I really need some advice from this community. I worked as a Production Coordinator in the film industry for more than 10 years. My main focus was on post-production and visual effects coordination. I loved working on creative projects and helping teams bring their ideas to life.
Sadly, I got laid off about 6 months ago and haven’t been able to find another job in my field. I’ve sent out so many applications but keep getting rejected. It’s really hard because my family depends on my income and I feel like I’m failing them. The stress is getting to me and I’m starting to think maybe I need to try a completely different career path.
Even though I really enjoyed working in film production, I might have to accept that it’s time to move on. I’m hoping some of you have been through something similar and can share your experiences.
Here’s what I’m trying to figure out:
Which industries might want someone with my background in film production and post-production work?
Has anyone here switched careers after working in media for a long time? How did you do it?
What’s the best way to build connections in industries outside of entertainment?
How should I explain my production experience to employers in other fields?
I know other people are going through tough times too, but having my family counting on me makes this even more stressful. I would really appreciate any advice or even just some encouragement from people who understand.
Thanks for reading this and for any help you can give me.
Your VFX coordination background is perfect for product management! Companies are dying to find people who can handle technical teams while managing creative deadlines. You’ve already nailed stakeholder communication and resource planning - that’s exactly what product development needs.
Your production coordinator background actually translates really well to tech consulting and digital transformation roles. You’ve got ten years managing complex timelines, juggling multiple stakeholders, and hitting tight deadlines - that’s exactly what consulting firms want. Tech companies are looking for people who understand both the creative and technical sides of digital projects.
Reframe your post-production work as digital asset management and workflow optimization. That’s consulting gold right there. Most consulting gigs involve helping clients streamline their processes, which is basically what you’ve been doing.
Don’t start networking from zero. Reach out to the vendors and tech partners you worked with in film - they’ve got connections across different industries.
The switch might feel scary, but you’ve got solid project management experience that most career changers don’t have.
I understand how overwhelming the pressure can be, especially with family relying on you. Consider exploring corporate training as a potential pathway. Many companies need individuals adept at managing complex multimedia projects, particularly as video-based learning becomes increasingly common. Your skills in post-production are highly relevant for creating compelling training materials, and your coordination experience fits well with the demands of training departments managing extensive programs. The corporate learning sector is thriving, with significant investments in professional development. I suggest connecting with HR departments at larger companies or educational technology firms, as they often value production expertise over conventional corporate experience.
After 10+ years you’re overqualified for entry-level jobs but underqualified for senior roles outside media - classic catch-22. Here’s what nobody wants to admit: production coordinators are project managers who handle creative chaos, and that’s valuable.
Check out event management or marketing agencies. They need people who won’t panic when everything falls apart (and it always does). Your post-production experience means you get tight deadlines and impossible client demands - that’s half the battle anywhere.
Stop apologizing for your background. You managed million-dollar projects and kept creative types on schedule - that’s harder than most corporate jobs.
Been there - got pushed out of advertising production 3 years ago and thought I was done. Here’s what worked: target operations roles at growing companies, especially startups or mid-size businesses. They’re desperate for someone who can wrangle chaos and keep projects moving - that’s exactly what you’ve been doing. I landed at a SaaS company running content operations and it’s way less stressful than film deadlines. Don’t underestimate your crisis management skills - most corporate people fall apart under pressure. You’ve got this, just need to translate your experience into their language.
