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free work
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Generally don’t do “free work” but here’s some simple guidelines about what’s free and what’s a worthwhile investment of your time to further your career.
Do:
Internship – with very experienced people willing to train you.
PSA work – pick a favorite local not for profit or community service organization that can’t afford professional services and offer to do something for them. You’ll get something for your reel and do a good deed. If they’re willing to promote (attach your name) to the work some of their donors viewing the work might even become paying clients. You show your skills and show interest in a like minded issue or subject.
Self produce – getting trusted creative friends (fellow students you know you work well with) to jointly work on a project they can all use on their reel. You’re developing a reliable crew with a self created product that could lead to paying work for all of you . . . as a team. That’s creating a network.
Do Not:
Work for a for profit business – that doesn’t offer a legit internship mentored by more experienced professionals. You see this a lot on craigslist
Work for a “grand scheme” production – with a bunch of strangers in which someone else’s skill issue could leave you with nothing for your reel. This also is common on craigslist.
Work for free with promises of paid work later or to “try you out” first. If they can “promise” paid work later then they should have the confidence to pay you now or contract you. If they want to try you out they can have a paid probationary period or simply not hire you for the next job. Another craigslist game.
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Well, when you are just starting out, this is one way to build your reel. I for one when I left college only had a few college projects, and only one that I was really proud of. I needed more on my reel than that one thing. Also I was still relatively inexperienced. So when people come along asking for free labor…free editors or shooters…this is your opportunity to practice. You only get better by doing, so you need to “do” a lot. Musicians can play their instruments, but as editors you can’t just edit. YOu need footage. What better way to get practice than to edit someones film?
YOu get from this three things actually: Practice…experience in dealing with clients and editors (the edit bay politic)…something for your reel to show off what you can do.
This is a very standard practice, even here in Hollyweird. Crew people making their first indy film, asking others on the crew to help by donating their time and expertise. When they do this people don’t get paid, unless there is some money, but there usually isn’t. That is set aside for things like food for the crew, tape stock, equipment rental, costumes, finishing fees. This way EVERYONE gets practice. An Assistant camera guy now gets to run the camera…the assistant editor gets to edit, the AD might be the director.
I do this myself…STILL. And I am established. Especially if they are projects that look good and are something I believe in. And it always looks good to have more on the reel…I can’t stress that enough.
OH…one time I was asked to provide race result graphics for a small indy film. They cut to a TV and I needed to make something that looked like horse racing results. It took me a day or two, but I made something very convincing, and the producers and director liked it (Again, free production, crew donating time). Not long after that one of the producers on that was working on a David Mamet film, SPARTAN. There is a news cast in the show that is pivotal…in fact, it ends the movie. Well, they needed it to be edited and look like a 24 hour news program. Since the producers knew my work on the last show, they asked me to work on this. And THIS time I was paid…full rate.
SO that was an example of NETWORKING. Working with people and showing off your ability. So when they land a paying gig and a certain production need is, well, needed, they ask people “who knows a good (fill in the blank). If you did that, and the people there worked with you and liked you, they will chime in. “Hey, we worked with a guy named Shane who did a great job on our last project.”
“Great. Call him up.”
While it is free, there is value to this. But you have to gauge if the project is something worth your time. That is something that takes time to figure out. I have worked on many projects that led to nothing. It happens.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Hi Rob,
A bit late, but this is a very interesting subject.
I’m living in a country were 1/3 of the income comes from external aid.
They ask me constantly for free work or special price.
After few years I arrive to a point where I do things for free (when I think I have to do it) but I don’t work for lower prices.
In my experience when you give somebody an special price they try to scrub you more than any full price customer.
Don’t mix charity with business. Full price or 100% free.
Best,
rafael -
[Rafael Amador] “…when you give somebody an special price they try to scrub you more than any full price customer.”
Boy, is that ever The Truth, Rafael. ;o)
I have always found that the person that grinds you for a low-ball price is also the one who can never be satisfied, not matter how good a job you give them. They also have no loyalty and will often try to destroy your reputation when they don’t get a Lord of the Rings epic production for their salted peanuts budget.
Best regards,
Ron Lindeboom
P.S.: One of the best ways I have learned to deal with people like this is to quickly turn the tables on them by asking them, “So, what business are you in? Tell me a bit about yourself.” When they do, I then ask them can I get it in writing from them that when I need to get X product or X service that they provide, that I can get it for 90% off — oh, and have that in writing, please? They never want to go there and it quickly ends the conversation and usually ends any kind of negotiation — which is quite fine with me.
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[Ron Lindeboom] “I have always found that the person that grinds you for a low-ball price is also the one who can never be satisfied, not matter how good a job you give them. They also have no loyalty and will often try to destroy your reputation “
Ron is 100 percent correct. Fortunately I learned this relatively early and have avoided those clients ever since.
Here is my theory on why their work is always harder. Since they are scrimping throughout the process, they are getting the lowest common denominator quality throughout the process. That means when we get it in post, every part of the project is bad. Bad sound, bad picture… etc. This means the job of post becomes excruciating.
Terence Curren
http://www.alphadogs.tv
http://www.digitalservicestation.com
Burbank,Ca -
[Terence Curren] “Since they are scrimping throughout the process, they are getting the lowest common denominator quality throughout the process. That means when we get it in post, every part of the project is bad. Bad sound, bad picture… etc. This means the job of post becomes excruciating. “
My theory is similar, but slightly different.
First, since these people typically never plan, typically can’t visualize, and typically only know what they don’t want, so they need to see every possible permutation so they can simply select the one they think is best, because they lack the imagination necessary to do otherwise.
Second, when they finally stumble upon someone who actually knows what they’re doing, they become so concerned about covering their own inadequacies they are no longer able select from among all the possible permutations we’ve created for them, and the whole process then repeats itself.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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Ron,
My experience just confirm what you wrote in your article “Clients or Grinders”.
Your article is scientific because is product of the observation and the experience and these lessons can be applied to other areas of business and human relations.
Really is the kind of article that should be posted now and them so the people that comes new to the COW don’t miss it. Pure “Knowledge Base” to survive in the jungle.
rafael -
[Terence Curren] “Here is my theory on why their work is always harder. Since they are scrimping throughout the process, they are getting the lowest common denominator quality throughout the process. That means when we get it in post, every part of the project is bad. Bad sound, bad picture… etc. This means the job of post becomes excruciating.”
Here you go Terence, this just about says it all. It focuses on a copywriter and is by a copywriter, but nonetheless germane to the topic we’ve been discussing.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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Wow, David. The creative director at that agency really reminds me of someone. I know it will come to me, but for the life of me, I just can’t seem to recall the guy even though his face and voice are very familiar. Even the mustache rings a bell. But, oh well…
:o)
Remind me to never work with that agency.
Ron Lindeboom
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