I’ve been in the radio/tv/film business all my life. I used to do air shifts in major market radio along with VO for film and commercial work. Every aspect of in front and behind a camera and mike. Built and owned part of radio and tv stations along with Director of Engineering for major group owners. Did a stint as adjunct professor at several Universities while heading up television departments. For the past ~27 years worked for Major TV network in NYC in engineering design work.
Putting together my own production package and I am just now getting into producing my own work along with guiding my teenage son as an actor. Just a busy Dad in Westchester…..
Nice to see an active forum.

I'm a computer programmer. IBM mainframe assembler, to be specific. We're a dying breed. I think the required attention to detail helps me significantly with my photography and videography, especially during the editting process. But programmers aren't typically known for their outgoing personalities, which holds very true for me as well. So I'm worried I'm missing shots because I'm too shy to get up close and personal with my subjects. Luckily it's just a hobby so far, and most of my work has been isolated to my daughter's dancing. But her dance instructor has asked me to video her wedding, so the pressure's on now. That's one reason I joined the forum, to learn what I can about wedding videography before the big date. Wish me luck!

Good luck Kevin!

I am a Shift Supervisor for a coffee shop. And as of this moment, I am not sure I am going to go back tomorrow... (If you can, never work at a coffee shop... Too much stress in the management area)

I have also worked at a Camera store selling cameras, Digital and Video (Only had like 5 kinds of video cameras... But I was the Video guy!)

My dream is to either work for a film company and shoot on Film. or start my own independent studio and have many people working for me on many projects... everything from commercials, to weddings, Sports, to Concerts.... Anything! I love doing all of it!

Wise and profound words.

Great littlep otted history, too, Redgum.

Intro
 

Just joined ...

Still photography has been a lifelong passion of mine since childhood - newspaper and yearbook photographer in HS and College. Involved with developing the theater department in HS and experimented with the first bulky Sony Video systems when they first came out. Worked summers during college as a professional sound and lighting engineer from the mid to late 70's. I then shifted my careeer into work in mental health and have been a doctoral-level psychologist with expertise in rehabilitation, neuropsychological assessment and psychoanalysis. I developed and managed several community-based brain injury programs and also worked with individuals with developmental disabilities. This past January I moved to the Twin Cities to work as a professor in a doctoral training program in clinical psychology.

I am a previous DVX-100B owner - sold my equipment just before my move. I have just put in my order for the Canon HFS-100 and look forward into my move into the HD world.

My impression so far (and I am a DVX forum member) is this is a great site!

Best,

Mike

I do theatre. Everything I do is linked to it, so most of my video work is theatre based. I'm a theatrical lighting designer, and rent out audio, video and lighting equipment to mainly performing arts based clients. When I'm not being 'technical' I work as a production manager - mainly light entertainment - so that means here in the UK, comedians, music (mostly older bands) Anyone in the US heard of Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Searchers - oh and we had the current line-up of the Drifters a few weeks ago. I did notice not all had US accents, so probably just one of the many 'official' Drifters on the circuit.

Don't like modern stuff - I did a Morrisey show in May and I hated it!

My problem is I spread myself wider and wider all the time, spending my profits on new kit, I really don't actually need!

I took time out and trained to be a teacher - working with 16-21 year olds in a college for 10 years, but gave it up again in 2004 to go back to working for myself. I reckon I've got another 10 years in me at least!

Im Sam

Im 18, Finished High School last year and have just been chilling pretty much doing the odd labouring job here and there. I now have a job at Mcdonalds which provides a tiny bit of money i suppose. I shoot drift "music" videos I have a Sony FX7 that i use, but I only shoot SD seeing as my computer cant handle editing HD. I really want to become a Music Clip Director but im not too sure how to go about it ( what courses to do etc.)

