I realize some of us here in the boards are full time production, others striving to get there, like me. What do you do for work when not doing production?



Me = 2nd level Network Analyst for a LARGE military financial company.
Also = Web developer (mainly small sites)
Also = Vocalist (funk, rock, hip-hop)

I write for various magazines and sites, including Videomaker, VASST, DMN and more. I also teach part-time at the Palm Beach Film School. About once or twice a week, I do either indie film or video production (video pays the best, go figure), but of course, I'd love to see that increase, esp. the film production.

heath

Land use planner for Dane County, Wisconsin.

Doesn't leave me much time for editing!

Freelance IT consultant, its how I got into this game in the first place.

B and H Photo

Pro Video Sales

I write for various magazines and sites, including Videomaker, VASST, DMN and more. I also teach part-time at the Palm Beach Film School. About once or twice a week, I do either indie film or video production (video pays the best, go figure), but of course, I'd love to see that increase, esp. the film production.

heath

I always wondered how one could get a gig as a writer for mags. Very nice, and very busy you are.

Land use planner for Dane County, Wisconsin.

Doesn't leave me much time for editing!

It probably gives you access to some pretty nice locations though, no?

Freelance IT consultant, its how I got into this game in the first place.

It seems easier to get into other techie fields when you have computers and networking down. At least for me, picking up software like Premiere 4 years ago and not being overwhelmed is what made me keep going.

B and H Photo

Pro Video Sales



Dana,


Got to love you folks over at B&H!!! I have zero complaints about everything I've purchased over there. It's also nice to see someone who works there be pop in, this is definitely the spot.

I work at a bagel place :( Unfortunatly I cant get alot of money for video stuff out of the bagel industry.

(I'm only 17) haha

Believe it or not, I'm 42 and retired (Not sure if that is the correct word) but you could also say on pension. When I was 17 I worked in a colemine 700 meters below the ground and one of the priviliges was that you could stop working after 25 years because of the unhealthy working conditions. When I was 25 all the mines closed due to the though competition of cheap imported african cole but I kept the pension priveliges. After that I worked as a carpenter and the last 15 years at IKEA. A year before I retired I decided to do something which I enjoyed doing and slowly started up my business, my father has been filming wedding for more then 20 years so I got the virus from him. When my pension started I did the filming part fulltime and be my own boss, I'm enjoying every bit of it.

B and H Photo

Pro Video Sales

They finally found someone to fill that position huh? I saw them advertising for that position for ages. Good luck to you.

I also concur with Marco's comments. Always a pleasurable experience working with you guys.

Tim

Unfortunatly I cant get alot of money for video stuff out of the bagel industry.

(I'm only 17) haha

Yes, but all the bagels you can eat right? LOL

Noa,

Wow what sort of gear did/does your father use?

Not that there's anything wrong with discussing our vocations in a thread, but remember too that there is a place in your profile to list your occupation.

Unlike your location (City and ST or Province in North America, City and Country outside North America), which is a requirement of DVinfo membership, listing your occupation and gear is optional but often helpful. Definitely encouraged!

I operate a group of picture framing schools in CT, Vegas and Orlando. Wanna open a custom picture framing business? The profit picture can be pretty nice.

I wrote for a magazine for 10 years prior to starting my first school.

If I could however, I'd produce videos. I love the technology and the creativity.

Marco,

I have done reviews at both www.DVinfo.net and www.HDVinfo.net, which led to co-writing "HDV: What You Need to Know, Vol. 2" with Douglas Spotted Eagle. From there, I contacted DMN and Videomaker, and they hired me to write as a freelancer. I also have written a few things at VASST (DSE's company) and 3 years ago, I interviewed the OPEN WATER filmmakers for MovieMaker.

I'd love to write for MM again. It's a lot of fun!

heath

And like most of us here, I'd love to work only as a film director/producer. However, I love my day jobs.

heath

Noa,

Wow what sort of gear did/does your father use?

