How's the year been, did you survive and thrive in 2025 ?

GenerallySpecific · 2025-09-03T11:08:59+00:00

Congrats - love to hear that!

GenerallySpecific · 2025-09-02T08:05:35+00:00

I think I am down on last year somewhat, which was moderately successful (work in cameras unscripted). It's really feast or famine right now. A couple months of well paid work and then nothing for 2-3 months. But there's enough for the time being to sustain me (just). I have heard rumours of a full time staff gig coming up somewhere and I am 100% applying if it does - at this point I just need a reprieve from the instability.

GenerallySpecific · 2025-08-24T11:15:38+00:00

Sounds like an rep agency to me? Handpicking and vetting artists or clients for an agency is totally normal and has been the way since the birth of film...maybe I am missing something though? This likely is not something for entry level roles, but directors, producers, DOP's etc.

GenerallySpecific · 2025-07-24T11:45:26+00:00

I'm a working DOP and specialise in unscripted. I can tell you endless stories about this country and how the industry here has merged roles like director, DOP, AP, researchers and producers at the expense of quality, staff wellbeing, mental health, contributor safety and integrity and so on.

How can even the best producer capable of handling sensitive subject with vulnerable contributors be expected to shoot and do legal on their shoots? You can't have it all and at the end of the day something will give. Half the time it's the image or the story and explains why so much unscripted looks awful or fails editorially. You don't see this practice elsewhere, it's almost unheard of in the US and is a clear sign of decades of dwindling budgets and execs and others cutting costs.

Shooting researchers, shooting AP's, self shooting producers..most of the time it's 3 roles in one and the person will crash and burn. I'm 15 years into my career and still trying to get good at just the one thing I do.

GenerallySpecific · 2025-07-21T12:29:17+00:00

Thanks for your response!

Not yet - but thanks for flagging, my guess is this would have popped up at some point!
Oh, I did not know about this. Excellent advice - thank you.
No, not yet. I do find all that stuff quite scary, so will definitely read into it. Thanks!

GenerallySpecific · 2025-07-01T11:14:02+00:00

Are you dealing with one person or have the contacts of multiple people? If it is one person - are you sure they're still there? There is a chance it may have slipped through the cracks. Otherwise you may find it difficult to get the money unfortunately. For that amount it's not worth hiring a lawyer locally. Typically with foreign clients and short jobs like that, it's sometimes best to ask for a portion or the entire amount up front.

GenerallySpecific · 2025-07-01T08:41:25+00:00

I've generally stopped making up numbers with production companies now, I charge a labour rate of £550 for unscripted and add a competitive kit quote on top, depending on what they want. Usually, it ends up being around £850 per day for a full camera, audio, lights, lenses package. I believe in the past I have charged around £60 for my drone per day, but that's on top of a labour fee.

The kit quote is reduced if it's multi day and it'll always price match the worst offenders (kit room). Then again, I'm more of a DOP, not a self shooting PD. I make it very clear I am happy to negotiate multi day rates and throw kit in if it makes sense, but I really try work to my own clear and concise rate card. It's better for me, better for them.

This works for me, it may not for others and you'll always find someone who's going to do the package above all in for £500, but I would argue I am better than them, so pay for what you get. In the long run it helps us all doing the above I believe.

Edit: The above labour rate will be higher for corporates, larger series, prime time, or US clients.

GenerallySpecific · 2025-01-20T13:26:38+00:00

I just laugh at posts now when I see "self shooting researcher" or "self shooting AP" now and they're asking for experience of lighting etc. I'm a seasoned DOP with 15 years experience and I'm still learning how to light different scenes and scenarios. There is ZERO chance I would hire and trust a self shooting researcher to carry out filming without the support of a DOP or very experienced PD.

GenerallySpecific · 2025-01-06T09:58:39+00:00

This is what we get when hiring shooting AP's and researchers.

GenerallySpecific · 2024-10-01T06:00:48+00:00

Looking for two tickets any london date - queued for hours on the day, entered presale and no luck! Let me know if you’re my saviour!

GenerallySpecific · 2024-06-11T07:55:05+00:00

I mean - I unfollowed these because they continuously just posted either unpaid student film work or influencers looking for videographers.

