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  • 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 :)

Allow me to work for you (for free)

D

Drew Ott

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This summer, after graduating high school, I’m going to be doing a solo extended travel around the U.S. living in my car. While on the trip, I want to work on as many shoots as possible (narrative, doc, commercial), and I’ll gladly do it for free. The goal is to gain experience and meet as many of you as possible. I’m willing to stay in one location for a month or more working on a feature, or just help out on set for a day.

The only experience I have on 35mm sets is as an electrician. I worked as an electrician intern on Ex-Terminators (shot in Austin, TX) for about 20 days, and that’s the only time I’ve worked on what I consider a “big set.” I learn quickly and am glad to work as any position; I just might be asking lots of questions in the beginning.

Aside from that, I’ve worked as various crew positions on about a dozen short films and documentaries. I’ve been camera operator, boom operator, gaffer, grip, 2nd AC, loader (I’ve only loaded with the Arri SR2), steadicam op, and PA. I have lots more to learn in every department, so I’m happy with any position I can get.

Anyway, if you think there’s a chance that I could be useful on anything you are working on, please let me know. I’ll probably bump this thread once the trip begins, so if you don’t have anything planned now, maybe you will then.

Also, if you’re interested, you can check out the travel blog at http://drewott.wordpress.com. It’s not geared toward filmmaking, but you’ll be able to follow where I am if you want to meet or work with me. The trip hasn’t started yet because I’m still a senior in high school. I think I'm going to leave in July.

One more thing: I wasn’t planning on bringing any gear, but I own a Canon XHA1, so maybe I’ll bring that in case anybody is interested in shooting something with it.

My email is DrewOtt@DesolateFilms.net

-Drew Ott
 
We could use bodies to help on our short in July. Are you coming through Denver at all? :)
 
Hey, what do you have against the Southeast? :-)

Look us up on your next trip when you hit NC.
 
Jonathan Stevenson said:
We could use bodies to help on our short in July. Are you coming through Denver at all? :)
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I'm planning on passing through Denver eventually. Is your short scheduled for the beginning or end of July? I could always take the route backwards to hit Denver at the beginning.
 
Kevin Wild said:
Hey, what do you have against the Southeast? :-)

Look us up on your next trip when you hit NC.
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The Southeast is the only part of the U.S. that I've actually been to. Thanks for the offer. :)

If I do go to NC I'll let you know.
 
Where are you located?
 
Admire the initiative Drew, but be careful living in your car. They're not the fortresses they feel like. Asleep in a car you are really quite vulnerable. But best of luck anyway! :-)
 
Good way of thinking Drew ! and im sure its worth the trouble of sleeping in your car just be safe . Unfortunately , u can drive Lebanon in 4 hours , very small country , we are one of the few Lebanese companies that have RedOne and im probably the only DIT here .
On xmas im going either to the US or Sydney so if u know about any small film where they need unpayed DIT on xmas vacation , let me know :) i would love to get experience in different kind of workflows .

Sally S.
 
Jonathan Stevenson said:
We shoot July 11-19. We need grips and PA's out the wazoo!
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I'd love to make it, but I'm not sure getting to Colorado that soon is feasible for me. If things change, though, and I'm in the area (within a few states :)), I'll definitely get in touch with you.

BigLu said:
Where are you located?
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Austin, TX.

ericyoung said:
Admire the initiative Drew, but be careful living in your car. They're not the fortresses they feel like. Asleep in a car you are really quite vulnerable. But best of luck anyway! :-)
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Thanks Eric. I appreciate the concern. I plan to be very cautious in finding a place to park my car each night.

Sally Shamas said:
Good way of thinking Drew ! and im sure its worth the trouble of sleeping in your car just be safe . Unfortunately , u can drive Lebanon in 4 hours , very small country , we are one of the few Lebanese companies that have RedOne and im probably the only DIT here .
On xmas im going either to the US or Sydney so if u know about any small film where they need unpayed DIT on xmas vacation , let me know :) i would love to get experience in different kind of workflows .

