Your Job and the World of DV

[Gino Terribilini]

So, how does one go about making money in this industry? DV or film... i'm a student, so i understand that obstacle, but what happens when i'm out of school? Am i supposed to get a "real" 9 to 5 job and have this as a hobby and make money on the side? I would really like to make this a career as it is the only thing i have been whole heartedly passionate about.

What do you all do for a living? I'm really curious about how you're making money and whether you're able to fulfill your dreams. And where does DV fit in for you? What are your experiences in the film industry or the evolving DV industry? What do i need to succeed?

Any comments are welcome... just need some inspiration. I want to know that my time isn't being wasted by my focusing so much on my film pathway.

[Frank Granovski]

In the real world you'll need:

1) skill and experience
2) luck

[Don Bloom]

You also need drive,ambition, to be willing to do things that you might not like doing, talking to people you might not like talking to, skill,experience and a bit of luck ;-)
Don

[Daniel Kohl]

Hi Gino,

To get the skill and experience that Frank may be talking about. I would recommend looking for film or video productions in your area – where you can maybe tag a long (for no pay at first) to see what goes on in a production. I learned a lot from the internships I did, way back when. I worked as a runner on B – Film productions and learned a lot from student films and other projects where there was no money. I recommend working your way up – there is lot to learn at each level of production. This is also the best way to make contacts and meet people in the branch. Most of the jobs I get come by way of past contacts.

Good luck

[Kevin Lee]

first up. without any doubt. you need a showreel.
folio. whatever it may be.

[Ed Smith]

knock on loads of doors!!! - TV/video/ film production company doors i mean.

Try and get work experience as soon as possible with a video/film/tv production company.

Make your own productions. Create videos for small businesses/ charities etc.

Get your name known!!!

Then you can start to make a career from it.

If its what you really want to do, push for it.

Cheers,

Ed

[Rick Bravo]

Take a look at http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...&threadid=4657

You'll be amazed at the cross section of society that roams this forum with the same interests at heart.

RB

[Keith Loh]

PORN.

[Rick Bravo]

Keith,

You don't know how damned close to the truth you are!!!

Apparently the XL1s is very popular in the Biz. ;)

RB

[Dylan Couper]

1) Luck

or

1) Persistance
2) Skill


Experience isn't usualy much of an issue as long as you have either of the above.

[Ken Tanaka]

Gino,
You've already gotten a good body of good advice and tips. I have never worked in the entertainment business so I cannot offer any industry strategies.

Whether or not your are "wasting your time" is a question only you can answer. I can tell you that your ability to truly succeed (whatever that means to you) in nearly any endeavor depends heavily on what you're willing to sacrifice. It's common to imagine that someone who has achieved success in some field has done so principally through some combination of luck and talent (as evidenced by many of the responses here). While these are often contributing factors, the truth (in my business experience) is that those who have achieved stunning success were willing to sacrifice their own comfort and whims to pursue their ambition, often to a fault. So what are you willing to forego? Delay starting a family for 10-15 years? Forego spending frivoluously on cool stuff? Forget about taking that vacation with your friends? Forget about the concept of "weekend" indefinitely?

One last tip: Be careful of, and prepared for, what you wish for.

[Gino Terribilini]

Ken... thanks for the insight. My brother counceled me on the subject not too long ago. He was referring to photography when he said this, but the same applied to film/ DV that the guys that seem the most successful are the guys who have no life outside of their camera.

We rented CQ that night.

If i can find enough projects to keep me busy, i can take abandoning "everything". I love filming and sitting here editing and watching all the clips fit together and choosing the music and all that. If i had a choice, that is what i would do first thing when i woke up and and it would be the last thing before i went to bed.

I created a website that i am trying to finish and i'm planning on putting that at the end of my projects so people can have a reference when they do see my work. Is this a good strategy? Bad? Does it make a difference?

[Ken Tanaka]

The Internet offers tremendous self-promotional possibilities that were unimagineable just a few years ago. I certainly recommend that you make use of it.

At the same time I caution you not to let your site development activities become a distraction from you primary goals, at least not without your "consent". Hire someone else to do that work for you if you find it consumes too much time and creative energy. These days you can throw a stick down the street of any city and hit at least three people who can do that job better than you can. Two of them are probably also unemployed and would jump at the chance to make a few dollars doing what they "love".

[Keith Loh]

<<<-- Originally posted by Frank Granovski : In the real world you'll need:

1) skill and experience
2) luck -->>>

to add:

3) Connections.

[Marc Young]

<<<-- Originally posted by Rick Bravo : Keith,

You don't know how damned close to the truth you are!!!

Apparently the XL1s is very popular in the Biz (Porn). ;)

RB -->>>

As are a number of other video cameras such as the PD150, now PD170, and the Sony 250's and 390's. Andrew Blake uses high definition equipment, but I don't know the brand.

Every now and then, some really wacko, avant garde directors show up in the field. Such as Gregory Dark. He hasn't done anything recently, but James Avalon has taken his place. The industry puts out thousands of dvd titles each year, far more than the major studios. Wicked Pictures and Private Films have some lavish productions. The two biggest deficiencies of porn are lack of good screenplays and top-notch actors. But as far as video is concerned, they go right to the edges, with novel shots and editting. Rent Specs Appeal 5 and you won't doubt what I'm saying.

If you ever work in the field, Gino, make sure you use an anonymous name. There is a heavy stigma.