Gear matters. Yes you can get by but it matters to do the right job. In the past I bought cheaper things to wait until I could afford the nicer, but hack is just to buy the right thing -focus in on what you can do with that thing to maximize income / experience and then buy the next right thing. The journey is a lot like a winding staircase.
I feel like the physical toll on my body has been hard to accept. We’re not athletes by any stretch but there isn’t room to rest easy when it comes to your physical health. Having some extra muscle takes some strain off your joints.
I have learnt that imposter syndrome can be reduced greatly if you have a list of core skills you can remind yourself you have. When you feel like an imposter ask yourself- Out of the last 10 jobs how many did I fk up so bad the client had issues? (probably zero). Can I expose and frame a shot in a reasonable way? Yes Can I do basic lighting? Yes Am I a respectful and polite person to deal with on a shoot? Yes Can I listen to feedback or new information and adapt as best I can? Yes If something is going wrong, like weather, talent being unavailable etc etc. Ask yourself was it in my power to fix this issue? Because it probably wasn't. And if it is, try and suggest an alternate option. Being helpful during an issue is always good no matter who was at fault, it's a team job.
"You'll always be nervous" SOOOO underrated. This is not talked about enough and you tying it to caring about the work that you do, hits the nail on the head. Thanks for sharing.
It’s so true. The better you get, the higher the stakes are. There are also more people to let down if you fail. The last narrative project I directed had 3 working Hollywood actors in it with high profile roles. Plus a crew of 4. I wanted to vomit on day one.
As a violinist and performer this is something we have in common. What has worked for me is to reframe it to "excited" for the opportunity instead of "nervous" about it. It is a mental "trick" as both nervous and excited feel the same in your body, when you tell your brain the narrative of all the reasons why it is exciting instead you will feel joyous instead of anxious :)
Luc this is my favorite video you've made thus far. To hear that someone with your level of experience still deals with nerves makes me feel better about myself. It's kind of freeing to know that it's probably never going to go away, so i can stop worrying about it
Well said! If your content, in any way, scares a potential future filmmaker away ... they were in it for the wrong reasons and they should go apply for a 9-to5 somewhere else. If it serves to confirm for all of us that being NERVOUS is NORMAL on EVERY project - then we can all take comfort in that! As to the concept of "LUCK" - I've long subscribed to the notion that LUCK is simply OPPORTUNITY meeting PREPARATION. If one is not prepared through dedicated study and trial-and-error-learning then, regardless of an OPPORTUNITY arising - the luck will find someone who IS prepared and ready to take on the challenge. No finish line - spot on! Every project is a learning opportunity. I thoroughly enjoyed your insights and have subscribed for more of your content. And, yes, I've learned something from you already. Thanks my friend! Good work. One last thing - being collaborative on a set - every set - is paramount. Be prepared. Be nice. Be helpful - filmmaking is the ultimate problem-solving environment. Cheers!
We're so blessed to be able to do filmmaking fulltime.. so true One way I deal with anxiety and nerves before shoots is I like to plan everything out to the t, even when I know I'll be improvising at some points into the shoot I just like to have sort of a self made production guide with details of what I need to do in every scenario that I expect within the shoot.. and although I drift off the planned work more often than not I find some sort of comfort and confidence within that..☺️
Spot on. Nervous energy does not go away with more experience. It might even increase. As you gain more skill, people expect you to perform at a high level. And that should make you nervous.
This video couldn't have been timed any better. I have been freelancing for several years and always go through the ebbs and flows of getting work. And I'm in another ebb right now. I always think that someday I'm going to get used to it and stop worrying about it. But it never seems to get any easier. And I do exactly what you described and start thinking I should find a stable "real" job. But that feeling always passes after a couple of weeks. And after watching this video I feel like you shook me back into reality again. Of course I'm not getting a "real" job. I enjoy the freelancing lifestyle way too much. Thanks again Luc!
Leaning into gear over your own confidence. It's easy to fall into, and people will lament not having the right equipment. I am not a DP, but as a director, I always work real close with the DP to create a look that both of us are happy with. In other videos, you mentioned that you don't need all of the gear to make a film, but we all do it at some point. Tell a story and do as many stories as you can.
I’ve always been a massive believer that you make your own luck. I got into professional photography by ‘rehearsing’ the role and shooting my own mock assignments. When the chance came to do it for real it came easily and naturally. I’m going through the same cycle now for video.
