While a film school education can give you a knowledge base and technical foundation, it’s essential to build concrete experience. The more tangible experience you have, the better your chances of getting your foot in the door in the world of film editing. Start out small by looking for smaller, local productions or by continuing to collaborate with peers you’ve met along the way.  You can look online for local production job and gig listings  Word of mouth is key for getting gigs, whether paid or unpaid, and at both amateur and professional levels. In addition to volunteering your time on local productions, you’ll likely have to continue paying your dues and working for free for a considerable portion of your early career. Networking is key throughout the process, and you’ll have to rely on your growing network to land an apprenticeship with a major production company. Even though it’s free labor, apprenticing or interning will help you demonstrate that you possess actual skills and a solid work ethic.  Consult your professors and try to access their networks while you’re in school. This will help you to land good internships or apprenticeships, both while you’re in college and when you’re breaking into the field after graduating. You might have to take several apprentice jobs before you actually start to make a modest income. Treat every job as if you’re getting a million-dollar income. Prove that you have a great work ethic and are a pleasure to work with. Those with whom you’ve apprenticed or interned will be essential for getting a paying job, whether they connect you with one or offer you a strong recommendation. You're unlikely to land a job in editing right away, even if you have strong apprentice gigs under your belt.  Take any job that comes along, whether it's as a tour guide on a studio lot, a personal assistant to somebody on a film crew, a secretary at the office, or a runner for a production. Be polite to everybody you meet and promote yourself. Hand out business cards with links to your website and reel. Make it known that you're looking as a job as a film editor. Building your network of connections this way can lead to unexpected chances, like becoming a film editor on a short that later wins an award at a festival.  If you meet people who work in the editing room, ask if you may occasionally join them to observe and learn. It might take up to ten years before you’ve built a robust enough network and record of on the job training to land a job with a reasonable income, so be persistent.
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One-sentence summary -- Volunteer your services on student productions or local productions. Get an apprenticeship or internship. Land an entry level job in a film studio. Build a strong network.


Home improvement stores usually stock sheeting, as do some paint stores and auto parts shops. Cover up any areas near the hood that you don’t want painted. Masking tape is good for covering the edges around the hood. Plastic sheeting is better for covering large areas. No matter what type of paint you use, the fumes are unpleasant and dangerous to inhale. Moving the car to an open, outdoor location is a good idea, but you should still put on a respirator mask to be safe. Safety goggles and gloves are also helpful. You have most likely seen spray paint for sale at various stores. Using it is as simple as pointing and spraying. You will need a can of primer and a can of colored paint. If you want to add more detail to the hood, also get another color of paint. You can get paint guns relatively cheaply online or at home improvement stores. A gun gives you more control, helping you create more even paint layers. You will need to get liquid paint and mix it according to the instructions on the label. Hold the primer canister about 8 to 12 in (20 to 30 cm) above the hood. Start at 1 end and slowly move the can or gun in a straight line towards the other end. Then reverse, overlapping this second stroke with your first one. Continue spraying back and forth to cover the entire hood. Another way to do this is with a quality liquid primer. Spread it over the hood with a plastic paint spreader. For primer, wait between 2 to 5 minutes before applying more. Each can of primer or paint requires some waiting for the product to settle on the hood. Check the instructions on the can to remind yourself of how long to wait. Don’t wait too long, though. The primer should only be allowed to dry after you’re done adding more of it. Spray on more primer, waiting a few minutes after each layer. Apply it the same way you did the first one. Move in slow, even strokes. The primer should be nice and thick before you paint. Wait a whole day to ensure that the primer settles. To protect it, cover the car with a drop cloth purchased online or from any stores that sell paint supplies.
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One-sentence summary -- Cover the rest of the car with tape and plastic sheeting. Wear a respirator when painting the car. Use spray paint for a quicker and cheaper paint job. Purchase a paint gun for a more professional paint job. Spray primer over the hood. Wait up to 5 minutes after applying a layer. Add 3 or more layers of primer. Wait 24 hours for the primer to dry.


If your teacher is a hard grader, try to get more details when they give an assignment. Ask if there is anything specific they are looking for, and if there's anything you should avoid. Some teachers have a habit of going off on a tangent, and telling long stories that aren't related to the subject. Try not to look too bored, and just wait until they get back on track. Not only would this be terribly embarrassing, it is sure to cause problems. A teacher should never insist on being part of your social life, so just tell them you only add friends and family on social media. Some teachers have a knack for hitting you with a pop quiz when you are least prepared. They probably aren't completely random events, however. Figure out when they're most likely to surprise you, so you can be prepared.  Some teachers like to give pop quizzes after an assigned reading. If you haven't had a major test in a few weeks, be prepared for a quiz. Some teachers punish a rowdy class with a pop quiz. If your class seems to be annoying the teacher, start reading through your notes just in case.
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One-sentence summary --
Ask them what they are looking for. Look interested when they tell long stories. Just say no if they want to be your friend on Facebook. Keep track of when they give pop quizzes.