What do we do when we aren't making (or trying to) make a movie

Q: "What do we do when we aren't making (or trying to) make a movie?"

A: Trying to get people to watch our movie, seems as appropriate as ever this week...
 
scenedirector said:
Well guys, I'll fill you in a little more...
I'm 25 too and I have a 1 year old little girl. I'm not with her mother, but I AM A FATHER. I never had a father growing up, but I definitely make sure my daughter has one.

But with my circumstances, I guess I have to juggle these 4 things together: the child, a full time job (to bring in steady income and benefits like vacations and insurance, a small video production business as my new 2nd job to pay for the stuff, and when those are all met above satisfaction...the filmmaking.
Am I right?

It's kind of ironic. You get the gear to make movies, but to pay for the gear you have to do everything else...and if, and ONLY if there is time left over, you can make a film.
I guess that's better than just working two dead end jobs and passing on with your music still inside.
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Hey man, I just wanted to commend you on what you're doing. Really.
We have similar traits with the father situation and refusing to allow the kid(s) experience that. Keep pursuing your dreams dude, figure out a way to make some extra cash so you can dump one of them jobs and make films with your extra time.
 
Thanks coffee. That really does mean a lot.
I only asked God to have 2 things in this world that would make me content: fatherhood and filmmaking....only the 2 best "f" words there are!
 
scenedirector said:
Thanks coffee. That really does mean a lot.
I only asked God to have 2 things in this world that would make me content: fatherhood and filmmaking....only the 2 best "f" words there are!
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AMEN to that brother!
I do have to add FLIGHT though. There's that other one too.....

Jeff Patnaude :thumbsup:
 
HorseFilms said:
I don't exactly live in Film Central, so I'm really the only game in town (that I know of). That can be a good thing. Use it to your advantage. I know all kinds of people who are willing to lend a hand if I need them to.
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The only time I ever saw a DVX in use in MN was when a guy outside my house on the street was shooting something for a 48 hr competition, so I went up introduced myself to some of the actors, and then went over to him, everybody was waiting on him it seemed.

On the open LCD I could see the picture was super overexposed and he was looking in the manual. "Hey, I actually just finished shooting something with the DVX, cool little camera, need help?"

he gave me this look and said, "Just trying to fix something..." any further conversation was non existant. Pfft if he only knew about the ND filter. Oh well

Oh well, that's MN for ya
 
Monte I know what you mean, some movie people are downright stuckup. I'm 20 and around Edmonton there's not much going on for movie production. There is, however, a Film And Video Arts society (called FAVA) that offers cheap rentals, and at first they were cool but lately I see how cliquey and unhelpful they are. For example a while ago I went in to hype them up about purchasing a HVX200 and the guy just looks at me and says "I'm more interested in what Sony has to offer" then he turns to his friend and, as if I'm no longer there he goes on to explain to the guy "oh yeah its a disc-based format that allows hours and hours of high definiton footage to be captured." Its like they didnt think I understood what they were talking about, I mean come on. Not only that but they're still focusing on film and trying to teach everyone how to use film.

SceneDirector, I know what you mean when you say you think about movies as much as you think about sex :). Seriously I feel as if my life changed when I started making movies, and maybe thats what brings everyone here and gets us all addicted to DVXuser.

the-lyons-den.com you're right it is tough to get people to watch movies you've put so much work into, just look at what we've experienced here on the board. Thousands of people reading, yet 50 people max voitng.

-Edalgo
 
..i'll second what thartley said. debt free is the way to go. my equipment costs me immeasurably more than alot of things people think are important.. like the car i drive which was 200.00 from a family member and is about as reliable as getting somewhere by trying to ride a frozen hot dog there right now. but .. its whatever your priorities lie with. my wife drives a nicer veh cause we need reliability for toting the kids around. i get new clothes maybe 2x a year and usually its somebody buying me them for christmas or my b- day. i dont eat out alot, i dont buy much of anything accept equipment.(and occasional other toys) one of my companies is a production co which pays all the equipment costs and then some, and i basically use that money to fund fillmaking and equipment costs. a couple months ago i budgeted and set a goal of an extra 18k to switch to HD with the HVX and have already pulled together more than half by taking on a little extra production work. im not filthy rich .. i just work hard and set goals and manage my priorities. youd be suprised at how much money you have already if you stop wasting it on alot of stuff you dont need. even one cup of coffee at some place a day is over 30.00 a month. eating out for lunch on weekdays is about 150.00 per month at 5.00 per day. buying movies for 20.00 that youll watch once or twice and couldve rented it 2x for alot cheaper and not had to store it and all for about 6.00. smoking... dont get me started on the money out the window. drinking out.. same thing. new clothes all the time.. haircuts- i do it myself or my wife does it, cool items.. you know like stupid little gadgets or items that are "in" but youll toss aside in a month or so and realy dont need.. on and on ect. ect. you just have to be smart with your money and put it where you want to put it. Im not saying you have to have no life and live out of a garbage can full of production equipment as your only possessions. i live comfortably and have all the stuff i need. i just dont buy compulsively or watse money on stuff that i dont need. occasionally yes we splurge and just chuck money outthe window, cause you just have to do that sometimes.. we just dont make "occasionally" an everyday thing.
 
