Career Dilema

A

AneriaFilms

Member
[SIZE=+0]I'll try to make this brief. I went to film school, I have a DVX and audio package, and have been working on and making short film and video for the last 4 years (all of it unpaid except for a video gig here and there). I'm 28, live in Vermont and work a day job WAY outside the film industry (It's eating away at me...). SO, I really want to make a career move soon that will be a whole lot more satisfying than what I'm currently doing. Naturally, the question of whether or not to move to LA or NYC is something I think about a lot. As I develop a better and better reel, I will most likely be considering a move to a land of more opportunity at some point. However, I really feel the need to work for myself, and not sure that "working my way up" in TV or Film, at least on the long term is going to be satisfying.[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=+0]One thought I had is to launch a videography business here in Vermont, or at the very least, take on some freelance video gigs. My fear is that I'll end up getting so caught up in shooting weddings and commercials or running a business that I wont have any time or energy to do my own creative filmmaking. Can anybody identify with this? Is this a valid concern or will it only make me a better filmmaker? Or is the temptation to make money doing video just going to distract me from my ultimate goal of making a living by creative filmmaking (a longshot, I know...).[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=+0]It looks like a lot of you are working in the video and film industry and most of us on this forum have the same goals, so I appreciate any advice or comments from those that are a bit ahead of me that will help me find a good direction for myself.[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=+0]--davy[/SIZE]
 
ahhhh...the old angst filled starving artist thing - or some variation of it :) Creativity and business can and do mix. Start an LLC, put together a corp video oriented demo reel and hustle out into the real world. Learn the business side, which will mainly be the sales side of things. I think it is better to make a living doing something close to your dream than it is to slowly starve working some job that is far from your dream. Squeezing in personal projects around your corp projects makes your personal work even sweeter. Aren't there only about four people left living in Vermont? Finding business could be a challenge in a small economy state. Anyway, for me, finding clients and giving them what they want using your talent and equipment has been quite satisfying.
my .02
JB
 
Well, you have a DVX. You said you have been doing stuff on a largely pro-bono basis for the last 4 years. Start charging :thumbsup: Make some money with that camera. Being able to support yourself with your camera by doing various odd jobs or doing weddings, and such will open you up to being able to do your own stuff. Not keep you from it.

You want to work for yourself. You hate your current job. You're interested in doing independent stuff, and have been doing that already. Doesn't matter too much where you live, if you want to make your own stuff.

My fear is that I'll end up getting so caught up in shooting weddings and commercials or running a business that I wont have any time or energy to do my own creative filmmaking.
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My two cents on this is that maybe it's just a fear, and nothing more. If anything deriving your main source of income from work that is line with what you want to be doing, will not only open you up to being able to work on your independent projects, but you will gain valuable experience with all of the jobs that you do that are field related.

Put that dvx to use, and start chargin people man :)

Of course, it's not just as simple as that. There are various technicalities, and legal things to take care of. But, in principle, it is that simple. Just make the decision to do it. And, if it is an option for you at this time in your life, then get after it, and go hard at it.

Sometimes those "small economy states" can be great opportunities as far as getting business and making money. Often times there isn't any competition. Or at the least, any "good" competition.

Just my opinion, of course. Take it or leave it.

Later man,
Jason
 
Jason Ramsey said:
If anything deriving your main source of income from work that is line with what you want to be doing, will not only open you up to being able to work on your independent projects, but you will gain valuable experience with all of the jobs that you do that are field related.
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Yes! Well put. You've got the camera, the more you use it in any capacity, the better you will be with it.

BTW, the true definition of dilemma is "a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives." I would think making films and videos would be a desired alternative, but I digress....
 
I've been in your spot and still am there - definitely the first thing is start charging people for your work! Seriously, if you keep working for free, you will ALWAYS work for free. If you work for free, people will never see a need to pay you and you will never make money doing what you want.

Charging also teaches you the business end. When you're talking money, you're talking business. A successful artist is as much a businessman as an artist, and you hve to be both to be successful. If you're not selling yourself or your work, no one's going to buy it.

I stopped doing weddings a long time ago (except for family/friends), and I don't look back. I do video for non-profits, short films for local filmmakers, music videos, etc. I charge. I don't care who it is and I don't care how much it is, at least enough that it's worth my time to show up.

But when you work for free, the only person you're undercutting is yourself.
 
my job has nothing to do with video/film and it sucks. if i didn't have all these bills to pay each month i would quit in a heartbeat. i'm doing a movie this year and if i can get a distribution deal for enough money to pay off everything, then i can quit and just make movies. that's what i'm hoping for anyways.
 
Whoa. For a second there, I thought I just typed this.

I'm sort of in the same situation as you, so I know what you're going through. I wish I knew what to tell you, becuase I'm trying to figure it out myself!

I think that you shouldn't get too caught up in doing weddings and the like if you decide to do that, but I would shy away from weddings if you can, becuase it's a lot of work for not a lot of money. Doing corporate events or spots is probably better money, and helps get your name built up.

I'm no expert, but if you're good with photography, try doing some senior pictures for teens, and give them a little behind the scenes DVD of their shoot or something as a fun bonus.

Good luck in whatever you do!
 
Miata brings up a good point (he's sort of seen me grow from the guy who'd drool over doing a wedding, to the guy who dishes them off on people he doesn't like). Anyway, you've got the resources to be doing almost anything you want. The trick is to find someone who'll throw enough money your way to keep you alive...and be honest with yourself about what you're prepared to do.

