Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

5 WORST AND 5 BEST Business Decisions

David Mullen ASC said:
I said that my experience was in regards to becoming a freelance cinematographer, not setting up a production company NOR becoming a feature filmmaker, so I'm not sure what exactly you are responding to...

I have no useful advice to give whatsoever on the merits or pitfalls of setting up your own company because I've never done it. Nor have I ever made a feature film as a director, I've only shot them as a cinematographer for hire. And all I was doing was relating my own particular path to becoming a DP. As I said in my post, the only thing I've learned is that everyone finds their own way.

Everyone has to find a way of supporting themselves but ideally, eventually how they support themselves starts to be by doing what they always wanted to do. If not, then they find another way of doing what they want to do... while supporting themselves by other means. Whether or not you can make movies while running a production company that does event videography, I have no idea, but I don't see particularly why not. You should talk to someone who has done it.
Click to expand...

You have got some great stuff. Thanks so much.
 
Joseph Hutson said:
When did you start? I figured, if I was gonna climb a ladder, better learn how to take the first step.:w00t:
Click to expand...

You did that already.

I used to work in a corporate lawfirm. In that place, there was a ladder. I think the film industry is more like a fleet of different pirate ships all whirling around each other, and you gotta put your knife between your teeth and go from mast to mast, trying to avoid the planks and drops and bad guys. Fun, huh?

Arr.
 
Ed Blythe said:
You wanna make movies = you wanna tell stories. Go get some, from lots of different places, from the mouths of lots of different people (not from the 'net or the media or other movies - get 'em fresh and sticky). Tend a bar, do a season on a fishing boat, earn some dough and travel... Whatever, anything that gets you away from where you are and what you know. Then take that stuff and put it back into your stories. No matter what your interest (DP, director, producer, 2nd 2nd AD) you need to do that, and it will serve you really well on and off set.
Click to expand...

If you want to be a film maker, and that is such a general term... but to me usually means you want to write and direct then this is one of the best pieces of advice posted yet.

All of this, everything in it's entirety hangs on being a good storyteller. Usually your best stories are those you have the authority to tell, and that means they have come from some experience in your own life. The context of the story doesn't necessarily have to come from your own immediate experience (although it helps) but the seed of the conflict that drives the drama will be most believable if its come from you.

I want to be a storyteller, but have so far ended up spending more time in Pastel, working through budget spreadsheets and making phone calls than writing or shooting, and that's the problem. In this caffienated million mile and hour world it's so easy to think we can do everything. If I get a shoot now, I call in a crew, a freelance editor, hire in the gear and put them to work while I sit in the office.

I want to have my eyeball to the viewfinder and tell my stories, but I'm still waiting for the day I don't have to worry about money anymore and just go out and shoot. I still believe that day will come, and that's what keeps me going every day. I thought starting a production company would make that happen for me... well, so far it's done a good job at keeping me busy with just about everything other than making my own films.

In the beginning I honestly thought I could be a writer-producer-director-dop-editor-colorist-businessman. The truth is, even if you have all that talent and even a good overall well rounded experience in every aspect of production (which takes many more years in the industry than I have), you can only wear at most two of those hats at the same time. However, I am only 28 (on Saturday) and I too have a whole lifetime ahead of me to build life experiences and to wear a few of the other hats I haven't been able to put on yet. You have almost ten years on me, so I'd agree that it's not worth rushing.
 
Joseph,
By the nature of your post you seem to hold potential for leadership. You want to do something thats great! Figure out what you want to focus on, thats really the first question. You can want to be a filmmaker but what does that mean and what do you want to do. Best filmmaker honestly are a team player, what part they have in a production is not so important as they do that part and do a darn good job. Focus on the job you want to have and find people who have passion in the other areas that you can trust and find/create something to work on.

Critical thinking and the ability to never get tired are extremely important.

You have the power to go out and film, just go do it.

Most of all have fun!
 
Could you take the time and check out at least a couple of these, and tell me what you DON'T like about them. The only way I found out something is if you all will tell me the TRUTH. :)

I work for a TV station through Independent Contracting Services...
(Example 1)
(Example 2)

And I have also done a wedding...
(Example 3)
 
Creatively, it's really about contacts more than anything else. You could do something amazing, but without the right audience, the chances of financially benefiting from what you create is almost nil.

Put yourself out there as much as possible. Maybe even start offering to grip for local productions on your freetime, just to make friends around town that are part of the industry while you do your own thing on the side.

You'll get a lot of referrals from previous clients, but I find you get more (and better) work from other creatives who've seen your work and either want to work with you and bring you on board or they recommend you to some of their clients that they don't have time to service (or don't want to depending on the project at hand).

Bottom line, make friends, lots of them.
 
Joseph Hutson said:
Could you take the time and check out at least a couple of these, and tell me what you DON'T like about them. The only way I found out something is if you all will tell me the TRUTH. :)

I work for a TV station through Independent Contracting Services...
(Example 1)
(Example 2)

And I have also done a wedding...
(Example 3)
Click to expand...