That was some of the best advice, EVER!

I have been starting to live that lifestyle. Of course, I think it's not normal, so I'll stray from it a bit, so I can be "normal" like my friends and family. But you saying this, REALLY puts everything in perspective.

You're a great motivation "iamloser."

PS: By the way, it's seems that a lot of you guys have wifes that support your dreams and lifestyles.
Not having a woman by my side makes it difficult at times, so let me just throw out a "cheers" to the women who have put up with this crazy and sometimes unrealistic life we beg to live.
 
iamloser has some great advice. Simplify. Don't be greedy. We are all very wasteful, but if we watch ourselves we can save a lot of money. Look around your room, home, or office right now and you can see that 90% of your stuff you really don't need. Sell what you don't need. Let someone else waste their money on it.

FACT: The USA is 5% of the Earths population but consumes 80% of the Earth's resources. Of course China will soon surpass us if they don't watch themselves.

A penny saved, is a Panny earned. :thumbsup:

pk
 
scenedirector said:
PS: By the way, it's seems that a lot of you guys have wifes that support your dreams and lifestyles.
Not having a woman by my side makes it difficult at times, so let me just throw out a "cheers" to the women who have put up with this crazy and sometimes unrealistic life we beg to live.
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..id say that all of us with supportive wives could probably agree that "supportive" can sometimes be exchanged for "able to put up with". espescially when you bring up how much money everything costs.
 
PK Gillock said:
Look around your room, home, or office right now and you can see that 90% of your stuff you really don't need. Sell what you don't need. Let someone else waste their money on it
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Tools, Glass of water, computer, portable harddrive, speakers, headphones, clock, bed, mini dv tapes, canon zr60, umm bowl of cereal, 20lb dumbells, toilet paper, tissues, tweezers, sandals, 2 copies of studio magazine, camera bag...

I don't know how - even when I am able to get chicks to pay for everything - i still cant get that damn panny. The last thing I bought - **** man... whenever I go to Taco Bell its always some chick. Caribou - some chick. Um damn I don't even know the last time I spent money on something!
 
I'm 50 and live in the Missouri Ozarks. I still have kids at home and a minor heart condition that popped up a couple of months ago hence temp disability.(sucks) I don't work in the industry I'm in HVAC by trade and I have also studied computer programming. I just had the money and sprung for the camera and software.

My wife has allowed me a lot of toys the last couple of years(I have a 24ft $20,000 boat as well). I bought my dvx to make fishing dvds and help my daughter get into acting. I have plans to shoot a movie this summer or early fall and possibly a documentary if I can raise some cash for the project. I have worked hard and paid cash for most of the film stuff but I expect it to pay for itself like any tool. I have always told my wife that tools are free and the dvx is just another tool. When I was a musician I had to buy PAs amps instruments etc. and they always paid for themselves. So my wife is VERY understanding of my insanity.

I am trying to get better with the dvx and the software (Premiere 1.5 Pro, A.E. Encore and Audition) before I let my expectations go wild. I buy every DVD movie shot by the dvx I can get my hands on and try to learn from them. If I never make a buck I've still already enjoyed the camera shooting a vacation video this summer and lots of footage of my grandkids.

scenedirctor I'm glad to see there are other dvx users not far away good luck with all your projects.
 
I guess I underestimated the filmmakers at least in my region.
I knew there were some, but you know how the old saying goes: "Out of sight, out of mind."

I've enjoyed ALL of you guys sharing your lives with me and other wonderful peers here at our "Mecca."
 
you guys should add your little summary to your profile page so people can see it when they click on your name :)
 
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