How I got my start in film & TV

There’s no 1 way of getting into the film industry. Here’s my story.

It may surprise you to learn I got my big break in the Georgia unemployment office. Is it OK for me to share how I got my start?

👍Awesome, thank you! 🙏

If you’re new here, my name is Michelle Caruso, welcome to my blog where you learn how to get hired and work in the film industry.  Please be sure to sign up for my newsletter.

Fan for Life

I have always enjoyed watching movies and TV. Though I may have been too much of a couch potato at times. In high school, I received a writing assignment to research and write about an industry. I chose film. I watched a show’s credit roll and paused the VHS repeatedly so I could write down all the different departments and positions. Then I did some research online. Probably back then it was on Ask Jeeves. Do you remember that site? 😁I was fascinated by how many different types of jobs there were, I had no idea.

Decisions, decisions

I was applying for colleges and living in South Carolina at that time. I was choosing between the University of South Carolina for film or College of Charleston for theater. I went to USC where I received my Bachelor of Arts in Media of Arts, which was the film equivalent degree. I would have majored in Production Design if I went to College of Charleston, and ironically enough, years into my career in film I ended up in the Art Department.

While I was in college I concentrated on writing and directing, though I dabbled in photography and videography. I made films in and outside of the classroom and attended some 48-hour film festivals. Although I had hopes of making something great right out the gate, all those experiences served as a great training ground. Nothing will teach you how to work under intense pressure like a 48-hour film festival. I also interned or PA’d (Production Assistant) on some local commercials.

Set Life

The South Carolina film commission had a short film fund and I worked on those projects as well. The first recipient was for a short film called Civil. Most of the crew was out of LA, but some had graduated from USC, which is why they had roots in South Carolina. We filmed in the winter, in a beautiful horse pasture with mountains surrounding it. I remember my first day, arriving there before the sun coming up in freezing, damp cold temperatures. Some of the college students were extras and dressed in Civil War uniforms. The field was littered with horse droppings and I remember hearing stories of actors falling into frozen poop as they “died.”

I hustled and was anxious to learn anything I could. I even got to shoot a period appropriate rifle so we could get some clean takes of it echoing in an open space. I think I only worked for two days on it. The final day it snowed (yes, ❄️snow in South Carolina). They didn’t need as large of a crew and it was for the better. Once I got home and rested I was sick. In hindsight I probably was sick the whole time because I remember my nose running constantly and being chilled to the bone. I remember having the realization I wanted to do this. Really do this, work in film! I had to have wanted it that bad if I was working while I was sick.

Photo Credits: Carmen McKee, Brian Harmon, Ashley Johnson

The second film commission short film set I worked on was Saying Goodbye, where I was promoted to being a 2nd 2nd Assistant Director. I was in charge of the radios, helped to keep track of 1st team (the actors), helped to place and cue some extras.

While I was in college, I also attended a PA Bootcamp, which really helped prepare me for the real working world. In my next post, I’ll be discussing how to get hired as a Set PA and kill it on your first day. Between my experience and that workshop, I felt those really prepared me to do better than your average green, inexperienced PA.

1st Real Gig

In December of 2009, through an online job posting I found, I was hired as a PA on a reality TV show for VH1 called Fantasia for Real. It was filming in Charlotte, NC. I stayed with an actress friend I had met that year. I stayed in a spare room of hers on an air mattress. I wanted the credit, had to be resourceful, and adjusted my schedule to make it work. 

Bye College, Hello Work World

I graduated from college in the summer of 2010. I was entering the work force with some higher-level experience than just the classroom. I encourage students to intern and PA on professional projects as much as possible. People who hire you want to know you can do the entry-level position, which is being a PA. To be harsh, they don’t care if you directed your first few short films. They aren’t hiring you to be the Director.

Lifetime’s Army Wives TV show was the only studio project that was filming in South Carolina at the time. I found a cheap place to crash in Charleston, SC and landed some day playing days on set. South Carolina did not have a lot of studio projects coming through at the time, so I knew I had to move and I felt the sooner I could, the better.

