A few questions for the Hollywood guys

[spankydoesfilm]

Alright. I am currently in film school and plan on moving to LA within the next three years. When i get out there I plan on getting a "pay the bills job"(home depot or something) and starting at the bottom and working my way up. My end goal is to be a DP, but I understand this will not happen without TONS of experience. My first question is if that is my end goal, where should i start when I get out there? Is it possible to go out and get a camera operator position or do you have to start lower than that? Also how should i go about getting that first starting position?(just talk to directors? network now? etc.) Film making is the only option for me, I have no "backup plan", this IS what i'm going to do for work and i have no intentions of giving up regardless of how hard it gets.

I also want to make sure i'm doing all i can before i move out there to set myself up to succeed. Right now I am doing a ton of camera/lighting on all of my classmates projects(most of them want to write/direct). Also I'm on board as DP on my first feature length film, which is going to shoot this summer. I plan on getting 4 or 5 features under my belt before i move. Also im trying to eliminate all debt before i go out there so i dont have to work a ton of hours at my "pay the bills job" so i have plenty of time to work on sets. so my second question is; other than what i am currently doing is there anything else you would suggest? Really anything at all?

Thanks ahead of time guys,

Josh Kennon

 

[indietalk]

In my opinion, study up on these jobs.
Camera Dept: 2nd AC, Loader
Electric: 3rd Electric
Grip: 3rd Grip
PA

 

[Scoopicman]

Good advice from Indietalk.

Remember - you are what you do. While you are working your way up, I would be doing little side projects, like taking images that you can put into a demo reel. I'm not talking expensive; you may not need actors to get subjects like city skylines, beaches and sunsets. But, you need some sort of portfolio and reel.

I'm reminded of songwriter, Martin Gore, always wearing an acoustic guitar, on Depeche Mode tours. (Read this as you and your camera.) The guitar hangs around his neck and when he comes up with a new tune, he just plays it.

Even if you are helping around sets, have a camera with you - sometimes video, sometimes still. Remind people of what you want to be. BTW, one of your startup jobs may be as a set photographer or behind the scenes documenter. If you were to do one or two free gigs, just to get started, so you can meet people, that may be a path to take. Avail yourself and people will probably offer money, anyway.

 

[Blade_Jones]

Crew people lead strange lives in LA. Somehow they are always finding work. It seems like they are NOT working other jobs (ex- Home Depot, waiter). You just have to get in the loop so that you are called when there is work. Crew people do unglamorous work and so they have more leverage to actually be paid when compared to actors, who are lucky to get $75 a day on an independent.

Aim to become a union crew guy. That's where the real money is - not working these rinky dink indie films.

One warning though: Illegal file sharing and the recession are putting a squeeze on the industry.

 

[spankydoesfilm]

Crew people lead strange lives in LA. Somehow they are always finding work. It seems like they are NOT working other jobs (ex- Home Depot, waiter). You just have to get in the loop so that you are called when there is work. Crew people do unglamorous work and so they have more leverage to actually be paid when compared to actors, who are lucky to get $75 a day on an independent.

Aim to become a union crew guy. That's where the real money is - not working these rinky dink indie films.

One warning though: Illegal file sharing and the recession are putting a squeeze on the industry.

how would you get into the union after your out there? do you just have to apply and show that you have done work before?

 

[Blade_Jones]

how would you get into the union after your out there? do you just have to apply and show that you have done work before?

It's all about connections. You need to get into the "loop" of crew people. Yes, I believe you need to show that you've worked a certain amount of hours. I remember someone asking me for some documentation showing that they'd worked for me a certain amount of hours. But there is only limited room for union crew members.

I should mention that one thing that can help you get hired is if you also have equipment to rent. Then you can sell yourself as a package deal if people need the equipment. You under cut the rental place's prices and it's convenient for producers to have a crew person to just show up with the pieces of gear, without having to pick up and return it.

Also most crew people don't just do one thing. They do whatever jobs are available: gaffer, grip, 1st AC, 2nd AC, dp, soundman, 2nd unit director. I know a lighting guy who has dabbled in line producing too.

