Carli Garcia is a Post Production Coordinator at Netflix. Prior to working at Netflix, Carli was a freelance post production coordinator and assistant at Marvel Studios where she worked on Black Panther and Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2.

Here is what Carli had to say when we asked her about pursuing a career in entertainment:

GenHERation^®: What is involved in post production?

Carli Garcia: Post production is defined on Google as, “Work done on a film or recording after filming or recording has taken place.” It may also be more well known as the “editing process.” Anyone who’s actually involved in the post industry will tell you that post is where the magic happens and is involved far earlier than after the production team has packed their bags. Post production teams include: the intensive scheduling and budgeting know-how of the post producing management team; the editors’ abilities to rework the footage into a seamless and compelling story; music editors and composers collaborating on instilling movement and emotion in silent scenes; the colorists punching the saturation or dulling down the hues to visually transport you to a different place; and so much more. 

GenHERation^®: How do you recommend finding work as a freelancer?

Garcia: Freelancing work may seem equally intriguing and intimidating. The best way to find work as a freelancer is to market yourself and make genuine connections. Networking is not always about the elevator pitch or the business cards, it’s about taking the time to get to know and expand your circle of potential colleagues. 

GenHERation^®: What is the best way to find an internship or job with an entertainment company?

Garcia: If you’re interested in the entertainment industry, the first thing to know is that the opportunities are truly limitless. At the rate that streaming services and traditional studios are innovating, the list of jobs continues to grow. When I was looking for my first internship/job in the industry, I had a tab open for every major studio’s job site and I would refresh it nonstop until I saw something that caught my eye. It was a stale and unmotivated way to get my foot in the door. The number one way you will find an internship or job is to be curious. Utilize the network that you’ve built and maintain those connections through peers and mentors to build your path toward your dream job.

GenHERation^®: Do you need to build a portfolio if you want to work in a creative space? If so, how should you go about doing this?

Garcia: Some creative careers will require that you build a portfolio and showcase your work—resumes and credits are invaluable badges of honor to showcase your history in the business. While a portfolio can sometimes be requested for a creative space, your passion, curiosity, and work ethic are what will keep you there. Search for entry-level positions in your desired field and spend every day there learning and expanding your knowledge. Let your creativity and actions speak for who you are, not just your portfolio.

GenHERation^®: How can you build your professional network when you are starting out in your career?

Garcia: Building a professional network from scratch can be daunting at first. If you’re involved in a club at school or group in your community, attend networking and educational events. If social gatherings are not really your thing, rely on finding a mentor who can ease you into the ins and outs of navigating the industry. 

GenHERation^®: What is the most important soft skill and hard skill you need to possess if you want to work in production?

Garcia: Oh man, I’m not sure I even have any production hard skills… Does knowing how to operate Zoom count? Each department in the production industry has many different “hard skills” that you can specialize in. I’d suggest finding a program to learn the intricacies of your desired field. The most important soft skill is without a doubt adaptability. In whichever field you end up in, the entertainment industry is a fast-moving and ever-changing beast. If you are open to change and ready to learn, working in production will challenge you to do just that. 

Carli Garcia is a Post Production Coordinator at Netflix. Prior to working at Netflix, Carli was a freelance post production coordinator and assistant at Marvel Studios where she worked on Black Panther and Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2. Carli participates in many GenHERation® events and other inclusion and outreach programs through Netflix. She is a 2016 graduate of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University. Carli is an advocate for the new generation in the entertainment industry and young women everywhere.