My videos can be seen here
MeZ Productions's videos on Vimeo

I am a sports editor at the local paper here in Portland, Victoria, Australia.
I guess I got into sports journalism because sports was/is my life and I love analysing and chatting about different aspects of it.
That is why I have gotten into video, to put shows together for sporting organisations, chatting about the weekly events etc. I just see a market here in Australia for regional centres that don't get any coverage at all in TV so I thought why not make a show on DVD and go from there, if it grows then great, if not I will have a heap of fun doing something that I love and give something back to my sporting clubs and/or associations.

Currently unemployed.

Finished my MBA degree in December 2008, at which point my company promptly laid me off only a few months later. Six months into looking for work, I'm starting to wonder why I got the degree at such a young age. All the MBA level jobs want more experience than I have, and all the entry-level stuff assumes I'm overqualified; catch 22.

But I'm making do with savings and the help of family; I never thought I'd be living back at home at the ripe old age of 25. *sighs*

Prior to the layoff earlier this year I was a marketing assistant and web administrator at an herbal medicine distributor. The job wasn't glorious, and mostly involved a lot of product photography in a studio that I designed from some duct tape, clamp lights, CFL bulbs and a couple of trash bags; This when i wasn't busy babysitting the SQL server doing manual imports and exports of product data. Never thought I'd miss that crappy job, but here I am. Grass is always greener, right?

I do pretty much everything non-video related for a living (right now anyways). I have a graphic design business, but have redefined my focus to be large-scale web development and brand identity instead of a one-stop-shop. I do design/brand work for Woodlands Church and Lakewood.

I still do contract photography and videography from time to time, but haven't done (or had time to do) any visual effects or motion graphics in 6 months or so (other than a few personal projects). I'm really trying to focus in on my own filmmaking now where I can tell the stories I want to share, rather than someone else's—although, I have had great fun working with some amazing DP's and other filmmakers out there.

Now I just need to collect a pool of actors in Houston. Then more movie making can begin!

Well, as of right now, unemployed. I work on a grounds crew at a golf course in the Metro Detroit area over the summer, get laid off before thanksgiving, go back around st. pattys day. I honestly love it, and if this whole music video directing thing doesn't pan out as I hope it will, I will be getting a turf degree and digging holes for the rest of my life. Lets hope thats not the case.

I manage to stay afloat with a part time bank job; usually work mornings, out by 12pm. I spend the remaining time of the day (pending Miami weather's bipolarity) either steadicam drilling or playing with my new redrock gear... I hope to actually film something soon.

Hi

I'm in the Video business for about 20 years now.
Starting as a camera assistant / boomer.
Then i was going to work in several German major TV Stations as a VTR / MCR Operator
In 2008, after some Hedge Found drop in, and taking over my last employer, i decide to going to be a freelancer again. So i grap my well compensation payment and buy myself a XHA1 and a Edius NX Workstation to produce some Webvideos. And yes ! Here is a market for to produce some kind of Imagefilms, Webvideos, Eventfilm...etc with HDV Equipment. But you must have the potential to take some years before you realy can life from that.
Right now i have invest in a second Camera, a JVC GY-HM700 ...

Best regards
Frank

Currently, as my day job, I work as a computer programmer; more specifically a Web Application Developer. On the side though, I occasionally do some still photography. These are mainly portrait jobs for people I know or who have been recommended to me, and sometimes I sell a print or too of my landscape work.

Perhaps some day I'll be a rich and famous film maker... but alas, for now that vision remains in my dreams.

I'm a musician full-time; video has been a hobby for me over the years. I'm interested in making music videos of myself (and possibly others if the projects arise). So video is a means of promotion for me....not a profession. In fact I've never been paid for video, although I've been paid for photography gigs.

Because I'm only 16 years old, I'm still in school. I work at a local store in the weekends to make my money. In the near future I want to start making videos for companies, so I'll be able to buy some more professional gear. I am currently saving all my money for an Apple iMac, which will become my editing system.

