The Girls in Film Guide to Making Movies
Make it stand out
It feels like years since our screens were covered in #metoo confessions, and in reality it was. Three years on from the movement, the film industry doesn’t feel all that much different for it. Instead of instigating an entire change in the industry’s treatment and representation of women, it feels more like Hollywood sacrificed a few big names to save face, then carried on as if back to normal. Because of this, making it in media as a female identified or non binary person — especially those people of colour, those over a certain weight, disabled people, those with differing sexualities, or an intersection of all of the above — is still just as difficult as ever. For those breaking into the industry, or at least, those without a famous and/or rich relative, assistance, patience, and guidance is needed in order to simply get a foot in the door.
Below we talk to Girls in Film, a collective of young female creatives trying to make film more accessible for women, non binary people and “all womxn internationally”. Making up part of the team, and providing the tips below for getting into film, enters Nikola Vasakova, producer and founder of Girls in Film, Becs Rainey, producer and GiF executive producer, Beatrix Blaise, director and GiF creative director, Lucy Nurnberg, zine editor and GiF social media editor and Julie Zackova, producer, agent and founder of GiF Prague.
Together, they contribute to the GiF community of female identified filmmakers online with advice, events, job offers and more. As well as this, girlsinfilm.net is a video platform that provides a showcase for inventive and inclusive short films, music videos, artistic moving images, documentaries, animation and other videos created by groundbreaking non binary and female filmmakers worldwide.
The point of their project is all about uplifting and connecting female creatives in the movie making industry. With a track record spanning years, most recently Girls in Film teamed up with Dr. Martens to produce a film fund: Where one lucky winner received a budget to produce the short of their dreams. Polyester are proud to work with both Dr. Martens and Girls in Film on debuting this short film, as well as uplifting the work that GiF do. Below, you can read their guide on getting into film with contributions from Zasakova, Blaise, Rainey, Nurnberg and Zackova.
Play Around with Rules
Vasakova comments that not everyone is destined to be a director or producer, and that’s perfectly valid. “Keep an open mind when getting into film, there’s a plethora of roles within various departments that are interesting and probably better paid.” She continues, “Have a good think about what your skills are and try to get experience in different departments to find out what you like and where your skills can be best used. While supporting your artistic career it’s good to find a job as script proofreader or treatment maker, they’re entry level positions and you learn a lot on the job.”
Rainey confirms this, saying, “You don’t need to know exactly what you want to do from the get go - you can explore and let it come to you. Keep an open mind, stay curious. If you find yourself in a job that doesn’t inspire you, learn what you can and move on - there’s always something to learn.”
Zackova also recommends you try “shooting BTS video and stills - it is a great entry level job and the best way to observe the workings of a set and get to know people - I myself have gotten into film through BTS.”
Keep Plugged In
Blaise recommends that you “Watch watch watch, not only films but TV, animations, arthouse etc. Every time you really love something, write it down in a journal, so that it becomes your go to for understanding what kind of filmmaker you want to be.” Vasakova also advises, “It’s not all about visual ideas, storytelling is in ideas, script etc. you can download a lot of film scripts online: read, read, read.”
Nurnberg adds, “If you’re making new stories, tap into your own experiences and stay true to your own vision - your insights and opinions are valuable and deserve to be heard.”
Keep It Simple
Especially at the start of your career, Blaise recommends collaboration above all else. “There’s nothing scarier than going in DIY at the beginning of your career, with everyone looking at you, and it’s unnecessary. You don’t need to be an auteur on your first shoot, so co-direct it. You’ll learn things from other people in a much softer way than learning purely from your own mistakes.”
Vasakova agrees, giving specific insight for directing too, “Try & make your first film ideas as simple as possible. It’s incredibly hard to find ambitious projects of first time directors.”
Never Assume Anything
Vasakova also advises that “The first thing I learnt on a job is - NEVER ASSUME. Double or triple check even if it makes you look stupid, it will probably save you money.” Blaise elaborates on this point, “Your gut feeling is more important than the mega shot list you’ve got ticking over in your mind. Often if you don’t go with your gut, you usually end up with rushes that you think ‘ah if I just waited one more minute and adjusted it this way, I would have loved this.’ So have a word with your 1st AD if you have one and just explain.”
Say Yes to Everything
This one is pretty straightforward: The more work you accept, the more experience you will get. As Vasakova tells us, “Every experience will be beneficial, including or especially the terrible shoots.” Zackova also adds that “if you do get a chance to work on a set” remember to “be nice to everyone, as you never know who might give you a chance to work next.”
Reach Out
All of the Girls in Film team recommended collaborating with those you enjoy working with and taking the plunge on speaking to those you admire. “Don’t be afraid to reach out even to the most famous/successful people for collaboration. I have been surprised many times how many of them actually reply,” Zackova enthuses. “Don’t be afraid to share your CV or reel directly with producers/directors/whoever you’d like to work with. Most of them will not write back, but trust me when I say that there are times when all of my trusted and known contacts are not available and that is the moment when I reach into my CV folder.”
Rainey confirms this, “Don’t be afraid to reach out to people you look up to - get in touch if you want to connect, you’ll be surprised at how many people are open and willing to give advice or mentor.” Rainey continues, “Find other passionate people who you enjoy working with. Team up with them and make things together in your spare time. Any practice you can get is so worth it, especially at the beginning.”
All in all, the above advice is a straightforward guide for finding your footing in the film industry as a womxn. Alongside this, we have a whole roster of work we’ve collaborated with GiF on for you to learn even more about female movie making.
