Lights, Camera, Mentorship: The Role of Mentoring in Film Knowledge Transfer

Abstract

The main study aim is to identify the forms of tacit and explicit knowledge management used in international film
productions and to assess the role of mentoring in the knowledge-sharing process. Several research questions were
formulated: (1) What are the common models and practices of mentoring in the film industry? (2) What key factors
influence effective mentoring within an international film crew, particularly in the context of the European Film Industry?
(3) How does mentoring differ between technical and artistic departments within a film crew? The methodology of this
paper is based on qualitative research. It began with an exploratory scoping literature review, followed by a bibliometric
analysis. After an in-depth analysis, a survey was selected as the research method, with an interview questionnaire serving
as the research instrument. The study presents findings from exploratory data collected from film professionals working in
Poland, Germany, Malta, Greece, and Bulgaria between 2023 and 2024. The study indicates that film schools are the most
common setting for mentoring in the film industry. However, attending a film school is not a prerequisite for receiving a
film education, as many individuals gain their knowledge directly from mentors on set. In production and technical
departments, mentoring typically lasts for one to five film projects. In contrast, individuals receiving long-term mentorship
are predominantly part of the artistic crew, such as directors and writers. Key factors influencing effective mentoring
include talent identification, understanding of the learning process, motivation, communication, and trust. This paper
provides a unique analysis of knowledge sharing on film sets and offers valuable insights for film industry professionals
aiming to excel in mentoring within multicultural contexts. It examines the role of mentors in contemporary film
productions, particularly in setting examples for mentees, identifying talent, and understanding the learning process.
Additionally, it describes how knowledge-sharing skills are applied in the demanding and rapidly changing environment of
film production.