Greetings,

Kees Braam.

live in Huntingtion Beach Ca
 

shoot with Sony and Cannon Video Cameras XL2 and a Sony Z1u do mostly live webcasts of surfing events, some skateboarding, and snowboarding...but I mostly shoot speedway Motorcycle racing, 16 races a year at costa mesa speedway and 10 or 2 other races at other tracks...post on the web and on YouTube. Working on a half hour weekly speedway show for local cable and the web. also shoot with the GoPro Helmet Cam

website is xtremespeedwayaction.com

I have had a lot of jobs since I started on DVi as a member a little over 7 years ago. Back then, I was in Creative Services at WPTV in West Palm Beach, FL; later a film school teacher (Palm Beach Film School), an independent filmmaker and producer, an editor/shooter in corporate video, and a producer/writer/shooter/editor of local commercials.

Well, other than freelance work, I am basically out of the production biz. I am now Senior Writer at TopTenREVIEWS, which covers consumer electronics and consumer software (including easy-to-use apps for photo editing, word processing, etc.). I've been a freelance writer for a lot of companies like VASST, etc., so it's cool to be a full-time writer.

Heath

I design and build creatures in Lightwave for use in (so far) TV movies.
I bought a Super 8 camera back in the 70's to make stopmo animation shorts but
had RL take over for a long time.....darn money and it's being a necessity to pay for rent and food!!
Had injury force a stop to my hard labour lifestlye and got some training in 3D in the late 90's. Have not looked back and now am looking to make some short films of my own. Integrating live action and 3D elements.
Hope you all won't mind a newbie asking what sound like silly questions now and then.
I promise they will only be asked once....I learn quickly.

Welcome, Greg! It sounds like you do some incredible work. And ask away--we're here to help.

Heath

Second the motion! This is a friendly place

I design and shoot special effects on a Phantom HD camera, I also am currently working on a green screen stock video project with 3 RED One cameras. I have recently taken on some free lance work shooting dance recitals and the like, and would love to get involved with some more live capture stuff.

Jim,

Welcome aboard! What studio are you at? I wonder if you know a couple of people I worked with on a film two years ago in St. Pete/Clearwater/Tampa.

Heath

I have a career update: I've left video/TV (and film) production for a bit to focus on my writing. I review consumer electronics and software, plus some pro stuff, over at TopTenREVIEWS as Senior Writer.

South Florida got hit hard by the economic downturn, even as far back as late 2006/early 2007 (when my last directorial effort on a feature took place). I co-produced a film in 2008, then nothing; we lost financing on a comic book film adaptation by late 2008. I found a job as an editor doing corporate video fall 2008 until spring 2009 when the company almost went under. In fact, a lot of my old friends doing straight TV/Video production are out of business or have slowed down to the point of getting full-time jobs for the first time in 20+ years!

I then worked for a company that took over video production for Comcast Spotlight. Most of the hires there were former Comcast employees, but it was crazy how it would go from a team of writers, producers, shooters and editors down to one or two people doing it as one-man-bands. Oh, and they charge a fraction of what costs used to be, just to get customers in the door.

Hate to sound negative, but it's tough in Florida. However, I can see things turning around at some point. I think the Miami Heat moves may drive the economy up, which definitely bleeds over into production.

Heath

Heath,

I work at Digital Juice doing mostly stock video footage work. I have no previous education or training in video, I started out as a set builder, and then learned the work flow as I went and pushed to get involved in production.

Jim,

That's awesome! I did a little work for DJ recently. My good friend Kevin P. McAuliffe also works with them. Great company, great products.

Heath

I'm a professional photographer in the motorcycle industry.

Wow almost 8 years since i started this thread, time flies too quickly and I've realized my time was not very well spent on the things that truely matter to me. I applaud anyone who is following their dreams and doing what they love to do instead of following society's 9-5 grind.

Currently I'm out of work, and may take this opportunity to take out the camera gear and do some travel documenting.... or do some PA work if anyone's working on a project :) (message me if you are!)

