On Thursday, November 17, OCS hosted “How to Find Jobs and Internships in Entertainment.” This program – led by OCS Assistant Directors Gail Gilmore (Assistant Director of Arts, Journalism, Museums, Publishing and Social Services) and Benny Belvin II (Assistant Director of Law, Government, Entertainment, Marketing and Advertising) – focused on the opportunities available and strategies needed to break into this competitive field.
Belvin first addressed the immense variety of careers available in the entertainment business, from financial and business positions to writer and producer jobs. Although these descriptions seem glamorous at first, both counselors explained that the vast majority of jobs in this industry place newly hired employees at the bottom of the office food chain. At agencies, this means the mailroom. “You start in the mailroom, and then you work your way up,” Gilmore said. “It’s something everyone has to do, regardless of where you went to college. As you move up from the mailroom onto someone’s desk, you start to learn more and more about how the industry works.”
Beyond the mailroom, a plethora of exciting positions await for individuals with a wide variety of interests. One sector of the industry is rooted in the business, financial and legal departments. “[Many businesses] need accountants in order to crunch the numbers and manage the large sums of money that go into the entertainment projects,” Belvin said.
Additionally, talent agencies are always looking for lawyers, legal staff, and financial planners. “[They] help agency clients avoid legal issues, make the best deals with studios and firms, and invest their money wisely,” explained Belvin.
Advertising and marketing are also essential aspects of the industry. Because commercials and magazine ads for movies and music releases are compiled by advertising professionals through entertainment firms, there is high demand for agents in this field. “Marketing professionals are needed [to serve] as liaisons between studios and advertisers,” Belvin explained. Furthermore, both Belvin and Gilmore noted the stability of the advertising side of the industry. As there is widespread and frequent turnover of jobs in these areas, advertising and marketing serve as dependable career paths.
As for finding a job in this business, both counselors acknowledged that this field is extremely competitive and, for many positions, depends heavily on networking. “You have to be entrepreneurial in this industry,” Belvin advised. “Very often, it’s about who you know more than what you know.” Gilmore stressed the importance of joining Harvardwood, a networking organization focused on helping students find jobs in the arts, media and entertainment.
Aside from that, Gilmore also urged her audience to read the magazine Variety every day. “It will help you become familiar with who’s who and what’s happening in the industry,” she explained. “It will enable you to come across as industry-literate during job interviews.” Daily Variety is available online, and OCS also has copies available for student use. Additionally, Gilmore highlighted the importance of “learning the lingo.” Gilmore suggested looking at “The Hollywood Dictionary,” which offers a list of key vocabulary and is available in OCS’s reading room. Finally, Gilmore reminded her audience that employees likely will not get hired for a job in Los Angeles until they take the initiative to move out to California.
All in all, the program stressed that the entertainment business is one of the most competitive industries around, and that those interested should not expect to be fully compensated right away. “Despite this, there’s rapid advancement for those who are ambitious,” encouraged Gilmore, “even though it’s not a meritocracy in the beginning.”
— Julia Eger, ‘14
