In the two and a half years since I posted here, I've been very busy. I've PA'd, worked in the camera department, ran sound, produced and directed an independent project (which was nominated for an award) I have an agent for my photography, who gets me semi-regular (if infrequent) work for a fortune-1000 company.
My next goal is to start directing for money. There's a lot of local demand for commercials (with very big companies), but it's a crammed market of "regulars", who consistently get the work. I am friends with most of them, but everyone knows me as a lower-positioned crew member. Anyone have advice for getting attention and moving upward? I don't feel like making fake commercials on my own would help at all, considering the budget necessary to make something even in the same league as the real ones. That, and most of my friends that I could ask for help as crew already work on the commercials in some capacity. Recognizing that I am not experienced or possibly very good, I am more than willing to take on smaller projects to build a reel and gain experience. But even if there was an application for this, my name will be next to those trusted people that get the regular work.
For those of you that it applies to, how did you get your first paid job as a director?
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Alexander, I see you're in Portland and yes, it is a market crammed with regulars - particularly in the commercial and industrial market. There is a lot of strong films coming out of there and a smattering of tv production. My best advice is to keep on schmoozin & boozin. What about widening your field? Vancouver is just across the bridge, Seattle isn't all that far and to the south you've got Salem, Corvallis & Eugene. I'm not all that far away and I can't pull enough crew together to even produce a short down here in Corvallis. Maybe we should talk - I'll send you an invite.
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Oh, I did look at your Cascadia short.
Create your own work. Go direct commercials for smaller businesses, and use their recommendations to approach other companies for creating their commercials. With great work you will start entering the crammed market.
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Save up your money. Make more low budget films. And listen to Doug. He's a no bs guy with lots of experience.
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Think it through carefully and look before you leap. I will bet most freelance directors in your market are either brought in by ad agencies or are part of an established creative group that has an established presence and relationships. Generally, in all but the largest markets (L.A. /N.Y.), when you step up to DP, PD or Direct ( particularly in advertising marketing and branding), you should expect to lose up to 100% of your clients for lesser work almost instantly... and permanently. What I mean by this is that you are known in a support role(s) and established; maybe even beloved. But when you move up, your regular connections are now your competition. The higher you aim, the more true it is you sever ties. The smaller the market the more likely the freeze-out. If you happen to go after someone else's client, even a past inactive client, you will surely alienate those who had hired you in the past. And you also need to understand loyalties and which side the bread is buttered on... you may not get any cooperation from your established DP or PD connections should you need them as you become Director. This is particularly true in commercial work because it's the one place there is still a great freelance living for producers, directors, DPs and so on.
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Create you show-reel first. There are many Advertisement Agencies or Production companies you can get in touch with. Keep applying till you find the perfect one. If they reject your application then keep an option open to work as a freelancer. All the best buddy.
Build your own DEMAND with your creative side... HOW?? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQBuNReKbSs - Find creative ways of producing that no one is doing... To understand you have to watch till the end of this short Pareidolia ... Build your own fan base...
Grow a big online following? They like crowds