Wet behind the ears and worried

Dizkoteck

Dizkoteck

Well-known member
So I'm a late bloomer.

We have on one side, 25-30 somethings with years of experience in the field and film, watched software and hardware progressed to what we have today.
Then on the other side, we have our 18 and unders. Much younger, yet has the oppotunity in this day in age where video can be achieved through a classroom and enough experience to land them a position somewhere in the industry.

And then theres me, stuck between two worlds. I grew up in an age where calculators were used(talking to you 30 yr olds out there) and went to school where the only video we did was push the TV cart around. Nothing about cameras and editing suites.
But I have the ambition, I know I have the skills and creativity, just not on paper.

So my fellow DVXers. How can I make it? I am getting my camera soon, (as soon as Im done price hunting) and jobs out there want someone with a reel, someone with experience. Whats a good way to put my foot in the door?
 
Re: Wet behind the ears and worried

Shoot, shoot and shoot. Don't let anyone, circumstances, your age or whatever make you feel as if you can't do this (or anything for that matter). You'll need thick skin (because rejections are guaranteed) and somewhat of an ego (not the “I need very special imported water” ego but a just-enough-glowing confidence rather, someone elses trust and confidence in your ability starts with your confidence in yourself, confidence in yourself comes from practice so again, shoot some more).

Shoot and edit your own commercials (the "Dizkoteck Lite Beer" commercial), shorts or whatever your target clients may be for your reel. Some large companies (Nike, etc) will have contests where indies can submit commercials. There are lots of lesser known short film festivals/contests going on constantly. The worst case, you're rejected however you've added that experience for yourself and added to your portfolio.
Contests like the monthly ones here at DVXUser. Again, worst case you've added that experience and you've also added the ability to receive input on your work from your peers here.

Your work (reel) will ultimately speak for itself so if you need a reason to shoot something, look into the contests. You gain input, insight, experience and hopefully something for your reel. Unless you're one of a very small percentage that's able to hit everything on the head straight out of the gate (extremely rare obviously) prepare yourself for rejection and sometimes blunt criticism but also always keep in mind that that's simply part of the business and it will make you better in the long run (if you can get into the mind set of using that as a learning experience, analyze why you didn't get the job, analyze why someone else did. Sometimes it just not a match of vision which has nothing to do with your talent but other times you just simply get your but kicked, learn from your competition).

Everything has NOT been done before and as long as there are individuals that will always be the case. 99.9% of the time, it's the person that ultimately defeats themselves. They find an excuse to quit (rejection) or they find that after they've jumped into a line of work it's just not their passion.

My 2 1/2 cents. Good luck, start shooting.
 
Re: Wet behind the ears and worried

Damn dude, you hit right in the heart.

Thanks a lot. I guess I'm at the point where I'm out of school and out of jobs. Can you blame me.
Thanks again fellow DVXian
 
Re: Wet behind the ears and worried

I relate to the 30 yr old talk, I am 33 (next month) and have often tought how lucky these 16 yr olds are having equip like the dvx around at that tender age.

There again I am in the privilidged position of having known the world before the electronic revolution, I do remeber my first Commodore 64! And the 8086 on a green monitior!! That is all stuff we can draw on.

Even a hi-tech production designs scifi like Matrix draw upon our early era and blade runner days. So in opp to being 16, we have still enough energy combined with 18 yrs or so of living the media evolution to produce such an exciting present.

Last thing is that not to be underestimated is this new strata in the film heirchy. The DVX is giving indy makers freedom to create! I had the oportunity of getting drawn up in the hurricane of larger productions (and from time to time will still be tempted to) but in that world you dont do much of what you think, rather more of what you have to! This is a strata that unleashes your creative freedom besides satisfiying the passion for film. Get your camera and start shooting . . . we aint getting any younger ;)
 
Re: Wet behind the ears and worried

You're not alone. I'm 31 and am also new to all this. Also haven't bought the camera yet (probably another month -- got to pay a few other bills first). I did the occasional sketch comedy short, editing between two VCRs when I was younger, but never really considered a feature-length flick until recent years. Actually, I wanted to do it 10 years ago, but frankly didn't have the guts to shoot 35 or even 16 millimeter on credit cards.

Also something the 16-year-olds don't have on me: years of writing experience. I've been writing in various forms (sketch comedy, short stories, novels, plays) since elementary school. I'm much better prepared to tell a good visual story now than I was 10 years ago.
 
Re: Wet behind the ears and worried

Oh my god, 16!?

What the hell did I do when I was 16? I think I was rollerblading for the first time like everybody else. Worrying about getting girls, working in mundane subjects in school.

Now, 16 year olds have a thousand dollar editing software at home including a couple of more thousand dollars worth of equipment at home.
At this rate, I think the drinking age should be lowered
 
Re: Wet behind the ears and worried

Dam Dizkoteck,
Seems kinda like myself. I started shooting back in 80 with a Large company out West. Moved back home to ATL with the same company and shot, edited (3/4,Beta,1 inch) until 95. Left the company and freelanced for 5 yrs and decided to go back to the COMPANY and now have a sit behind a desk job and dream of the shoots..the edits..ect..Now with all this new gear out, at almost affordable prices, I feel like am in Jail and waiting for a "get out of jail card" to go do what I really really enjoy. I really envy all the folks out there that are doing the gigs. It keeps me sane reading the post and talking to all of you. Just have to continue with the weekend wedding stuff for now. :'(
 
Re: Wet behind the ears and worried

[quote author=Dizkoteck link=board=Offtopic;num=1088035494;start=0#6 date=06/24/04 at 07:24:43]Now, 16 year olds have a thousand dollar editing software at home including a couple of more thousand dollars worth of equipment at home.[/quote]

Yes, but it sure appears that many kids these days are being raised by the boob tube (as my grandpa called it). They aren't getting out and being forced to be creative to entertain themselves. That's all handled by the tube.

Putting expensive equipment in their hands isn't going to make them any better at creating movies. Sure they might be able to whip out some neato videos with titles and transitions. But will they be creative enough to even tell a story? To be able to write interesting dialog? Will they even get that far before becoming bored, because their video doesn't look as cool as the Matrix, and returning to mother boob tube to suckle more?
 
Re: Wet behind the ears and worried

Well, Another thing with the kids today is that they want to walk into there first job making 100k. Its all about the bucks $$ for many and not having to pay the dues.. My 2 cents worth..
 
Re: Wet behind the ears and worried

22nd July Dave, r u a 22nd too! I have a few friends with this same birthday. Maybe one more?
 
Re: Wet behind the ears and worried

That's funny. I dated a girl back in college who was born within five minutes of me. When we had the "when's your birthday" conversation, we had to pull out our driver's licenses for evidence . . .
 
Re: Wet behind the ears and worried

My VFX supervisor ona shoot had my same b'day so we figures similar creative juices flowed in out brains. We got on like a house on fire! Didn't date him though ;)
 
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