A month or so back I posted an article about UTS alumni Matthew Webb’s book Set Life: A Guide to Getting a Job in Film (and Keeping It). 

The book has been released and is for sale online now. You can grab your copy here.

I had the pleasure of getting to review the book and sharing with you why I think this is the ideal little pocket guide to assisting young and budding filmmakers to finding there bearings within the daunting realms of the production industry.

Webb’s book doesn’t offer groundbreaking insights or hidden secrets into the Australian production scene, but that’s not its purpose. Rather, it is a great overview of what goes on during a commercial/professional shoot, who’s responsible for what and how to work your way up the film ladder by being in the right place at the right time.

It’s certainly a handy guide to refreshing your memory on shot lengths/angles, producer’s paperwork like call sheets and scene breakdowns. I particularly found the interviews with highly successful professionals, working in the industry across a broad spectrum of departments, extremely interesting. They provide refreshing insights and honest assessment of their careers and offer advice for upcoming creatives wanting to really get their foot in the door.

One piece of advice that Webb offers in the book really stood out, and that’s to make the most of every opportunity. Exercising your barista skills on set might seem somewhat pointless or irrelevant to the industry you want to work in, but it can be a fantastic way to curry favour with the key heads of department on set and to showcase your eagerness. No job is too small and the willingness to be a team player is a core attribute that runs throughout Set Life.

This is one of those books that covers a vast array of topics in a very succinct manner. It’s easy to read and you can really pick and choose in what order you flick through the chapters. For experienced filmmakers I would say that this text isn’t your Holy Grail for building on your existing skills, but it is definitely a must read for all first year Media Arts students and a small but invaluable investment into gaining that foundational knowledge of the production industry, especially from an Australian standpoint. 

ABOUT MATT

Matt Webb has racked up an impressive slate of projects during his time in the film industry. Having landed his first role as 3rd Assistant Director on Australian TV drama Rescue: Special Ops, Matt has never looked back. Working as an Assistant Director on films including The Great Gatsby, Mad Max: Fury Road, Pirates of the Caribbean, Hacksaw Ridge, Thor: Ragnarok and Alien: Covenant has cemented Matt’s outstanding reputation in the film industry. Adding to the list of feature films under his belt are a variety of TV shows, TVCs, short films and music videos.