How much free time does a filmmaker get compared to non-film jobs?

[rc444]

Hi Guys,

How much free time does a film worker accrue over a year?

Would you say that the free time the film worker accrues is the same free time a 40 h/pw office worker would receive, or is it less?

I know that the hours are big, but just wanted to clarify how much free time exactly film workers get compared to workers outside the industry?

Cheers
David

 

[Alex H.]

... but just wanted to clarify how much free time exactly film workers get compared to workers outside the industry?

You're talking about freelance/independent contract work. There is no "exactly," because it really depends on how much work you need and/or can get to make a living. The more work you turn down, the less you're offered because people get the impression that you're never available. I know some freelancers that rarely get a decent break, but the other truth of this business is that work ebbs and flows. You may be working back-to-back shoots for 6 weeks with truckloads of overtime, and then production in the area may be all but dead for 2 months.

You can get tons of "free time" if you are either: a) not very good at what you do; or b) so good at what you do that you're able to pick only a handful of projects each year without fear of the well drying up. You don't want to be in position "a", and good luck getting to position "b".

 

[Brodieman]

It really depends on where you work.

I for example travel once every week roughly for shoots and then come back to the office and sit there on the edit suite for days/nights to get contracts done quickly. We officially only work 5 days a week 9 hours each day. But when we travel its over 12 a day for as long as we are there. Did 30 hours straight a few weeks ago. I was wrecked, and interesting considering I was editing a safety video about Fatigue Management for a Mining Corporation.....