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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 :)

Group huddle (personal advice)

Well, I stand corrected...there ARE plenty of people around here that "get it".

this thread has been really good to see different people's take on this situation.

It looks like to me that if you average out the advice, it's pretty much comes down to following your passion without destroying yourself.

Lead with your heart and follow with an educated mind.

CamDiver. I like how you laid out your list. I have many of the things you say you don't have, but I'm still desiring many of the things that you DO have. Cheers to you and all the posters. :)
 
What if a person were in a situation where renting wasn't possible and the only way to use something was to purchase it?

Rental houses usually check your credit, so if the person trying to rent didn't have much credit and was self employed with very little income at the moment (with a very healthy amount growing annually in the market), what could they do?
 
You could do what I'm going to do. I justify purchasing all the equipment myself by starting a production company. It's an investment in my own business. It doesn't mean I actually have to work on any projects but my own. heh heh
 
I guess the next logical question I should ask is...who has the business know how on "what to do" to save money by starting a production company (any laws, tax benefits I could take advantage of?) and whether or not they could throw some tips my way.
 
Holosynthetic said:
I guess the next logical question I should ask is...who has the business know how on "what to do" to save money by starting a production company (any laws, tax benefits I could take advantage of?) and whether or not they could throw some tips my way.
Click to expand...


I would say it would be money well spent to hire (even for an overview) a good accountant.

You can write off many things, but it depends on a lot of elements over my head, but starting a company has many advantages.

I write of a bit of my mortgage for office space, for a while LARGE suv's were a deduction you could take in one year, my gear is a write-off, my computers and on and on.

Holosynth....if you've got the money to get into this up to your ears, don't take anybody's advice, but a reputable pro. It's not really that complicated, but you want to make sure that what you do now is future-proof. With as much money as you're talking about hiring a pro for a short while, will make your life a lot easier. I don't necessarily think that setting up and incorporation or getting your business license is worth paying somebody else to do it. It takes some research with your state and on the internet, but it's not that hard to do.

EDIT; Every state is different in it's business laws and maybe even some form of the tax laws.

Good luck.
 
insanityfw said:
I would say it would be money well spent to hire (even for an overview) a good accountant.

You can write off many things, but it depends on a lot of elements over my head, but starting a company has many advantages.

I write of a bit of my mortgage for office space, for a while LARGE suv's were a deduction you could take in one year, my gear is a write-off, my computers and on and on.

Holosynth....if you've got the money to get into this up to your ears, don't take anybody's advice, but a reputable pro. It's not really that complicated, but you want to make sure that what you do now is future-proof. With as much money as you're talking about hiring a pro for a short while, will make your life a lot easier. I don't necessarily think that setting up and incorporation or getting your business license is worth paying somebody else to do it. It takes some research with your state and on the internet, but it's not that hard to do.

EDIT; Every state is different in it's business laws and maybe even some form of the tax laws.

Good luck.
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You could also see if you have a local Small Business Development Center, Small Business Administration, or some other outfit that can hook you up with pro-bono help from accountants, etc. Your local library can probably get you started.
 
adaml said:
You could also see if you have a local Small Business Development Center, Small Business Administration, or some other outfit that can hook you up with pro-bono help from accountants, etc. Your local library can probably get you started.
Click to expand...

Good tip. I forgot about that.

There's a nationwide group of retired business-people that are connected, I think, to the Small Bus. Admin. that help young companies get setup and lend advice. I think the acronym for their group is S.C.O.R.E, but I'm not 100%.
 
adaml said:
You could also see if you have a local Small Business Development Center, Small Business Administration, or some other outfit that can hook you up with pro-bono help from accountants, etc. Your local library can probably get you started.
Click to expand...

SBA - Ha! It's run by the government and gives very poor advice...
Never get pro-bono help from an accountant...too many crooks give out that line. They get all your info....and good buy identity....

