"The Office" - How to Be in a Student Film

Student Films  

One of the best ways to get experience and start building your resume as an actor is in Student Films.  This was the first student film I was in. I had a great time and thought that it turned out really well.  I played "Tim".  Here's what I learned about student films!

• If you live anywhere near a college, chances are there are film or video production students looking for actors for their next project.

• I live near BYU in Provo, UT and UVU in Orem, UT – both have film programs.  This was a UVU student project.  The director had to film his own interpretation of an already existing scene.

• To find student film projects happening in your area, regularly check your local Craigslist page under “Jobs – tv / film / video” and “Gigs – talent”, as well as find out where fliers are posted on campus, especially around the media arts department.

• I found this one on Craigslist.  He had me e-mail him my headshot and resume.

• Student films rarely, if ever, pay, but this can be a blessing in disguise for the beginner actor.

• Student films will sometimes provide “craft service”, or food, on set.  We got pizza on this one!

• Students are often desperate to find someone willing to work for free, and won’t mind as much if your experience level is low.

• The director was going to have me audition, but then just decided to cast me without one.

• As with any gig, these are great opportunities to network with other actors and crew – make friends, and exchange contact information.

• This was the second time I worked with fellow actor Skip Warner, who played David Brent.  We had previously met as extras on the set of You’re So Cupid, and would go on to work together as featured extras in Dr. Limptooth.  We became good friends, and would often joke that we must be the only two actors in Utah Valley.

• Make sure that you arrange to get a copy of the finished product – some of these projects can turn out very well, and can be great additions to your reel!

• It took the director months to get me the copy – I finally got it a few days before I moved from Provo to Hawaii!  If he hadn’t, I still would have pestered him to mail it to me. 

So that's all you need to know to go find a student film to be in yourself!  

Did you think this was helpful, or do you have something to say about the film?  

Leave me a comment below! :)