Sally S.
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Congrats on being (probably) the only DIT in Lebanon. That must be fun. I'll be on the lookout for any Red shoots around Christmas time, though I can't promise that I'll find out about any more than you will. :thumbsup: If you ever come to Texas, let me know, and I'll see what I can do to help you out.
 
Attention to where you will sleep. All nights long, not only in the beginning. You have only one life each time ;-)

Take for free this advice from someone who already did it in the past, without regret. Not an uncomplicated milestone to get it, though.

Emanuel :-)
 
Emanuel said:
Attention to where you will sleep. All nights long, not only in the beginning. You have only one life each time ;-)

Take for free this advice from someone who already did it in the past, without regret. Not an uncomplicated milestone to get it, though.

Emanuel :-)
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What's your story about sleeping in a car? It seems that the only stories I find are from people who lived in one place while sleeping in their car, as opposed to traveling around and sleeping in their car.
 
Hey, we'll be shooting all summer long on a variety of projects in Austin. If your interested, we'd love to have the extra hand.
 
Drew Ott said:
What's your story about sleeping in a car? It seems that the only stories I find are from people who lived in one place while sleeping in their car, as opposed to traveling around and sleeping in their car.
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Looking for stories? Nothing special to public notice, funny times.

When we are young or younger than today (and we are self-confident to walk by our own), it is common to travel around and sleep in a car. It will depend on the car and the camping park (said camping park ;-)

We should have careful with the details, though. They do all the difference. Your car mate for example (not anonymous mates), as well. :bath:
 
David Morgan said:
Hey, we'll be shooting all summer long on a variety of projects in Austin. If your interested, we'd love to have the extra hand.
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When do you think these shoots are going to start? I get out of school in June and will be leaving on the trip in July, so perhaps I could work with your team in June before I hit the road.
 
Drew Ott said:
One more thing: I wasn’t planning on bringing any gear, but I own a Canon XHA1, so maybe I’ll bring that in case anybody is interested in shooting something with it.
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If ppl see u with and XHA1 and then find out you are sleeping in a car, you might get robbed and/or hurt. There's nothing wrong with bumming around and sleeping in a car, just make sure you look the part and don't attract attention to yourself. Take a dog with you if you can.
 
J Davis said:
If ppl see u with and XHA1 and then find out you are sleeping in a car, you might get robbed and/or hurt. There's nothing wrong with bumming around and sleeping in a car, just make sure you look the part and don't attract attention to yourself. Take a dog with you if you can.
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Yeah, if I bring the camera with me for a shoot, it's staying hidden in the trunk the entire time until I use it. Perhaps I should leave the camera at home and have my parents ship it to me if I need it for a shoot.
 
Beware cold nights sleeping in a car, even in the summers things can get unexpectedly cold, especially at high altitudes. You can die from the cold. Also, in a small enclosed space, portable heaters can produce harmful air after a while. You won't get much footage if you're dead.

Watch out for cops in some areas because they can hassle you for sleeping in your car. I've heard that in some places it's illegal and can get you arrested, other places it's not. Either way, the cops might take you in for questioning and they won't take good care of your gear while you're sitting in a cell for the night.

Also, it would be extremely easy for someone to follow your car once they see you packing your expensive camera gear into it. It's not a safe way to sleep. Maybe build a network of friends and relatives that will let you stay with them for a few days each.

Or, if you're going to be providing your services for free on a long shoot, maybe the people you're helping out could let you crash on their couch. Don't be a messy guest though.

Oh, one more thing... girls find it extremely unattractive when a guy sleeps in a car. You might think it presents a rugged thrifty appearance, a sort of suffering poet lifestyle and all that. But in reality, they think it's weird and it makes the guy look like a cheap-skate.
 
dude.. well shot on the local gals.. lol
 
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