Making a Living as a Filmmaker

[Rodney Petrie]

This post is for gaining insight from members of IndieTalk about their experiences as filmmakers from the point of view of making a living out of the profession.

Regardless of which level of experience you have what are the day to day sacrifices and things you do in order to earn money to be a filmmaker or earn from being a filmmaker?

 

[Alcove Audio]

Mostly you give up on having a personal life.

 

[jax_rox]

Mostly you give up on having a personal life.

+1.

I've been on set pretty much every single day since the end of May, including most weekends. Having a personal life is tough, getting enough sleep is tough etc.
And even then you still don't get paid all the time, and often when you do it's not your full rate at least on creative projects - commercials pay well but you kinda give up a fair bit of creative control.