I need money for travel

[blondandfun]

I have spoken to some documentarians through email that say that very, very few support themselves as filmmakers and even films with national exposure on PBS don't bring in sustained revenue. Its all just a labor of love.

This is disturbing information for me. I don't "love" any topic enough to spend my time and energy on something with no gain.

I'd prefer to work on things which have more potential for monetary gain.

[veg]

" I don't "love" any topic enough to spend my time and energy on something with no gain.

I'd prefer to work on things which have more potential for monetary gain."


Thats a disturbing comment for me blondandfun.

I've spent a lifetime doing this stuff and throughout most of it I've been completely non political.
You have to be when making docs for large organisations.
Just recently, however, I've become much more political in my work, its a sort of "Up yours mate I've seen enough that I've had to shut my mouth about. Now its my turn to shout"
I've recently learned Chinese (Mandarin) in order to make some docs about the plight of the 'poor' Chinese in the year of their Olympics.
Not the wealthy Shanghai kids.
If you're a young guy coming into this business then it saddens me that I'm going to have to watch docs on telly made by ppl like yourself who...
"don't "love" any topic enough to spend my time and energy on something with no gain."
Many professional people are still making a really good living out of this business.
Would you like to come and be interviewed?

Then of course you might just be taking the piss to attention seek.

You enjoy making pizzas? Mine's a Margherita.
veg. UK. NOW!!

[Erik Bien]

Uhm, maybe move to the Valley and make porn?

[veg]

"I'd prefer to work on things which have more potential for monetary gain."
Speak to your President.
Its 2008!! (Recession Year for you and me. GET REAL !)

[blondandfun]

Apparently I'm asking the wrong people. I just want to work hard for a little bit and then sit on a beach and do nothing afterwards You keep lying to yourself that you've found your pride and joy in life. In my opinion the purpose of life is to live the moments when you aren't working.

[veg]

"I just want to work hard for a little bit and then sit on a beach and do nothing afterwards"
Thought about hairdressing?
veg.

[Lunchbox]

If you live in Los Angeles, I can hire you as an assistant! Anybody interested?

[DaFireMedic]

I wrote this post on the other thread, only to find that it had been locked before I could post it.

I have spoken to some documentarians through email that say that very, very few support themselves as filmmakers and even films with national exposure on PBS don't bring in sustained revenue. Its all just a labor of love.

I do not like these short abstract artistic creations some people spend all their time on, because my mind thinks that if it can't make money then its not worth doing. I also reject this notion that only abstract creations is art. I think you can be just as creative in an informational video.

Other than weddings or commercials which I think are boring, has anyone successfully made money off of their low-budget amateur filmmaking hobby? If so, could use direct me towards a more revenue generating genre of video.

I need money to travel while I'm still young.

Its like modeling. Thousands of young people are out there trying to make it as a model and make a few dollars here and there, but are basically struggling financially. You only see a few that actually make good money and could sustain themselves financially.

Many here have succeeded in their area of video, and do pretty well. My guess is that they have worked hard to achieve this and were willing to do stuff that others might find "boring" until they made it to their current position. Unless you are willing to take some of the jobs that you find boring, your chances of sustaining yourself financially with video alone are slim to none. There are no shortcuts. Indie filmmaking is a labor of love, and very few see any profit from it. I have friends that are still trying to pay off their last project. They accept that, and such is the life of an indie filmmaker.

I've done a couple of weddings, because they are fun. Oh, I hate weddings (I almost didn't show up at my own... ). Like you, I find them boring. Its the creativity and artistic side of the wedding video that I enjoy. Its like telling a story, or painting a picture only you are doing it with a camera. You have to find the aspect of it that you enjoy.

I'm not trying to discourage you from pursuing a living in informational videos. If you really enjoy it and are motivated to work very hard, have some talent, some good ideas, and can deal with times of great discouragement, it is possible to break into the field. But there are no shortcuts, no "easy money, then to the beach" workflows out there. If you are do not fit into the above, and are just looking for money to travel, keep your video as a hobby and look elsewhere to earn money.

In my opinion the purpose of life is to live the moments when you aren't working.

Then you are cheating yourself out of half your life. Some of us here, myself included, live and enjoy the moments that we are at work as well as well as away from it. If you honestly feel that one cannot find something that they enjoy to do for a living, then you have some learning to do.

This is disturbing information for me. I don't "love" any topic enough to spend my time and energy on something with no gain.

Try helping others sometime with no thought of gain to yourself. Then you will see what true rewards are.

[dilly323]

If your goal is to travel, try to get someone to sponsor your trip in exchange for travel videos.

The best way to do that is make some videos of where ever you're at first. If they're good enough, maybe someone will send you somewhere on assignment.

I made travel videos during my trip in Asia using a crappy point-and-shoot Canon Powershot. Because they liked them, a travel video website is sponsoring my next trip to Central America.

[Lunchbox]

what about Australia. You can work while you travel with the travel visa.

[Sean Michael]

In my opinion the purpose of life is to live the moments when you aren't working.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but that's a recipe for failure. The most successful people in the world love their work. They enjoy it so much that it doesn't feel like "work." The key is to find that sweet spot, the synergy of doing work that you love.

[lordtangent]

Well, blondandfun, there are some sure-fire professions when ones primary consideration is making money.

1. Prostitution (very high "ROI" considering the cost of condoms)
2. Wedding Video / Photography
3. Porn

All three career choices have a lot in common beyond simply making lots of money for the time actually spent working. Hmm... interesting.

But... the thing is you still need to be "good" at any of them to really do well. (Not everyone is a natural photographer... or good hired sex worker)

P.S. and before anyone get's insulted... I'm JOKING... well, at least a little

[Lunchbox]

It isn't like you want to be a wedding videographer/photographer and you do that next week. It's not easy to get client espeically if you don't have any experience or anything to proof that you can capable of doing so.

I remember my first year in business, I only have 3 wedding jobs. I also need to show clients videos that I shoot at my friend's wedding.

Maybe it'll be easier to go into the porn business. haha

[orchidsofwrath]

Apparently I'm asking the wrong people. I just want to work hard for a little bit and then sit on a beach and do nothing afterwards You keep lying to yourself that you've found your pride and joy in life. In my opinion the purpose of life is to live the moments when you aren't working.

everyone gets joy out of different things. everyone is different. Ever heard that saying "whatever floats your boat?"
"You keep lying to yourself that you've found your pride and joy in life." one can love their job. Again, everyone is different. you mentioned "in my opinion" in your next sentence. Not everyone has your opinion!

[lordtangent]

Speaking as someone who happens to love what they do for a living... I have to say that some days still feel an aweful lot like work. (I can't imagine what it would be like if I DIDN'T love my job though)

Honestly, I think you are better off doing what you love. So, blondandfun, since travel seems to be your main motivation, have you considered being a tour guide? My borther-in-law did that for a lot of years and he got a ton of traveling done while he was "still young". The cool thing is, other people paid for all the travel.