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Today's Filmmaker

A comment on work and travel in the modern day.

By Rachid FakhouryPublished 5 years ago 3 min read
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If you haven't noticed yet, "content" is everywhere. By that I mean the word "content" is used in many situations I come across. In a world where media is more and more a part of our everyday lives and the tools with which to make media are more and more available, it has become incredibly easy for consumers and clients alike to underestimate the skills necessary to make their "content."

If you're an aspiring filmmaker or a professional who's now baffled by the clientele, here are a few tips I can share from the last three years of travel and short filmmaking across the country. It's not complicated, and common sense usually prevails.

I've spent a big part of the last four years working from LA and traveling to places like Atlanta, Nashville, Cincinnati and Orlando making short films with students in week-long camps. It has taught me a few hard lessons, but all of them have been applicable to larger productions since then.

Of all the lessons, the one that has been the most clear is that in this day and age, a well-rounded filmmaker is more valuable than ever. The ability to plan, shoot, edit and deliver all by yourself is the most important.

I implore you to learn how to take your own projects from soup to nuts. I know in LA especially, I have seen friends lose out on jobs because they didn't think they had to edit. I hear it all the time, "Why should I do that? When I shoot a film I have an editor, or I'll get an editor." But what's lost is the opportunity to earn money in the field you want so you don't have to spend time washing dishes or serving tables (there's nothing wrong with a job, but what's your long term goal?).

The biggest struggle for me has always been the balance between making creative and business decisions; figuring out how to protect my craft without sacrificing my style or creativity, but understanding that unless I'm funding whatever it is that I'm doing, I am beholden to a client. And as we all know, the client is always right, that is, if you want the check to clear at the end of the day.

Below are just a few things I've picked up that I'd like to share with you all.

TIPS:

  • Budget for baggage expenses, as most airlines now have them.
  • Pack your equipment efficiently. I have often taken out the padding in my case and replaced it with the clothes I want to fly with.
  • Be prepared to upgrade boarding to make sure your things stay with you.
  • Be prepared to have to run all the equipment yourself. Get a stand for your mic or boom pole.
  • I highly recommend a wireless transmitter like the Rode TX-XLR Wireless Transmitter and Receiver like the Rode RX-CAM Camera-Mounted Wireless Receiver.
  • Trust in smaller cameras for smaller jobs. With the current standards being so high for consumer cameras, I've found clients not to be as bothered as they would have been five years ago if you show up with a camera that fits in your pocket.
  • Keep examples of your work in your phone gallery. Nothing eases the client's mind like watching a well produced piece, and they'll trust you to do your job.
  • Know your worth and don't overpromise. The reality is that there will always be compromise, especially if there is travel involved.
  • Research film/tv rental places in the city you are traveling to. There's nothing worse than having something go wrong and trying to fix it on the spot.
  • Know your edit and shoot for the edit. You don't need to waste a whole drive "just in case."
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