Help me break into film & U would have a hit screenplay!

[janao]

Hello Fellow Film Makers,


Normally I wouldn't use this approach and I know there are always people wanting help Òbreaking inÓ but I am at my wits end.

I have always wanted to work in film production but as a wheelchair user
from North Dakota I was told I would never be able to succeed in that type
of career! Recently a well known Indie Producer/Director even said that a
wheelchair has no business being on a film set!

I eventually decided to try video production and worked for the CBS
affiliate in S.F. They hired me after my internship finished which doesn't
happen very often

In my 8 years at CBS I worked on everything and acquired a good range of
skills doing every type of production from live audience talk show to
documentaries, huge sports remotes, weekly magazine format etc.

From approx. 1992-1996 I was part of a crew that was filming a documentary
(about me when I left CBS and the Bay Area to move to Ireland to help the
Irish disabled community) . It was a small production so although
I was primarily ÒtalentÓ (on camera), I also did various P.A. duties and
assisted the producers. I did everything from booking travel, negotiating
with airlines and hotels to give us free flights and rooms in exchange for
credits, to arranging for location permits to booking crew, catering,
logging tape and other logistical tasks.

Although I have been searching hard for a film job I can rarely even find
entry level production positions where they will give me an interview. Also it
seems like most of the job related film/movie sites cost a significant fee
to join...Do you have any advice about which are are the most useful sites
for getting film related work? Or any ideas about people I could contact
regarding getting scholarship funds or other financial help....


I am mostly interested in doing production work but I would also like to do
more on screen acting... I have worked as an extra on TV and film and I am currently in a state wide PSA campaign running
on TV, in newspapers, etc.

Again most of the better casting related web sites require fees. I joined several and have gotten No work from any of them.
I live in the SF CA area and I am willing to work on a film for no pay to
get experience on my resume. I am also willing to move to anywhere where
there is more of a chance I can work work on films! I am seriously
considering moving to the LA area.

I would appreciate any information, any advice or any websites, books contacts etc
you can think of!

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Jana Overbo


email:janao@earthlink.net

[MississippiFlash]

the Mandy website, www.mandy.com ?

[janao]

I do look at Mandy and even pay for listngs to be sent to me...:rolleyes

[billythrilly7]

I always had a lot of success in printing up my resume, firing up the 'ole fax machine and faxing and faxing to Production companies..I always got a bunch of interviews that way and a few jobs. Good luck.

[JustinoIV]

You can check out losangeles.craigslist.org

Many jobs do require that you have a driver's license. But on the plus side, as crappy as public transportation in Los Angeles is, they do accomodate disabled people very well in getting on and off the buses.

The websites won't do you much good though until you move to LA. People are generally interviewing people when they post adds, so if you're not in town, generally the opportunity goes to someone else.