Well, for almost 10 years I did I.T. work but recently my job went by way of the down economy so I'm going to give my love of video a go. Been looking for all kinds of video work and I shoot stills as well. With any luck I'll be doing this full time within a year.

well this is a bit of a contrast to all you lucky people who get to work in some part of the creative process,
I renovate bathrooms,
smash them out one day, then about a week or 2 later we leave and the client has a big smile and I have a cheque to buy more video gear.
I must say, the manual labour of the day compliments all the non activity of sitting behind a PC.
I dont think I could sit still for 8 hours a day 5days a week.

A bit of Me
 

Hi all, well, I do a bit of a lot of things... I have a 9 - 5 monday to Friday on a community College in the Bronx, NY. I work for the theater department. On weekends is when I come to life. I do low budget Music Videos, Short films, weddings, Sweet 16 and special events. A year ago I bought the Panasonic HVX 200A and started working on my own on weekends doing what I mentioned above. I realized that i don't have to go to Hollywood to have my dream come true so I'm starting it on my own. I like to coolaborate with whoever needs me and brings to me new and exciting projects :::||| I believe we all share the same passion for the Seventh Art ... I'm starting to feel at home already ...lol

I'm semi retired, but still have to work sporadically to fund my travels. I've done everything from cleaning toilets to digging graves - anything that is not connected to my former career in electronics and IT. Right now my wife and I are caretakers of a very small historic village and precinct. We live on-site and are the entire population - if you don't count the dog. The capital city of our state is 1500 Km (almost 1000 Miles for our US friends) from where we are. The nearest town with a population of more than 20,000 people is 1100 Km away, so you could say that we are isolated.

The job entails looking after a backpacker style accommodation complex (very small - 5 rooms), a small shop, all of the grounds, gardens and buildings, keeping the beaches and river frontage free of litter and talking to tourists. Fishing is mandatory - someone has to keep the tourists informed of what is being caught and where.

I am working hard at turning my amateur videography to pro videography but I can't see myself making a worthwhile living out of it. Just as well it is something that I enjoy immensely.

Cheers

Russ

Welcome, Russ! We hope you like it at DVI! That sounds like quite the job you have!

Heath

Thanks Heath,

I like it here already! Yes, it is a very unique job and you won't be surprised to hear that we get offers all the time to "swap jobs with us". Mind you, another 12 months will be enough and then we'll take two years off and just travel.

Cheers

Russ

Do you have a website with your videos and photos of where you're living?

heath

Hi again Heath,

I don't at the moment, but have been working on a webpage for a while now. Seems to always get put on the back burner! I'm currently writing a script for a short film about Cossack, which my employer has generously offered me time and resources (but not money) to create.

It's not a bad deal though, as they have a Local History Department that has masses of info and photographs that I will be able to access for free. I'll stick it up on Vimeo and/or youtube when it's done.

I might put my very first video of our travels up on the web and then when I finish the next one, I'll post it too - and then people will be able to critique me and tell me whether I'm improving.

Cheers

Russ.

Sounds pretty cool, we're looking forward to it!

Heath

Hi I'm Sophie from portobellofilms.co.uk. We shoot modern wedding video, with absolutely no cheesy nonsense. Please check us out a feel free to tell me what you think

Wedding Video Wedding Videos Wedding Videographer

Hi, Sophie.................
 

Welcome to DVinfo.

The juries still out as to whether or not I'm a dirty old man, but I am a speed reader, and I scanned that line backwards initially.

Picture "Wiley Cyote" screech of brakes, as I re - scanned and got the same result and thought, well, she's game!

Interesting sideline if true.

[I jest, of course, but did have to read that section a couple of times to get the real message.]

Shall check out the web site at leisure.

Once again, welcome and no, we're not all MCP's.


CS

PS:

Forgot to ask, whereabouts in London, I know it very well indeed, lived there off and on for nearly 30 years.