You’re A Producer. Act Like One.
Tweet Today is my third and final post in a series addressing three key roles in film production. In part 1 (“Are you a DP or a light putter-upper“) I explored what it means to wear the moniker “DP”. In part 2 (“Be a director not just a camera pointer“), I begged you to fully...
Be A Director, Not Just a Camera Pointer
Last week I asked the provocative question, “Are you a DP or a light putter-upper.” As expected, there was quite a diversity of replies and responses. This week I have another question for you. Are you a director, or are you a camera pointer? Actually, let me change that. I don’t want to ask, I...
Are You a DP or a Light Putter-Upper?
DP. It stands for director of photography (DoP for you British types. Two simple letters. D. P. It’s funny how much is communicated when you add a few letters before or after your name. Dr. MD PhD MFA Esq. In each of these examples, these letters truly mean something. They mean you’ve take some sort...
The Process of Changing Your Focus and Brand
Last week I talked about the importance of focusing your business in one particular area, rather than trying to be all things to all people. So, if you shoot weddings, your website and all your promotional materials should be about weddings. If you’re a commercial director, focus on that (and ideally, on a particular style...
Your Camera Is Not the Only Thing That Should be Focused
I must admit, I always get a chuckle when I come across a webpage for a photographer and filmmaker and they say something like, “We specialize in weddings, bar mitzvahs, birthdays, church videos, non-profits, commercials, dance recitals, newborns, teens, music groups, corporate events, and legal depositions.” Phew! I call that EBTKS marketing (everything but the kitchen...
Are You Putting Too Many Videos Online?
There’s a terrible condition that’s spreading among filmmakers and videographers all over the world. I call it video creep, and if you suffer from it, chances are you could be hurting your business. What is video creep? What is video creep you ask? It’s a term I totally made up. It was inspired by a term I...
The #1 Reason You Should NOT Be an Indie Contractor
Today is my third and final post in a series on choosing the path of an independent contractor (IC) vs. that of building a formal studio. In part 1 I wrote about the benefits of being an IC. Last week I wrote about the importance of branding. Today I want to write about why it’s...
The Brand of YOU
Last week I wrote about the benefits of a film and video career as an independent contractor (IC) vs. starting and growing a studio. The response was great. Thanks to all who commented on the post or in the Twitterverse. Today I want to follow that up with a topic that I think is vitally...
Picking the Path of an Independent Contractor vs. Studio
There used to be a time when in order to start a video production business, you literally needed tens of thousands of dollars, years and years of experience, and the strength to lug around 30+ lb. cameras on you shoulder plus 15 lb. battery belt packs. You needed to have the patience to do LINEAR,...
If You Want to be Creative, Go F.I.S.H.
This short film was part of a film series I created for a CEO’s Keynote address. He would be speaking to a room full of professional photographers from around the country about the creative process (as well as other topics). We purposefully chose artists in this piece that were NOT photographers because 1) we didn’t...
48 Hour Film Project – “The Last Author”
The Last Author Can't see the video in your RSS reader or email? Click Here! They say that if you want to be a filmmaker, then make films. I’ve been wanting to get back to my “filmmaking roots” for a long time. That is to say, making films just for me. Not for a client,...