Bye SC, Hello ATL

I moved to Atlanta, GA around August 2010. It was super scary because the film industry is not what it is today, I had no connections, and I had never even been to Atlanta until I was looking for an apartment with my Mom (who was, of course, freaking out more than me). I did ask around to my South Carolina connections where they thought film maybe on the rise in the Southeast, and fortunately, it worked out in my favor. By memory, I’d say there was only a handful of feature films and a couple of TV series throughout the first few years I was here. Most of the crew were veterans and had been living & working here for years. I stayed informed through the local entertainment publications what was filming at the time. I dug further to look up the crew. I left no stone left unturned.

Hustle

A Producer, who was a part of the PA Bootcamp I had attended, was in town filming an ABC TV movie: Christmas Cupid. I either had her contact information from the workshop or hunted it down, haha. I let her know I graduated from her bootcamp and was in town looking for PA work. She did send my resume off to one of the ADs (Assistant Director). He responded, but was not hiring. I was getting desperate for work. So I applied to be an extra on that show. I was casted and was due to set the next day. I let the AD know I’d like to meet him and would be on set the next day. We met, he interviewed me, and the next day I was working as an additional background PA. I networked with the other ADs and PAs to solidify some local connections.

To this day, I’m not sure how my resume got into the hands of one the ADs on Universal Picture’s The Change-Up, but it did. I wasn’t hired as staff, but I was hired as an additional PA. This was by far the biggest project I had worked on. It starred Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann, and Olivia Wilde. I assisted sound for a couple days on set. I remember the boom operator had to run 10-1 (go to the bathroom) and asked me to hold the boom over Ryan if there was another take. I remember being freaked out and feeling super scared. I’m sure Ryan could tell and he politely introduced himself, “Hi, I’m Ryan.” I shook his hand and wanted to say, “I know who you are, it’s me you don’t know,” haha, but I was too nervous. Fortunately the boom operator made it back, in time.

Do Whatever it Takes

I’d like to say I was off to the races of working consistently in film after that, but it was not the case. I worked with some well-known local Production Companies on some commercials. I worked with a Production Coordinator and Set Decorator who later transitioned to Film and TV themselves. We kept in touch and I landed some jobs down the road from those connections. The nice thing about working on a commercial is I made the same amount in a week that I did working a month on longer-term gigs. So FYI, you can make way more bank on commercials. 🤑

To keep earning some money and continue building my resume, I worked on a documentary and casting call for America’s Got Talent. I met many other PAs during the casting call and learned how to direct a lot of people, which served me well for wrangling large groups of extras. You had to learn how to control a crowd, be decisive and clear in your direction. I also helped with a large open casting call for an extras casting company who was looking for fresh faces. I learned I liked working with background talent and was good at keeping them entertained while they waited, as well as creating a structured workflow. After that I worked on VH1’s Single Ladies as an additional extras PA.

Big Break

Still…I was struggling for consistent work. Believe it or not, my big break came in the Georgia Unemployment Office. I was hitting rock bottom, my parents were close to insisting I move in with them back to South Carolina, but I was stubborn and refused to give up.

In early 2011, I was filing for unemployment. They called up my name, then a gentleman in the crowd asked, “You’re Michelle Caruso?” I did not recognize him and was very confused. I said, “Yes,” wondering how he knew my name. He realized I didn’t know him and introduced himself. I instantly recognized his name because he was an AD I had previously looked up and knew he consistently worked in Atlanta. When I was working on a commercial, I made friends with a grip who knew I wanted to work on feature films. He had previously worked on a project with this AD. The grip was kind enough to send me his contact information so I could send him my resume. He hadn’t contacted me at the time, but he remembered me and I knew him through my research. Quick lesson: learn names and make friends with everyone. You never know how things will circle back.

Sure enough, he interviewed me right then and there in the Georgia unemployment office. He was there to hold him over in between gigs, which is common. He started on Sony’s Drop Dead Diva (TV series) Season 3, shortly after and I was hired in March 2011. I started off as a day player and was eventually promoted to staff, working full-time.

Made it!

During that time, I also day played on the 2nd unit of Walt Disney’s The Odd Life of Timothy Green.  2nd Unit was a lot of fun! It was summertime and the Greensman had to bring in a lot of fall foliage to make it look season appropriate. They had big fans to blow the leaves and rigged rope in the trees to make it look like they were blowing in a storm. We had some scenes with extras for b-roll, but none with the principal actors. The location was far and it was the first time I was put up in a hotel. It was the perfect opportunity for some fun movie magic moments and learn without a lot of pressure in the day. People were recognizing me from past projects and I felt like I had really solidified my foothold in the industry.

