At some point in producing freelance projects for clients, it occurred to me that the actual hard work was not the creative process. Creating the video I was hired for was the part I could breeze through, for two reasons: It's the part I enjoy, therefore time is of no concern.  Have you ever been working on a project and eventually checked the clock, only to realize you hadn’t eaten or moved in 8 hours?  This didn’t happen because you were pissed or bored; it happened because you were engaged and doing some part of what you love. It's the part my instincts are most finely tuned for.  When you’ve done something long enough, you learn to trust your impulses. Your trained eye refines instinctual work later.  This level of experience becomes the thing that differentiates amateurs from professionals. The bad news for all you freelancers or B2B (Business to Business) services is that the thing you're hired to do is only a small part of the job. Your creativity is the reason … [Read more...]

Unfortunately I graduated college in 2010 at the height of the great recession. Jobs were scarce and I was scared. I had just spent four years working toward a degree in a bad economy with no leads. I had spent so much time focused on getting through college and living the college lifestyle I hadn’t put much focus on what would happen after graduation let alone how to get production assistant jobs.  I knew I needed to make something happen quickly so I came up with a process that got me results -- this is the same tactic I used when reaching out to the filmmakers in this post. If you're in interested in what production assistants do on a day to day basis, check out this video: WHAT YOU WILL LEARN How to get a production assistant job How to be a production assistant How to get connections in the industry with the right people Where to look for the right connections What tools I use to automate this process How to make the best impression What's the difference between … [Read more...]

What’s that nagging voice in my head, saying: "You can edit in a couple hours. Just relax now—catch up on Orange is the New Black!" I bet you've had this same voice in your filmmaking career at one point. MY FEAR AND THE LIZARD BRAIN While I was editing my documentary, Light, I hit a rocky point. I was trying to generate structure from of 100 hours of raw footage. At some point in that process I stumbled upon the works of Seth Godin and his incredible lecture on The Lizard Brain. In this 15 minute talk, Godin outlines the journey of a creative person and the limitations created within the brain that prevent many artists from completing work, or “shipping” (skip ahead to 9:02 for the Lizard Brain explanation, and/or watch at your convenience). This video spoke to the uncertainty I was experiencing while editing. I was without a job for the first time in years. I had only my film and my ideas of others’ expectations to worry about. Godin posits creative limitations … [Read more...]

Throughout the last month I've saved my favorite film industry and production articles + videos from around the internet and I thought it would be fun to share in one post. If you enjoy let me know in the comments and I can make this into a monthly series! Videos This Month If you aren't familiar with the YouTube channel Every Frame A Painting you are really missing out on some of fantastic filmmaking insights. The creator and host Tony Zhou has a knack for breaking down scenes and shots, but this month he took a different approach by studying the evolution of an artist -- Chuck Jones. If you're interested in what makes a great artist I highly recommend checking this out. Next is from Bloop Animation about the story behind Pixar and how it came to be the juggernaut it is today. It's an incredibly insightful look at what it takes to create a successful business in a creative field. If you're considering creating a production company at some point in your career this is a great … [Read more...]

The natural response to any kind of creative block (writer’s or otherwise) is to wait and wonder when it’ll dissipate? Or, we grab the popcorn, sit on your butts, and start consuming inspiration through the TV, computer, phone, etc. You may even be doing that right now... Inspiration is never a negative, but you might be setting yourself back substantially if inspiration isn’t paired with direction. Filling your head with content can set a spark, or build into a pile of stuff you like, but have no real connection to. The best way to remedy Filmmaking Block is to get up and DO! This doesn’t have to cost a boatload, replace your full time job, or be a burden. Examine the free time you have: instead of sitting idle, thinking about what you would do if you had an idea, use your time to get sharp. Creativity and productivity are muscles: they’re only as strong as you make them and, without exercise, your muscles won’t operate at full potential .You’ll miss out on a lot of … [Read more...]

You need a professional website. Period. That’s it. I can hear the objections flying around in your head: “But I already I have a Facebook fan page. Won’t that—” No “But what if I just refer people to my twitt—” No “My YouTube page is killi—” No “Ok, I’ll get a Wix, but only the free—” Oh God, no. STOP. For a long time, we worked hard to avoid building ourselves a website because we were scared. We thought it would be too hard. But here’s the thing: it’s not, and it’s necessary. Lots of artists think there’s no need for them to understand the online world or websites because traditionally someone else did that for them. But, in today’s filmmaking landscape, you’re in charge of your own career. A website is the best place to start. Don’t be afraid: in this post, I’m going to take all the mystery out of building a great site, and get you up and running in less than a half hour! WHAT YOU WILL LEARN Why it’s essential to have a website Why you can’t rely … [Read more...]

When I started trying to find movie industry jobs I was terrified. The BEST decision I ever made was to take film professionals to coffee and pick their brains. So, I thought I'd replicate that experience by seeking insights from some of the best minds out there. I decided to reach out and ask one question of filmmakers, producers, and storytellers to get their take on starting at the bottom. I asked these folks: If you started from scratch today, what's one thing you would do to start your career in the film industry? I want to thank everyone involved in this post, and everyone that has helped spread the word! Enjoy and be sure to take this advice to heart. Adam Lisagor, filmmaker @lonelysandwich sandwichvideo.com    The one thing I would do to start my career: get a job. You’ll learn more in one day on a set than you will in a year in film school. Step 2: pay attention to everything, be nice to everyone, be so amazing that people notice and want to keep you … [Read more...]

LinkedIn might not be the most interesting topic to an aspiring filmmaker, but early in your career it can be incredibly effective, if used correctly. LinkedIn is underutilized by most people. It’s easily one of the best ways to get in touch with high profile professionals. The median income on LinkedIn was $75,000 per year, in 2014. On Facebook, the median income was $35k per year. The stats speak for themselves. LinkedIn is the best place to professionally connect, quickly and effectively. If you attend a local industry meet-and-greet with 1000 attendees, and have conversations no longer than 10 minutes each, you’ll connect with 18 people in three hours. Add some time afterward for sending each new connection a “nice to meet you,” email. If you follow the process laid out in this guide, you’ll increase your chance of showing up at that same event and having 18 local professionals already know who you are. I saw a huge jump in job offers after setting up my profile … [Read more...]

What at the best cameras for video? This is a question filmmakers constantly ask themselves, which can be best addressed by the 80/20 principle. How does the 80/20 principle apply? 20% of your gear produces 80% of your project’s quality, and production’s ease.  Figuring out exactly what that 20% is or is not, in advance, maximizes time and money. It’s easy to tumble down these rabbit holes: “What can I use to shoot this project? What lenses are awesome?  What VFX and touch-ups can I use in post-production? How big can I go for my money?” These are fun ideas to mull over, but ideas don’t make a finished product; acting on ideas brings your movie to life. If you’re just starting out, the three things you’re likely pressed for are time, money, and help. Experimenting and researching to discover your project’s look can be great fun, but theyx can also be massive time-sucks that stand to delay your project indefinitely, if you let them. It’s time to focus and be pragmatic: the … [Read more...]