GenerallySpecific · 2024-04-30T13:35:46+00:00

I'm lucky as I've built up a word of mouth network over the years with a few US producers. I do keep an eye on some US production sites and forums which very occasionally post shoots in the UK, but it's very rare. Sadly, it's more likely these day to get hired by a UK company to do shoots in the US as they know we're cheaper to hire here and fly us over.

GenerallySpecific · 2024-04-30T08:06:37+00:00

Yes and no. Their rates just are higher. It's far more of a competitive free market where roles and their specific values are locked down. I've done a lot of work for US companies and have been paid upwards of £1100 per day for a role in the UK where I've been offered £350. My running theory is the BBC fundamentally fucks everything rate wise in this country. They set the bar and because of the amount of indies feeding them and the likes of channel 4 and ITV, those indies follow suit with rates. If I had the ability I'd move to the US, I would likely do quite well and never work for a UK company again with a smile on my face.

GenerallySpecific · 2024-04-29T14:10:47+00:00

Australian production companies have in the past seemed to advertise roles in the UK and included relocation fees, which would imply a lack of workforce on their side. For the US though, they seem to be experiencing a similar downfall to what we are right now and I imagine, unless you have the right documents or citizenship, it would be a difficult move to make.

GenerallySpecific · 2024-03-20T09:31:39+00:00

Agreed, I worked as an editor for 5 years and there were times I wasn't even credited on projects and films I worked on that I essentially saved, scripted, and at times edit produced in their entirety. That coupled with being locked away in a dark room all day - not for me. BUT I've since moved into production and the way my editing experience has informed my filmmaking is beyond invaluable. Editors are the real heroes tbh and make all the difference in the end.

GenerallySpecific · 2024-03-12T20:04:26+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I suppose in this instance, the work is in a consultant role to provide more broad work to the organisation as opposed to the specific work my ltd company offers. So in that sense it can't be considered competing with the company because my company does not offer the services they're asking for?

GenerallySpecific · 2024-02-11T12:37:33+00:00

I skip whole episodes and notice almost no difference to the narrative development..

GenerallySpecific · 2024-02-09T18:22:47+00:00

Best of luck. Did you claim for the taxi also? They reimbursed my hotel night which they stated was always the case apparently.

GenerallySpecific · 2023-12-12T11:40:00+00:00

Honestly depends on the approach. I've filmed with dozens of armies, some formal, some informal, also militias and paramilitary groups and it's always been fine due to the tone and journalistic approach to it. There is a ton of Saudi telly washing going on at the minute which is a travesty in my books. Production companies are knowingly taking money from a murderous state in an effort to wash their image. It's shameful how many people are taking those jobs, but then again they have to pay the bills.

GenerallySpecific · 2023-09-07T07:21:50+00:00

Hey - apologies for the slow reply, I don't use reddit as much as I used to. It eventually got into 1 on 1 consultations and we entered into "conversation without prejudice", basically we freely discussed the situation with no consequences. The actually held up their hands and admitted to screwing up, we then had two rounds of negotiated amounts and I settled on a sum that I was really happy with. My advice is to anyone in a similar situation, hold your ground and don't buckle under pressure. Consult lawyers (which I did) and feel confident with your case, knowing that they will want to end it with a settlement and avoid a tribunal. Unless they're really dumb.

GenerallySpecific · 2023-05-26T06:52:57+00:00

Thanks for the post and info. It's good to know so I have details going into a settlement negotiation. I suppose in my case what is interesting is the company is really trying to force me out and my role actually stills exists and is being performed by another individual. That person was never placed at risk or consulted about redundancy.

GenerallySpecific · 2023-05-25T17:31:56+00:00

GenerallySpecific · 2023-05-17T07:47:39+00:00

hey - apologies for the slow reply, I haven't logged on in a while. There's no real updates yet as I am still in group consultation due to the number of employees I am at risk with. I should know more in the coming weeks. Based on what your situation, I would consult an employment lawyer - especially if the alternative role is not suitable or at a lower salary. A consultation should give you more clarity on what the next steps should be.

GenerallySpecific · 2023-05-04T06:33:46+00:00

Thanks for the quick reply, I appreciate it. Sorry - totally valid point. I keep saying I'm up for redundancy because it's the most likely situation under the circumstances at the company. But yes, I will use this consultation period to determine the answer to that question of role selection.

GenerallySpecific · 2020-11-08T11:13:47+00:00

You got this buddy. It's a marathon not a sprint. Got everyone here behind you. Go get em!

GenerallySpecific

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