I especially like your no-nonsense, practical advice. I've been a one person camera, editor, production kind of guy and all you said applies. Thank you.
New sub - absolutely agree with everything, especially the nerves! 25 years later, I’m still there before any gig - the secret for me is to have “something” go right, and that calms the nerves. It could be a great b-roll shot, cool interview background, access to a neat location, just something that you know it’s all going to be ok.
This resonated so hard that it caused an earthquake 😛 It’s helpful to hear all this, especially about always being nervous. I come from being quite socially anxious and it’s better now, but directing people and approaching to work with is still nerve wrecking.
networking and the relationships are the harder part of the social side. looking through a lot of Eastwood's films (frequently use the same collaborators) very informative 11mins,.
Wow I'm glad I saw this video! Thank you so much. I just got my first big client for a commercial on TV. It's crazy how nervous and excited I am at the same time. This video has helped me put myself in a different perspective. Now I feel more calm. Let's keep moving forward! ✊🏽
Probably one of the best videos on dealing with what comes with a career in filmmaking. I'm shooting a web series with a colleague at the moment. It's a simple project with just the two of us. We're only shooting on the weekends, because I have a full time job and she gets hired as an editor/assistant editor at unpredictable times. Cuz, ya know,,the film industry. I also have my own short film project I've written and try to make time for that. Staying motivated in between the days we're shooting can be a struggle. So, thank you, for reminding us that these experiences come with a filmmaker's life style. Much appreciated. Happy 2023.
Since you made such a great video, you deserve to know how I cured my own nervous anxiety. In 1997 I was a 2LT choking on nerves any time I had to brief even a harmless looking major. The cure: 1) I remembered the major needed the information I had and decided to share it at EVERY opportunity - "Major, your hair's effed up...Major, you've got a booger hanging, there." etc. 2) Preparation. If I have prepared to my SATISFACTION in time before any event, I allow myself to feel satisfied, and stop worrying. 3) I embraced the idea that no one will take away my birthday; no matter how bad a mistake I make, assuming it wasn't an inexcusable failure i.e. lack of preparation or caring etc. on my part, I would always be forgiven. 4) Meditation. Worked my way up to an hour a day, every day. You can't imagine how it improves mental focus, clarity, and resilience. 5) When I realize something I should have done after laying down to sleep, I send myself a message as a reminder to do it in the morning. Poof; mind stops wandering back to it and I sleep like a baby. By 2018, as a Lt Col, I could brief a 4-star general, even a scary one, without any anxiety and eventually earned the nickname, Flinty, meaning a very hard and unyielding person or their expression. Now put me in a racecar at the start of a race? Yes, then I get butterflies... : ) Go watch my reel!
Thanks for sharing George...I especially like your first point - the people who hire you need what you have! And meditation is great s well. Great story!
Lots of great advice here. I am never comfortable walking onto a shoot in an unfamilliar place/client. Its what I do, and I manage that fear. My favorite time of the day? When the day's data wrangling has finished and I flop into the hotel bed. Second part? When I've gotten home, and really look over the footage and start to put things together. Slowly, as I start to realize everything worked out and I had minimal glitches and things are a success. After I get home and that happens, then I say to myself. "Yep, I do this for a living!". ;)
Thanks so much ! (again) Your experience overlaps mine in a few ways, and you have gone much farther on the path I'm beginning to travel, so it's really valuable to hear your take-aways. I have a similar set of bullet points I give people who ask me how I do what I do, and things like dealing with nerves/anxiety, and being prepared for the lucky lightning to strike are SO much more important than fast glass and trick gimbals, and much harder to master. I tell people that being a freelancer is like being a hunter-gatherer. It looks really sexy and adventurous when it works, but you're starving when it doesn't. You live with your head on a swivel, and you learn to be resourceful and fllexible...but you are also subject to changes in your environment that are well beyond your control, and even being good at your craft can't protect you from those. There is also a finite and fickle market that doesn't necessarily play to your strengths, and there is a lot of competition for clients. Again, you being good doesn't mean someone else isn't going to get lucky, or just get there first, or any number of other things that shut you down without regard for your ability or availability. - and that's just in LA. You have to want this to the exclusion of things that make way more sense financially, but there is an irreplacable life experience of being "self-sufficient" and creative. Zoo animals usually live longer, but wild animals usually live better (or something like that) My worst day shooting (so far) is better than my best day at a desk...making someone else rich.
