What do you have to do to work in YouTube? Basically the same stuff you have to do to work in television or film—grind, beg and be willing to work without pay.
During last month’s VidCon, a panel, covered by Daily Dot, discussed how to get in the business of working behind the camera for some of the biggest names in YouTube. While the idea of YouTube being a viable career option is fairly new, the methods for getting there sounds like the same old entertainment industry grind. Lauren Schnipper, who came from theater production and is now the head of production and development for Shane Dawson TV Inc., weighs in.
“These jobs didn’t even exist five years ago. By no means ever in a million years did I think I’d work for YouTubers,” said Schnipper, who’s helping Dawson helm his feature film project this year. “What’s really exciting is none of these jobs exist until you create it. You might have to work for a free for a while.”
It’s the same advice you hear given to any youth wanting to work in television, film or music: work on your portfolio, build up experience, show passion and be willing to do all that for free.
Overall the panelists recommended that those interested in working around YouTube focus on their portfolio and finding relevant experience to showcase so that when they do approach creators directly, they have something to back up their passions.
No word from the panel whether or not women working behind the camera on Youtube are subjected to the same crappy treatment as women in front of it.
Image via PiXXart/Shutterstock.