I'm a 25 y/o grip/electric from Toronto, On. I'm trying to make my way onto set. I'll write a bit about myself /experience. I graduated from college for film(3 year program) and have been working at a lighting/grip equipment rental house for the past 2 years, I've worked on a few shorts/ music videos. And I am a permit of both unions in Toronto. I'm fairly knowledgeable with the gear itself, but don't have much experience with practical setup (aside from Basic setups for camera/makeup tests done at my work).
Filmmaking / Directing : Trying to get out on set!! by Mike Ahearn
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Working at a rental house is a great way to learn about equipment in the real world. I would have thought it would be a great way to find out about production companies, Gaffers and Key Grips in Toronto that come into your shop. You can try Mandy.com, Craigslist, Canadian Film Centre, LIFT, Charles St Video for working on projects that don't pay or pay low but will give you experience. Look for production lists of paying productions in Toronto. Toronto Film Office, OMDC and ACTRA put out lists of productions. Do you check the IATSE and NABET website? They also have lists of companies shooting productions. Read Playback magazine to find out about companies in Toronto. Watch the credits of TV shows and films shot in Toronto to find out about companies and people to call. I'm not a grip/electric so don't know if you should be calling a Production Manager or go straight to a Gaffer or Key Grip for work, but you have to call, make a contact and keep calling people. Everyone has their favourite people, but sooner or later will have to call a new guy. They will call a person who calls them over someone who just sent a resume and never called back.
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Unlike Vancouver, which is a DGC & IATSE city, Toronto has a big indie production scene (since that's were the money is) and you should take advantage of it