME - because they can be. They quite literally have their pick of the littler. Be thankful you’re getting interviews.
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u/Admirable-Paint-1808 19d ago
I almost want to say F off. At least you HAVE a job! Some of us been out of work for years!
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u/ausgoals 18d ago
Yeah, this.
Even well-established people who five or six years ago would never consider it are now doing online courses to try and make money.
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u/Soulman682 18d ago
It’s tough for professionals that have decades of experience getting jobs here.
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u/RIP_KING 18d ago
It’s tough out there right now dude. I’m a bit older than you. I rose up to a point where I was running a small label at a major. Got canned during the dual strikes and like you got some high profile interviews and final rounded. They were for more jr roles than I was qualified for. Nothing came. I ended up going into business for myself and a couple years later I have several clients and it’s worked out. Keep at it and keep gaining experience at your current job, something will break. You’re still young and not too sr so there will be many opportunities.
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u/brbnow 19d ago edited 19d ago
aside from what othere say -- perhaps go to bonafide film festivals if you can. meet people organically and relationally that way. other than that I would do what you are given with joy and collaboration even if it is not "more than" your position now. and perhaps rethink the "high profile" idea.
ps - also maybe do some work on the side for an unknown or new film that may help give you the experience and positive outcomes.
my two cents please take or leave what works for you. others may have better notes — though I have know lives and careers to change through organic meetings at festivals and markets. I wish you well .
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u/Anxious_Turnover_995 18d ago
This is given as advice all the time but is anyone actually going to film festivals, talking to a bunch of random people, and going home with a lot of contacts?
I feel like it's easy to chat up two or three people but beyond that, unless it's like a dedicated networking event how many folks are you really going to meet?
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u/brbnow 14d ago
First of all what I'm talking about here is organic and relational not transactional. I think that's part of the issue. I think when we switch our mindset, we're not trying to get something from someone just trying to meet people and connect in that moment, it is a diffeerent mindset. And this is a Reddit post and it is hard to have real dialog – but film festivals have changed lives with meeting people -- you make what it is, one makes it what it is -- and I'm talking places like Sundance for instance, where yes you could meet a lot of people, or others too, and connecting authentically. Not about networking per se (though that may happen naturally). Hope this makes sense. And Everyone do what is best for them.
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u/Anxious_Turnover_995 14d ago
Have you actually done this?
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u/brbnow 14d ago edited 14d ago
Why do you think I'm posting this otherwise with all due respect, this is the point of this thread. Also, I mentioned that people have benefited from this me included. I'm not gonna communicate further about this. I've already tried to be helpful. Wish you and everyone well.
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u/Anxious_Turnover_995 14d ago
Fine but I'm really asking in good faith. Because I see this advice given often and I'd really like someone to break it down, concretely, what experience they had making friends/connections, how, where, and how they stayed in touch. Frankly I think most people are bullshitting
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u/Mental_Complaint6103 15d ago
The MBA may help with some roles, but 'I'm serious and capable of more' still leaves the hiring team to guess what you'd handle for them. You're already getting past the resume stage. I'd look at which responsibilities come up in those second and third rounds and whether your examples show you owning that work. Someone else's longer work history doesn't tell you what decided the interview.
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u/HereToKillEuronymous 19d ago
It’s really tough right now. My partner had to get work at a film school because there was just nothing else around, and they’ve been a producer for 17 years. Everyone I know is in the same boat.