Only go to an accountant you know...get a referral. I have had my accountant for over 20 years - worth every dollar I pay them.

Library? Who goes to the library?
 
you are doing great by asking around for experience from others

if you have the luxury of people with a similar business model in your area, to show up and visit, interview them or work there gives a lot of information to you about your own ideas

here is a guy that explains communicating to potential clients in a passionate way

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=83958
 
I set up my own production company in the UK mainly for these reasons:

1) I wanted to create something that could grow, that my son might inherit one day. He's very gifted.

2) I wanted a legal entity that could own the copyright to all the products: 6 so far

3) It's not hard to register a company in the UK and you do get some protection as a result and potentially qualify for financial help.

4) If I find a great collaborator I'd like to give them equity in the company rather than pay them cash. I have about 10 stakeholders so far. That way when I need a graphic artist or some bespoke music or actors or camera op I can legitimately ask for help. To be fair most of them would have done it as a favour anyway but it helps me to know that I can share profits with the main contributors if I ever make any real money. (Unlikely)

5) UK companies can register for VAT which means you can get 17.5% back on purchases.

6) I have the option to sell the company if I get fed up with it.

7) It's easier for a company to rent expensive equipment than an individual.

I do have an accountant do my books once per annum.

I have no idea about the US though so a lot of the above may not translate.

Best regards, Phil
 
Tranquil, Robert (from Dvxusers) posted to NEVER buy equipment at the beginning, being a business owner with a production company, how is your outlook on this notion?
 
Well I think that depends on how you want to work.

I am completely self taught - so the only way I can learn is to do. And to do I need - the camera - the lighting kit - the actors - the edit system - Adobe CS2 and After Effects and all the other stuff I have 5 cases. In short everything I need to experiment and figure what's going to work and what isn't.

I started a 90 minute project 8 years ago and I just finished it last August. A 'proper' production house would have had this nailed in 6 months maybe a year tops. But I wanted the challenge of learning as I went along.

If you have well defined project - e.g. Script, story boards, well defined artistic style, set design etc etc all costed out you don't need to buy anything.

If you're going to be more like me - a one man band production house - I think you need access to all the main pieces of the flow at all times. That doesn't mean that I never hire stuff. I'd hire a crane for example because I just I don't use one so often.

Also, I should come clean a state that I am bit of a control freak in so far as I like to be in control of what I do next as the mood takes me.

If you want to take a quick look at the new project some of it is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCmIq4Ln3Ag

Best regards, Phil
 
Tranquil, I really appreciate you being honest about how you approach your work ethic. I think in this situation I have a lot in common with how you approach the business. While I certainly qualify for the "one man band" status, I don't want to get in over my head even if my mind whispers into my ear that if I can't commit to buying equipment that perhaps I don't 100% believe in myself (an internal battle of being creative and trying to be financially smart I suppose).

My creative side always seems to win out, which never puts a smile on my financial advisor
 
The belief thing is interesting - when I started my 8 year project I wasn't convinced that I'd finish it. I knew I wanted to do it that's all. I wrote a 110 page script and asked a friend who makes videos how much to make this? He says 500,000 pounds (~$1,000,000) - whooaaa; I thought that's it I'll never be able to do it. I'm not selling my house and living in a card board box to make this thing. Though hats off to the people who do that.

Then I purchased a VX9000 in 1998 (opps sorry, that's a cheap Sony camera) and started to experiment. I took it up to Yosemite in May 2000 for the weekend, I think I may have had a 'Gibby' moment because, while I was there I got some great shots of the water falls and somehow I knew I was going to finish my project.

I'm certainly not saying that you need to buy equipment to believe in your self, but you do need to take action.

Some questions I would ask myself if I were you would be:

What do I want to achieve ? How do I want to achieve it? And Who do I want to achieve it with? The 'best' way for you to do what you want is for you to find out.

A few Goethe quotes to get you going:

"Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one's thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world."

"Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen."

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!”


