For those who have a serious interest in becoming a visual storyteller behind the camera (producer, writer, director, DP, etc), please consider the variety of pathways you can pursue (in addition to the 10 Best Practices).
Here are options to consider from least creative control to the greatest.
1. The studio system. This is a very long road and you will start at the bottom of a tall totem pole if you manage to get your foot in the door. If your passion is to work within the studio system, take any job you can with a studio and excel at what you do and love people along the way. If you’re good and you put in 10+ years you may be in a position to have an influence in the process and the stories that get told.
2. The independent film company. You can try to find an independent production company and get an entry-level position. If you can get on smaller team like this, you stand a chance of having a bigger role in the making of a smaller film. You don’t have to be in LA to work for a firm like this. Many of these companies only have 2-3 people on the payroll so they may not have much of a budget for people. Here is a list of VSN-connected companies.
3. Corporate production house. Every city has any number of production houses that do mostly corporate video or commercial production work. You’ll be telling stories, but they’ll be shorter and will most likely be selling a product of some kind. Not a bad way to get experience.
4. A media specialist in a company, church, or non-profit. A growing number of organizations have grown to the point where they no longer want to outsource their storytelling so they develop an internal media team. These teams will be small and require a broad skill set. You’ll probably have a great deal of creative input. Most of your work will be telling that organization’s story (for sales, donations, mobilization, sermon illustration). Many churches now have a part-time or full-time paid position. Most mission agencies require ministry partner team development (you build a team of people who will support you with a monthly donation to pay your salary and expenses).
5. Start your own company. If you’re talented and ready to bootstrap, put up your own shingle and start doing corporate production work. Some start in wedding videography and move from there. It is tough to break into a market, but you get to be your own boss with all the risks and rewards that go with it. If you develop a solid corporate client base, you can take on a certain number of projects for non-profits that you care about at a subsidized rate (most smaller non-profits can’t afford standard rates). I know a number of people who have developed a strong client base and potential funding sources allowing them to develop a passion film project on the side.
6. Freelance. Get a day job that you like and take corporate work on the side that you like. Get as much experience as you can and get in as many of your 10,000 hours as fast as possible.
7. Independent filmmaker. Find a way to make your own stories. This is how great filmmakers get started. You have creative control (depending on your funding arrangement). You make a low-budget film with a compelling story and go the festival circuit for exposure. If you’re lucky, you may even get a distribution deal. You’ll need to make three films before you’re likely to make any kind of living from this.
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