Any advice on getting paid 1st/2nd AC work?

[Michael Solomon]

So I love working as a 1st/2nd AC. The problem is, I'm finding it incredibly hard to find paying work as one. It seems like it's so much easier to find work as a ULB or LB DP but when it comes to AC work, there seems to be a giant void. Maybe that's because a lot of projects at the ULB end just don't value an AC enough to make it a paid position.

I was lucky enough to come and day play on a legitimate medium budget production (~$300k) as a 1AC for 3 days and I'm now rather spoiled. It was a glorious experience and I loved every second on set. The only problem was, I was filling in for someone else that's their typical go-to person. Needless to say, it was a rare but much appreciated experience.

Is there some sort of untapped resource for AC work? I stalk mandy's, craigslist, entertainment careers and all those different web sites. Most don't offer paid AC work. I did some freebies for a while for student films and some ULB stuff but those never panned out turning into paying work. All I got were requests to come back and AC again for free. While it was nice to play with the expensive toys like RED/Alexa/Cooke lenses etc., it's also nice to be able to make rent.

I'm starting to think of going the stereotypical route of working at a rental house and hoping to get picked up from one. What would you guys recommend?

 

[Patryk_Rebisz]

$150-250 ($200 being an average) is the going rate here in NYC.
On some higher paid jobs my ACs get $300-350.

Best way is to 2nd for cheap. I've hired my share of 2nd as 1st when the 1st are not avail.

 

[sonofaresiii]

Hey, I'm having trouble finding paid DP work, so I suspect it's tough all around (actually, that's not true... I get hired on plenty of gigs as DP, the trouble is getting the project to actually materialize after I've been hired. Must be a lot of people jumping the gun out there). Just keep applying, something will hit... and there's no shame in taking a part-time dayjob to make ends meet, we've all been there.

edit: and I hate to say it, but I'm done with free work, except as favors to friends. The paid work may or may not end up actually happening, but with the free stuff I'm lucky if I can even get someone to show up when they're supposed to meet me. If you're working for free, they don't mind wasting your time, because apparently it's worthless.

 

[RyanT]

Do you know many other 1st AC's that work consistenly? Call them every week, keep in touch and always know what they're doing. Show them you want to work and they'll call you.

Often times you'll be the fill in guy, thats where you're going to start obviously, but keep doing it and eventually you'll move up to be the regular guy. If you're not getting any work at all, maybe start PA'ing. I've had one time when I was starting out where I moved up from PA to B-camera 1st in a day. The camera department is often understaffed and they use PA's constantly to fill the gap. Impress the right guy, keep in touch with him, and soon you'll be working all the time.