A part time film or video job in New York can provide many working opportunities. Some part time jobs in NYC may seem exotic, but exploring the possibilities can be worthwhile. Even if you decide to seek a regular part time job, you can learn what you really want and what you feel really suited to do.
Finding part time jobs in NYC can be as difficult, if not more so, than anywhere else in the country. While there may be more part time jobs in New York than just about anywhere else, there are also more people who compete for these jobs.
Some people may think that finding a part time job in NYC can be just a step below torture. Part time jobs often have the unfortunate bad rap as being either "not a real job", or else being that job you take just to make some money when you're in between full-time jobs. But why should that be the case? Why not seek part time jobs like a high school student seeks a summer job- something FUN that makes money in a short amount of time!
So what kind of jobs would be fun? Well, obviously, each person is different and it depends on you to figure out what will provide a good experience for you. Why not search for part time jobs in NYC in the film and video industry?
In the film and video industry, there are many job options. You could be a Production Assistant, and help aid the show by running errands and crowd control. You could be a Make-Up Artist, creating the look of the actors before they get in front of the camera. You could work in the camera department to operate cameras and load the footage onto a computer. You could be a grip and help set up the lights. You could be an editor, or a compositor, or a writer, or an AD or... Any other variety of jobs on a film set or video shoot. You could even become an actor!
You might be sighing (or groaning) as you ask "Don't you have to go to school for that?". The answer is a big fat NO! Sure, going to school to learn the various trades in the film and video world will give you a great knowledge of the position and the industry as a whole, but it is seldom if ever a requirement to get on a set. In the film and video industry, much more emphasis is put on your film credits than on your college credits.
"So how do I find out about film, video, and TV jobs?" There are numerous places to look. For many of the lower budget projects (including unpaid gigs for you to get your feet wet with), you might want to check out craigslist.com, mandy.com and productionhub.com. Many of the film jobs you find on these sites will be unpaid or low-paid. Not always though. You really just have to look through all the jobs to find something that's right for you. You can also look for some of the bigger budget production in places like Variety, IMDBPro, and Production Weekly (all of these require paid subscriptions, so you might want to hold off on them until you've gotten a few gigs under your belt).
Another great place to check out the New York Film Office. They have contact information for many of the productions coming into town. Keep in mind that especially on the bigger productions, a lot of positions might need to go to Union members. When applying for any film jobs, don't try to be something you're not! Don't apply for a camera job, for instance, if you don't even know the difference between a 35mm lens and a 110 mm lens. Nor should you say you can be an electrician if you don't have the knowledge and skill to routs many THOUSANDS of watts of power without blowing fuses or starting fires.
Film jobs pay very well. Even a Production Assistant (generally the lowest paid position on a set, as well as being one of the few people who can get hired on a union production without being in a union) will make anywhere from $100-$200 a day, depending on the size of the project! Being a PA is probably your best chance for finding work on productions, and it will help you get quickly acquainted with the duties of various jobs for you to see what you might like to do in the future.
You could also go into production for yourself. If you own a camera and some editing gear, you could start your own production company and start shooting weddings and other events, low budget music videos and even local commercials.
Virtually all film jobs are "part time" as they are on a freelance basis. The thing to be weary of is that you WILL work long hours on a film set (often as many as 14-16 hours a day). They are on a temporary basis, as each film only shoots for (usually) 3-5 weeks.
So while hunting for your part time jobs in NYC, consider looking into finding work in the film and video industry. You'll get to learn great skills that can be applied to many other lines of work, meet tons of great people (some of which might even be famous!), and all while being a part of "Hollywood Magic" and earning a sizable paycheck.