Ever since we created the Downtown Toronto Movie Club and opened our Discord server, we get many people who come to us under the assumption that our focus is on filmmakers in Toronto. Unfortunately, that is not the goal of what we do and what we provide. We are dedicated towards film meetup events and hosting our own screenings, as well as written guides and film reviews on our website which do not pertain to film-making. Our events are designed with the goal of making film approachable for anybody including those without film-making aspirations. Fortunately there are some resources and tips that I can provide here. Much of this is coming from my own experience (as a filmmaker myself) as well as from others.
It really depend on your own goals as a filmmaker as well as where you are along your film-making journey. Film-making in Toronto encompasses many things. There is no one-size-fits-all guide that you can write when it comes to the topic itself. Whether or not you are looking to do this as a career or are independent will determine your own path. If you are already far along in your career and get to do this for a living, you probably do not need to read this. This will be geared towards those people who come to us looking for advice or basic resources on how to get started or where to go for those who ask.
Without further ado, here are some resources and tips.
For those looking to get into film-making professionally
If the goal is to work in a particular department, the best way to do so is to become a production assistant (PA) and move your way up. One example would be through the Directors’ Guild of Canada Apprenticeship Program; there may be others. If you lack experience as an applicant, consider volunteering on productions with the Canadian Film Centre or get involved in non-union gigs through methods like the Facebook groups I will mention below. If you have connections with others already in the industry or those with their own productions, reach out to them for opportunities.
For those looking to attain education, seek out programs from public institutions like Humber College or Sheridan College‘s offerings, also TMU or York University‘s bachelor’s programs. It is more expensive and you will need to seek out opportunities to get on set outside of school. But it may be worth considering if you feel like you would thrive in a school environment. Do not go to Toronto Film School. It’s a private institution, overpriced, and many of the people I know personally who went there have never found any good return on investment.
Ultimately, the best way to get your foot in the door is to put yourself out there, connect with others and make stuff. The life of someone working in film will be a volatile one with long hours, travel away from your friends and family and periods where you may have a lot of downtime in between gigs. If this does not deter you away from film-making as a profession, by all means proceed. I am not a professional filmmaker myself, so I cannot help you with providing opportunities for work. However, this article may point the way to where you may find those opportunities.
Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT)
The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) is an artist-run organization. It is dedicated to hosting workshops on all various facets of film-making. From sound to cinematography to editing, LIFT probably covers it. Whether you are working with analog film or digital, you name it. Many of these workshops are quite affordable for what they provide. They also offer grants if you qualify. LIFT has equipment rentals at pretty reasonable cost. Rentals will require having certain tiers of membership which you can read about here as well as undergoing equipment proficiency tests. The memberships are worth considering if you plan on attending multiple workshops and/or are doing equipment rentals. Their workshops are generally taught by experienced professionals working in the industry or who have extensive background and experience in a particular facet of film-making (such as the experimental).
LIFT also provides a Screenwriting Circle, a group that meets once a month. Anyone who is a LIFT member can attend the Circle meetings. You can bring along your scripts or anything work-in-progress for others to provide feedback. They have a store for those working with analog film that provides many types of film stock, chemicals and more.
I need a producer/fixer/etc. Facebook groups
There are numerous Facebook groups that were formed for the purposes of posting film opportunities in your local area and beyond. They are designed for allowing filmmakers or those looking to get into film to connect with one another. This is an example of one of the more popular groups. Here is another. For many of these groups all you need to do is request access and you’re in. There you can make your own posts advertising your own gigs and opportunities and see what others have to offer.
One caveat I must make: some of these opportunities may be paid work, some will not be. Some may be scams. There will be a risk when using groups like these. It is up to you to ensure that the opportunity is ultimately trustworthy. Rule of thumb: if they don’t offer you free lunch, look the other way. No volunteer gig is worth that. Or if your duties and responsibilities on-set do not match the role you were assigned, that’s also a red flag. But such postings are often not a bad way for anyone new looking to get started. They can provide opportunities to network with others in the world of film.
Ultimately, if you have no experience at all: sometimes a volunteer gig is better than none. But a lot of this will depend on vibes; only through feeling (and perhaps a bit of experience) will you be able to determine whether or not an opportunity is worth your time. Do not let yourself be taken advantage of.
This is just a basic overview of what’s out there.
I can attest to the few resources I have put here as someone who has used them – both LIFT and those Facebook groups for opportunities. There may be others. If you are a student, look to get involved with any film-making clubs within your school. If you don’t have a film-making club, create one! Make your own projects with your friends and peers. It is impossible to cover all bases. But if you are just starting out, there are ways to get involved even if you don’t know anybody or have no knowledge or experience. Hopefully this article has shown you the way.
