How to Land Video Production Jobs in Nashville

Taking the first step is – hard! The film industry is one of the most competitive and challenging industries to get involved in, but it’s also one of the most rewarding, exciting, and fun niches to work in! Landing your first job in film production can certainly be challenging at best, especially in a city like Nashville where the influx of aspiring filmmakers and those vying for an opportunity to get their first job on the film set is overabundant. While there are certainly many video production jobs in Nashville to choose from, you may find it more challenging than you had originally expected when it comes to actually getting your foot in the door. 

Beverly Boy Productions provides contract work to filmmakers and crew throughout Nashville.

To learn more about landing video production jobs in Nashville with Team Beverly Boy, or with other top film crews in Tennessee, continue reading to learn about the top tips that will help you land your first big gig.

1. Pick a Niche & Focus

Landing video production jobs in Nashville requires a little bit of focus, a lot of hard work, and of course your own positive energy! Before you can land the job of your dreams, you’ve got to have a plan in place. What is it that you want to do? 

While it may seem obvious that you must know what type of career you want before you can possibly find a job, many aspiring filmmakers are surprised at the number of jobs that are available in the film scene.

Filmmaker isn’t necessarily the “job” role that you should be looking for. Consider all of the different roles on a film crew (AC, 2nd AC, Grip, Camera trainee, PA, hair, makeup, props, etc).

Narrow down your skills and interests and focus on a set position or niche. 

2. Update Your Resume

Now that you know what position you want to work on, landing video production jobs in Nashville becomes one tiny bit easier. You know what you want to do, so it’s time to update your resume.

Make sure that your resume mentions the job title at the top. It should also mention skills that apply to that particular role.

Tailor your resume to deliver key details about you and your past work experience or time on set as it applies to that particular role.

The idea is to build a one-sheet story that helps hiring managers and Producers to see your resume and instantly view you as the person for the job.

If you’re not a good storyteller, or you’ve struggled to write a resume, consider hiring a professional to help you out. You can contract a freelance resume writer for a very affordable rate at Fiverr, Upwork or similar freelance sites. 

3. Network & Get Involved with Nashville Film Commission

Networking is a major part of landing video production jobs in Nashville and the best place to find others that are already actively working in the Nashville film scene is through the local film commission.

The Tennessee Entertainment Commission is responsible for encouraging filmmaking in Nashville and throughout the state.

Getting involved with filmmakers, contractors, and nonprofits that are actively engaging with the Entertainment Commission are important contacts for you to be networking with.

This is also a great place for you to find upcoming gigs that you could potentially submit an application for.

Keep in touch with the film commission and network regularly on social media to connect with those who are actively engaged in the Nashville film scene.

4. Apply, Apply, Apply

Don’t expect to send out a few resumes a week and be successful. You’ve got to apply to jobs in bulk! Almost like sales, when you’re working cold leads, selling yourself to potential hiring managers can be a tough gig. You’re going to have to apply to a lot of different opportunities in order to get just a few (if any) responses. 

The key is to keep every application personalized to the position. Update your cover letter to actively deliver your pitch to the hiring manager. Make sure that your resume reflects the skills and requirements listed on the job description. And, keep applying!

5. Be Flexible and Committed

Finally, it’s important to be flexible if you’re really committed to landing video production jobs in Nashville.

Remember, you’re one of probably hundreds of people vying for a position — so you’ve got to do whatever it takes to stand out against the crowd!

Be flexible enough to start a position as needed, to travel if required, and to work around the opportunities that are offered to you.

It’s equally important for you to show your commitment to the film scene. This may mean accepting lower paying positions or even providing volunteer services at times to get your foot in the door.

Video production jobs in Nashville are certainly difficult to land, but if you follow these tips, stay committed, and keep a flexible attitude about it all — you’ll land your dream job!