broadcast journalism courses, I realized that I hated it. Instead, I became a
television production major and found my niche."
Gentile gained experience as a utility crew members for sporting
events and spent a semester interning at MTV Networks in Los Angeles.
After graduation, he spent a year working in the Boston area as an audio-
visual technician.
Returning to Los Angeles, he paid his dues, as they say, over the next
two and a half years, working as a runner and production assistant on
various productions, such as Nothing to Lose and Batman and Robin.
"Eventually," Gentile says,
"I made some great contacts,
people who mentored me and
ultimately helped me get into
the camera union on the visual
effects unit of Contact." His
next break was working on the
pyrotechnics unit for Starship
Troopers and on the sitcom The
Gregory Hines Show.
"I was very fortunate.
Although it took several years
to establish a strong contact
base, I am finally enjoying the
results of my networking techniques. I have been working as a film
loader and second assistant cameraman over the last five years."
In that time, Gentile has amassed an impressive résumé, working on
features such as American Beauty, Eye of the Beholder, and What Women
Want; television series Gideon's Crossing and Once and Again; and commer-
cials for Old Navy, Radio Shack, and Taco Bell.
....
"Make as many
business contacts as
possible. Keep in
touch with your con-
tacts, but don't harass
them. Sooner or later, someone will give
you a chance. Don't make them regret it.
Work hard and eventually people will hire
you and refer you to other people in the
industry."--Mike Gentile
CAREER TIPS
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