The Friends In Film Podcast

In this episode, Omar shares some of his experiences that led him to cultivate a career in the film industry, as well as answering questions for others looking to do the same.

How did Janet start working in National Geographic? There are many genres, niches, departments and crafts in film. It is important to ask yourself what type of life do you want. What types of jobs do you want to work on? And how do you get those jobs?

Janet, Omar and Brian sit down to talk about how to get into the job you're meant to do in the film industry.

The film industry is mostly freelance work, so its gig-based. Which means we need to make connections with people who will hire us, refer us, and mentor us. Do a good job so our names get passed around in this word-of-mouth industry. If you want to make film a full-time career then your time is better spent making connections than improving your creative or technical skills. I'm sure you know that there are a lot of skilled people who aren't getting paid for their skill.

Learn how to get into professionals' phones have them hire you/refer you onto professional projects. This is the most valuable skill to work consistently in film - not creativity or technical knowledge.

In this episode, Janet brings on Arshia who shares some of her experiences as she came to Los Angeles from Canada just to get on shoots.

In this episode, Janet shares her captivating story about getting started in the film industry.

How do we get connected to professional directors, professional producers, professional filmmakers that actually work in the film industry full time? We can get work on professional passion projects! That's what Omar did. He went from PA-ing on a big budget commercial to working in a craft on a the commercial director's short film. This is how he did it...

In this episode, Janet speaks with A-list mentor Rolan. After working as a pharmacist, Rolan decided that the film industry was a better option for him and his lifestyle. He even set a goal of earning $10,000 in the month of January, and with the help of the Craft Certification Program, was able to achieve that goal.

In this episode, Janet shares an anecdote of one of the Craft Certification students, Derek. After just recently graduating high school, Derek's success after starting the program already has him on professional sets.

Omar just worked 4 days on set as a sound mixer making $500 per day. We dive into why it's important to embrace challenges and what to do when things go wrong.

In this episode, Janet speaks in regard to those who have gone to film school and want to get their professional projects shot and completed.

This podcast is taken from a call with Omar going over common obstacles and problems you may be experiencing when growing a career in the film industry.

Have you ever wondered what you should be spending your time on to actually achieve your goal to work in film full time? We need to spend our time on the things that give us the biggest pay off. The 80/20 Principle provides the frame work of how to spend your time so that you have a thriving career working in film.

Jake Tremblay is a professional Art Director and Production Designer on major commercials and music videos. Jake and Omar speak about a recent job they worked on together, as well as how the 80/20 Principle has been instrumental in becoming in-demand in the film industry.

In this episode, Janet tunes in with Luka, a craft certification program graduate whose career has been ramping up as of late. Hailing from the country of Georgia, Luka is one of many members of the program who come from an international background. Listen as he explains what kind of work he's been doing, and why he refuses to let his accent hinder his growth.

Janet speaks with several people in a call who go over what they would like to accomplish in the film industry and help them figure out what it is that is holding them back from getting there. Whether it's their current financial situation, career path, or even their own thoughts, every person has a way to succeed.

We're starting off the New Year at Friends In Film with a brand new episode featuring Ania Novia, an award winning actress from Norway. Ania completed the program several years ago and talks about her wonderful career so far that has all stemmed from being on set!

In this episode, we have Omar speaking on a call with several people who know what they want to do with their careers but have not yet fully immersed themselves in a connection based business. Omar speaks from his own experiences and how that can also apply to their own situations.

In this episode, Janet speaks with Tara, a member of the Friends in Film program about what thoughts she was having early on as a production assistant while still working a regular job in her hometown of Houston. Tara would worry about when her next job on set would come along or if the opportunity would even present itself at all.

Janet speaks with one of her students from the craft certification program who is about to start an upcoming brand ambassador gig. They talk about her current goals and accomplishments along with what it's taken her to get there. Along the way, they talk about the attitudes and feelings that were with her and how that has affected her outcome in the film industry.

In this episode, Janet shares several stories from set.

In this extended episode, we have a conversation with Adam who is in demand in the Denver area. Janet discusses what it takes to be good at any job on set and how that consistently leads to new opportunities.

In this episode, we get an inside look at one of Janet's calls where she explains the unintentional model and gets us to tune in to our thoughts we have that affect the results in our life.

In this episode, Janet goes over the career path of Kenny, and how he went from working camera for the local sports leagues to being a union first AD for some of today's biggest music videos.

In this episode, Janet is on call with someone who recently moved from Los Angeles to Portland. This person has craft experience from when they were in Los Angeles and is looking how to get started and grow their connections in his new city.

Each year, Friends In Film celebrates the successes of those in the A-list program. We take a look at some of the most important insights that they have to share and offer.

