Freelance and doing Free work?

[celticmind]

Hello

I’d like to introduce myself as Liam who is new to the site.
I’m a film maker who has several years of experience who’s worked alongside others in the past and has decided to go freelance after taking a few years off due to a family loss.

I am wondering if other freelance film makers would kindly give me some advice on starting out again.

Presently I have been advised by several independent bodies to do free work to build upon a film reel to represent my skills and to seek future paying clients. I’ve also at the same time been advised not to do free work as it damages your reputation and skills, and that you should never work for free as your time should be paid for.

I have tried several times to advertise free work such as show reels for actors, short films, advertisement videos for local businesses, music and wedding video’s and have only asked for expenses only, however I’ve had no luck getting clients to do free material for.

I’ve also tried the £500 pound a day rate which would include the editing of a film to be edited into a 5-10min short but again I’m finding it difficult to locate clients.

Having asked around, and have had several different answers, the most have been that doing free work could implies that you have no skills and also that charging £500 is under cutting myself.

So my question is, has anyone had to deal with this in the past, and if so how did you get clients at the start.

I am happy to do cheaper packages on projects in order to build up my website to show potential clients my work and to get paid for what I do, however free work with the skills involved isn’t to my liking and decent pay the bills.

Again I do have the skills but need to prove them online in order to get paid.

I really appreciate the advice given and wish you all luck with your own careers and future

Thank you in advance.

 

[directorik]

Getting started again after a few years off can be difficult. Both bits of advice
make sense; it's necessary to have a strong reel and working for free can set
a precedence. But it seems you are doing the right thing; offer to work for free
AND solicit paid jobs.

Yes, every single freelancer has had to deal with this. I wish there was a definitive
answer. You are doing what you can do. There isn't any other method. Keep at
it. Some will think you have no talent or skill if you charge under the going rate
but then some will appreciate the break and hire you.

 

[WalterB]

To build a reel you can consider making a little project of your own.
Ask others to help you with that: that way you can build up new connections.
Helping others first can make getting help easier.

Working for free is a tough one: both advices are true
I don't work for free for commercial projects.
But I do sometimes offer a rate clients with a small budget and a story/message I believe is important can afford.
I also worked for free on a festival and a TEDx event were everyone was a volunteer.

 

[film_autre]

work for free if it betters your image, if its for charity
charge if you feel confident, 9/10 if your talking to an amateur they will pay you up to £100 a day or for the project.

some things I have learned?

Women are extremely difficult to work with.. they walk on feeling like a D&G model, then see the footage as if you just filmed Big Mommas house.. and they were big momma..

some men are fussy but mostly just musicians..

do not go lower once you offer a price, stick with it even if you lose the gig, your either free or a set price but dont offer a price then go free..

and the number one thing... sell yourself as the absolute dogs B*llocks

 

[celticmind]

Thanks for the valuable feedback and advice, really appreciated. I have been approached by a company to do a video in length of about 8-10 minutes and am thinking of charging a price of £250 - £350 starting price. I'm happy to work for free if it’s for charity, a film project or on something that I’m going to enjoy doing. But when it comes to corporate company that needs a promotional video, £250 -£350 seems like a decent starting price. But then again it also seems low?
Again thanks for the advice guys.

 

[film_autre]

Id say £500 ..

 

[AudioPostExpert]

and the number one thing... sell yourself as the absolute dogs B*llocks

That's the real issue facing many of today's genuine freelancers. How do you differentiate yourself as a real freelancer from all those with a camera, a laptop and a desire to be real freelancers and who also sell themselves as the dog's bollocks? To many/most of those who hire freelancers, you're just another dog's bollock, indistinguishable from a sea of bollocks!

There's always some noob in a bedroom who'll quote half what you're quoting and at the low budget level, those doing the hiring usually don't know and can't imagine what they'll get for twice the cost! No one can advise you what price to quote, you've got to judge the situation for yourself, balance the advantages and disadvantages of quoting a figure relative to what you feel your work is worth, what your competition is quoting and what the hirer is expecting. And even with experience and knowledge of those specific circumstances, it's still never easy!

G