FIFilmmaker
FI
Career

Filmmaker

By the numbers
Typical pay
$90,360 / yr
Education to start
Bachelor's degree
Future demand
+4.9% by 2034
People in this job
143K
Figures shown for ·closest of 3 O*NET occupations
The work
Watch · day in the life
A day, hour by hour

No two days look the same — pre-production, shoot days, and post-production each feel completely different. Here's a day that spans all three:

08:30
Script & storyboard

Refine the script, then sketch camera angles for the next shoot day.

10:00
Location scout

Walk the space, clock the light, decide if it actually works.

11:30
Pitch prep

Tighten the investor deck — cut two slides, sharpen the logline.

13:00
On-set shoot

Direct actors and crew; call takes, chase the light, troubleshoot sound.

16:30
Wrap & review

Screen today's footage. One scene needs a reshoot — schedule it now.

18:00
Edit session

Cut yesterday's footage down; kill a scene you love but don't need.

20:00
Festival strategy

Research submission deadlines; shortlist three festivals worth the entry fee.

Things you do
  • Direct actors and crew to capture exactly the right shot.
  • Write or shape scripts that turn raw ideas into real stories.
  • Edit hours of footage down into a tight, compelling film.
  • Storyboard scenes to plan every camera angle before filming.
  • Scout locations and figure out how to shoot in them.
Decisions you’ll make
  • Does this scene say what I need it to say, or am I just attached to it?
  • Should I stick to my original vision, or adapt to what's actually working on set?
  • Is this take good enough to move on, or do we shoot it again and risk losing the light?
  • Should I take this paying commercial gig, or hold out for a project I actually care about?
  • Is this cut too slow, or am I rushing it because I'm tired of looking at it?
Education Pathways · how you get there
75 in 100 went the college route · 25 in 100 found another way in Less than 5 years, typically
Education mapped from O*NET:
If you like this, also look at