Getting into Medical Consulting for Film&TV

The Handmaid’s Tale, Copyright MGM Television 2017

Every week I hear from clinicians and other healthcare professionals who'd like to do the kind of consulting I do. I'm flattered, and I wish I had time to reply to each of you. I don't, so I've put my best general advice here.

Is there a clear path into this work?

Not really. It’s a small field built largely on personal relationships and word-of-mouth recommendations. Most people arrive through a mix of persistence, good timing, and someone vouching for them.

Isn’t medical expertise the main qualification?

It’s essential, but it’s only part of the picture. Equally important is knowing how productions actually work: how scripts change on the fly, how a set runs, who does what, and how medical scenes are staged. A lot of the job is the craft of making something that is not real look and feel authentic on camera, and doing it quickly, collaboratively, and without slowing down the shoot. A producer will often value someone with modest credentials and strong set experience over a brilliant clinician who doesn’t know how a set operates.

So how do I build that experience?

• Learn the production side. Read about how film and TV get made, and consider an introductory course in filmmaking or production.

• Get on set, in any capacity. Student films, indie projects, and local productions let you see how departments work together. This is where you’ll learn the culture and where first credits tend to come from. Set Medic work is another option for health-care professionals looking to gain on-set experience.

• Meet the people who actually hire consultants. In my experience, referrals come from people in departments like props, stunts, and the assistant directors’ team, as well as from producers. Film and television unions, guilds, and technicians’ and creatives’ associations in your region are a good way to find these communities and their events.

• Look for online communities. Many of these groups run Facebook pages and similar forums. Read the group rules first, and introduce yourself the way you would at an event: as someone learning the industry, not as a cold pitch. Mass solicitations tend to be ignored or removed, and a good first impression matters in a small industry.

Can you mentor me, review my résumé, or refer me to producers?

I’m sorry, but I can’t. This site exists to advertise my own consulting work, and between that work and my schedule, I’m not able to take on mentees or make introductions.

Will you reply if I send a message anyway?

You may receive a short form reply pointing you back to this page. It’s not meant to be dismissive. It’s just the only way I can respond honestly to everyone.

Thank you for your interest in this work, and good luck.