The first thing I ask young film people is: if you could wave a magic wand, and be doing anything in the film world right now, what would it be?

Writing? Directing? Producing? DP’ing?

A surprising number have absolutely no idea.

Which makes things very easy. As the Cheshire Cat observed, if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.

If you don’t know what you want, I don’t know what I can do to help you. The only advice I’d have in that case would be to get on any sets you can (short films, student films, gonzo porn) in any capacity you can (PA, POC, fluffer), and then watch and listen and watch some more. Get a sense of how films work. Of what the jobs are. And then come back here. [Or don’t. I’m not your mom.]

This guide, then, is for people who already know what they want. Say, you want to direct features. And the purpose is simple: get you actually doing that job, in a sustainable, career way, as quickly as possible.