Only the best producers and researchers are employed. The post of assistant producer will eventually disappear, and the researcher route to producer will also cease, as natural history research will become a rewarding and specialist job in its own right. Although the total quantity of productions is not going up, more small companies are producing films and there are great opportunities around for young people. The reality also includes hard slog, discomfort, disappointment and solitude. There are few opportunities to train and may take time to become known and established.
Persistence is of the essence.
One way to learn is to become an assistant to a cameraperson, to carry the tripod and be prepared to press a remote camera button every half hour for very little pay, in order to get an insight on the job. To watch and learn about equipment, is to know its vocabulary and limitations. Then come the risks. Obtaining a camera and shooting some material for producers to view. IAWF may know of second-hand equipment or alternatively all the equipment can be hired.