During August and September of 2011, I worked on Lionsgate’s What to Expect When You’re Expecting. This project was jam packed with some great talent. I got to meet Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Anna Kendrick, Chris Rock, and many more. We filmed in Piedmont Park at night. As we were getting off work, people were going out for their morning jogs and walking their dogs. It was a surreal feeling. We filmed fake snow in the summer, which was a bizarre and cool experience. We filmed in the Georgia Aquarium where I escorted JLo and her team to set and we walked above the tanks. Not a view you’d get just by visiting.

Thankful, but…

While I was getting some great experience and getting consistent work, I realized I didn’t want to stay in Production and work for years as a PA to then become an AD (Assistant Director). The Art Department attracted my eye, so I started letting my connections know that’s what I was interested in.

Hello Art Department

By word of mouth, I got an interview and got hired onto Paramount Pictures, Flight, directed by Robert Zemeckis (um, hello, Director of the American classic, Forrest Gump) and starring Denzel Washington. I was extremely fortunate to work on a high-profile show that early on. I worked on it September 2011 through January 2012. A year and a half into the film industry, that’s crazy! If I chose to live in LA or New York, I highly doubt I would have worked on as many studio projects with known talent, as I had in Atlanta. Not to mention the more affordable cost of living.

PA, No More!

After Flight, I worked another season on Drop Dead Diva as an Art PA in 2012. Then Atlanta’s film industry started blowing up. I was recommended and offered the role as Art Department Coordinator on an indie film called The Spectacular Now, starring Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, and Brie Larson. We had a skeleton crew and I got to learn how to do my role along with others. The Production Designer was really great at training me up. Despite me accidentally spilling coffee on her keyboard on my first day…we really got along and I couldn’t have asked for a better project to start coordinating on.

Fast forward to September 2016 where I was the Art Department Coordinator on Season 2 of Netflix’s Stranger Things. Funny enough I had gotten the call for Season 1, but I was hit up for Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver at the same time. Not knowing Stranger Things was going to be a hit, I went with the feature film and the chance to work with a Director I admire. Thank goodness they called me back for Season 2 and 3. Within 6 years of working in the film industry, I was working on the hottest show on Netflix.

Onwards & Upwards

I’m continuing to work in the Art Department, though sparingly. Ultimately I got in this crazy industry to Write and Direct. I’m working on focusing those efforts so I can level up. I’ve become a big fish in a small pond. Now there’s so much content and opportunity for emerging filmmakers. I come with years of experience working as below the line crew and now I want to transition above the line.

Built for This

Stay tuned on my journey. There are times when I feel like I’m scaling a mountain that I can’t see the top of. I’ve already come so far and learned so much; I don’t intend to give up now. Film is one of those industries that will test your resiliency.

I could have given up when I was running out of money and began to wonder if there was a place for me in this industry. It took me a minute to find a position that I enjoyed and allowed me to grow.  

I’ve experienced crew members and bosses with big egos that will try to make you feel small and unimportant at the end of the day. Taking in praise from higher ups and not acknowledging their teams talents and contributions.

I strongly believe that everything I’ve experienced up to this point will empower me for the days ahead.

Staying Strong

Recently I watched an IG Live video from CB Acting Studio (The Clyde Bernardy Acting Studio) where the host (Nawal Bengholam) was explaining the importance of defining your own success as an artist. If I waited to define myself as a Director until I directed a studio produced movie, I would A) feel like a failure, B) not identify as a Director, and C) feel stalled in moving forward on such a big goal. People who aren’t artists or met you at your start, may also have a hard time seeing you the way you want to be seen. Often they have the world’s definition of what success in that role should look like. Be sure to celebrate your wins along the way. Progress is growth and movement towards your goals, don’t discount it.  

Thanks for Reading

Thank you for allowing me to share my story. These were the highlights and the bigger moments that lead me to working more consistently. Let me know what resonated with you and any nuggets you were able to learn. I’m looking forward to sharing my next post so you can start your own journey in film.