How can you get on Professional Sets work? Here are 4 ways to make this happen. 

indie filmmaking Blog Podcast explores the best ways for you to produce direct and get your film seen by the biggest possible audience

When you are starting out, it is very important to get on Big Film Sets that are shooting movies or television drama or are commissioned by the Streamers. That is Netflix, Stan and Prime Video or any other streaming service.

The reason I say this is it is great to learn professional protocols.You need to learn how crews operate, how a director directs and how a film set works at the top level.

Then you can bring that experience to your film set and make your shoots more effective and the films you shoot, more successful.

But how do you get on top film sets?

  1. This is the easiest way to get on film sets and what it means is that you will get on professional film sets. This time next month, you will be on top notch film sets observing how it works and meeting people. 


    So, what is this way? Become an extra. Anyone can become an extra and the only job requirement is that you can show up on film and TV sets at short notice.

    Usually, your agent will phone you a day or two before you are required. If you say yes, you go into a list of easily available people that get called on regularly. How do you do this?  Google “Extras Agencies”. Phone or email your interest. Fill in a form and get photos professionally taken of you. Once this is done, wait to be called by your agent. 


    When you get on set, enjoy the experience and in many cases, people get called to be featured in close ups. It can be fun to sees yourself in a movie or TV show. This obviously works if you are in a city that has a film industry or live near such a city.

    Here in Australia, we have Disney Studios in Sydney and Warner Brothers Studios near Brisbane. Many huge Hollywood films get shot in these studios from Aqua Man to The Fall guy.


    See the list at the bottom of page

  2. Get a Crew Attachment:  
    There are many ways to get Crew attachments. The easiest way is via who you know in the film business. If you know a DP (Cinematographer) and you have some experience working on short films, you could approach the DP and ask for an attachment. 


    The other way is to join a Guild. For example, The (ADG) Directors Guild in Australia has attachments for up-and-coming Film Directors who have made a short film that has done well in Film Festivals. What this means is you assist a top-notch Director either in Film or Television and can learn the craft of directing a film from a professional.

    This will require you joining as an associate member and then applying for the attachment.  This will help you move up the film directing ladder. 
The Editors Guild and the Cinematographers Guild also have opportunities. 


  3. Word of Mouth:
    You know someone working on a major film and they get you on set. Make a great impression on those on set and one job will lead to another.
  4. Hustling and working at your craft.
    Many people must do this. They go to great filmmaking courses, learn the craft and make their own short films. They network the film industry and Film Groups on Facebook and put their hand up to volunteer for anything. Work begets works and one thing leads to another.

    This way requires persistence and tenacity, and one needs to always be on the lookout for opportunity. The people who keep at it will in time gain more and more opportunity till at some point they have an agent either for Directing or a Crew role. I can tell you once you have an agent, you will get paid well and one job leads to another.

The truth of the matter is that crew and film directors work job to job. They require an agent eventually and a great reputation for their craft. Once this happens, too much work will come your way and you will have to pick and choose. 


Everyone must start with no experience and no knowhow. My advice is focus on the now, this day and where you at now and take small steps daily towards your dream Simply live one day at a time and enjoy the now of what you are doing. 

One great action you could take right now is to enrol on an amazing filmmaking course such as the 
Five Month Film School in Sydney – Go or Click Here 
Or
Five Month Film School Melbourne –  Go or Click Here 

Films Shot at Disney Studios Sydney Australia
          Formerly Fox Studios Sydney

  1. No Escape (1994)
  2. Babe (1995)
  3. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995)
  4. Dark City (1998)
  5. Babe: Pig in the City (1998)
  6. Holy Smoke (1999)
  7. The Matrix (1999)
  8. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
  9. Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)
  10. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
  11. La Spagnola (2001)
  12. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
  13. The Quiet American (2002)
  14. The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
  15. Kangaroo Jack (2003)
  16. The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
  17. The Night We Called It a Day (2003)
  18. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  19. Son of the Mask (2005)
  20. Stealth (2005)
  21. Superman Returns (2006)
  22. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)
  23. Australia (2008)
  24. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
  25. Accidents Happen (2009)
  26. Tomorrow When the War Began (2010)
  27. Happy Feet Two (2011)
  28. The Great Gatsby (2013)
  29. The Wolverine (2013)
  30. The Lego Movie (2014)
  31. Unbroken (2014)
  32. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
  33. Gods of Egypt (2016)
  34. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)[6]
  35. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
  36. Alien: Covenant (2017)
  37. The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
  38. The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017)
  39. Peter Rabbit (2018)
  40. Pacific Rim Uprising (2018)
  41. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)
  42. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
  43. The Invisible Man (2020)
  44. Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (2021)
  45. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
  46. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
  47. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
  48. The Fall Guy (2024)


Here are some more Movies shot on the Warner Brothers Gold Coast Queensland

  1. The Railway Man – 2011
  2. Return to Nim’s Island – 2012
  3. Unbroken – 2013
  4. The Inbetweeners 2 – 2014
  5. My Mistress – 2014
  6. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales – 2015
  7. San Andreas – 2015
  8. The Shallows – 2016
  9. Thor: Ragnarok – 2016
  10. Kong: Skull Island – 2016
  11. Aquaman – 2017
  12. Pacific Rim: Uprising – 2017
  13. Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan – 2018
  14. Dora the Explorer – 2019
  15. Monster Problems – 2020
  16. Godzilla vs. Kong – 2020

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Colm O'Murchu - Host

Colm O’Murchu is a passionate Indie Filmmaker and owner of the production company, International Film Base. He has directed and produced three successfully released feature films worldwide and one documentary.  

His most recent film Tabernacle 101 has been released in 2019 in the US and will be released in Australia in late 2020 premiering at the Sci Fi Film Festival. He is currently in development on his next feature film Absolute Freedom, an action adventure film set in the outback.

He has spoken at Indie Film Seminars all over the world and created online and offline film courses 

 He lives in the Blue Mountains NSW Australia and loves the outdoors and the mountains.

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