Hey Luc, you’re not alone. I’ve been working for myself for this life and not even in filmmaking, but in fitness and I can’t tell you that with or wideout a camera having the courage to believe that things will plays out your way is the name of the game. I’ve been studying, shooting and buying cameras because I want to see what I can make when, or if I finally understand how to make a film or document something that is worth watching. The last paragraph explains what I’m doing here:-). Doesn’t matter what the tool is the user is the one that grows.
In anything, No effort yields no results. Enjoy every step on that ladder and know there is a top rung. Embrace the learning. "I may not know it today but I'm looking forward learning it tomorrow," is my own personal mantra. The trick is to try to not make the same mistake twice. And if costs money in that mistake more than likely it won't happen again. Good stuff Luc.
So good and trustable motivation. I've been asking about :"how can I make money travelling to balcans" I got this answer "I've been doing it for years in cambodia". No shortcuts
Right on Luc great video! Film-making is a very fun business, but not all the time! The playing field is full of pitfalls and most of us on this journey will never realize it until we are at the bottom of one! Growing pains in this industry don't come cheap!
love this. thanks for the honesty, you are right on point across the board, though i still want to buy a new camera... (drools thinking about the c300m3)
Luck=opportunity+preparedness. This channel sure helps with the latter! Thank you so much for all your advice! P.S. I’m going to keep dreaming about ”making it” and stop stressing out before every shoot!
been a documentary film maker too for the past 10 years since I quit my last job, love the free time indeed, and sure there are some stresses that come along with it but am surely not going back to working full time, I am based in ZImbabwe in Africa and Film making gear is virtually unaffordable, so we make do with what you can get and stay as creative as you can with the limitations, but I LOVE IT.
I have enjoyed and learned a lot from many of your videos. Technical and non-technical alike. Not in a rigorous way but the further I got the more frequent you appeared in the searches. Long story short; thank you for sharing in the form you do. Big shoutout from Denmark (Scandinavia/Europe). /Per
Thanks for sharing. I'm an amateur just learning filming after many years doing stills to quite a good level. IMO nerves and imposter syndrome goes for many walks in life. I have found this when being hired for the occasional pro stills shoot to many time in my business career (unrelated to photography and video). I feel nerves typically in new jobs or just before making a major pitch or presentation where I 'care' about how well it goes and/or there are significant things riding on a successful presentation. If I ever didn't feel a little nervous then I (retrospectively) concluded I didn't care that much, or it was an easy very simple task well within my capacity. So, IMO, nerves are good - helping make one try harder and stay focused on what's important. Probably also essential for many folk to help drive growth and personal development.
Honestly this is more true than anyone will ever know. This is what it has been like for me in the professional space for years. I'm still learning, still doing my best to keep things going as strong as I can. This is a video everyone needs to see before taking that plunge into the professional world
Seriously man!!! This is the best advice. It's something many filmmakers don't talk about. Many of us see these influencers making travel videos and think filmmaker means something different. It is always scary dealing with the ups and downs of getting jobs. Time and freedom for me is way more valuable than job security. I could never go back to a 9 to 5. Thanks for all you do Luc!
Nervousness is a factor in any / every endeavor / not just Photography/vidiography or acting. It's also true in engineering and probably any meaningful career. You make a good point.
I felt every word of this. Bit of a dry spell atmo, been a year freelancing (3rd year of video production) and sometimes I feel like I should get a normal job/production company job. But when its good, its great!
found your channel a couple of weeks back and have been watching all of the old content as well as the new posts non stop. I shoot primarily automotive and aviation showcase videos, so this is a great change of pace and great way to learn more about filmmaking through someone elses eyes. Keep it up Luc
Def agree with that "You'll always be nervous" as well. Pushing your skills and talents into new situations and greater challenges are always things that set the nerves on edge. It's kind of a addicting feeling tho.
