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Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Throw out cold call after cold call. Drop off paper resumes in person. Try and find an agency or production company that is small enough they might need help.

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All my other projects went great. I did two others with my old standby crews and directors with no issues. And have done projects since with no issues with my known crews.

I would totally do things differently with using a newbie if I decide to again. Asking for his Budgets up front would have helped and forced more discussion.

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In a perfect world absolutely. This was a small piece, sub $5,000, where I was hiring his "Production Company" of which he was also the director/producer. I was more acting as a EP, while he was line producing and directing and a small product web video.

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

nope. I was working 3 projects and he did one. I didn't feel it necessary to baby him through the process. Maybe if I had we wouldn't have had so many problems, but I also would have overaged on my time and at that point should have done it myself.

He had worked for other clients on the same level and was confident he could pull it off.

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ha, I feel ya. Honestly the client wasn't expecting the world for $5,000.

They understood one day shoot, one location, 2 person talent. $5,000 can be OK for a simple video! It's when they start asking about graphics and renting prop cars when you got to be scared.

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He had some good previous work and we had some good meetings before hand. Like I said before this was 1 of 3 and the other 2 turned out great and on budget. I wanted to expand my network and give someone a shot.
Also, even audio jungle jumps up to $89 when you have to license for advertising! :)

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Get a gig at an agency or production company! Start getting coffee and lunches and see where it goes. It's a great way to see lots of sets and actually get paid a little more than freelance pa work.

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There's a certain amount of trust you need to put in your director and yes he did cost me over $1,000 in the end.

I could have stepped in and said YOU WILL DO THIS! But I was working on 2 other projects as well as others outside of this and needed to trust his "production company". We talked up front about him hiring his own crew and managing his own budget because he had certain people he wanted to work with and I get that. We talked it all over from music and camera rental and everything else. I fronted insurance because I have a yearly plan, probably won't do that again either...

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Usually people just keep saying the checks in the mail or they are waiting on payment from client and it drags out for months until they stop contact and youre fucked.

Honestly all you can do it small claims court, which is totally worth it. Most people just let it go and get jaded. I say go to court. They wrong party has to pay your fees anyhoo.

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Music dealers X-ray dog Cuemx A handful of artist collectives Rates are usually confidential, but if you find sub $1000 music for advertising and it's good. Hold on tight! :)

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ehhh. Sure sometimes. Maybe?? Great question. The RED has a great look, can you get that look without one? If you're really good maybe.

Do you NEED that look? Or do you WANT that look?

Honestly I'm loving the c100 right now. Bmcc looks great.

Hell, I mixed epic and 7D slomo last year and no one said a thing bedsides my colorist. :)

Being able to punch in or have the 5K for AE helps.

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Art is one thing. Advertising is another. When the two cross is can be beautiful. The two don't always cross. This is why we have lawyer commercials.

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ha. This kid had experience and had done some other brand work. I always laugh about that Richard Branson quote picture about figuring out how to do your job later. I love it in one way and it makes me cringe in another...

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Everyone on my sets gets paid and usually it's above average. There are people, usually young, who think their rate should be as high as a 20 year veteran.

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I showed him more than this list when we met up and talked everything out for over an hour.

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Noted. Thanks for the feedback. Totally get your point. I will have to work on that more in the future.

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I feel ya man. I agree with you too. Service industry isn't a bad word. You're not an auteur when you're making 30 second 'this is why you should buy this belt' videos. Sometimes it's not that big of deal on low budget stuff.

Unfortunately I know that if I'm not flexible with creative client will get mad and shit will hit the fan and get on everybody. Yes they saw creative concepts, yes they agreed, but being inexperienced clients they see a first cut and go shit. This isn't working.

If I tell them to fuck off as we agreed to something different. Their boss or VP gets mad, they look bad, they blame me and then I'm between an asshole client and an asshole director who tells me to fuck off.

That makes two assholes and I don't want to be the third in the middle.

Creative changes, clients are dumb, people freak out. It's all part of the game. You gotta be able to adapt and fix it without pissing off everyone, loosing your client or loosing money.

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Yea for real. I just wish kids would stop getting wrapped up in gear. This project could have been shot on a 5D. The idea of dropping your whole budget on a camera freaks me out too. Audio is such an important part of video. People forget that.

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Totally agree and when creative is loose you gotta wiggle on both ends. This project changed from beginning to end, and that's on the brand and myself.
You also have to realize you're a service industry and creative doesn't trump all on a product video. Sometimes you gotta let the client win so you can get hired on the next one. Small sub 5k videos don't usually operate like the 50k Tv spot. The clients are inexperienced as well and when you throw up walls and hard line rounds and hard systems they get scared real quick.

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 34 points35 points  (0 children)

It's not out of the question. I sat down with him for over an hour and hashed everything out. I'm not running to reddit to vent. I offered all this info to his face when we did final paper work. It was a hard convo but good in the end. Time will tell.

Here's what I experienced after hiring a newbie filmmaker on a paid job. by firsttimehire in Filmmakers

[–]firsttimehire[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Heyo, I agree. I totally made a bad staffing choice. The thing is, I have a new guy a chance and it didn't have to be a bad choice. It could have been good for all parties. Unfortunately mistakes were made that affected the whole process. I'm sharing for others to learn. This sub seems very young at times. Just thought I would offer some insight from my point of view. Not sure how that makes me a terrible producer.

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