Question @ Iatse 667

[dunzo]

Hey,

I'm looking to start volunteering and getting the experience and hours necessary to apply to my local union 667 for cinematographers. My old instructor at film school once told me that the advances and uses of the RED camera are finding it more and more in common use and data management technicians are in demand and well paid. They're trained through the cinematographers unions so that's where I want to start my career in film/tv.

My question can apply to anyone with experience in this union or any cinematographer's union. While as a trainee and a 2nd AC you get consistent work, albeit paid minimum wage, but once you are a full member you go 100% freelance. My question is how sustainable is freelance work these days, preferably in the Toronto area? It makes me a little nervous. While I will strive to be the best at what I do and a hard worker, sometimes the work just isn't there and you have a lot more experienced people ahead of you on the list. Also any comments towards DMT/DITs and the demand for them would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[David W. Jones]

From my experience, freelance DITs have always been hired with their own gear, rather than just hiring a tech. Which usually means you need a substantial outlay to get started.

 

[dunzo]

From my experience, freelance DITs have always been hired with their own gear, rather than just hiring a tech. Which usually means you need a substantial outlay to get started.

Yes, I know of a few who own two cameras and rent them out between projects. Safe to say they're doing pretty well, but I think since the base model starts at $50k i'm far away from that reality. Big budget productions however don't use freelancer equipment since they usually have 4-5 cameras, multiples of each lens, countless harddrives and so forth, they would use union DMTs and the DP would need a DIT to work with him as well.