Once you've made it past the industry's entry level, climbed the long ladder, learned the ropes, paid your dues, and gotten your movie made, what do you do next? Where do you go from here? When you get to this stage, the goal is to get your movie seen. But bear in mind that a movie is not like a portrait — it can't be displayed on a wall waiting for people to walk by. It has to be shown somewhere. One of the best ways to go about accomplishing this task is submitting your film to a film festival or showing it on the Internet.

Gaining Exposure

There are countless film festivals where you can submit your film for consideration, usually for a nominal fee. Not only do gatherings provide exposure, but many of the studios, production companies, distributors, and agencies pay close attention to the films that make it even as far as the semifinals. There is little doubt that if your film is a finalist, you won't have to call them — they'll call you.

Another way to expose your film to the masses is by researching and targeting certain cities that would be interested in your work. Many cities have film clubs whose goal is to present work by new filmmakers. Some filmmakers rent theaters or screening rooms, even for just one showing, and invite friends, colleagues, and industry professionals to this “showcase” of their work.

Editing several of your best clips together into a short resume reel is a must. This can be made up of shots from your completed film, from a movie still in progress, or any combination that shows off your best work. Sooner or later someone will ask to “see your reel,” so be sure you have something to show them. And while it's still called a “reel” from its historical roots, most people would expect it to be a DVD or Web site, or at the very least a VHS video.

Do You Have to Live in Los Angeles?

One of the first questions an aspiring filmmaker will ask is whether it's absolutely necessary to live in Los Angeles. Obviously, if you want to start out in an entry-level position at a movie studio, you need to live wherever that studio is, but these days that could mean Los Angeles, New York, Austin, London, Vancouver, or Toronto. Nearly every major city in the world has fully operating production facilities.

If your desire is to be a director or screenwriter, note that those jobs can be done by people living anywhere in the world. They travel as needed, and let their work speak for itself. So before you starting packing up the dog and the blender and heading for the City of Angels, take some time to decide what it is you ultimately want to do and where you can best accomplish your goals.