When I was a kid I always liked going on Scout camps. I think what I liked specifically was:
- It meant spending an extended period of time (whole days, with little break) in the same collective of 20+ people.
- I would drift between the various groups there, and would get to know everyone.
- The collective would experience new situations every few hours, or even just being bored together when ‘nothing’ was happening (when waiting for stuff etc.).
- (Possibly also the fact that there was an authority above us and we didn’t decide things for ourselves…?)
What I liked was how there was a strong feeling of community because we were all experiencing the same thing together. Being around people meant my mind was continuously in the present. For these reasons I feel that this is the environment I thrive in the most.
Unfortunately this would only ever happen once or twice a year, and since I am 20 I wanted to ask if anyone can think of any job descriptions where this happens.
The first thing I thought of is working on a submarine but I was hoping for something a bit less radical. I thought this might be the experience in university dorms but it turns out that in my country dorms are pretty dead because with the exception of cooking, people stay in their rooms.
Maybe get into the movie industry. It is a little more long term, they are projects that last several months, but it might be a good environment.
I worked in the industry full time for over a decade (movies, commercials, corporate shoots, you name it) AMA lol
What’s your favorite memory of working in that field?
Do your feet get used to standing around all day? (Actually, what was your job in particular?)
Camera department primarily, started as a field mixer though. After a few years doing “the Hollywood thing” I went to more corporate/convention/event work.
You definitely need to be a bit in shape though working in the industry will likely do that for you (when they aren’t feeding you greasy cheap food like pizza that is). When you’re really moving and working it’s not so bad, standing around bored is when you feel it lol. Generally there’s always something to do though so that’s not a big issue.
You definitely feel the 10-12hr days after several days in a row of shooting so good form/safety is everything. Mantras like “lift with your knees” aren’t polite suggestions, they’re law if you want to keep working and not destroy your body.
It’s tough I won’t lie but there really is nothing like it and I made some of my dearest friends on set.
Oh yea, being an extra must be like this
There are other jobs too, like camera operators, set design, costume work, writing, etc. The industry is pretty diverse. Lots of union work too, so that’s a bonus.