television

Tag: television

How to get into Film and Television

Dreaming of the silver screen or the bustling world of television production? As a film studies major or minor at Lawrence, you’re uniquely positioned to bring depth and versatility to your craft. Liberal arts schools like Lawrence emphasize critical thinking, storytelling, and interdisciplinary learning—skills that are highly valued in the film and television industry. But how do you turn that degree into a ticket to Hollywood or a thriving indie career? Here’s your guide:

1. Leverage Your Liberal Arts Advantage

At Lawrence, you’re likely getting more than just technical film training. You’re exploring literature, philosophy, art, sociology, and more. These diverse perspectives can help you become a stronger storyteller, with richer characters and more nuanced plots. Use your coursework to deepen your understanding of human nature and cultural trends—it’s this insight that sets great filmmakers apart. Don’t shy away from taking classes outside of your major. A history class could inspire a period drama, while a psychology course could enhance your character development skills.

2. Build a Versatile Skill Set

The film and television industry thrives on multi-talented individuals who are adaptable and resourceful. While Lawrence might not have access to expansive soundstages or state-of-the-art film equipment, it emphasizes creativity and the ability to make the most of available resources. This is your opportunity to borrow equipment, collaborate with peers, and dive into experimenting with editing software—all of which can build your foundational knowledge in key areas.


Key Skills to Develop:

  • Scriptwriting
  • Cinematography and lighting
  • Editing and post-production
  • Directing and producing
  • Networking and pitching


You don’t need to master every aspect, but hands-on experience across multiple areas will make you more flexible, creative, and, ultimately, employable in this dynamic field. Whether you’re planning a student film, participating in a local production, or simply experimenting on your own, building this versatile skill set will open doors and prepare you for the collaborative environment of the professional world.

3. Create Constantly

Your college years are the perfect time to build your portfolio. Collaborate with friends on short films, documentaries, or experimental projects. These will not only hone your skills but also give you tangible work to show potential employers or film schools.

How to Showcase Your Work:

  • Submit projects to student film festivals or competitions.
  • Share your work on platforms like Vimeo, YouTube, or a personal website.
  • Use social media strategically to build an audience for your films.

Remember, your portfolio should demonstrate your range and creativity, so experiment with different genres and styles.

4. Intern, Intern, Intern

Internships are the gateway to the film and television industry. They help you make connections, understand the business, and get a foot in the door. Look for opportunities at production companies, TV networks, local news stations, or even community theaters.

How to Land an Internship:

  • Search Handshake for
  • Tap into the Career Center’s alumni network for leads.
  • Attend film festivals, panels, and networking events.
  • Polish your resume and cover letter with a CPE or Career Advisor to highlight your skills and passion.

5. Network Like a Pro

The entertainment industry is as much about who you know as what you know. Start building your professional network while you’re still in college. Connect with professors, classmates, alumni, and guest speakers—anyone who could provide mentorship or job leads.

Ways to Build Connections:

  • Attend industry events, both in-person and virtual.
  • Join film clubs or organizations on campus, like the LU Latin American and Spanish Film Festival or Motion Picture Club.
  • Stay active on LinkedIn and other professional platforms.
  • Reach out to alumni working in the industry for informational interviews.

When networking, always approach with genuine curiosity and a willingness to learn, rather than asking for favors upfront.

6. Plan Your Post-College Path

There’s no one-size-fits-all path into the industry, so think about your goals and plan accordingly. Do you want to work in Hollywood, enter the indie scene, or pursue documentary filmmaking? Knowing your direction will help you make strategic decisions, like whether to move to a major production hub (e.g., Los Angeles, Atlanta, or New York) or pursue a graduate program in film.

Post-College Options:

  • Entry-level jobs like production assistant, camera operator, or assistant editor.
  • Graduate programs to deepen your expertise in film or screenwriting.
  • Freelance work to build your portfolio and gain experience.