Very well presented, all you said about becoming a filmmaker is so true, for me it took about 5 years of research, learning, practicing and dreaming before i could really film for others and today its my full time job..my work before had nothing to do with cameras and filming but i still managed to build that window and hopped out to where ive dreamt of being, journey continues and its interesting to learn from you🙏🙂
I used to get so nervous when I would do a video promo for businesses. One time I was helping out a friend for a welding business and I asked the welder if he ever got nervous for his jobs and he said he had kinda of gotten over it after welding for 10+ years. One piece of advice I used to this day: write a vision and make it plain. Have an end product in mind and shoot to create that final product. It helps me tune out all the opinions and noise around me. God bless and hope this helps. Great video! Thank you for it PS. I always pray before I shoot for God to give me a vision and she always does and helps position me to get exactly the shots I need 😊 hope this helps
All true - I have felt this way (Imposter syndrome) on all jobs, but I try to push myself and learn. The life that I lead is great and I wouldn't change it for anything. Its comforting that you (and others) feel the same, but we are lucky to be in a position to record life and events for others.
Well said. I’ve spend a looot of time during the last 12 months to summarize and analyze my first four years as a full time self employed filmmaker. What you are talking about here is so true. I also recommend everyone to take time to seriously evaluate and get to know yourself, and your business/passion on a deeper level. Not as as pure criticism, more like “your best buddy who wants you succeed”. Maybe sounds weird, but it has worked so well for me personally.
Thank you so much Luc. in 12 hrs I am leaving for 20 days to shoot for a series of small documentaries and from last 4 days feeling something worst in my stomach. thank you I needed it.
After 24 years in the biz working on mega budget features through to my own little iPhone shorts and everything in between you have to learn to get over yourself and how "important" our jobs are. 97% of what we do are ones and zeros that will quickly end up being archived and forgotten! It's a liberating reality that allows you to enjoy the moment on set, don't sweat the small stuff and embrace the freedom this carny life gives you.
Thanks for a really nice, calm bunch of videos. Incredibly helpful and insightful, from someone who clearly knows what they're talking about. I tip my hat to you sir, very much appreciated :)
Thank you for this! 💙 I am still in film school so I am still learning, and at times I feel bad for not being as good as the rest of my classmates. However, I have spent the past semester learning more about the other roles on a set, including 2nd Assistant Camera and Lighting Assistant, because I know those are the first jobs that I will get, so I better practice those already. I can spend years in the industry learning from other cinematographers, and watch how other people work on sets, so there is no rush to be the best DoP before I leave school. My goal right now is to get an assistant job for a production and learn ad much as possible, because the DoP jobs are for the future me with more network and experience
Exactly! Settle in for the long road and you'll save yourself so much anxiety. And what you're doing, learning all the roles along the way, is going to pay off big time down the road. Keep it up!
All super relatable, the nerves never go away. Imposter syndrome just means you have made it past the first peak of the Dunning Krueger effect and have the perspective of just how much you don't know yet.
Instead of thinking that your nervous, think that you are getting excited! This perspective shift will greatly benefit you. And regarding careers,This same goes for VFX and post production careers. There is no clear end point, it’s all about enjoying the process. And if you can’t enjoy the process then film making isn’t for you.
I'm feeling like I'm on a roller coaster right now, I left my full-time job a few months ago, and I'm having some ups and down mentally. I do have some projects that will help me breathe a little bit, but i always feel the pressure of security. these facts do not change my decision. I'm accepting it cause I already knew that all these things i feel right now would actually happen.
I think for me, my nerves disappear when I'm working with Directors and Producers who I know trust me and I have more of a relationship with. I will say that's not the case on every project. First time shoots with a new collaborator still make me extremely nervous. Than you for sharing your experiences with these topics Luc, I think it's very helpful for those interested in or are already in the filmmaking world.
Thanks for this video Luc, it is reassuring to know that even well experience pros like you have this imposter syndrome and little voice asking “will you be good enough”. Also now that I know it will stay, let’s try to get comfortable with it 😅. Have a good day and continue these videos it’s great to have insights the career of experienced cinematographers.
It's funny... one of the goals I had for going back to school at 49 was to stop being self employed. It took only a few weeks (maybe the first semester) to realize that I have zero interest in working for someone else full time. I may do it for a news outlet (short term) for the experience, etc. But the long game is be my own boss.
ye photography and video , or filmmaking is difficult path with a lot of off time and specialy if you don t have the luck to get part of big project , working this time on small budget movie project as sound guy and since i have good knowledge of camera and lights , am also the camera assistant rig grip guy and i will probably end up editing some part of the movie at the end
It really sounds good to hear that lot`s of my own insecurities are not only my own problems. After nearly 5 years i would say ,, This isn't smooth ride but also it's damm fun" Great video Thanks
I’m ALWAYS nervous because you will never know whats happening inside your camera. I have a top of the line gear and SD cards but the SD cards failed and screwed my relationship with my client.
