Filmmaker Career Guide

Are you naturally creative? Do you have the skills and talent to produce imaginative, and engaging, moving images? If yes, then you are likely to thrive as a filmmaker!

A filmmaker is responsible for manipulating the images that entertain or inform an audience. Typically, they will work closely with producers and directors to arrange the footage shot and create the final content. Most filmmakers will require a bachelor’s degree in a field related to film or broadcasting, such as communications.

Would you like even more information on what it is really like to work as a filmmaker? We interviewed professional filmmakers to get the inside scoop on this career path, from salaries to recommended qualifications. Simply check out the career profiles below to learn more.

Filmmaker Career Ratings

(What these ratings mean)

Income

Career
Growth

Personal Growth

Contribution

Influence

Overview

What a filmmaker actually does

A filmmaker, or sometimes called a video editor, manipulates the images that entertain or inform an audience. Typically, they will work with producers and directors to arrange the footage shot and create the final content. They may have an assistant, who supports them by keeping track of the shot data base ensuring video editing is kept organized.

They can work in all areas of the entertainment industry that produce film, from Hollywood movie sets, to small radio stations. Regardless of where they work, their typical duties and responsibilities include:

Organizing the digital footage of television programs, films, music videos, documentaries, or news and sporting events with video-editing software
Collaborating with a director to determine the overall vision of the production
Discussing filming and editing techniques with a director to improve a scene
Editing a scene based on the director’s vision

Why they are needed

Making films is a huge part of modern day society, It allows us to be expressive, tell a story or communicate information. We need filmmakers to carefully piece together a directors vision and produce eye-capturing, and beautiful films. Without filmmakers, we would have no movies, TV programmes, documentaries or music videos. There would be no way for the news to run and, as a result, no way for us to remain connected to each other, and to the outside world.

Pros and cons of being a filmmaker

Pros:

Income potential is unlimited
You get to do something every single day that you are passionate about
There are lots of opportunities
You get to meet lots of new people
It’s a creative career with the ability to express yourself
Its an interesting career and lifestyle

Cons:

Filmmakers may have to spread themselves thing and wear multiple hats
The income can be unsteady
Their is the potential for failure
Can be heavily criticised
Competition is fierce

Employability

Job market

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment of filmmakers (or video editors) is projected to grow 18 percent from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This employment growth is expected because the number of Internet-only platforms, such as streaming services, is likely to increase – and this increase in the number of Internet-only platforms will create a demand for videos and films to be streamed on this services.

Career paths

In most cases, a bachelors degree in film, or a related field, is required to become a filmmaker. On these course, aspiring filmmakers will learn all the skills and video editing techniques they need. Once they land their first job, employers may offer them training in the specialized type of software that they use.

After many years working as a filmmaker, a filmmaker may have gathered enough experience, knowledge and connections to progress to becoming a director or producer.

Example Job Titles for Filmmaker

Below is a list of common job titles in the Filmmaker field. Click the links below for more information about these job titles, or view the next section for actual real-life job profiles.

Benefits & Conditions

Income and benefits

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for video editors (filmmakers) was $67,250 in May 2020. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $34,870, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $106,000. The top paying industry was the motion picture and video industry, where the average annual salary was $77,040. This was followed by professional, scientific and technical services ($61,450) and then television broadcasting ($54,030).

Autonomy and Flexibility

Filmmakers will have a relatively high amount of autonomy when it comes to making decisions about a shoot. However, this autonomy is limited because they will always be under the strict instruction and direction of the film, documentary or series directors and producers.

Locations and commute

According to Zippia, the best states to be a video editor, based on average annual salary and number of jobs available, are:

New York, where the average annual salary was $77,521
Connecticut, where the average annual salary was $71,530
Massachusetts, where the average annual salary was $70,630
Virginia, where the average annual salary was $63,689
New Jersey, where the average annual salary was $88,362

According to Zippia, the worst states to be a filmmaker are Arkansas, Wyoming, Montana, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Work environment

The top paying industry for filmmakers in the United States was the motion picture and video industry, which employed 49% of all filmmakers in the United States. 27% of all filmmakers were self-employed workers, 6% were employed by the television broadcasting industry, and a final 5% by the professional, scientific and technical services industry.

