So in May '05 I graduated from college w/ a degree in film. I was a late bloomer, didn't discover an interest in filmmaking until I was 19, didn't get a camera til I was 22, but took off soon thereafter.
At the end of last year, I landed an internship at a non-profit where it was my job to film their programs a few times a month, release them on the internet and send them to a couple of distributors for video-on-demand. It paid a stipend every few months, but not enough to live off of. However, I kept at it, worked hard, organised a new system, went from one-camera shoots to two and three camera shoots, and put together promotional videos for them, and they made me a contract employee with a decent salary I could live off of.
My dream is to write and direct my own movies, while being director of photography on projects that aren't mine. To that end, I've been trying to freelance, build experience and expand my equipment and network contacts to get more jobs. This is where I'd love to hear from others and how they've done, how much they've accomplished, and how long it took.
Right now, my girlfriend edits, does a lot of pre-production and is exceedingly skilled at admin stuff, so she helps keep track of my gigs and when I'm working, as well as assisting me on gigs and working on her own projects. I've got a good friend from college who is a pro editor and has hooked me up on a couple of music viideos. I've met a few people here and there who are dedicated and persistent, so I keep them in the loop and try to get them involved (especially on paying gigs) as much as I can, but most people prefer to be competitors, trying to shut me out of gigs or take advantage of my help or equipment and then disappear after.
I've been freelancing for less than a year (got my camera in May), but I want to hear more about how other people have succeeded. I've been mostly plugging away on craigslist, taking gigs that I can find, applying, and offering free work for friends, nonprofits like the Red Cross, and projects that look worthwhile but lack funds.
So, I understand this a process. I am an impatient man, but a persistent and dedicated one, so I don't mind taking the time to accomplish what I need to, but I also hate feeling like I'm not being as efficient as I can be.
So, for you guys out there, in your chosen fields, how did you get there? When did you start, how long did it take? What does it take to be successful? How much farther do you have to go? If you could have done it a different way, how else would you have made it? What do I need to know, and what do you wish you had known?
At the end of last year, I landed an internship at a non-profit where it was my job to film their programs a few times a month, release them on the internet and send them to a couple of distributors for video-on-demand. It paid a stipend every few months, but not enough to live off of. However, I kept at it, worked hard, organised a new system, went from one-camera shoots to two and three camera shoots, and put together promotional videos for them, and they made me a contract employee with a decent salary I could live off of.
My dream is to write and direct my own movies, while being director of photography on projects that aren't mine. To that end, I've been trying to freelance, build experience and expand my equipment and network contacts to get more jobs. This is where I'd love to hear from others and how they've done, how much they've accomplished, and how long it took.
Right now, my girlfriend edits, does a lot of pre-production and is exceedingly skilled at admin stuff, so she helps keep track of my gigs and when I'm working, as well as assisting me on gigs and working on her own projects. I've got a good friend from college who is a pro editor and has hooked me up on a couple of music viideos. I've met a few people here and there who are dedicated and persistent, so I keep them in the loop and try to get them involved (especially on paying gigs) as much as I can, but most people prefer to be competitors, trying to shut me out of gigs or take advantage of my help or equipment and then disappear after.
I've been freelancing for less than a year (got my camera in May), but I want to hear more about how other people have succeeded. I've been mostly plugging away on craigslist, taking gigs that I can find, applying, and offering free work for friends, nonprofits like the Red Cross, and projects that look worthwhile but lack funds.
So, I understand this a process. I am an impatient man, but a persistent and dedicated one, so I don't mind taking the time to accomplish what I need to, but I also hate feeling like I'm not being as efficient as I can be.
So, for you guys out there, in your chosen fields, how did you get there? When did you start, how long did it take? What does it take to be successful? How much farther do you have to go? If you could have done it a different way, how else would you have made it? What do I need to know, and what do you wish you had known?