The Back-Yard of The Industry

So many individuals complain over and over about getting a chance to become a professional in the industry of film and television because it seems like the opportunities are decreasing everyday, but what many people do not realize is that there are many resources right here in our own community back yard. As a society, we are so focus on entering the house of Hollywood, but we never realize that most of the primary resources that can help us, appear right here in our own back yard, only if we took the time to pay attention and focus.

A few years ago, I discovered FilMiami, Miami-Dade County Office of Film and Entertainment, which offers location and logistics assistance, government liaison, production information and referral sources to the film, television and photo production industry. Additionally, Filmiami is a cooperation between the two greater Miami Dade Film Offices: Miami-Dade County, and the City of Miami Beach and several County municipalities to offer a one-stop permitting system of all services needed to produce a media project. 

As I am developing my production company J.A.C.E Films and Media, I have realized the depth of resources Filmiami has provided for me as a growing film professional in Miami Florida. Filmiami is well-known for its up-to-date resource system of providing all events and news for the Miami community, whether it is internship opportunities for aspiring filmmakers like myself, casting notices for actors, workshops and seminars from industry professionals, production job opportunities for freelance and production companies, and even recent news of what is happening in the film industry in Miami. Filmiami has helped influence me in many ways to enhance my social networking connections and project development of starting my own production company. Due to the resources provided, I was actually able to get hired for my first acting job in Michael Bay’s upcoming action film “Pain and Gain” featuring Dewayne Johnson, also known as The Rock and Academy nominated actor, Mark Wahlberg. Furthermore, I was able to get my first media internship opportunity with ArtMiami.TV, which is an online television broadcast of the global art society. The point is Filmiami has been a great way of giving many individuals a chance of exposure of the entertainment industry, which has become a great source of linking many aspiring professionals into the world of entertainment and media.

Associations like FilMiami give people the chance and opportunity to become exposed to the many resources available right here in our own back yard community. People must realize that the opportunities are really there, they may seem to be invisible, but we must take a closer look at the right places such as our own back yard community, which may possibly lead us to where we eventually want to be.