"In my second-to-last semester of college, I started actively searching for postgrad work in the film or entertainment industries. I had studied advertising with a minor in film studies, and I was applying to any opportunity I could find online, including cold emailing studios and direct messaging producers and directors on Instagram. As graduation approached, I still couldn't seem to get in contact with any studios. I randomly came up with the idea of Venmoing a director to get their attention."
"I felt regret the moment I sent the message, but it ultimately launched my film career. It taught me that you have to do something unique to get attention in this job market. The Venmo idea was a huge risk I really admired the director Oscar Boyson, so I DM'd him a few times on Instagram about working for him. Honestly, I bothered that man a lot. I even emailed other directors in his company, but I never got a response."
"One day, I had the idea to see if he was on Venmo. Given his unique name, I found his Venmo account straight away. I decided to send him 50 cents as a joke, with the caption "something to sweeten the deal," alongside a link to an Instagram DM I had sent him that included my résumé. The second I sent it, I thought, "What am I doing?" It really could've gone either way. Either he'd find it funny, or I could be blacklisted forever."
A 28-year-old film and marketing professional in Brooklyn sought postgrad work in film and entertainment while finishing college, studying advertising with a minor in film studies. He applied widely, cold-emailing studios and DMing producers and directors on Instagram without success. He located a director's Venmo account and sent 50 cents with the caption "something to sweeten the deal" plus a link to an Instagram DM containing his résumé. He worried about the risk but followed up professionally, secured a call and an internship, expanded his network, and later premiered a film at the Chelsea Film Festival.
Read at Business Insider
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