The only camera's I remember him using before his Sony vx2100 which he owns now was a Sony vx2000 and before that a vx9000. He has a wall filled up with vhs decks which he still uses for people who want a vhs tranfer to dvd. I remember him doing his first "real" edits on a cassablanca avio which he still has and which is still operational. Now since 2 years he is using a pc with pinnacle studio 10 and recently he bought a dual core pc :) and that at an age of 65. He still does weddings but is slowly getting tired of it. He thinks hdv sucks and is no better then dv :) and the only way to measure a camera's performance is by how well it performes in low light. It is by joining him at a few weddings I managed to get my feet wet and learning the business. Hopefully I will still be filming at his age. :)

Java programmer - web applications developer. I've been in that industry for almost 13 years now. Can't say that I like it, but it pays well - letting me buy all my video gear and occasionally have time to use it. ;-)

I am Systems Engineer for a company that sells Telecommunications Test Equipment. I suppose I am one of the leading experts on testing T1 circuits from a Network Operations Center. I have been doing pretty much the same type of work for over 20 years. It pays well and except for the extensive travel, it is a good job that leaves my weekends open, and I can live anywhere in the USA that I wish to live.

I notice you live in Clermont, Steven, that's cool. I love my jobs, too, because if my wife and I decide to move, I can continue writing articles. However, I'll need to find new production work.

It's cool that there are a lot of IT people on our board. I've noticed people who are breaking into the industry in my area have a similar background.

heath

It's cool that there are a lot of IT people on our board. I've noticed people who are breaking into the industry in my area have a similar background.

I've noticed that too, if you are a true geek it tends to spill over into a lot of other areas like sound/video production, HAM, RC toys, guns, custom street rods, etc. I think being confortable with something most find complicated really helps the crossovers.

I notice a lot of filmmakers and videographers (and IT people) are also avid photographers, usually with DSLRs.

heath

I realize some of us here in the boards are full time production, others striving to get there, like me. What do you do for work when not doing production?


Former IT for very large international law firm in San Francisco for 11 years. Burned out on IT.

Videographer for 10 years as a hobby and now a wedding videographer for 7 years.

Still working for #1 place to work in America in Silicon Valley.

Volunteer fitness instructor at the YMCA.

Day Job: Full time independent producer
Night Job: aspiring feature film director

Day Job: Full time independent producer
Night Job: aspiring feature film director

Your jobs=envy

Dylan's the man! I have a friend who is a full-time editor on major motion pictures. I envy him. The DP on my film is pretty much a full-time DP on music videos and various films.

heath

Day job = corporate IT for the second largest private company in the world (2006).

Part time = location sound recordist on indie movies.

What's the company called, Mike?

heath

They finally found someone to fill that position huh? I saw them advertising for that position for ages. Good luck to you.

Tim

Still actually hiring more for the department. You'll probably still see the ads.

Marco,

I have done reviews at both www.DVinfo.net and www.HDVinfo.net, which led to co-writing "HDV: What You Need to Know, Vol. 2" with Douglas Spotted Eagle.


Maybe I should do some reviews, lol...

It's also all about networking, too.

heath

It probably gives you access to some pretty nice locations though, no?

Unfortunately, I spend most of my day sitting at a desk.

But, you are right to some degree. I do occasionally come across some favorite fishing holes, taverns and bird-watching or star-gazing spots.
[No, I ain't telling! So don't ask! ;-)]

My favorite jobs are when I get to help out our Parks Department look over some potential new acquisitions. The real downers are the new sites for giant subdivisions or strip malls. Bleah!

And like most of us here, I'd love to work only as a film director/producer. However, I love my day jobs.

heath

I love my health insurance.

I love my health insurance.

I love my health insurance via my wife.

heath

The real downers are the new sites for giant subdivisions or strip malls. Bleah!

Booo, yeah we see that out here as well. So sad watching Coyotes running around a soon to be strip mall, looking for what was his den...

What's your day job?
The wife.
But I was seriously thinking of getting a part time job at a gas station.
How's that?

--------------------------------------
Actually, I write for other people---almost anything (mostly legal stuff), and an article now and then. That and some video or stills along with selling instructional tapes and a book.

I have a degree in watchmaking. I'm currently employed as an aircraft flight instrument technician, repairing the older electromechanical flight instruments used in helicopters. It's a fun gig. There is a shortage of people who can work on the older instruments.

Before that, I worked for a major international jewelry line as a watchmaker in one of their national repair centers.

Martin,

One of my old favorite guitarists of Anthrax, Dan Spitz, left the band in 1995 or so and became a very well-regarded watchmaker. I think he moved from New York to Miami. He recently did a reunion tour with the former singer and bassist of Anthrax, but I believe his passion is now watches.