No matter how you roll the dice, 90% of your work will come from people you know. At least that's my experience. I made one phone call a few years ago to a person that I didn't know to ask if they needed some help. Since then, I've obtained ALL my work, one way or another, through that ONE contact. Might sound extreme, but it's true. In every market there is a community of production people...figure out what they're doing, and plug yourself in.

Sounds like I need to make a few more phone calls, though, eh?
 
Mike McNeese said:
Miata brings up a good point (he's sort of seen me grow from the guy who'd drool over doing a wedding, to the guy who dishes them off on people he doesn't like).


Wait a second, is that why you asked me if I wanted to cover that wedding for you a few months back?

Holy heck.....:huh:
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I'll tell you. Life, life, life, and life. It has a way of hitting ya from every direction. I have always feared running out of time. There was never enough time to do what needed to be done and what I wanted to do, so I decided to do what I wanted to do. Some 10 years later I am now doing what is needed to be done. For a small few the gamble pays off and they make it big early out like its a dream. I am the rest. I gambled and lost only to get a second chance at 32. Once the dream was out of reach I took a crack at regular life. Do what the every day Joe does. I when to trade school and got certified as a cad drafter. I then went to work for a local swimming pool company in Maryland. They started me at $7.00 per fresh out of trade school. Within 8 months I was making $12.00 per hr. It sucked, but I content. I saw something that most of my co worker did not. A future. I was the primary drafter within 8 month. They began to trust me with confidential information like cost and quotes on each of the pools I made plans for. They let me know without realizing it how much money was coming in. I made up my mind then and there to learn every part and position of the pool business from permits to sale to construction. People thought I was crazy. For 4 years I managed to convince my boss to work in every field of the company. On year 5 I quiet my job. I left making $20.00 an hr. It took me 6 month to open my own pool company. Now in my 3rd year I have made enough money to finance my own movie equipment and crews while at the same time providing for my family. So now I'm 32 doing what I need to do which affords me the capital to do what I want to do.

We all have time to do what we love. I love making films. I can honestly say this is the one thing I love doing. I can't say I love building pools but I'm good at and it affords me the one thing I love.

Opportunity come when and where you least exspect it.
 
Move to LA. You'll learn more in one week on a professional set, even working
as an extra, than you will in 5 years 'doing your own thing' on your own. Just
seeing a pro crew and world class DP at work is a must do...
 
And how would one go about being a extra on a pro set. Of course I am asking for all of those who don't want to raise there hands. :)

Life is crazy I got married to a girl I dreamed about. The woman of my dreams! Turns out normal life isn't to bad. It is the normal pay that we all hate.
 
MAke money dude. work hard for 4 months, then take 1 month off, to shoot your own projects.


BUT MAKE THE MONEY FIRST, and DONT undercut other Videogaphers. Competetive is one thing, but working at a loss just to "get a job" is a bad thing for the business as a whole.
 
I agree 100% with greggl. It doesn't have to be a feature set either. Try working for a production compnay that does high-end commercials with an"A" director. Don't learn bad habits in a secondary market.
 
Central Casting... pay your cash, show up on their registration day, then
call the casting hotline. If you 'fit the bill' for what they need, you call
the casting agent, they look at the registration pic they took and if they
can us you, they tell you what to wear and where to go. You'll need a
Thomas guide (map book) for 'directions' to the set. Pay sucks, education
and contacts are PRICELESS.

http://www.centralcasting.org/LA/actors/registeredNonUnion.html
 
I lean toward Greggl's advice. If you take work as an extra, let the casting director know you want to be a stand-in. A stand-in's job is to be on set during setups, ears open, mouth shut. There's absolutely nothing to do except pay attention and learn.
 
a UPM once made me laugh my rear end off... he says....

"extras are just human props dude... they might as well be made of wood and sh*t"

he refers to himself as an "extra wrangler" and equates them with cattle and whatnot

not to crap on anything anyone else has previously said.... just thought this was funny
 
lots of people have already given some valuable opinions. I will just throw my 2 cents:

My current day job has nothing to do with films or video. I am a software guy and make tons of money (over 100K) doing it but just like everybody on this board becoming a filmmaker is a lifetime passion. I have thought about the same question of the viability of a career in videography and at one point even came close to chucking my high paying job to pursue my passion but soon realised one thing that lots of things have to go in your favor for you to become a successful filmmaker. Just because you are doing a day job dosent mean you cant become a successful filmmaker. In my opinion all it takes is a good stroy and some amount of luck and you are on your way. I plan to keep my day job and pursue my passion and if its written in my stars, it will happen.

One more thing about location, I live in NJ . Other then the fact that there more people available for work in NY/NJ area, talent wise it dosent make a difference. If you have a good subject and believe a lot in your story then putting together a cast anywhere shouldnt be a problem.

Cheers,

-Krish
 
Thanks for the insight, everyone. I really appreciate it. Everything you guys said makes sense. I'm currently spending almost 10 hours a day staring at spreadsheets, I might as well do video and continue making creative films in my spare time. I have all this equipment that I bought for myself for Christmas...and it's sitting in their cases...gotta put them to work.

I would definately love to be a PA or an extra on a professional set...just for the learning experience. That's something I'd have to go outside of Vermont to do because the last major movie shot here was years ago.

You all gave me a lot to think about and helped ease my fear about jumping into video.

Thanks,

--davy
 
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