Behind The Scenes Camerawork.

T

two99

Member
Ok,

So one of my dream jobs would be to produce/shoot the 'Behind The Scenes' documentaries for DVD special features. I have searched this forum and done a fair bit of searching on the internet and so far have found nothing about how to get into this field of work.

I cannot find any production companies that specialize in this line of work either? I am looking to do some research into at, as I would love to get amongst it.

If anyone can point me in the right direction or if anyone on these forums has any experience/advice to give in this field, I would be very appreciative.

Thanks in advance,

Andrew

Exposure Room
 
It's tough, I have done two feature movies now and those were from personal connections. It's kind of who you know for that sort of thing, sometimes the directors will request a certain guy or crew. Are you wanting to do this in Austraila or here in the USA? You might have a niche doing it for overseas productions that film in Australia since it's in your back yard. Check with your film commission to see what future productions are scheduled in AU and contact those production comapnies.
 
The Peter Jackson "King Kong Diaries" DVD had a segment about the Behind The Scenes guys. One thing I remember is that they stated that in the hierarchy of on-set people, they rated somewhere below the tea-lady ;-)
 
Great , thanks for the quick reply.

I'd prefer to start off doing it in Australia, however USA would be great. I have a bit of on-set experience and am confident of my camera abilities.
 
Hi two:

This is primarily what I do for a living. Chips is correct, like anything else in this business, it is who you know.

There are really only two ways in...

1. One man band guys who have previous relationships with successful and influential directors. These are guys like Laurent Bouzereau who works closely with Lucas and Charles De Lauzirika who worked for Tony and Ridley Scott. Both have been able to parlay their connections into some other work, but most of their time is spent working for their particular directors. So if you know any A-list directors who like you enough to pull strings to get you the work, there you go.

2. Assuming you don't have close working relationships with A-list directors, you would need to try to get in with some of the established DVD Bonus production companies. Problem is, the market is shrinking and the staff at these production companies are getting laid off very quickly so your chances of getting in would be slim as they are mostly in a downsizing mode.

3. There are other production companies who do EPK, Electronic Press Kits. Usually (but not always) separate companies do the DVD and the EPK footage. EPK is literally just behind the scenes, which frankly on most films is boring as hell. I have done a lot of EPK and the problem with it is, the clients (typically the studio marketing departments) want it done the same way, always. You cannot really be too innovative with EPK. You shoot a ton and you are there all of the time. At least with DVD Bonus material, you do get some chance to write, shoot your own footage that relates to a subject in the film or TV show. EPK is fun the first two times you do it, then it is just plain tedious and boring unless you have a cool director and ADs who will let you get into the mix more.

The assertion above about the BTS crew on the Peter Jackson crews is correct. EPK and DVD crews are always "necessary evils" on set, and at best, you are tolerated. You are typcially coming on set for a few days at most while the crew has often worked together for months or even years together so it is like a big family only you are the third cousin who is jobless and asked to crash on the couch. Doesn't matter how nice or how good you are, you are only there because the unit publicist told the director, ADs and producer that you would be there on set. You do have to learn how to stay out of eyelines and out of the way physically, which is tougher than it sounds, especially when they are rolling 2-3 cameras as is typical on TV shows I work on.

The one hook you have that gives you a leg up over most other U.S. based shooters here is the fact that you down under. There is a considerable amount of production in Oz and NZ that you would be close to, therefore cheap in comparison to Americans flying over there to shoot. But how do you get in with the few remaining production companies who are doing DVD and EPK? Not sure, it is a cart before the horse thing, you would need BTS footage for big name stuf to show that you have done big name stuff so you can shoot more big name stuff. And who do you know? I can tell you that going in through the front door, so to speak is pointless as I have done that myself and it doesn't work, no matter how good your reel. It only matters who you know. The one production company i have been shooting and producing for years only hired me because one of their editors knew me, recommended me to the owner and he hired me. Didn't want to see reel or resume', just hired me because editor A told him I was good. I was there for three and a half years but the down turn meant I left along with 24 of their 30 employees and this was all before worldwide Depression 2.0 hit.

In today's economy, all I can say is, better get to know some big directors because I think you are wasting your time trying to get work from the EPK and DVD companies. Unless they happen to need someone in Australia for a particular shoot but that doesn't happen really often, just once in a while. I have hired shooters in Australia for a Peter Jackson interview I shot for Warner Bros and once more when we worked on Gallipoli. Other than that, it is rare.

Good luck.

Dan
 
Thankyou so much Puredrifting,

To take the time to write a detailed and knowledgeable answer like that is what these forums are all about.

Thats great that I now have some idea of how this line of work gets commissioned, as I could not find anything anywhere else.

It seems a tough job, as most jobs in the industry are. I would love to see some of the work you have done, sounds like you have being very successful.

I am at the moment testing out the waters trying to find what role I want to play in the business. I have done some 3rd AD work as well as Loader on TV Shows and some 1st AD on medium budget music videos, but at the same time I have my own Sony EX1 Letus Extreme setup in which I am trying to fathom a small business out of that (shooting travel promo's, business promo's).

I will take your advice and try to pull some strings and maybe land a gig doing some BTS on this season's TV Show I periodically work on.

Thankyou once again Puredrifting for your insightful reply,

Cheers,

Andrew
 
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my company produces BTS for the studios. Sony EX-1's are what's cropping up more and more as a b-cam but the primary operators have an F-900 package. drop the Letus unless a specialized look has been pitched prior to shooting.
 
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