In this episode, Janet derives a lesson from the career of Antoine Fuqua and several other big-names that she has worked with. In an email she received, the sender wants a career similar to Antoine, but doesn't know where to start. Janet helps us understand what our pathways should be in relation to our biggest aspirations.

In this episode, Janet talks with one of her craft certification students about how to approach people who are already working in the industry in order to establish a connection. Meanwhile, the student is just starting fresh with the program and doesn't have the most solid background and experience. What should they do in this situation?

In this episode, Janet has an intervention with one of her students from the craft certification program who feels that they are already caught up on working a stable job throughout the week. Her student is understandably cautious of the potential overwhelm that a few too many yeses can cause. But, Janet helps her realize that it doesn't have to be this way.

People who want to have a career in the film industry think that they have to be a top celebrity. But, there's nothing out there stopping us from actually achieving that goal and is only held back by others who don't have the same mindset. In this episode, Janet helps us understand that in order to achieve a certain goal, it has to feel real in our minds first.

In this episode, Janet talks about the difference from having learned aspects of filmmaking from an online class or film school, and what you actually need to learn in order to make money in a connection business.

In this episode, Janet discusses our thoughts about overspending and what leads to the cycle of spending money that doesn't put us in the mindset to move forward.

In this episode, Janet discusses the importance of connections and the pathways that connections bring you. Being about to navigate your way in a connections based business is what will push your career forward.

In this episode, Janet discusses what makes a belief. A belief is just a thought that you repeat to yourself so much that you feel it is true. That means we can repeat thoughts of success and our own personal goals so much that they come into fruition. Listen/watch now and you too can believe in your future in the professional film industry!

In this episode, Janet continues the conversation surrounding how we normally think about money. What does it mean to be valuable and create value? Why is it different than becoming someone that can earn a lot of money?

Have you ever felt stuck by the amount of your own time that you trade for money? In this episode, Janet talk about how we think about money and how changing our thinking towards money will help generate more value.

There can be a lot of confusion transitioning into a full-time film industry professional. There is a strategic way to transition from your survival job to working in the film industry. They don't teach this in film school. This is how you learn the business aspect of creating a career in film.

In this episode, Janet talks about people who want to become directors and how spending all of your time trying to gain experience through passion projects will not get you results.

How you do anything is how you do everything- so if your emails look sloppy and have poor punctuation, spelling, and grammar, then your emails are more than likely to be overlooked by someone who's seeking to hire a professional. Janet discusses why that's the case.

Janet and Omar talk about a difficult shoot Omar did not get paid for. He production designed an indie film for free, even though he has paid work coming in. We talk about why he did this and how to overcome the mental hurdles associated with starting your career in film.

In this episode, Janet talks about the latest strikes that are developing right now and how that will affect your pathway to get into the business.

In this episode, Janet hosts an intervention with someone who feels like they don't belong on film sets. Listen now and hear what Janet has to say to help them out!

I talk with Omar who just wrapped an NBC reality show. He explains how we can make mistakes but still get hired back. Also, how powerful embracing failure is. Fail and learn as much as you can now on the lower budget shoots so that you are prepared for the big budget shoots in the future.

In this episode, we take a look at some of the many jobs that you can get on a film set. Janet covers the very obvious ones like directing and acting but there are many others that create great opportunity, give you experience, and most important, will pay you!

In this episode, Janet discusses those who opt to cold reach people in the industry in order to create opportunity. While it may sound like a good idea and very "go-getter" of someone to do, there are many downsides to this process.

To many of us, success is defined by that amount of money that we make. But in today's episode, Janet talks about how the amount of money that you make compared to the amount of your time that you exchange for that money is not a true indicator of success. Janet speaks about creating value, and the intangible ways that we act that can turn into money and lifestyle and relationships that are incredible.

Have you ever thought about bringing your passion project to life? Do you get excited while envisioning what the finished product will look like but unsure of the process to create it? In this episode, Janet discusses why it's important to have your project done professionally after you are already connected inside of the film industry.

In this episode, Janet breaks down the key differences between those who are motivated by necessity and those who are motivated by possibility within their careers.

In this episode, Janet is on a call speaking about the skill to have self-confidence and why it's necessary to have it even in the most negative times.

In this episode, Janet talks about those who aspire to be a director and are working video editing jobs.

We've probably all heard about the writers strike that is currently happening in the film industry. You may be thinking, "how does this affect me?". In this episode, Janet reassures you that it doesn't and in fact will help ensure a better future for whatever career path you choose in the industry.

In this episode, Janet has a conversation with academy award nominated art director and A-lister Jake. From working at a call center, to office PA, to being a union art director, Jake shares his experiences and approach to creating connections and moving up in the film industry.