myth #1
you need a college degree to break into the media or film industries
“When people ask me if I went to film school I tell them, no, I went to films.” Quentin Tarantino
Bad Boy Quentin
That is a myth. Quentin Tarantino was a high school drop out at the age of 15. At one point his Mother grounded him for shoplifting, not a pair of Nike’s or a new video game, but a book, Elmore Leonard's novel The Switch from Kmart. He was obsessed with stories. That’s because he was a writer and his passions were telling stories. He took acting and writing classes where he met his future collaborators and his creative team started to form. When he landed his first paid gig it was to help write the script “From Dusk till Dawn” with Robert Kurtzman. In writing his first movie, “Reservoir Dogs”, it took just 3 weeks to write. When it came screaming into the box office, nothing was the same for Quentin. Fame arrived. With no formal education. Notice the word “formal” here.
educate yourself
If you’ve got that kind of drive — that burning passion for the film business — then yes, maybe you can make it without a formal degree. But make no mistake: Quentin was educated — self-educated. He had the drive, the talent, and the tenacity, and he put in the time to truly learn his craft.
Education, whether formal or self-directed, matters. It should never be dismissed. There are real advantages to earning a degree before stepping into the industry, and in this series, we dig into what those advantages look like — and how they can pay off in real-world terms.
learn your craft
Click to Play
You’ve got options. You can go the college route and gain a head start before entering the film world — or you can take the Quentin approach: work part-time jobs and invest your free hours learning your craft through acting or writing classes, online courses, and any other opportunities you can find.
If you can learn on the job, that’s the best of both worlds. But make no mistake — the learning curve is steep if you’re starting from zero. So look for alternative paths to education: programs like this one, community classes, workshops, or local organizations that can help you get your foot in the door — and then keep climbing once you’re in.
myth #2
You have to live in NY or LA to work in film
That’s a myth. If you already live in a metropolitan area with steady production work, chances are you’ve got everything you need to get started right where you are. But if you’re in a smaller town and think you have to move to a big city to find film work — not necessarily.
Depending on the size of your community, it might actually be easier to break in locally. Getting that first bit of experience is tough anywhere, but starting in a place you know — with familiar people and surroundings — can give you the advantage you need to get your foot in the door.
New York filming from inside one of the JP Morgan Bank Offices. Photographer Robin Kincade (2014)
Sacramento Fair with Spectrum Films. Randy Bond, Director, Landy Hardy, Director of Photography (DP). Photographer Robin Kincade (1998)
A Larger Market is not always better
First, bigger markets mean tougher competition — more people chasing the same coveted jobs.
Second, you already know your area. If you move to a new city, you’ll have to start from scratch — learning the layout, the key players, and how things work. That takes time, energy, and patience.
And third — and most important — no one knows you. You’re not a known entity yet. In this business, being recognized and trusted is everything. Building that reputation locally can give you the foundation you need before making the leap.
look local first
Summer League, Las Vegas. PA escorting NBA Player. Sport events have many opportunities for PA’s. Pixelgun Studios, Mauricio Baiocchi, Producer. Photographer Robin Kincade (2018)
Look Local to your film community
Take a look around your area and find where filmmakers — or anyone working in media — are doing their thing. Check out concerts, plays, radio and local TV stations, university lecture series, live events, theaters, even weddings. Anything even remotely connected to production is worth exploring. Get your feet wet right where you are.
Once you’ve built up some experience, you might decide to branch out and move to a bigger market to grow your career. Or you might discover your people — your creative tribe — right in your own backyard. Plenty of smaller markets have thriving film communities. Access to opportunity isn’t just about the size of the city — it’s about finding the creative energy around you and plugging into it.
size matters
Chicago, Illinois , working with the NBA. Chicago is #3 in the media market. Photographer Robin Kincade (2018)
Media Markets have a size
If you want to get a sense of market size, just search “media market size” — the information is all out there. Media markets are ranked by number, with New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago taking the top three spots, and the rest following down the list.
When I was in Eureka, California, it ranked around 168 at the time (now 197 — yikes!), so it was still a pretty small market. To move up toward the Bay Area, I needed to “jump” to a mid-sized market like Sacramento.
That said, I spent 10 years thriving in a smaller market and had an amazing experience. Plenty of people build solid, fulfilling careers in smaller markets — it’s not the size that counts, it’s what you make of it.
make friends
Click to Play
Put yourself out there
Check out social media to see what Production Assistants are doing in different cities — it’s a great way to gauge the market. Look up local film groups, Meet-Up communities, and industry events. Connect, plug in, and start building relationships.
Remember, each city has its own vibe: Los Angeles operates very differently from New York, Chicago, or Atlanta. Do your homework on the place you want to live to make sure it has a thriving film community. While most large metros have active networks, smaller cities can too. Keep your eyes open — opportunities are often closer than you think.
