The Best Gifts for Film Students (From People Who Actually Work on Sets)
Shopping for a gift for a film student shouldn't feel like a final exam. But here you are — staring at an Amazon search bar, wondering if they already own that book, if they'd actually use that thing, or if you're about to drop forty bucks on something that collects dust.We've been there. The difference is, we've also been on the actual set. The people behind Get Reelisms have spent years working in film — as a DGA 1st AD, a production designer, and a sound mixer. We know what film students really need, what seasoned crew actually use, and what ends up as a birthday gift that quietly gets donated to a film school prop room.This list is the real one. No filler.
What Do Film Students Actually Need? (Spoiler: It's Not What You Think)
Film school teaches a lot. It does not teach you how to survive a 14-hour shoot day in the cold, what to say on a walkie talkie so you don't embarrass yourself in front of the whole crew, or where to find the call sheet at 5am when your hands are full.That gap between the classroom and the set is where aspiring filmmakers either sink or swim. The best gifts help them swim.Here's what's actually worth buying.
Table of Content
1. A Quality Headlamp
Price range: $25–$50
This is the unglamorous gift that gets used on every single shoot. Pre-dawn call times, dark parking lots, navigating a set when the main lights are off, finding gear in a black camera bag at midnight — a good headlamp is essential.Look for one with a red light mode (preserves night vision on set), multiple brightness settings, and a rechargeable battery. The Black Diamond Spot is a crew staple. Petzl is another solid brand. Skip the cheap hardware store version.A headlamp isn't flashy. It will be used constantly.
2. Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Notepad
Price range: $10–$20
Real crew members know this one. Rite in the Rain notepads are made to be written on in the rain, in the cold, with wet hands. Normal paper turns to mush on an outdoor shoot. This doesn't.Film students take a lot of notes — script notes, blocking notes, shot lists, call sheet details scrawled at 6am. A weatherproof notepad signals that you know how a real set works. It's one of those gifts that feels small and turns out to be something they reach for constantly.
3. A Solid On-Set Notebook or Journal
Price range: $15–$30
dedicated notebook for development ideas, shot concepts, scene breakdowns, and observations from set is something most film students don't think to get for themselves. But they'll fill it fast.Go for something durable with good paper — Leuchtturm1917 or Moleskine are popular. A dot-grid format gives flexibility for sketching out storyboards alongside notes. If they're the kind of person who treats their gear well, a nicer notebook becomes something they keep for years.
Must-have gear for aspiring filmmakers
4. A Reusable Water Bottle
This sounds incredibly basic, but filmmaking is physical work. Stay hydrated. Productions should provide water, but carrying your own reusable bottle makes it much easier to drink throughout the day.
5. Portable Phone Charger
Your phone may become your clock, calculator, map, contact list, production email hub, and emergency communication device.
A portable battery can be a lifesaver on long shoot days. Below is a sidebrick, an attachment on a traditional Walkie battery that allows you to charge your phone. It's awesome. Our co-founder Christine, often uses them herself on a long set.
Your most important piece of filmmaking equipment isn't your camera. It's knowing what you're doing when someone finally gives you the opportunity to step onto set.
6. Pens, Sharpies, and Basic Supplies
Pens disappear on film sets with almost supernatural efficiency. Bring several. Depending on your department, Sharpies, highlighters, tape, scissors, and other small supplies can also be useful. But don't feel like you need to buy an entire hardware store before your first production. You'll learn what YOUR department requires as you gain experience.
7. The Get Reelisms Book
Price range: $25–$28 | getreelisms.com/shop
This one's ours, so yes — we're a little biased. But we built it specifically to fill the gap that film school leaves open.The Get Reelisms book is an illustrated set survival guide written by working film professionals. It covers the things nobody teaches you in class: walkie talkie etiquette, the actual chain of command, unofficial set rules, how to read a call sheet, what not to say to the AD, and the unwritten codes that separate someone who looks like they belong on a set from someone who clearly does not.It's designed to be kept in a bag and referenced on the fly. The illustrated, zine-like format isn't accidental — it's built for quick scanning between setups, not slow reading. Crew members who've been in the industry for years have told us they wish they'd had this when they were starting out.If the person you're buying for is serious about working in film — not just watching it — this is the book that gets used.
