Freelancing: Is it Right For You?
Working in film and television is a cool job. It’s unique. It’s creative. It’s challenging, and every day is different. Occasionally, people send me an email with a brief synopsis of their situation and if they have a chance of success in the industry. There are so many different personalities, skill-sets, and roads that lead to a career in entertainment, I’m not one to deter anyone! But there is a major point that hasn’t been addressed, and that’s the freelance aspect of working in production. Nearly all on-set positions are filled by self-employed individuals. I recently told a friend she’d be great at production. Her response? “Maybe, but I couldn’t handle the instability.” Ask yourself: Is Freelancing Right For You? Freelance means work-for-hire, where you’re hired for x amount of time, whether that x equals days, weeks, months, episodes, or seasons. Beyond x, there are no guarantees, there is little security. Ultimately, the only person consistently looking out for your well-being is you. How do you know if you can handle freelance if you’ve never been freelance? Let’s explore a handful of real-life scenarios of being a freelance employee in film or television production. Freelancing means being okay with the unknown. You won’t always know when your next job is, how long your current job will last, or if the show gets picked up, if you’ll be asked back. Sometimes, a project can’t pinpoint an end date, or they’ll release you earlier than you’d planned. Jobs come, but sometimes, they disappear. You’ll get booked on a gig one day, completely change all your plans– only to have it evaporate the next. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been in the business 5 days or 15 years; jobs always come and go, and rarely will a company compensate you for the inconvenience of having a job cancel at the last minute (it has happened one time in my 6+ years). I’m a little superstitious– I won’t even mention I have a job until I’ve signed the deal memo and/or I’ve been given a start date. Freelancing means always hustling and networking. Consistently doing good work while working hard is the best way to get hired again, but that employer may not have another gig for a while. Sometimes, you’ll agree to a project that lasts several months, and it take you out of the loop with your other employers. It’s up to you to get back in touch, and it needs to be genuine. One blanket e-mail that blind copies everyone in your address book isn’t personal– it’s lazy. Take the time to send personalized emails, or offer to meet up for lunch or coffee to reestablish those connections. Freelancing means constant rate negotiations. Towards the...
A Glimpse into Vietnamese Life in Mai Chau
There’s charm beneath the frenetic and chaotic surface of Hanoi. But after a few hours of wandering the cold, rainy streets and dodging motorbikes endlessly beep-beep-beeping, I was ready to explore the real reason I came to Vietnam: the countryside. Mai Chau is a community three hours away from Hanoi. It’s a flat land of endless rice fields, surrounded by mountains. It’s picturesque; it’s quiet– the only sound you can hear is the occasional motorbike scuttling down a distant road. It was also the best weather I had while in northern Vietnam (note to self: mid-March was sadly not the best time of year to visit this region). The scenery was stunning, but the best of Mai Chau were the locals, who either smiled at visitors or barely gave an unimpressed glance. They continued going about their business as we walked by, and I loved this glimpse into Vietnamese life. Yes, tourism is creeping into Mai Chau — there’s an entire area devoted to selling tasty sugar cane juice and trinkets to tourists (not all those silk scarves are made locally by hand you guys) — but it’s years away from being as overrun as Sa Pa. There aren’t any children trying to sell you bracelets — the kids are just being kids. If northern Vietnam is overwhelming you… visit Mai Chau. And go soon — before it becomes the next Sa Pa. —– Pin...
The Best iPhone and iPad Apps For Filmmakers
Smart phones and apps are making all of our jobs easier, particularly those of us that work in film and television. With hundreds of iOS apps available that target filmmaking, which ones are actually used by industry professionals? I put the question on Facebook, and rounded up the apps that my colleagues use the most on the job. Since this my blog, I also included my favorites that I can’t work without. Remember to write-off any technology purchases that help you do your job. (This includes your iPhone, iPad, any work-related premium apps, and monthly usage fees.) MovieSlate 7 This app is the one that made me realize how versatile and helpful smartphones can be on set. At a price tag of $29.99 (plus $49.99 for in-app purchases), MovieSlate is far from cheap — yet it provides several perks that mere clapperboard apps do not, such as timecode synchronization via headphone jack. Download MovieSlate 7 for iPhone / Download MovieSlate 7 for iPad Also download: Timecode Buddy Sun Surveyor This is iPhone app is dearly loved by directors, directors of photography, gaffers, and photographers. When scouting a location, it’s rare that the time of day of the scout matches the time of day when you’ll actually film there. That’s when this app is a lifesaver, and helps DPs make decisions on how much additional lighting support they’ll need. Download Sun Surveyor for iPhone / Download Sun Surveyor for iPad Similar apps: SunSeeker 3D ($9.99), Helios ($29.99) pCam Film + Digital Pro pCam has been making calculations for photographers, cinematographers, camera operators, camera assistants, gaffers, script supervisors, etc. for 17 years — since the early days of the Palm. Designed specifically for photographers and filmmakers, pCam comes with a long list of features worthy of its own blog post — and it may be the most popular app in the film industry. Download pCam Film + Digital Pro for iPhone Shot Lister First ADs and directors on the go are fans of the Shot Lister app, an app designed by fellow filmmakers. With Shot Lister, you can organize, schedule, and share shot lists; you can also continually tweak while you’re on set. The super-techy will love that it’s also compatible with Apple Watch. Download Shot Lister for iPhone / Download Shot Lister for iPad Cine Meter II Light meters still have a broader range of capabilities (they’re also much more expensive), but as app technology gets better and more versatile, Cine Meter II has grown in popularity as a spotmeter for cinematographers. Its niche is very specific, designed solely for film and video use, and it can’t measure strobing. Be sure to read the fine print to be certain it’ll fit your needs. (To learn more about light metering, here’s an...