Most crew people in LA work on big shows as well as small indie projects, as long as it pays at least $125 or $150 a day. Sometimes producers try to cut corners and pay crew people $100 or less, but often they LOSE crew people to higher paying jobs the LAST MINUTE. Then producers are left in danger of being left short handed or having to hire someone who doesn't know what the hell they're doing, and that can compromise a shoot if the lighting sucks, the camera is out of focus, etc.

 

[spankydoesfilm]

It's all about connections. You need to get into the "loop" of crew people. Yes, I believe you need to show that you've worked a certain amount of hours. I remember someone asking me for some documentation showing that they'd worked for me a certain amount of hours. But there is only limited room for union crew members.

I should mention that one thing that can help you get hired is if you also have equipment to rent. Then you can sell yourself as a package deal if people need the equipment. You under cut the rental place's prices and it's convenient for producers to have a crew person to just show up with the pieces of gear, without having to pick up and return it.

Also most crew people don't just do one thing. They do whatever jobs are available: gaffer, grip, 1st AC, 2nd AC, dp, soundman, 2nd unit director. I know a lighting guy who has dabbled in line producing too.

Most crew people in LA work on big shows as well as small indie projects, as long as it pays at least $125 or $150 a day. Sometimes producers try to cut corners and pay crew people $100 or less, but often they LOSE crew people to higher paying jobs the LAST MINUTE. Then producers are left in danger of being left short handed or having to hire someone who doesn't know what the hell they're doing, and that can compromise a shoot if the lighting sucks, the camera is out of focus, etc.

Yeah i would be willing to do whatever once im out there as far as crew goes. I just want to be on the set .

 

[directorik]

It seems like you have an excellent plan, Josh.

Get as much experience as you can in St. Louis, working on movies
for class and getting four or five features under your belt as a
DP before you move out here.

With a resume and reel like that, you should be able to get crew
gigs. No pay to start, but work your way up to paying gigs as
you make connections and network.

For my first feature as a director I found my DP while working on
a low budget film. She was a camera loader, I was doing makeup efx.

 

[spankydoesfilm]

It seems like you have an excellent plan, Josh.

Get as much experience as you can in St. Louis, working on movies
for class and getting four or five features under your belt as a
DP before you move out here.

With a resume and reel like that, you should be able to get crew
gigs. No pay to start, but work your way up to paying gigs as
you make connections and network.

For my first feature as a director I found my DP while working on
a low budget film. She was a camera loader, I was doing makeup efx.

Thanks for the input . I'm perfectly ok with working for free at first, I understand thats just how it is. Hopefully i dont have to hold a "pay the bills" job for too long though

 

[M1chae1]

Aim to become a union crew guy. That's where the real money is - not working these rinky dink indie films.

Hey...I resemble that remark. We all start out rinky-dink...as long as you continually improve yourself, it's all good. And as long as you're happy. I've seen some pretty inspiring rinky-dink indie films in my time.

I know you didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted to comment on it.

 

[FilmmakingStuff]

How are you paying the bills right now? If you are in one of those jobs you described, see if they will transfer you out here. My one DP friend worked at Wal-Mart and was about to transfer to California via the company. That gave him survival money while he got in the crew loop.

I won't repeat what everyone else says - It's great advice. The only thing I would add is this: Put together a financial plan and a budget. How much money will you need to move? How much money will you need to survive?

And one more thing - avoid Tijuana!

 

[spankydoesfilm]

How are you paying the bills right now? If you are in one of those jobs you described, see if they will transfer you out here. My one DP friend worked at Wal-Mart and was about to transfer to California via the company. That gave him survival money while he got in the crew loop.

I won't repeat what everyone else says - It's great advice. The only thing I would add is this: Put together a financial plan and a budget. How much money will you need to move? How much money will you need to survive?

And one more thing - avoid Tijuana!

Right now im working for a small company, so ill have to find something when i get out there. As far as budget and stuff, I think ill be better off than most people. The way its looking I'll have enough money to buy(payed in full or pretty close) a condo when i get out there. Again thanks for all of the advice guys!!!

 

[EvsFX08]

Hey good luck and keep is informed of your progress. It would be interesting (to me anyway)to follow your story as you meet new people, connections and what jobs to work on until you finally get a DP job.