Film Bundles for Beginners
Film sets essentially have their own language, hierarchy, etiquette, and culture. Learning those things makes the difference between looking completely lost and becoming the person someone wants to hire again.
8. ABCs of Filmmaking Board Book
Price range: $25–$28 | getreelisms.com/shop
Here's the gift that looks like it's for a five-year-old and gets referenced on actual sets.The ABCs of Filmmaking is an illustrated board book that walks through the language of filmmaking from A to Z. The format is intentionally simple and tactile — durable, visual, easy to flip through. But the content covers real terminology: the kind of vocabulary that makes a new crew member sound like they've been doing this for years.It's genuinely funny to pull out on a professional set, and it works. Cinematographers and production designers have flipped through it on their lunch break. It's also a legitimate gift for parents who want to understand what their kid is studying, or for anyone who loves film and wants a fast, charming entry point into the language.Don't let the format fool you. This is a real filmmaking resource.
9. Story by Robert McKee
Price range: $20–$30
The classic. If they're interested in writing, directing, or understanding why some films work and others don't, Story has been required reading in film programs for decades for a reason. It's dense, it's thorough, and it actually explains the structural logic behind narrative in a way that makes you start analyzing every film you watch.It's a long read. But for someone serious about storytelling in film, it belongs on the shelf.
Productions typically provide meals, and many provide craft services, but schedules change. Always having a small snack in your bag isn't a bad idea. Filmmaking becomes significantly harder when you're hungry.
One of the biggest misconceptions about filmmaking is that having better equipment automatically makes you a better filmmaker. It doesn't.
10. Something More Important Than Gear: Set Knowledge
This is the thing I wish more aspiring filmmakers understood. You can buy a camera. You can buy a fancy backpack. You can buy every filmmaking gadget on the internet. But none of those things teach you how to behave on a professional film set. What does "10-1" mean? What's a hot brick? Who is the Best Boy? Why is everyone suddenly yelling "points"? When should you talk on the walkie? Who do you report to? What does "copy" mean?
Film sets essentially have their own language, hierarchy, etiquette, and culture. Learning those things can make the difference between looking completely lost on your first production and becoming the person someone wants to hire again.
That's exactly why we created Get Reelisms: A Practical Guide to Working in Film and Television.
Get Reelisms was designed to teach aspiring filmmakers the practical information about working on professional sets that often isn't covered in traditional filmmaking education.
Because your most important piece of filmmaking equipment isn't your camera.
It's knowing what you're doing when someone finally gives you the opportunity to step onto set.
Ready to feel more prepared for your first professional film set? Pick up your copy of Get Reelisms and start learning the language, etiquette, and realities of working in film and television.
Christine Chen
Christine W Chen is a narrative director and writer whose filmmaking journey began in 1993 with an early-edition VHS camcorder. She holds a B.A. from Rice University and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business.
Her films have screened at festivals including HollyShorts, the New Orleans Film Festival, and Fantasia. Her most recent feature, Erzulie, premiered theatrically in May 2022 and is now available on VOD.
Christine is also a DGA 1st Assistant Director and a recent Shorts Branch member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She co-authored Get Reelisms, a practical guide to filmmaking, and co-hosts the Get Reelisms Podcast, a platform dedicated to building community in the film and television industry through education.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy expensive gear to start filmmaking?
No. One of the biggest misconceptions about filmmaking is that better equipment makes you a better filmmaker. Understanding how a set works and developing your storytelling skills are much more important.
What should I wear to a film set?
Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes and dress in layers. Film sets don't care about the weather, and you'll likely spend 12 hours on your feet. Dark or neutral clothing is also recommended.
What is the most important thing to bring to a film set?
Set knowledge. Knowing how to behave, understanding the terminology (like "10-1" or "points"), and understanding set hierarchy are critical to getting hired again.