For me, I have to do stuff and that's why I'm really thrilled about owning a RED. It's going to get me out and about for some more 'Gibby' moments.

Warm regards, Phil
 
You've come full circle and inspired me Phil - this afternoon I'm going to take out one of my cameras and enjoy some more 'Gibby' moments myself!

Just me and my camera...on a beautiful deserted beach...as seabirds float across suntrails on the waves...pure euphoria...and when that can be captured in vibrant 4k with good audio, then others will be able to share in the experience, and know the feeling...

The next day it could be pine covered mountains, by a rushing stream, or in a vast panorama of desert red rocks...it's all good...

I shoot tons of subjects and genres to survive, but there is nothing quite like just disappearing into nature with a camera system and capturing some fresh images. It makes up for all the time spent on busy sets, meetings, and airports...all necessary in this business...but there is a time to just strip it down to yourself and a camera getting images in some primordial setting...
 
Hey Gibby,

That's it man! Just as you describe it ! Brilliant!

I hope you don't mind but I wanted to share a couple of pics with you. I just can't figure out how to upload them? It asks for a URL when I hit the insert image icon?

Any tips?

Thanks, Phil
 
you can link photo that is on your site using URL ...

or use the RED icon ( last one) "files upload center " to up load to REDuser site .. remember to copy each link after you upload and that link you paste into your post ( pic will appear in your post)
 
Holosynthetic,

There have been some awesome comments by people on this thread…

Spraying to all fields, let me add some more food for thought that may help you in this business:

Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong – Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you can’t do great things, do small things in a great way.

Never explain – Your friends don’t need it, and your enemies won’t believe you anyway!

It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt (Chinese Proverb)

Whatever you do, make sure it’s something your heart is in. That way you’ll enjoy each workday, and your work will be much better because you’re doing what you love to do.

Never approach an occupation or a project just simply because it will supposedly make you a lot of money. Have you ever seen a moving van and an armored car following a hearse?

When someone tells you that you can’t do something, just smile and remember that they are doing you a motivational favor by saying so…

No matter what occupation you choose, or in our case, what genres within our occupation you choose, If you do something well enough, for long enough, money usually takes care of itself.

Sometimes dealing with stress is just a one-step program…one-step and a kick!

If you get your health span to match your lifespan, you’ve really won at the game of life (and work).

Success elements in this business are: talent, experience, tenacity, and technology. If you feel you have talent, then tenacity will get you experience. If you have those first three things, then just add in good technology and you’ll probably succeed.

Like any business, there are some scumbags in media production. Set your boundaries. Never contribute to any project that offends your inner nature. Follow your intuition on that…

Happiness and fulfillment in this business is a journey…not a destination.

The more you learn, the more it should remind you how much you still don’t know.

Everything in life is dynamic…nothing is static. Thus, your career in the motion media business will be in constant motion…either forward or backward by your own choosing.

To fail sometimes is quite natural. Don’t find yourself blaming others for your failures. Simply accept them as the result of your poor choices, learn from them, and press on. That way failures will be speed bumps, not mountains…

Broaden your skill sets while you deepen your experience. There’s no reason for you to be limited to being “just a (skill set)”. The more skills sets you have, the better you will understand how this overall business works.

If you’re equal parts artist, techie, manager, and journalist, you will have a hard time failing in this business.

Creativity comes from our right brain. Pragmatism comes from our left-brain. “Mid-brains” can generally use either side at will. It will probably take our whole brain to succeed in this business.

Deadlines don’t mean you’re going to die (nothing is “life or death”, but life or death!)

And finally:

If you can imagine it…you can become it! If you can dream it, you can achieve it!
 
"I’ve been discouraged by everything I’ve tried to do. And being discouraged inspires me." - Jim Jannard
 
You guys are slowly becoming a new family for me. I'm tired of my real family telling me I'm wasting money on expensive "toys". Thanks for just "getting it".

I have to be the biggest tech nerd / actor alive
 
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