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Jobs with the Epic camera

J

jorge krausch

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Hello..

Just wondering. As a freelance director/writer, I have owned a variety of cameras in the past. Started with the very first video8 sony (1985), super8, bolex, krasnakoff super16, the first 3CCD sony which was Hi8 (miniDV came out weeks later, very frustrating), the Panasonic HVX200, then the Canon 550D.. but now Im about to collect a Red Epic X kit.. my first very high end camera.
I was wondering from you guys point of view, being more familiar with this world. Has owning such a camera helped with your careers? DP, Self-Shooting directors, rentals, etc... ?
What steps would you recommend to get out and get work with it in the UK? I had most my career in another European country so Im curious.

Thanks so much for your time in reading this,

George
 
Jorge,
I can only answer this purely from my perspective...

Having a great camera to work with (like the EPIC) does not make you shoot better content, does not make you frame better, does not make money fall from the sky...
It does how ever give you technical advantages like high resolution imagery and slowmotion capabilities...

You can rent it, but don't expect rental to earn you a living, if done well, it will pay the camera back... The proper rental houses supply proper lenses and other gear + professional support, bit hard to match them unless you are tooled up in all areas. That siad, my cameras are all payed off several times over purely by renting them back to myself on my own projects... as well as the stray rental to others, so you can make money from them if you stay proactive with your rentals and own work.

I'm a big believer that your show reel gets you work.. not your tools. Anyone can have the tools by simply renting them.. and saying to clients that they own the gear. thats a very easy illusion.. But what you may have over them is a camera that you have in your procession 24/7 to help build your reel and profit from instead of throwing profits away into renting.

I mentor many young directors around the world... and most of them now own EPICs, most of them are working, but the ones with the killer show reels and great body of work to prove to the world what they are capable of are the ones that are do well right now...

Side note... I shot a tv commercial on a Canon 5D (hated every minute of it ) and that tv commercial has now won me millions of dollars worth of ongoing work... but remember, that the camera was not the reason why the pictures were so nice... I could have shot that ad the same way on any number of cameras. So please don't think a EPIC will make you a better cinematographer, but it does give you more options.

Hope this helps..

Good luck into the future.
 
Excellent post by Mark Toia. Agreed 100% . Stay proactive and don't "wait" for jobs to come with the Epic. Create your own stuff, get to know the camera and produce a demo or work with the Epic. You have a performance advantage, no doubt, concerning other cameras, in terms of expressing a narrative through slow motion or high resolution imagery. Use the camera's best assets and use it in your favour. If you have a 5D and an Epic and shoot the same scene with it, it will definitely look better (properly lit) than the 5D one. Just make sure your cinematography skills are up to par to the "Championship" you want to enter.
 
When I first got my RED One I was very fortunate to get my foot in doors that it might not have belonged in. What really matters is the diligence, determination and attitude after that point. Ultimately it's all up to you how far you want to go. THe camera may be a stepping stone but a solid shooter should be able to make a living no matter what.
 
Thank you so much for your expert advice people. Keep in mind, I do know its not the camera but the reel. I have done camerawork since i was twelve since the super8 to 35mm.. But i have restarted my life when I left to England. I had some job meetings, where the guys tell me "well everybody has a 5D.. if you have an Epic, then we'll talk" He said how millions of people are becoming Dps and filmmakers with their 5Ds etc. even photographers became DPs.. freelancers etc.. but did mention the Epic would allow me to get more work amongst the competition. I do have a good reel. Something like 12 awards from festivals, commercials from Vodafone, Toyota, Sagres, Lexus, Toys R us etc etc.. but worthless when you move country.
 
jorge krausch said:
I had some job meetings, where the guys tell me "well everybody has a 5D.. if you have an Epic, then we'll talk"
Click to expand...


A comment like that says to me that they're looking for a free camera, and someone who's willing to supply a better one than the free cameras they're already getting.....:closedeyes:
 
thanks Mark also for sharing all your experiences. Everybody has been very helpful and generous in their feedbacks :)
 
I believe your reel will be valid ANYWHERE in the world you go. Our craft has very little boundaries IMO...and your reel shows people your skills...skills that are unique to you. Anywhere you go you will have competent crew to hire and you can rent almost any camera to back up your ideas and skills...but that competent crew will not have your eye or your ideas. THAT is what matters. Clients (with sense) will see that and value that.
 
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thanks darren. I agree. Can't wait to make some 5k material for the reel :)
 
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