Start a creative stride with professional guilds

By Jeremiah O. Onoge (DGN) - National P.R.O., Directors Guild of Nigeria

No matter how successful a filmmaker has become, there are most likely one or more professional organizations that they are eligible to join. These professional organizations are what we know as the Guilds and Associations in NOLLYWOOD, which range from the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) to Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Cinematography Society of Nigeria (CSN), Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria (CDGN), amongst many others.

These guilds and associations were established to keep the secrets of their disciplines hidden from the uninitiated. By doing this, they helped to guarantee job security, uphold the leaders’ authority, support members in difficult times, and guarantee that the work they produced was of the highest caliber.

With the possible exception of protecting esoteric trade secrets, which is hardly unheard of, professional organizations’ objectives in today’s society are roughly the same as in the past. The primary objective of the majority of organizations is to supervise and control professional standards and practices while keeping the public interest in mind. This entails researching and recording recognized methods and practices—as well as scolding those who don’t follow these guidelines.

By means of conferences, meetings, and trade publications, an organization’s members can network and communicate with one another, which is a secondary but no less significant goal. Finally, a guild or association aims to give its members access to resources for lifelong learning and professional development.

The benefits

Joining a guild or association has several advantages, some of which are as follows but not restricted to:

1. The capacity to participate in the establishment of their profession’s best practices and standards: A member can significantly impact the growth and course of their profession by serving on committees, executive boards, and governing boards of their guild or association. A professional group also typically actively advocates before legislative bodies for measures that benefit its members.

2. Possibilities for networking with other members: Making contacts at the state, national, and even international levels is made possible by membership. These relationships can be very helpful while looking for a new job or growing an already established practice. Exclusive job openings are frequently advertised for members only, and a lot of guilds and groups offer mentoring and resume development services.

3. Continuous learning opportunities: Professional development materials are typically available to members, allowing them to advance their knowledge and abilities and keep abreast of developments in their industry. These consist of periodicals, journals, online courses, conferences, workshops, conventions, and other learning materials.

4. Membership group discounts: Group discounts are available to most guilds and associations for a variety of goods and services, including vacation packages, condominium rentals, and insurance such as auto, life, and health. The savings on their own are frequently greater than the membership fee.

5. Access to scholarships and internships: These are sometimes offered to members who wish to progress in their field or to students who intend to pursue careers in particular professions.

6. Resume enhancement: Including a membership in a guild or association on a resume is a great bonus. It is a sign that a job applicant values their career highly enough to devote time and money in it.

Almost every profession and occupation has a guild. The advantages make the little cost of membership dues well worth it. It is advisable that you join a professional guild or association when we begin in 2024.

The Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) is a great fit for you as a film director. It is imperative that all actors join the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN). then the Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria (CDGN) as a costumer, makeup artist, set designer, or props manager. Additionally, the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) is the ideal organization for producers. The Cinematographers Society of Nigeria (CSN) is an excellent organization to be a member of for any cinematographer. Among many other guilds and associations, joining the Production Managers Guild of Nigeria (PMGN) is a smart choice for a production manager.

One of your 2024 objectives should be to join a guild or association, and you should pursue this with zeal