Where is Claremore, Oklahoma?
Depending on your education (College?)
Your means to move somewhere.
And hundreds of other factors.....
I have many friends who started out in event
videography. That will pay some bills and only
lead to doing more of the same.
I would move to a top 10 market and
work for an agency, or production company
and learn as you earn. The longer you stay
somewhere the more comfortable it becomes.
I don't imagine you want to shoot weddings
when you are 40 years old??
 
Red Guy said:
Where is Claremore, Oklahoma?
Click to expand...

Northeastern Oklahoma(Home of Will Rogers).

Red Guy said:
Depending on your education (College?)
Click to expand...

I will want to go to filmschool if I go anywhere.

Red Guy said:
Your means to move somewhere.
Click to expand...

I will definitely be moving...just can't right now. Gotta finish H.S.:)

Red Guy said:
I don't imagine you want to shoot weddings
when you are 40 years old??
Click to expand...

I don't want to at 25 years old.:wink:
 
Joseph Hutson said:
Northeastern Oklahoma(Home of Will Rogers).



I will want to go to filmschool if I go anywhere.



I will definitely be moving...just can't right now. Gotta finish H.S.:)



I don't want to at 25 years old.:wink:
Click to expand...

Got ya!!
I thought you were already at least 25??
Yes finish school - most important thing you can do!
Just don't drop a load on film school and have
a $150,000 student loan to pay off.
I have another buddy who is almost 45 and just paid off
his student loans!
 
Red Guy said:
I thought you were already at least 25??
Click to expand...

17! hehe

Red Guy said:
Just don't drop a load on film school and have
a $150,000 student loan to pay off.
I have another buddy who is almost 45 and just paid off
his student loans!
Click to expand...

No, I don't want to do that at 45 either. :)
 
at 17 !!! you can it ALL ..
get a education, get real experience, make your own shorts and not end up in 150k in debt ...
when you get a BA/MA you learn much more then just FILM/video ... IMO do not narrow your education to just film/video classes ...

remember that you get to WORK over the next 50 years !!
be sure to get some RR in there ...
 
It's all about 1) experience and 2) networking. Do as much as possible of both. I had to intern for over a year before I got paid for anything. Work for free and make connections. That's a start.

When you save up some cash, buy an iMac, Final Cut and a camera of some sort. HVX200 is great. And your off!
 
worst decicions

1.didnt order red earlier
2....political movie in the $$$$$$$ range, i was hired as director.we were really deep in the preprodcution...but after my relatives get threatened from certain sources, production decided to cancel the project...too dangerous they said....
I didnt had the power to raise the project alone....
(so if anybody is interested in producing this movie and is not afraid should pm me)
3. didnt start earlier
4. buying a panasonic DV cam back in 2000, although i couldnt afford
5. worked sometimes too much, clever working is the key.

best decicions

1. quitting university (mathematics)
2. ordering a RED
3. be honest...nothing more nothing less
4. have no pity with people owing you money.
5. never loan someone more then 100$ (if he pays it back, fine....if he doesnt pay back, be thankful that you could buy the information about his charakter for 100 Dollars, it will save you thousands in the long run)
 
I did start a production company in 2003 to get into the business, music video production - it worked, but financially it ended up as break-even.
Now I`m a director / freelance digital artist (I just arrived home from the 2008 redesign for comedy central) and I`d never (NEVER) again start a company as long as I can`t afford a good manager who does the boring shitwork of handling the business. That`s the ultimate crap that (sorry) fucks your head big time, things like paper work and stuff like that.
 
K.Berlin said:
worst decicions

4. buying a panasonic DV cam back in 2000, although i couldnt afford
5. worked sometimes too much, clever working is the key.

best decicions

4. have no pity with people owing you money.
5. never loan someone more then 100$ (if he pays it back, fine....if he doesnt pay back, be thankful that you could buy the information about his charakter for 100 Dollars, it will save you thousands in the long run)
Click to expand...

some good points from kaya. keep people out of range who try to lure money out of you. I never lend money to anyone. but on the other hand I never do borrow money from anyone since you start to get familiar all to fast doing so, I`ve seen people having stepped into that trap. best thing anyway: NEVER get a bank loan, that`s one of the best advices I`ve heard from an economics professor. banks and loans are the most evil and mercilessly bloodsucking facilities in our societies. they`ll fuck you right in the second when help or assistance is what you need most.
 
Joseph - the best advice I can give You is stay away from business partners in the future if at all possible. If You do well (I wish for You that You do...) - there will be some predators lurking around to "help You out" to the next level. I lost $ 1.5 million in this fashion back in Australia...

Greed can get the "best" out of people...

PS: I am still recovering...
 
Peter Majtan said:
Joseph - the best advice I can give You is stay away from business partners in the future if at all possible. If You do well (I wish for You that You do...) - there will be some predators lurking around to "help You out" to the next level. I lost $ 1.5 million in this fashion back in Australia...

Greed can get the "best" out of people...

PS: I am still recovering...
Click to expand...

Woah, I didn't know that about you.

1.5 million...a few Scarlets!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top