Week Five at Shoreline

Doing my internship with Shoreline this summer has taught me so much. Not just in the way in of useful, practical skills but it’s also allowed me to time to really reflect on where I want to head in my career and to explore more of LA. I’ve actually been very lucky during my time at Shoreline, because I’ve gotten several good responses from filmmakers about potentially signing their films with Shoreline. For example, this week I’ve been in contact with one of the producers for a new independent film entitled “Cuck” which was shot here in LA. It looks like the kind of film that may be able to get into film festivals like Toronto or may even Sundance, so I’m really hoping the film’s producers will want to work with Shoreline so that I help the film reach wide audiences.

The biggest surprise I’ve had since working at Shoreline is just how casual the film industry can be and how important connections really are. We rarely use typical business formalities (i.e. dress) almost everyone’s on a first name basis (even if you’re reaching out to them for the first time). Of course, it’s always important in any industry to work hard and make good work, however, making connections and staying diligent about keeping your connections is half of the game. I’d say for the most part, though some are willing to give new comers a chance, personal connections are a big part of how the film/entertainment industry operations.

That said, I’ve been able to meet a really nice group of people at Shoreline. They’ve definitely debunked the mystique of the “big,bad” film industry for me. It’s a little like the saying “the man behind the curtain”. Behind the film, behind the screen, there are normal people, like me, who work everyday to make films and get them to audiences. Most times, there’s no great, all powerful, “wizard” making movies. It’s regular people doing the best they can to make great work and share that work with others.

Courtney