Haven’t posted here in a while, but would love to hear some responses. How do you regulate your life within this industry? As a young filmmaker I’m noticing habits developing where I drop everything for the films I work on. At the same time every day I grow more and more fearful about placing real stakes in the game outside of one off gigs. Would love to hear other people’s thoughts and experiences on this.
industry How do you regulate your life within the industry?
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This is a tough industry for freelancers. You have to take work to survive. On the other hand, if you’re in the US, the industry is in the tank right now and there’s not a lot of work out there.
That said, you have to manage yourself as a small business. That means marketing yourself and booking enough work to pay your bills and to net a profit for the year. Projects like feature films and TV/streaming series require full dedication for weeks or months at a time. It’s tough to strike a balance between work and everything else. Worse, as the industry joke goes, the most sure-fire way to guarantee that work comes calling, is to book a non-refundable vacation.
I know how many days I need to work each month (average) to cover my bases. Anything above that is gravy. I do my best to hit above that line, though it doesn’t always work month by month. Again, that’s an average, so end-of-year totals are what matter as long as the bills are paid monthly.
You can hesitate and try to take only a little work here and there. The risk you take, though, is not booking enough work to get more work. The more you turn down, the less you’re offered. It’s a leap of faith. You just have to be willing to block off the time you need outside of production, but you also need to be willing to cancel plans if that can’t-say-no project comes calling.
That said, you have to manage yourself as a small business. That means marketing yourself and booking enough work to pay your bills and to net a profit for the year. Projects like feature films and TV/streaming series require full dedication for weeks or months at a time. It’s tough to strike a balance between work and everything else. Worse, as the industry joke goes, the most sure-fire way to guarantee that work comes calling, is to book a non-refundable vacation.
I know how many days I need to work each month (average) to cover my bases. Anything above that is gravy. I do my best to hit above that line, though it doesn’t always work month by month. Again, that’s an average, so end-of-year totals are what matter as long as the bills are paid monthly.
You can hesitate and try to take only a little work here and there. The risk you take, though, is not booking enough work to get more work. The more you turn down, the less you’re offered. It’s a leap of faith. You just have to be willing to block off the time you need outside of production, but you also need to be willing to cancel plans if that can’t-say-no project comes calling.
In my personal experience the industry is all encompassing. It's so
competitive that I take every gig that comes along – dropping everything
else. I've done movies which means 12 to 14 hour days for weeks. I've
done series TV which means 12 to 14 hour days for months. I've worked
reality shows which means being away from home for 6 to 10 weeks.
None of this is good for a personal life.
I had a fiancé dump me when I took my second 6 weeks away from
home gig in 4 months. “You need to get a real job!” she said. I then
married a women who was in the industry but it broke up after 3 years
because we could never align our schedules. Dating is crazy hard
because of stupid long hours mixed with long periods of no work that
weighs you down with worry.
In my experience full time work on a show (movie or TV) means no time
to regulate your life. Gig work means dropping everything with short notice
which is hard on family, friends and relationships. So I guess “get a real
job”isn't bad advice.
competitive that I take every gig that comes along – dropping everything
else. I've done movies which means 12 to 14 hour days for weeks. I've
done series TV which means 12 to 14 hour days for months. I've worked
reality shows which means being away from home for 6 to 10 weeks.
None of this is good for a personal life.
I had a fiancé dump me when I took my second 6 weeks away from
home gig in 4 months. “You need to get a real job!” she said. I then
married a women who was in the industry but it broke up after 3 years
because we could never align our schedules. Dating is crazy hard
because of stupid long hours mixed with long periods of no work that
weighs you down with worry.
In my experience full time work on a show (movie or TV) means no time
to regulate your life. Gig work means dropping everything with short notice
which is hard on family, friends and relationships. So I guess “get a real
job”isn't bad advice.
I've been at the same job for 32 years. It is not industry related, but it's a Union job with pension, retirement payout, and insurance. 1st priority is to do whatever supports my wife and kids. That is non-negotiable. I've regulated filmmaking and freelancing by making it 2nd priority.
I'm very lucky in that my schedule averages 2 or 3 days of work. I am usually able to request time off for freelance projects. I've worked on several indie features and many commercials this way. When it's my movie, I am more than willing to pour my time into it. But, after working on someone else's movie, industrial, comedy show, or commercial, I'm very happy to return to my day job, because it is far less stress. I don't have to load/unload equipment; I just go home. That's nice!
I just accepted an upcoming gig, for shooting and editing a musical trio performing a 50 minute set. A flat $1,200, during a 4 hour event. Sounds good, right? But the guy keeps trying to add things for me to cover, other than the trio. I am a filmmaker (primary camera is a Black Magic with manual focus pointed at the band) not an event videographer, but it's turning into that, where he wants me moving away from my setup to cover "surprises" with certain guests. I'm having to consider extra lighting and sound. That will mean much more editing, as well. I'm "this" close to telling him to forget about it.
There are a lot of questionable gigs like that. I had one that required me to edit a vertical (portrait) video for the Bally's sign on Las Vegas Boulevard. Sounded simple. The producers were promoting a musical group, and they wanted all the reviewer/celebrity quotes (with clips), such as Jay Leno, saying "Awesome band!" There were so many quotes that Bally's kept rejecting the video. I must have cut 10 versions of that video. In the end, the musical group ended up at another hotel and the producers only paid me part of what they owed. The one guy looked mafia, so I didn't threaten him.
Don't get me started on movie stories, where the producer expects you to do every job (direct, light, record sound, shoot, edit, score), work late into the night, and then they don't feed you properly.
Again, stuff like that just makes me appreciate my day job, where I work my shift, go to the cafeteria when I'm hungry, and generally have a good time.
So sorry, Rick. I have much respect for your hard work. You are the real deal; a man with the Hollywood experience. I know you've worked longer days than 14 hours, back to back to back. It's a brutal industry. Thank you for sharing the reality.
No need to be sorry for me. I chose this life and I love it. I have not had
a New Years Eve or Forth of July off since I was 16. But each of those
holiday gatherings I get to set off amazing fireworks and see them up
close - really close. I have traveled the world - been to all seven continents
and 72 countries all on someone else's dime. Sure, I don't get to be a
tourist but I've been there. I've worked on iconic movies. I would have
liked to have kids but I don't regret not having them.
The balance between my work and "life" is a strange circus act.
Ya know, most good parents tell their teenage kids that entertainment is a
terrific hobby but make sure you have something to fall back on. I often
tease my parents because they never offered me that sage advice. And after
six weeks of six day work weeks averaging 12 hours each, I kinda wish I had
a back up plan...
a New Years Eve or Forth of July off since I was 16. But each of those
holiday gatherings I get to set off amazing fireworks and see them up
close - really close. I have traveled the world - been to all seven continents
and 72 countries all on someone else's dime. Sure, I don't get to be a
tourist but I've been there. I've worked on iconic movies. I would have
liked to have kids but I don't regret not having them.
The balance between my work and "life" is a strange circus act.
Ya know, most good parents tell their teenage kids that entertainment is a
terrific hobby but make sure you have something to fall back on. I often
tease my parents because they never offered me that sage advice. And after
six weeks of six day work weeks averaging 12 hours each, I kinda wish I had
a back up plan...
Absolutely! You highlighted the plusses and minuses. I think your post was a great example for the original poster to read. There are so many angles, jobs, dreams, that each person's experience will be different. For most people, the one constant is that it takes a lot of effort.
I believe the words you’re looking for are “self-employed” or “entrepreneur”. It’s all in the branding.