The Messy Middle: What to Call Yourself When You’re Still Becoming
🌟Career Coaching: How to choose a job title that reflects who you are and where you’re going in the entertainment industry.
Oh, the messy middle. That very long stretch between “recent grad” and “veteran.” Not a beginner anymore, but not quite established either.
You’re in the room. You’re taking on more responsibility. You’re getting more and more familiar with how the industry works (or doesn’t). But when someone asks “What do you do?”, you hesitate.
Because you’re not sure if you’ve earned the title yet.
I remember that stretch of time vividly. I was managing payroll while studying how producers made decisions. I was watching how directors held a room. I was reconciling petty cash for designers while mentally cataloging every creative choice they made (and how much it cost). I was doing the work behind the work, but I didn’t feel like I had the right to claim any of it yet.
Every time I considered calling myself a producer, I pulled back. Not out of false humility. Out of truth. Because I wasn’t there yet.
So I understand when clients ask me, “Can I call myself a director if I’ve only assisted?” or “Can I say I’m a designer if I haven’t helmed a production?” or “Am I a producer if I’m still coordinating?” The answer is an ambiguous “yes (kind of)”!
What they’re really asking is how to be in the process of transformation and growth.
Your Title is Your Story
The entertainment industry doesn’t hand out weighty titles overnight (although some people seize them only to be exposed in one way or another down the line…hello Kennedy Center! (among countless other examples)). Credible titles are earned by putting in the hours, racking up credits and networking like crazy. They come from trying, testing, risking. From failing with grace and succeeding in pieces. It’s not a pat matter of “paying dues”; it’s learning an incredibly complex business.
So you don’t need to overreach for a title you haven’t fully grown into. But you also don’t need to shrink back like you’re invisible. Because your job title isn’t just something you stick on a resume or in your LinkedIn headline.
Your job title is the first insight into your professional identity. It’s the detail people remember when they introduce you. It shows up in your online profiles, your email signature and your business card. Whether you’re job hunting, updating LinkedIn or meeting someone at an event, your job title often speaks louder than you do.
So ask yourself: Do you like your title? Does it reflect how you see yourself now? Does it indicate where you’re headed? Do you really want to be a Writer-Director-Producer or an Editor-Content Creator-Actor, or is that what you’re doing now to get your projects made and/or your rent paid?
Wearing multiple hats is normal in this industry. But do you want or need to lead with that? What do you want to be known for? Be careful not to put your willingness to do anything above your passion to do one thing.
If your job title isn’t working for you—if it’s not getting you the work you want or the respect you crave—change it.
And please don’t feel hemmed in by the title someone else gave you. “Production Assistant” may be the position listed in your last deal memo, but “Producer-In-Training” might be the title that tells the truth about your path. “Re-recording Mixer” may be your current gig, but “Post Production Guru” might be the phrase that opens doors.
Keep it honest. Don’t inflate. But don’t diminish, either.
Standing Proud in the Middle
Here are three things that helped me stand in that in-between space without rushing or retreating:
Treat this career phase like an apprenticeship. Producing, directing, designing, writing, editing—none of these are just jobs. They’re crafts and callings. If you’re learning under people who have done it longer, that’s not a delay. That’s a foundation.
Speak with precision. You don’t have to fake it or wait until you’ve “made it.” Just be clear: “I’m a director-in-training.” “I’m an apprentice producer.” “I’m building toward being a production designer.” The right people will respect the clarity.
Own your digital presence. Wherever your job title lives, make sure it reflects the identity you’re stepping into, not just the tasks you’re currently doing.
Your job title isn’t just a label you’ve been given.
It’s a declaration you’re making about yourself.
And the right one can give both you and the industry the insight necessary to land you that coveted next gig.