From PA to…Music Video Director: Meet Justine
Being a PA isn’t easy work, and it takes a certain amount of determination to stick around and push through the ridiculous hours and mundane tasks until you reach your dream job. When I look around at my co-workers, the majority of people I PA’ed alongside years ago are doing what they set out to do — they’re directors, DGA ADs, directors of photography, sound mixers, 1st ACs, etc. It took hard work and several crazy hours, but they made it. So, today, I’m introducing “From PA to…”, where I’ll feature the story of one of my amazing and successful cohorts. To start it off, please meet the talented Justine! I first met Justine on a music video set as an intern when she was just starting out. Whenever she could, she chatted with crew members about her upcoming music video project. “I’m renting a RED, and I want to do it right,” she was saying. While most of her classmates were completing projects with other students, Justine was going after experienced crew in town. She’d already recruited the assistance of a few, and several more crew signed on to help her. She wasn’t arrogant, nor was she begging for help — she was passionate and driven. She wasn’t going to wait for someone to give her the title of Director, she claimed it for herself. Now, Justine is a successful music video director, and has some great advice for others. Did I mention she’s directed a music video for Dolly freaking Parton?! At what age did you decide you were going to pursue a career in film/tv? When I was 13, I saw The Lord of the Rings trilogy and knew I wanted to make films. I spent most of high school filming and editing my own little films. There weren’t any filmmaking opportunities in Kentucky, so when I turned 20, I left for film school in Nashville. How did you get your foot in the door? My junior year of film school, I interned with a local production company. I was able to work as a production assistant on a handful of music videos, commercials, and reality tv. I soaked up as much information as I could and took every opportunity to network. I began applying the skills I learned to my own projects and recruiting local crew to come out for my senior project. As I began my senior year, I was already booking paid gigs. How long did it take to go from Intern to Director? How did you do it? I began interning in 2011 and slowly began working as a production assistant until I graduated in 2012. I worked...
Is Cheow Lan Lake Thailand’s Most Underrated Destination?
The limestone karsts of Southeast Asia have been calling my name for years. How I never managed to hear about Cheow Lan Lake at Khao Sok National Park until I was sitting on a longtail boat right smack in the middle of it is a mystery. While we were in Bangkok, our guide had undersold an unassuming “additional trip to a lake” as part of our stop at Khao Sok National Park. The lackluster description and additional cost made me consider giving it a miss. Fortunately, I let my decision be swayed by group opinion, and I found myself in one of those rare instances when forking over the cash without doing any research yields MASSIVE rewards. “What are your plans after Thailand?” one of my tourmates asked in one of the rare moments when my camera wasn’t smashed against my cheek. “Vietnam,” I answered, my eyes continuously darting around in an attempt to take in each beautiful moment. “I have to see Halong Bay… although now, I’m doubting it could top this.” “More beautiful than Vietnam,” our guide interrupted with an enormous smile. “More beautiful than China. Most beautiful in all of Asia.” It was only my fourth day in Asia, but I believed him. Cheow Lan was the most beautiful sight I’d seen in my life. About Cheow Lan Lake Cheow Lan Lake is located within Khao Sok, Thailand’s largest national park. While the formations and rainforest of Khao Sok is estimated to be one of the oldest in the world, Cheow Lan Lake is man-made, created as an electricity source in the early 80’s. There is evidence of this flooded landscape in shallower waters, where the tops of lifeless trees hauntingly remain. After cruising along for thirty minutes, and had seen zero evidence of civilization since getting on the boat. We passed one other longtail with four passengers. I was in a constant state of awe and disbelief — Where are all the tourists? Why isn’t this on the cover of every guidebook? How do people not know about this?! Just when my eyes were about to explode from taking in so much beauty, our destination appeared: Floating bungalows, microscopic in size at the base of the massive surroundings. We squealed at how remote, picturesque, and perfect it was. With the exception of a group of tourists that stopped by for an hour, we had the floating bungalows completely to ourselves. We basked in the sun, swam, kayaked, had a delicious lunch, and took hundreds of photos. It was glorious. How Does Cheow Lan Lake Compare to Halong Bay? It isn’t always fair to compare destinations, but Cheow Lan has a similar draw as Halong: Spectacular limestone karsts shooting out...
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I'm Laryssa, and when I'm not working in film or television, I'm attempting to travel -- or I'm here, providing resources for working in film or travel. Read more Elsewhere on the internets
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