There are times when it feels like acting keeps you so busy that there isn’t time for anything else. Between auditions, classes, and working on your own projects, having the time to help someone else with their project can seem practically impossible, and although it may be hard on your schedule and make you feel like you have the craziest schedule known to man, it is still sometimes very important to do. Helping your friends with their projects, no matter how much or little you do for them, can be a very important step in your career so it is always a good idea to help your friends out with their indie projects.
      When you have a friend who is making an independent short film, feature, web series, or anything else that they are asking you to help them with, it is important to give your friend a hand and swing it if you can. I recently helped a friend on their indie feature film that they were making and although it was a little stressful on my schedule the fact that I was able to help a fellow actor/director make their project made it well worth it. I met some great lighting and sound professionals while I was on set and this was a great opportunity because I always find it is difficult to find amazing lighting and sound people who want to help you out.
      I wasn’t able to stay and help for a very long time but the help that I was able to offer was very valuable and it will not be soon forgotten. He texted me after the fact telling me how valuable it was to have me there and that if there was anything I needed help with, he would be more than happy to work something out. This is the value in helping your friends. When you help them get their projects done, they want to help you. Even if you don’t currently have a project to get done, they will remember that you wanted to help them in their career and they will be more likely to want to help you out.
      Networking opportunities as well as having the chance to really make a change in someone’s career are both great reasons for helping your friends. Seeing a project come to life and knowing that you were a part of making that happen is really an amazing feeling and is very rewarding. Also, it’s always a treat to get to be on set and there is nothing better than being able to do what you love for people that you love to help. Helping your friends on their projects is rewarding in so many different ways and I would highly suggest it to anyone looking for a good way to meet people in the industry as well as people interested in helping make films (which should be all of us!) Enjoy!