Generally, filmmakers will work in studio or offices. They may work independently in editing rooms by themselves. Or, they may work closely with producers and directors for many hours at a time.

Career Satisfaction

Common Matching Personality Types

Which personalities tend to succeed and thrive in Filmmaker careers? Based on our research, there is a relatively strong positive correlation between the following personality types and Filmmaker career satisfaction. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t many exceptions, of course, but if you fit into one of the following personality types then we suggest you give strong consideration to a career in Filmmaker.

Holland Codes (RIASEC)

Personality types

It is likely that successful filmmakers will present the INFP personality type. INFPs, or otherwise called ‘Mediators’ and ‘Healers’ tend to be naturally creative and artistic. They tend to be viewed as others as being laid-back and flexible, as they have the adaptability to be independent and to work well as part of a team.

Accomplishment and mastery

As the filmmaking industry is fiercely competitive to enter, when a filmmaker finally gets the experience, skill and education to become produce beautiful videos, they are likely to feel a high sense of accomplishment and mastery. Furthermore, every time they receive positive feedback on a film they make, they will feel a high sense of accomplishment and mastery.

Meaning and contribution

There is a lot of meaning behind a lot of the work of a filmmaker. Often, filmmakers are capturing stories, creating history or entertaining the masses. Although their work will not directly save the lives of many, there will be very few artists who don’t feel that their work is meaningful in some way.

Life fit

Most filmmakers will work full time, although part-time work is also common. It is not unusual for filmmakers to be self-employed and to then have another job on the side. Those who are self-employed will determine their own schedule, but all filmmakers are likely to work long hours at some point in order to meet deadlines.

Who will thrive in this career?

It goes without saying that in order to thrive in this career, you must have the talent and skill to do so. As well as this, to thrive as a filmmaker you are likely to need talents such as:

The ability to self-motivate yourself
Creativity
The ability to work as part of a team, and to work independently
Those who are willing to work hard and push through tough times

Who will struggle in this career?

Obviously, those who aren’t creative will struggle in this career… seriously, if you want to become a filmmaker, make sure you’re good at it!

Similarly, those who prefer to work a stable 9-5 might struggle with the long hours that a filmmaker is required to work. In fact, unless you are genuinely passionate and enthusiastic about filmmaking (and have the talent for it) then you will struggle with the competitive and unpredictable world of filmmaking!

Requirements

Quick Glance

Skills

Skills and talents

Filmmakers need to be imaginative and creative. As well as this, they need skills such as:

Time management skills, as they will potentially be working on a number of projects at once and will need to keep on top of them all
Communication and interpersonal skills, as filmmakers will work closely with assistants, directors and producers and need to be able to form trusting and professional relationships with them
Attention to detail, as filmmakers will need to look at lots of different frames and decide what is needed to be cut or kept in order to maintain the best content
Computer skills, as filmmakers must be able to use sophisticated software editing systems

Education

In most cases, a bachelors degree in film, or a related field, is required to become a filmmaker. Once they land their first job, employers may offer them training in the specialized type of software that they use.

Certifications

There are no specific certifications required to be a filmmaker in the United States. However, filmmakers may get certified to demonstrate their competence in various types of editing software. Certification typically requires passing a comprehensive exam, and candidates can prepare for the exam on their own, through online tutorials, or through classroom instruction.

How to Become

Summary

A filmmaker is responsible for manipulating the images that entertain or inform an audience. Typically, they will work with producers and directors to arrange the footage shot and create the final content. They can work in all areas of the entertainment industry that produce film – from Hollywood movie sets, to small radio stations. Regardless of where they work, there will be a lot of employment growth over the coming years due to the rise in demand for the online-streaming services.

Immediate action

If becoming a filmmaker sounds like the right career for you, then we recommend starting to build your portfolio and finding film related courses and colleges near you.

Education and learning

Filmmakers will typically need a bachelors degree in film, or a related field.

Skill development

Generally, filmmakers will improve their skills through experience, where they can get lots of practice and repetition. They may learn increase and change their skills through schooling, on the job training or from classes and workshops.

FAQs

Ask a Question

Have a question about Filmmaker careers? If so, our mentors would love to help! Just click on a mentor’s profile below and then fill out the “Ask a Question” form on that page. Your question will then be emailed to the mentor, who can then email you a reply.

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