You are going to need certain tools to start and sustain a career out in LA; tools that you just can’t go without. And the number one tool: Your Headshot and Resume. These are crucial. And in order for you or your (soon-to-be) agent to submit yourself for projects, you have to be registered on the appropriate sites. Time to put your headshot to good use! Hardcopy submissions are still around but they’ve almost gone way of Black and White headshots (um, to the grave, that is) and I’m pretty sure 100% of commercial submissions are online now too.

So you’re a hardworking, talented filmmaker in search of the perfect composer for your film. The good news is that there are boatloads of composers, particularly in Los Angeles — highly experienced, less experienced, cheap, expensive, and everything in between. The challenge will be to find the one who can produce the right music for your film and who will realistically fit into your budget. So here are some tips on landing that person.

The Director is the creative pulling force behind every film, TV show, music video or commercial. He shapes and creates the look, mood and tone, directs the actors and is responsible to bringing the words written in the script onto the screen in the best possible way. Directing is also one of the most challenging intricate, artistic and skillful jobs in the medium. If you want to direct, you will need all the help you can get! These five books may just be what will save you down the road when you first walk onto a set and 200 people will be waiting for your decisions.