Always look for new projects when you are busy! Don't wait until slow season to start looking for work. Those calls always feel desperate. It's so much easier to check in with past or new clients when you are busy and just let them know you look forward to working with them soon. Oh, and pay those credit cards down so you can still eat and function in those times when business does cool off a bit.
The last one's a biggie. Speaking as someone who's on the other side of that. (stopped freelancing and went full time at a TV station) There are definite pros and cons. I'd say the main pro is that I don't have to always be hunting for work, but the big con is that I'm always up to my eyeballs in work and none of them are my personal passion projects. I get paid a lot less per hour when I'm working for a stable gig than I ever made working for myself. The positive about working for another company is that it can provide direction, opportunity to work with a lot of high end gear/software, and an opportunity to learn long term from some really skilled industry peers. I don't see myself working in TV forever but as someone who was never great at networking it's been a great way to get a lot of years and projects under my belt. When I was on the freelance side there was always the allure of a regular pay check and the dream of stability, now I've got the siren song of the open road, adventure, and dream projects. It's a grass is always greener scenario and I think everyone should spend some time on both sides of the fence to find what fits for them.
As a writer director, I can say, fear might still exist, but one thing to mostly overcome fear would be a greater feeling. And that is something that you can't imagine not making. If you only make stories like that then you will be so busy with excitation that you won't remember to feel fear.
Hi Luc... change the title to 6 Uncomfortable Truths You Need to Hear -- all of this is true about just about everything. Great advice no matter what you are trying to achieve.
03:34 A world champion in my favorite sport once said: „Our sport is highly dependent on luck. What I found out: the harder I train, the luckier I get.“
How long after the Vancouver storm were you shooting? We must have overlapped while I was filming a BBC travel show. Our crew watched that barge get washed up on shore the day it happened. Water level was so high they had parks staff stopping people from getting too close haha.
Back in high school I was voted “most likely to succeed.” Fifteen years and three career changes later I found myself as an event photographer for a large corporation. It was those times where I realized, I am here, at this point, and I am actually getting paid to do this. That is what I use to mark my successes. I have since left that role, but the skills and experience are now so valuable for my volunteer work, that when those feelings pop up, “I can’t believe I am actually able to do this shoot,” I know I have made it. I may not be paid, or even known by anyone, but when I get to experience that passion, all the hours in airports, being away from home, and freaking out ‘cause I can’t speak the language, all were worth it. And yes, right before every shoot, I still want to throw up.
These sound like you understand your career well. videography is my second career after being very successful as an electronics engineer in the corporate world, and it sounds a lot like you described your career, except for the pay. By the way. In the corporate world you NEVER get paid what you're worth. You're always screwed over by lesser men. It is also true in videography ?
learning a little more every day...and thankfully no, I think you can definitely get paid what you're worth in this business if you put in the time and have the right relationships
What exactly are you nervous about? I honestly don't get nervous before a shoot. Do you think you'll mess the footage up? or that another department is going to let you down on set?
Lucky you! Just fear of the unknown and the uncontrollable. As soon as the camera rolls it goes away and I just work. It's the lead up that makes me nervous
What uncomfortable truths have you learned about filmmaking? Any hacks to make them less painful?
Gear matters. Yes you can get by but it matters to do the right job. In the past I bought cheaper things to wait until I could afford the nicer, but hack is just to buy the right thing -focus in on what you can do with that thing to maximize income / experience and then buy the next right thing. The journey is a lot like a winding staircase.
I feel like the physical toll on my body has been hard to accept. We’re not athletes by any stretch but there isn’t room to rest easy when it comes to your physical health. Having some extra muscle takes some strain off your joints.
Get comfortable with 10-2ing in not ideal locations
I have learnt that imposter syndrome can be reduced greatly if you have a list of core skills you can remind yourself you have.
When you feel like an imposter ask yourself-
Out of the last 10 jobs how many did I fk up so bad the client had issues? (probably zero).
Can I expose and frame a shot in a reasonable way? Yes
Can I do basic lighting? Yes
Am I a respectful and polite person to deal with on a shoot? Yes
Can I listen to feedback or new information and adapt as best I can? Yes
If something is going wrong, like weather, talent being unavailable etc etc. Ask yourself was it in my power to fix this issue? Because it probably wasn't. And if it is, try and suggest an alternate option. Being helpful during an issue is always good no matter who was at fault, it's a team job.