I am even considering wearing one again after I saw some nice Casios. At any rate, welcome aboard!

heath

-A/V music analyst...TV Ops department @ BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.)-full time job

-freelance recording engineer, musician and aspiring videographer- takes up all the rest of my time and money!!

I work for a behemoth drug company, responsible for developing new asthma therapies. Been with the company 15 years, 4.5 in the UK and the last 10.5 here in North Carolina. I was attracted here for a number of reasons, including the fantastic diving of the NC coast. I'm also a fully qualified scuba instructor. Above the water, I sing and play guitar (inspired by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Neil Young and others). I've written a few songs along the way.

My software company is a sideline and I've been somewhat taken aback by the number of custom projects I've been asked to do. Strangley, the vast majority are all related to high school athletic events. Since I thoroughly enjoy writing software and videography (esp. under water!), the marriage of the two is very rewarding.

John,

You are one of many fascinating people here at DVi, welcome! And interesting about the asthma stuff--I've been living with it for 28 years now and the newest meds have made me feel better than ever.

heath

Heath,

Your article in this month's "Videomaker" magazine is excellent! Brief, concise, and easy to understand. Congratulations on a job well done.

Mike

Thanks, Mike. It was one of the hardest things I've written because it's "deep tech" and I had to make it easy to understand, even for me, if I were to just pick it up not as a writer, but as a reader.

heath

I'm a neighbor of John's over here in Efland NC.

By day I'm the Senior Facilities Engineer for a Biotech company in RTP.

Weekends I do on track instruction for various high performance driving schools in the south east. Also my video habit revolves around amateur motorsports. You'll see some of my work if you watch Born Country on CMT this weekend. The episode is about the 2007 One Lap of America. I shot a good bit of what you'll see on and around the track.

Chris

Thanks, Mike. It was one of the hardest things I've written because it's "deep tech" and I had to make it easy to understand, even for me, if I were to just pick it up not as a writer, but as a reader.

heath

And, that is why it was so good, easy to understand, you hit the mark!

Mike

It is so interesting to see the many other facets in our lives.

My goal is to make a living with my camera. My dream is to become a movie director. However, it's hard to earn money with shorts/feature films. The costs of making one are high and they require a lot of time. So basically I would like to be making movies all time but that won't generate much money at this point in my career. What are good ways to earn money with my camera?

I would like to hear from you how you are earning money with your camera. What type of shooting do you do? What type of clients do you have? What kind of rates are you charging and how long does a project typically require? Do you focus one one type of client or do you take every job you can get? These are some of the question I would like to ask fellow forum members.

I am based in The Netherlands, Europe so I do not think I will be competing with most of you. I just hope everyone is willing to share this information with me as I am struggling to pick a direction in which to take my career at this point. I do have a 40-hour regular job so filming for me is in the weekends.

Many thanks in advance.

My main occupation would lie somewhere in the realm of pomology.(For those of you out there who know what pomology is you get extra credit:) Pomology is the growing and caring for fruit. Basically my main occupation is working at an apple orchard. On Friday nights from 6pm-10pm I make anywhere from 200-350 Apple Cider Donuts. If you love Krispy Kreeme donuts you would love these even more. Then after I get home I get about 5-6 hours of sleep and get up at 4:45am on Saturday morning and go to a Farmers Market in Bloomington, MN. I get to Market at 6:00am and have an hour to set up, before the Market opens at 7:00am. I sell about 50 varieties of Jam, 4 different dried apples, Apple Butter, A couple different varieties of apple sauce, and the donuts until Noon. Then I pack up and come home. After the first or second week in August we will be picking apples and making Apple Cider to sell at Market.

But that’s not the only job I have, on Tuesdays I mow a 3-acre lawn and do yard work for a couple in Eden Prairie, MN. That takes up 6 hours of my day. An hours drive both ways and 4 hours working there.

I also work at a Dairy Farm at least once a week. Lately I have been hauling manure. The only fun part about that is you get to drive the skid-loader. The worse thing that could happen is if you lift the bucket to high with out leveling it out the contents that are all wet will splash over the back and come into the cab that doesn't have a door. That is really gross, I have done this once. :)

But there's one more job I have. On the days I'm not doing anything I work on a construction crew if their doing work on a day that I'm available.

And in my free time I get to mow my 3-acre yard. And when I have time left over I get to make short films. I also shoot Rubber Stamping Tutorials for Stampin Kub (http://www.stampinkub.com/tutorials/techniques/alumichip.html).