Final Thoughts

Breaking into film and television is no easy feat, but as a Lawrentian, you have the tools to succeed. By building your skills, creating a standout portfolio, and networking strategically, you can carve out your own path in this dynamic industry.

Creating and Pitching Television Shows, Movies, and Video Games

Television, movies, video games, and even web series are all things we consume at least somewhat frequently, and the entertainment industry is rapidly growing and looking for new ideas (This current deficit of new, fresh ideas is at least one reason they’ve been remaking so many movies that were already fine to begin with). If you feel like you want to make a show or a movie and have an idea that you think should be out there, chances are that others would absolutely agree. This article is dedicated to explaining the basics of what you will need to get started, and a groundwork for where to go next.

The most important part of creating a show is its pitch, specifically presenting it quickly while covering the most notable parts of your idea, called an “elevator pitch.” Elevator pitches are quick, abbreviated editions of the concept itself- so quick, you should be able to pitch it to an executive in an elevator ride. For example, Breaking Bad’s elevator pitch was famously “Mr. Chips becomes Scarface,” quickly describing how a high school teacher turns into a drug lord, which was so bold, Sony executives picked it up. When you get straight to the point of an elevator pitch, you jog the cogs in someone’s brain and they become curious if there is more, which helps you move on to the next part: the pitch meeting and the bible.

Following the elevator pitch comes the pitch meeting, where those interested in making a show or movie must talk to executives. You should create a bible, or a book/binder full of different ideas for the show or movie and bring a copy to the meeting to show executives. Spongebob Squarepants’ pitch was more of an experience than a regular pitch because the creator, Stephen Hillenburg, really put his all into his pitch. He and the creative director, Derek Drymon, showed off a tiny diorama of Bikini Bottom in an aquarium tank with tiny versions of the characters in it, wheeled it into the room, and blasted Hawaiian music both wearing Hawaiian shirts, truly making the pitch their own. They told their plans for the characters and ran down the pilot with executives. It was so good, the executives wished they had it on tape. So, the best thing to do in a pitch is make it your own and have fun, because if you have fun making it, executives will have fun watching it, and they will be more inclined to pick you up. You can read through the Spongebob Squarepants show bible here! There is no right or wrong way to do a pitch, but here is a good template for how you could structure your own pitch meeting. Feel free to build off it!

The best thing about the entertainment industry is that you do not need a degree from a big school, or even in any specific program (film studies, animation, English/creative writing, computer science, etc.). For example, Lawrence alum Josh Sawyer majored in history here and participated in theater and was able to become a design director at Obsidian Entertainment and has used his love of history to create one of the best-regarded games of 2022, and one of Obsidian’s best: Pentiment. Sawyer found early on he did not want to pursue a career with his history major and used his tinkering in web design and animation to jump into the world of video game development and directed Fallout: New Vegas and the Pillars of Eternity duology.

If your pitch does not get picked up at first, know that it is completely okay! Even the greatest creators have struggled to land a place with a publisher or network. But even if it is discouraging to have your idea turned down, it is important not to give up. There are plenty more people who will be willing to give you a chance. The industry can be for anyone (including Lawrentians), and if you have any interest, the worst thing you can do is not try to get involved.

WORKS CITED:

https://www.slashfilm.com/963967/why-so-many-networks-turned-down-breaking-bad/

https://careerdevelopment.princeton.edu/sites/g/files/toruqf1041/files/media/elevator_pitch.pdf

https://www.lawrence.edu/articles/lawrence-expertise-helps-fuel-pentiment-video-game

https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2015/12/spongebob-squarepants-made-air/

Spencer R. Brown is a junior in their first year at Lawrence University, with a major in Government. They work as a media and marketing assistant in the Career Center, and curates articles for students in both Communication, Journalism & Written Arts (#CJW) and Government, Law & International Relations (#GLI) career communities. A writer and animator by trade and part-time mascot, Spencer is fascinated in finding ways to make digesting information entertaining. Feel free to connect with them on LinkedIn here!