if you're willing to work for free, do you say so right away?

R

randomname

Well-known member
I really want to start shooting some music videos but before that I'm hoping to get some experience on a few sets with more established directors first. I'm perfectly fine working for free, but do I just come right out and say "I really really want to work on one of your sets and am willing to work for free, also here's my demo reel" or do I send in my reel, say I'm really interested in working for them, and then if they say no tell them I'd be willing to work for free?
 
People pay good money for an education at film school. Others pay through sweat and labor on a film set. Experience is never free.

Unless you have very marketable skills and experience, you are probably going to have to move your way up the old fashion way, by starting with the coffee runs.

BTW - I make good money as a freelancer and producer/shooter/editor, yet still make time for learning experiences on the sets of productions that are beyond my level; purely for the love of learning. One other fantastic benefit is the underrated power of networking.


Jason
 
I think if you are totally upfront and honest about who you are and what you want, you can possibly make an impression, but "work for free" is maybe not the right phrase. It depends on whom you are talking to, as well. Think about it more as a trade--you would like to trade or exchange work for experience or knowledge.
A lot of people will not want someone in a project with no experience because time is money, and they don't want to spend even a minute explaining anything while the clock is ticking. But it certainly is a reasonable thing to ask, and you should try it, if there is someone or some company that you want to work with.
 
you are not working for free, you are just asking to be paid with something different than money.
it is an important concept, because you could assume that you will get what you are looking for while you can discover that you won't get it or they are not willing to give you that (because they discover too late what you are really after).
for example, you want to make the project at your own pace (after all it is free) but discover they have a tight schedule and pressure starts to go high.
or the project start to be a never ending one..... so you become a slave.
or you think that as you work for free, you should be able to decide some points (technical, artistic) and discover that every bit of the work has been decided without you, so you start loosing interest.
Or in the contrary, you don't feel very engaged in to the project (since it is free) but discover they count on you to build something that is not possible with budget available or with your skill. then they start to blame you for everything....
or you just want to be credited in some way and you discover they do not want....

So as for any work, you should say what you want and wat you do not want, money will just come to a different position in the list.
sometime money is not a salary or a reward (or motivation) it is just a simple way to frame things so everybody knows what happens.
 
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If your goal is to get your reel nice and attractive and get into some nice relational networks, then go for it, it's the best way to get your name out there!

Never do stuff for free, let the Director know that you consider the opportunity to work with him as your payment.
It's a massive compliment to the Director and you don't feel cheapened by the lack of immediate fiscal reward.

That would be my answer to your original question.


Then one or two extra thoughts:

Be as awesome as you can to work with, Directors love to chat about their team and any excuse you can give him/her to brag about you will do your a carrer a lot of good!

For me, skill and talent are minimum requirements on set. What I really enjoy is a pumping attitude from my team and an almost military obedience on set.(without me having to look like a dictator when i ask for stuff).
You may not like the director, but if he/she likes you it could be life changing!

My point is: Do it for 'free' but do not 9at any point) let any of your HOD's feel that you are doing them a favor. Then you might as well stay home and film your goldfish cos your work will be totally in vain. (Unless the Project you work on is bigger than the Director).

In my experience, word of mouth by people I served has given me a LOT more work than my showreel or awards.

Another tip:

If you are going to do stuff for free, make sure you choose the best possible Directors. Having your name on weak projects can be very bad for your career!

Hope it helps.

W.
 
One other question that's only slightly related:

I'm about to get business cards printed, and am trying to figure out what the hell to put as my title (if anything), as I'm really going to be taking whatever work I can get (PA, camera department, DP on a very small project, and most likely videography work to pay the bills). Should I have one to give out for film jobs and another for videography jobs? and if so, what should my title be for the film one?
 
OK so whats your experience?

I did my film school this way. Trained on the job for almost two years, uncredited and sweating. I got great experience and it didnt cost me the $80 - $90K you have to pay here.
 
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