Getting started as a one man production?

R

RockmanX3

Well-known member
I start a new editing gig from July-September working on summer high school sports footage. After that is done, I'm actually planning on doing research on starting my own film/video production company.

However, none of my friends really want to be involved because they have negative thoughts about the entire film industry. My girlfriend doesn't want to leave her cozy business job, but will offer moral support. To be frank, I'm alone on this one. :crybaby:

What's the best advice for someone who has to start this entire venture alone? I'll still probably have to do some more editing gigs afterwards to make ends meet, but I'm still keeping my goal in mind. Thanks!
 
orangesaybananas said:
Can't blame her. I like having an income, too :undecided
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Yeah, although I know I can making a decent living off editing, I really want to do more than that. Why not get paid for all the ideas I have in my head? :thumbup:

I have been reading a few books and it seems like it's possible to do, but I definitely need to look for some more success stories.
 
I got started with a camera and a computer. There's only more gear to buy from there but you can still produce professional content with an HD camera. I also went to film school though to learn cinematography. Did a few projects for love of the game, i.e. free, in the interests of building a reel. Took any paying work I could get. Practiced, got better at it. Made contacts who send me jobs.

If you've already got the editing stuff lined up, it's not incredibly difficult to get into shooting as well if you've got your own camera. Just plain difficult. Easier if you've got a kickass reel. Still takes time. Perseverance. I'm still not where I want to be..but I'm getting there.
 
Today, it's easier to bid as a one man band production team than as a specialist because of so many budget restrictions. Companies have always known it is cheaper this way...they just now have to stop throwing money away in the name of having the same bidgets next year. Truth is, in most cases, they won't next year. This is what makes you marketable as a one man band... the ability to offer a flat bid before anything starts.
enjoy.
 
RockmanX3 said:
Yeah, although I know I can making a decent living off editing, I really want to do more than that. Why not get paid for all the ideas I have in my head? :thumbup:

I have been reading a few books and it seems like it's possible to do, but I definitely need to look for some more success stories.
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Great Productions come from Great Stories, the idea is to surround yourself with high energy, positive players. True there are a lot of horror stories out there in the Film Business about independent companies. But you can't let someone else rob you of your chance at it. Focus & Dedication, Do it with Passion and Follow your Dream.

Through our career we have had lots of ups and downs. Friends, girlfriends, wives, children but at the end of the day it has been our own Drive and BELIEF in ourselves & our own company that carried us through! Believe in yourself!
Cheers
 
Awesome, thanks for the advice.

I was thinking at the start, I could offer normal services to clients like shooting, editing, digitizing, etc..

Maybe a couple of years down the road, I can finally shoot a feature film with a script that I wrote. Maybe produce, edit, and direct by myself and hire a crew with the money I've saved.
 
RockmanX3 said:
Awesome, thanks for the advice.

I was thinking at the start, I could offer normal services to clients like shooting, editing, digitizing, etc..

Maybe a couple of years down the road, I can finally shoot a feature film with a script that I wrote. Maybe produce, edit, and direct by myself and hire a crew with the money I've saved.
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That's pretty much my plan, here also in L.A., but unfortunately it's very difficult. This year so far my only income has been Web work (I don't know much about Web work, I just happen to have a corporate maintenance contract that I basically get most of the money from and pay a third party to do the real work) and equipment rentals related to film. I'm trying to sell my production company's services to corporate clients, and have been to a conference with a booth advertising those services, also taken out an ad in that industry's biggest magazine, and am talking to more people in the business, but it's very difficult. There are so many cheapskates and I am NOT a one-man band.

I guess I'll have some difficult decisions to make going forward. I have a backup career path that is really... not my path. Not what I want to do, ultimately. But I would probably be able to make substantial money in the future and grow a company that I would take over one day, I mean that would be 50% mine. Or go the route of the one-man band thing and try to learn skills I simply don't have, like pro editing, pro shooting, etc. I'm a writer-director-producer, and I'd rather stay that way. So when it comes down to it I tend to feel that I'd quit film before working a lower position in the industry. That's just me, but I'd rather make my money outside of the industry and then write scripts on the side, film shorts on the side, and essentially hone my skills, preparing for the time when I have the cash to fund my own features rather easily.

It's such a tough business.
 
JonathanLB said:
That's pretty much my plan, here also in L.A., but unfortunately it's very difficult. This year so far my only income has been Web work (I don't know much about Web work, I just happen to have a corporate maintenance contract that I basically get most of the money from and pay a third party to do the real work) and equipment rentals related to film. I'm trying to sell my production company's services to corporate clients, and have been to a conference with a booth advertising those services, also taken out an ad in that industry's biggest magazine, and am talking to more people in the business, but it's very difficult. There are so many cheapskates and I am NOT a one-man band.

I guess I'll have some difficult decisions to make going forward. I have a backup career path that is really... not my path. Not what I want to do, ultimately. But I would probably be able to make substantial money in the future and grow a company that I would take over one day, I mean that would be 50% mine. Or go the route of the one-man band thing and try to learn skills I simply don't have, like pro editing, pro shooting, etc. I'm a writer-director-producer, and I'd rather stay that way. So when it comes down to it I tend to feel that I'd quit film before working a lower position in the industry. That's just me, but I'd rather make my money outside of the industry and then write scripts on the side, film shorts on the side, and essentially hone my skills, preparing for the time when I have the cash to fund my own features rather easily.

