I’m obsessed with social media. I went to school for communication arts, so I get to use social media as an excuse to advance my career. And with a little research, I was able to dig out some really great social media platforms that will help you advance your career as well, plus some tips to really get you moving in your online networking ventures.

Creative District

Creative District is a social network created by Technicolor, an innovative leader in the media and entertainment industry. Members of this network can connect with others to share ideas, get feedback on an uploaded portfolio, and find gigs. The majority of the people in this network are filmmakers, but other creative professionals utilize the platform as well to pick up gigs and meet new people.

Filmkin

Filmmakers can really jump into local projects with Filmkin. Primarily serving networkers in the Southern California area, this network is currently in its beta testing phase and is expanding to major metropolitan areas across the country. Although this might mean that there are fewer people currently on the site, it gives you a greater opportunity to get one-on-one networking action with the people you get in contact with on the site.

Shooting People

This incredible site started in 1998, so it has gained a reputable background with its networking members! Shooting People connects people from both the United States and the United Kingdom in the world of independent filmmaking. Members can pick up gigs on this site as well as find training, funding, and competition opportunities. The downside to this site is that the majority of its opportunities are located internationally, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t learn a thing or two from the people you meet (or maybe a really cool job to travel to!).

Cinely

Cinely requires that all members of its network be approved individually before being allowed access to certain parts of the site, which is pretty great considering how many social networks have large chunks of their members’ accounts in an inactive status. When deciding upon membership access, the team at Cinely determines if you’d bring an addition that would improve the overall community of film creatives. So why request an invite? You’d gain access to networking with people from 90 different countries and hundreds of thousands of projects.

Social networking on a professional level doesn’t just mean registering for a profile and hoping the magic starts working for you. Create a complete profile so people who run across you can get a sense of what you bring to the game. Reach out to others with a message tailored specifically for them, and not just a generic “Thanks for adding me,” to show that you really do want to connect. When appropriate, offer your expertise to others when they post questions on forums or message boards. Keep an eye out for professionals in your area, and don’t be afraid to invite them to lunch to discuss their latest production in more detail.

Leave your favorite networking sites to expand your connections in the film industry in the comments below!