If you lived anywhere near me, I’d hire you as my dp since Louisvile is kind of slacking in filmmakers who aren’t in it to create, but are only here for the money. I don’t know what to tell you. From what I hear about Austin, it seems like a really progressive film community. I’d give anything to be there know since I started production on my film. I think the best thing to do is make films and start getting people to watch them, it doesn’t matter who. Start sending stuff to festivals. I hear SXSW is pretty great for all kinds of stuff.
Dp
Shoot yourself!! With your camera of course. ;)
In his latest, The Revolution of Everyday Life, Marc Lafia gives HD Flip video cameras to the cast and has them film themselves alone.: related post
That’s very kind of you, Tommy. I have recently been shopping festivals for one of my projects. I was able to coordinate and program a festival on campus at Texas State University last year and show two of my projects. It went modestly. Right now, I’ve been trying to network with people in Austin, but like one guy I talked to said, there are people in the film business in Austin and then there are the wannabes. Unfortunately, its only really the wannabes who advertise for work…work that doesn’t pay, of course. I refuse to be paid in pizza.
Shane Ramirez
I know those two aspirations seem diametrically opposed, but I’m currently trying to find work on sets either in front or behind the camera. I live near Austin, so I’m in a decent position to find some stuff to work on, but I haven’t had any luck finding (official) work that pays, even as a PA. I’m currently trying to find an agent and get into that whole game, but my resume is pretty slight when my main credits are my own projects I’ve made and the acting classes I took under my minor. I’m just trying to get my foot in the door. My goal is to eventually become a director, but right now I’m trying to use my other skills to get closer and closer to that goal.
Do any of you have any advice or stories to share about breaking in, even for menial work? Do any of you recommend working for free just to start out?
Here is a REEL of my cinematography if any of you want to take a look at it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o5oA9TCvhw