The landscape of video production has grown rapidly, welcoming fresh voices, new formats, and a diverse range of creators. For women, stepping into this field presents both opportunities and challenges.

While the industry has made progress in representation, there's still a noticeable gap when it comes to leadership roles behind the camera. Fortunately, more women are exploring production as a serious career path and bringing unique perspectives to the storytelling process. In many cases, the journey begins with a personal connection to the media. Whether inspired by documentary work, indie films, or even commercial content, women are recognizing how powerful it can be to shape visuals and narratives.

However, breaking into production requires much more than creativity, such as building technical confidence and networking with intention. In this article, we will discuss how women can build a career in filmmaking.

Finding Your Focus in a Crowded Field

Video production is a vast arena. Some women find themselves drawn to cinematography, while others gravitate toward editing, production management, or directing. Each role requires a different mix of skills, from camera operation to timeline management. The early stages often involve trying multiple roles until one area starts to stand out as the best fit.

This is also the stage where many women juggle other responsibilities, such as full-time jobs, caregiving, or making health decisions. A BMC study concludes that women, especially those with small children, are always more stressed than men. This can also sometimes result in women leaving their jobs. Therefore, they also have to make strategic decisions around their personal lives.

For instance, some women in filmmaking might want to avoid having children till a certain age. In that case, they should carefully choose the right contraceptive method. According to TruLaw, Depo-Provera is a hormonal contraception injection. However, it has been linked to the onset of brain tumors. This has led to a wave of lawsuits against the manufacturer for not warning users about potential health complications.

If you have faced this complication, you can enroll in a Depo-Provera lawsuit sign-up. This will enable you to file a claim against the manufacturer and seek compensation for your suffering. Women in filmmaking need to do all such research before making a decision about their personal lives.

Building Skills and Gaining On-Set Experience

Technical know-how is key. The early phase of any production career can feel like information overload: lenses, frame rates, codecs, lighting setups. For women who didn't grow up around gear or tech culture, this learning curve might seem steep. But with the right mindset and access to hands-on opportunities, it becomes manageable.

There's also growing awareness that experience matters more than formal education in many professional roles. A Harvard Business Review article shows that the percentage of jobs requiring a college degree fell by 7% between 2017 and 2021. Moreover, the rate of US adults considering a college degree to be significant has dropped from 74% to 41% between 2013 and 2019.

Thus, it should be experiences that you should focus on. Getting onto sets, even in small roles, can quickly build confidence. Being a production assistant might not sound glamorous, but it opens doors to real-time learning and professional relationships. Over time, these jobs grow into more specialized roles where you can shape your style, voice, and preferred workflow.

Community, Mentorship, and Sustainable Growth

One of the most impactful steps in a production career is finding mentors. Filmmaking is still largely a male-dominated space. According to Forbes, around 70% of the top-grossing films in 2024 had 10 or more men in leading behind-the-scenes roles. However, only 8% of such films had 10 or more women in similar roles.

Women working in such a male-dominated field can benefit from connections, whether that's through film meetups, online forums, or organized mentorship programs. These spaces offer encouragement, technical feedback, and support when facing workplace challenges.

At the same time, success in video production is rarely a straight path. Gaps between projects, shifting income, and inconsistent schedules are common. Building a sustainable career means planning for those slow periods and using them wisely to sharpen skills.

Navigating Feedback and Creative Ownership

For many women in production, giving and receiving feedback is one of the toughest areas in which they have to grow. As noted by Standard Story Company, giving feedback can be highly challenging, especially to other filmmakers. However, the core idea is to help others improve through feedback. Thus, try to give and receive constructive feedback positively.

Whether you're editing a scene or directing a shoot, confidence in your creative vision is essential. But feedback from clients, collaborators, or even internet audiences can chip away at that confidence if it's not handled well.

Learning to separate helpful critique from personal opinion takes time. Some women also face a double standard, being labeled too assertive or not assertive enough. Building trust in your judgment while staying open to improving your craft is a balance that strengthens over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need expensive equipment to start a career in video production?

Not at all. Many professionals begin with a smartphone, a basic DSLR, or even borrowed gear. What matters most early on is learning the fundamentals of composition, lighting, sound, and storytelling. As you take on more projects and grow your skill set, you can gradually invest in better equipment that suits your workflow.

Is formal education in film or media necessary to succeed in this field?

A film degree can be helpful, but it's not required. Many successful video producers are self-taught or learned through internships, short courses, and hands-on work. What often matters more is your portfolio and your ability to work with a team and meet creative goals.

How can I find other women to collaborate with in this industry?

Look into local film communities, social media groups, and networking platforms that support women in media. Groups like Women in Film & Television (WIFT), online collectives, and regional meetups are great places to connect with like-minded creators.

A career in video production gives women the chance to create and collaborate, to learn and lead. It's a field that rewards problem-solving, creative risk-taking, and adaptability. While the journey can be uncertain, it also offers room for reinvention, experimentation, and growth.

More women are entering production not because they're trying to prove something but because they have stories to tell. And the more you lean into that, the more the industry starts to look like the audience it serves.