✍️ Chicken and Cat

🎥 Want your first job in Film & TV in the U.S. or Canada?

Let’s skip the fantasy: you won’t find it on LinkedIn or Indeed.

Most screen industry jobs are still found through word of mouth, referrals, and networking. Repeat hires matter. So does hustle.

If you don’t have connections yet, you’re not out of luck, just start where you are. I built my network (and resume) from the ground up. One producer told me to learn “the floor.” I took that literally and picked up a broom. Years later, I became a senior narrative writer and a consultant for Emmy-winning producers.

Here’s where I’d start if I were breaking in today 👇

🇺🇸 U.S.

• EntertainmentCareers. net – great for entry-level and internships
• Staff Me Up – THE place for production gigs (especially reality, doc, & indie)
• ProductionHUB – freelance and crew calls nationwide
• Film & TV Facebook groups like “IA Production Assistants“
• Made in NY PA Training Program – a solid launchpad if you’re in NYC
• Los Angeles Film School – hands-on training in film, TV, screenwriting, animation, and entertainment business
• Directors Guild of America (DGA) – training program
• California State University Entertainment Alliance – internships, industry networking, and career pathways across the CSU system
• Sundance Collab – workshops, community, and networking for indie creators
• Film Independent – especially helpful if you’re L.A-based
• Ghetto Film School – early access to creative career paths
• Roadmap Writers – for aspiring screenwriters
• Writers Guild Foundation – Script Coordinator and Writers’ Assistant labs (essential for breaking into the writers’ room!)
• The Black TV & Film Collective – mentorship and access
• Brown Girls Doc Mafia – community, mentorship, and documentary opportunities for women and non-binary filmmakers of color
• Women in Film (WIF) – advocacy + job boards
• National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) – advancement of Latino Excellence across all creative media platforms
• UTA, WME, CAA career pages – assistant jobs are brutal but they open doors
• Your local film commission website – often post crew calls for shoots in your state

🇨🇦 CANADA

• Canadian Film Centre (CFC) – fellowships, labs, and career development for writers, directors, and producers
• National Film Board of Canada (NFB) – production, documentary, animation, and editorial opportunities
• SODEC – Québec funding, production support, and industry programs
• CBC Careers – production assistant, researcher, and editorial roles
• CMPA Job Board – hiring on indie film and TV projects
• National Screen Institute – killer programs for writers, producers, and directors
• Creative BC – film funding, crew training, and job listings
• Ontario Creates – industry news, skills development, and grants
• BIPOC TV & Film – community, mentorships, and job calls
• ACTRA – MIP or AIP
• Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) – trainee programs worth watching
• Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) – screenwriting resources, events, and industry opportunities
• Telefilm Canada – funding, talent development, and feature film programs
• Canada Media Fund (CMF) – funding programs and industry initiatives
• Playback – Canadian film and television news, jobs, and industry updates
• Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) – documentary resources, training, and networking
• Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) – funding, mentorship, and Indigenous screen industry programs