It's such a tough business.
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I'm actually the opposite by being a pro-editor and shooter, but I have a strong desire to be a writer, producer, and director as well even though all I've really done is editing.

My original goal after I graduated college last year was to just be an editor, work on editing big hollywood features, and maybe become a member of the ACE (American Cinema Editors). Then I realized I really love telling stories and it would be alot more fun to actually edit something that I wrote, directed, and produced. I've worked with alot of clients in the past year and really enjoyed and learned alot about the filmmaking process enough to be just more than an editor.

Yeah, there are TONS of cheapskates out there. A few months ago, a guy advertised a "paid" editing gig on craigslist and when I spoke to him on the phone, he said none of the crew was getting paid. So I rejected it outright.

If I ever become the next Uwe Boll or the recipient of multiple Razzie awards, then I know I'll always have editing as a back up job. But those are the risks I need to take to make my dreams come true.
 
I quit my MRI job few months ago to start my own company. Before I got into health care I got my degree in broadcast production. I decided it was time and work hard at it. If I'm not working on a project for a paying customer I give myself assignments. Anything from pushing myself on my NLE to writing music beds or whatever. Whatever I do goes back into the business. I didn't know I could be so happy.
 
Rockman, consider yourself already in business. You are now a writer-director-producer. Don't think like you want to be one...act like you are one already. They key to making it is going after it. Either write that great script(s) or find one and shoot it. Finance it yourself...don't wait for someone to give you money or you'll die waiting for the phone to ring. There are so many talented filmmakers waiting to get financing...they'll never get there. If you have to work an outside job to do it then so be it! I like to eat...food tastes good. Even Clint Eastwood, Spielberg, Coppola, etc. have trouble getting money for their films. Don't wait...do it! You may have to make many films in order to hit it, but go for it! Go down trying instead of thinking about it.
 
One other note. You've already learned an important lesson. Your filmmaking dream is your dream. It is not your girlfriend's dream or anyone else's but yours. You are an island and the only person that will make it happen is you! And you are the only person that can stop you. Most people can't get out of their own way. They allow others to stop them...but the choice is their's to allow anyone or anything to stop them. Choose to go for it! It is your choice and only your choice.
 
Awesome, thanks for the additional advice Kess!

I've been reading alot of books on filmmaking and it's motivating me alot more. I almost can't wait to start!
 
But did you read my book? LOL! I know...it's a terrible plug for my book, but I couldn't resist. I wrote it in a motivating manner and it's not about me. I've read enough filmmaking books to know what is useful and what isn't. I wanted to give filmmakers a film school in a book. I think it's great to write about one's experiences, but I wanted to give filmmakers what they need to shoot their films, especially in motivation, planning, cinematography and editing.

Check it out if you like on my site www.filmschoolnow.com and it's available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble online or can be ordered at any bookstore.

Title: "Just Shoot It!"

Curtis
 
The problem is you can't always advocate the just-go-do-it philosophy because it's not always wise to take a huge financial risk on something that has a lower likelihood of paying off. I mean, to spend a few hundred G's on a feature, when it will be the last money you have, is a pretty ballsy thing to do. You better be darn sure you are going to make a killer product, and even then you're taking a huge risk.
 
The thing is, it's no longer an expensive risk. Gear is cheap and a feature can be made for nada, as long as creativity is applied. While it use to cost millions to start a video production company, it simply doesn't anymore, hence the saturated market and record low rates. Don't look at the rates as low... look at them as a result of today's overhead.
 
grinner said:
The thing is, it's no longer an expensive risk. Gear is cheap and a feature can be made for nada, as long as creativity is applied. While it use to cost millions to start a video production company, it simply doesn't anymore, hence the saturated market and record low rates. Don't look at the rates as low... look at them as a result of today's overhead.
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Yeah, I plan to start with no-to-low budget dialogue driven short films to get the hang of doing everything.

After that, I can finally raise the budget for my blockbuster film: Hot Vampire Chicks from Jupiter vs. Jesus Christ... with a vengeance. :beer:
 
grinner said:
The thing is, it's no longer an expensive risk. Gear is cheap and a feature can be made for nada, as long as creativity is applied. While it use to cost millions to start a video production company, it simply doesn't anymore, hence the saturated market and record low rates. Don't look at the rates as low... look at them as a result of today's overhead.
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Well, if you say so. I couldn't make a feature for less than $125,000 and that's with a FREE location and a lot of cut corners. And I wouldn't do that, because that means no stars. So about $200,000 is what you're looking at for a decent film. Short of that it's just not going to happen. Sorry but the whole shooting-a-feature-with-two-buddies thing just doesn't work out. Pro work requires professionals on your set and a real crew.
 
You are looking at it very old school. I have shot 90 minute features on no more than gas money and posted them the next week. It all depends on the flavor of the flick and the needs that follow that flavor. It also depends on how much the stars attached are into the project. Their willingness to do something for nada because they like the project can make or break a budget...or lack of. To say a film costs arounf 200k is the same as saying a car costs 40k. It totally depends on the car, the options and the desires of the driver.
 
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