cameraoperatorsydney
Active member
Hi Ladies and Gents,
7 lessons I’ve learnt since becoming a freelance cameraman (in Australia)
- Thread starter cameraoperatorsydney
- Start date
lovecameras
Carbonite Member
Yeah but Sydney is a huge hub and there are loots of work opportunities there, now try focusing on a country regional town and see how hard it could be mate....
doubledark
Well-known member
not such a rosy picture now
Going freelance in any field is tough in a small town, you pretty much have to live in a big city to get enough clients to support you. Camera operating is no different. When I moved away from Los Angeles, I couldn't find enough camera gigs to pay the bills and had to go back to a staff position. It's all good though, just a trade-off you have to make for living in a smaller city.
indiawilds
Veteran
Good to hear this. Atleast the OP was in the filming industry. I was in the electronic manufacturing industry.
Lovecameras: Remember competition is also less in smaller places. So you can always move in and pick up projects to improve your portfolio. In smaller places instead of just a DP job they may ask you to complete the film with voiceover and music etc. You will have more exposure. Too often better equipment can give you an edge in smaller places where as in bigger places every body would have those latest cameras. So see what suits you.
I do certain projects as freelance shooter. Even before I went full time into filming, I had been buying equipment with the longterm goal of setting up my own production house. At the moment it is small and I compete with other production houses to get business ie. create complete documentaries, films, commercials etc.
The main suggestion I would give to people who want to start out on their own is to first kill their loans/mortgages/EMIs. That will lift a major burden from your shoulders. If you have financial pressure they are you bound to accept any job. If this is a passion then do what you like. If you are in a job, then you don't have the freedom of choosing your assignments.
Lovecameras: Remember competition is also less in smaller places. So you can always move in and pick up projects to improve your portfolio. In smaller places instead of just a DP job they may ask you to complete the film with voiceover and music etc. You will have more exposure. Too often better equipment can give you an edge in smaller places where as in bigger places every body would have those latest cameras. So see what suits you.
I do certain projects as freelance shooter. Even before I went full time into filming, I had been buying equipment with the longterm goal of setting up my own production house. At the moment it is small and I compete with other production houses to get business ie. create complete documentaries, films, commercials etc.
The main suggestion I would give to people who want to start out on their own is to first kill their loans/mortgages/EMIs. That will lift a major burden from your shoulders. If you have financial pressure they are you bound to accept any job. If this is a passion then do what you like. If you are in a job, then you don't have the freedom of choosing your assignments.