Skip to Content

20 Best Business ideas in the Movie Industry

Are you interested in carving a niche for yourself in the movie industry? Do you want to learn how to start a business in the movie industry?

If yes, then below are 20+ best business opportunities and ideas in the movie industry. Most people are ignorant of the business opportunities in the movie industry. Becoming a movie star or top director is not the only business opportunity in the movie industry or the only way to earn a living in the movie business.

There are so many other business opportunities in the industry that you will find interesting and lucrative. Without wasting your time, below are some movie business ideas and opportunities.

Best Opportunities in the Movie Industry

Before i dive into the ideas and opportunities found in the movie industry, i want you to know that adequate training and knowledge is required to achieve success in the movie industry. Movie is an art form that must be mastered.

1. Movie production

A movie producer is one whose job or task is to plan the movie, assemble the needed actors and actresses and make sure that the project stays within budget throughout production and post-production. A good producer not only produces good films, but also makes money for the investors.

2. Scriptwriting

Another opportunity in the movie industry is scriptwriting. So many scriptwriters begin as playwrights, journalists, novelists or other professional writers, while others go directly into the writing profession either in a television station or in the movie industry proper.

Whichever way you choose to go, writing is a very wonderful business opportunity that can fetch a lot of money especially in the movie industry.

3. Art Directing

The art director or movie director works hand in hand with producer and director to make sure a detailed set, location and a nice surrounding for the movie is achieved. As a movie director, it is also your duty to make sure each cast or actor / actress plays the role perfectly.

It is the responsibility of the directors to oversee the artistic vision of a film. Directors are not usually involved in the financial side of filmmaking, unless they are acting as a producer and at the same time as a director.

4. Script reading

Another money making avenue in the movie industry is becoming a script reader. The script reader reads the screenplay, provides the summary and recommendation about the script, and whether or not the script should be given further consideration by a literary agency.

5. Scene Construction Management

If you have the technical skills and knowledge on construction, you can start a mini construction company strictly for movie making.

A movie construction manager is the one responsible for reporting to the art director. He or she works with the production designer to recreate the directors vision with wood, paints and nails. The construction designer need to posses the technical prowess to get the job done.

6. Photography or Cinematography

The job of the cinematographer/photographer is to transform and translate the script writer’s story and the director’s vision into video. He/she must be a master in the technology of camera work.

7. Become an Actor or Actress

Yes, actors and actresses are also self employed entrepreneurs. An actor plays the character in a film; he/she puts the scriptwriter’s word into action. The actor is the route through which the directors vision and the script writer’s words are communicated to the audience.

If you have the skills to act, then why not become a movie artiste. In fact, the actors and actresses are the major players in a movie production; without them, nothing will be done.

8. Become a Movie Auditor

A movie auditor is someone who is responsible for keeping track of all production costs; making sure the production does not exceed it budget but rather stays within its budget. The Auditor has responsibility task of keeping record of every penny spent during the production of the film.

9. Choreography

If you posses an outstanding dancing skills, then you can make it in the movie industry as Choreographer. Choreographers are responsible for creating dance sequences in a movie, they can also make or break musicals or movies with a dance theme.

10. Movie Animation

A computer animator is one who painstakingly bring a character’s emotions and dialogue to life frame by meticulous frame. In other words, they are known as the virtual puppeteer.

11. Start a Movie Review Blog

Another avenue to make money from the movie industry is to start a movie review website of blog. To further spice the blog up, you can feature behind-the-scene happenings, feature upcoming actors and actresses, feature upcoming movies and interview famous movie stars.

12. Become a Talent Agent or Hunter

The job of a talent agent is to go about in search of scripts for their actor, directors, or clients to read. They make their money from movie studios and distribution companies. A talent agent is also responsible for finding extra promotional and sponsorship opportunities for their clients.

13. Organize Movie Events

This is another way to make money in the movie industry. You can organize shows, live dramas, award shows, audition shows for movie enthusiasts, etc.

14. Start a Movie Download Website

Do you know that you can buy the exclusive right to broadcast movies online. Yes, you can be the next NetFlix, IrokoTV, etc and make money from ads and membership revenue.

15. Start a Movie Rental Business

This business was once a lucrative business but it is gradually dying due to the rising trend in web video streaming and online broadcasting.

16. Start a TV Show

You can also start a TV show. All you have to do is put up a production team, buy a time slot on a popular TV station, look for advertisers and sponsors; and voila!!! You are in business.

17. Become a Literary Agent

The literary agent sells the work of scriptwriters; they represent the scriptwriters before the producers or film companies. A literary agent s a movie script written by the scriptwriter before the shooting of the movie will commence.

18. Costume Designing

The Costume Designer plays a very important role in the look of a movie. Starting from the color of the clothes to the style, fabric, the quality of the costume to the accessories that are used for the movie. the Costume Designer is a fashion star that plays a fundamental and critical part of every film.

19. Become a Makeup Artiste

Being a makeup artiste is another lucrative business career in the movie industry. The makeup Artist is responsible for applying makeups to principal actors and extras in a movie. He does these to reflect the period, vision, and characters as conceived in the scriptwriter’s story and the director’s vision.

20. Become a Movie Editor

The importance of an editor can never be over looked in the movie industry. They are the people responsible for carrying out the final beautification in a movie. A skilled editor will carefully select the scenes that best tell the story according to the director’s specific vision.

21. Become a Continuity Coordinator

This is a job role that require you to maintain continuity while the film is being shot. This is done by keeping track of the different takes, timings. The continuity coordinator is also responsible making notes for the director which will help the editor when editing the film.

22. Venture into Movie Marketing

Movie marketing is a very lucrative business because it is a very important aspect of the movie industry. This is because without the movie marketers, the movie will be unable to get to the audience after production.

However, i strongly believe that the power of the movie marketers will dwindle as the cost of internet bandwidth and connection reduces, and the speed of internet increases. Also, i believe that the traditional movie marketers will be boycotted in the future as more people move online.

In conclusion,

The above information are some of the business opportunities available in the movie in the industry. One truth is that the business opportunities in the movie industry are so much and can never be exhausted. All you need to do is to explore and exploit them.