Your movies will never fully be what you envision in your head. And if they are you're not pushing yourself or learning anything.
"You'll always be nervous" SOOOO underrated. This is not talked about enough and you tying it to caring about the work that you do, hits the nail on the head. Thanks for sharing.
It’s so true. The better you get, the higher the stakes are. There are also more people to let down if you fail.
The last narrative project I directed had 3 working Hollywood actors in it with high profile roles. Plus a crew of 4. I wanted to vomit on day one.
You're welcome Patrick!
🤢
This spoke to me too. I've been a photographer for 20 years now and still get nervous before almost every single assignment.
As a violinist and performer this is something we have in common. What has worked for me is to reframe it to "excited" for the opportunity instead of "nervous" about it. It is a mental "trick" as both nervous and excited feel the same in your body, when you tell your brain the narrative of all the reasons why it is exciting instead you will feel joyous instead of anxious :)
Luc this is my favorite video you've made thus far. To hear that someone with your level of experience still deals with nerves makes me feel better about myself. It's kind of freeing to know that it's probably never going to go away, so i can stop worrying about it
Nice, that's great to hear! Thanks!
Well said! If your content, in any way, scares a potential future filmmaker away ... they were in it for the wrong reasons and they should go apply for a 9-to5 somewhere else. If it serves to confirm for all of us that being NERVOUS is NORMAL on EVERY project - then we can all take comfort in that! As to the concept of "LUCK" - I've long subscribed to the notion that LUCK is simply OPPORTUNITY meeting PREPARATION. If one is not prepared through dedicated study and trial-and-error-learning then, regardless of an OPPORTUNITY arising - the luck will find someone who IS prepared and ready to take on the challenge. No finish line - spot on! Every project is a learning opportunity. I thoroughly enjoyed your insights and have subscribed for more of your content. And, yes, I've learned something from you already. Thanks my friend! Good work. One last thing - being collaborative on a set - every set - is paramount. Be prepared. Be nice. Be helpful - filmmaking is the ultimate problem-solving environment. Cheers!
We're so blessed to be able to do filmmaking fulltime.. so true
One way I deal with anxiety and nerves before shoots is I like to plan everything out to the t, even when I know I'll be improvising at some points into the shoot I just like to have sort of a self made production guide with details of what I need to do in every scenario that I expect within the shoot.. and although I drift off the planned work more often than not I find some sort of comfort and confidence within that..☺️
Spot on. Nervous energy does not go away with more experience. It might even increase. As you gain more skill, people expect you to perform at a high level. And that should make you nervous.
Mo money, mo problems!
@@LucForsyth yeah, budget goes up and things get spicy.
You are not alone. Freedom is very high on my list, too. I have had regular jobs, but for me there is no comparison. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Sigrid!
This video couldn't have been timed any better. I have been freelancing for several years and always go through the ebbs and flows of getting work. And I'm in another ebb right now. I always think that someday I'm going to get used to it and stop worrying about it. But it never seems to get any easier. And I do exactly what you described and start thinking I should find a stable "real" job. But that feeling always passes after a couple of weeks. And after watching this video I feel like you shook me back into reality again. Of course I'm not getting a "real" job. I enjoy the freelancing lifestyle way too much. Thanks again Luc!
Leaning into gear over your own confidence. It's easy to fall into, and people will lament not having the right equipment. I am not a DP, but as a director, I always work real close with the DP to create a look that both of us are happy with. In other videos, you mentioned that you don't need all of the gear to make a film, but we all do it at some point. Tell a story and do as many stories as you can.
I’ve always been a massive believer that you make your own luck. I got into professional photography by ‘rehearsing’ the role and shooting my own mock assignments. When the chance came to do it for real it came easily and naturally. I’m going through the same cycle now for video.
💯 - luck is created! Keep it up
I especially like your no-nonsense, practical advice. I've been a one person camera, editor, production kind of guy and all you said applies. Thank you.
Thanks Lester, great to hear it's a bit universal!
New sub - absolutely agree with everything, especially the nerves! 25 years later, I’m still there before any gig - the secret for me is to have “something” go right, and that calms the nerves. It could be a great b-roll shot, cool interview background, access to a neat location, just something that you know it’s all going to be ok.
This resonated so hard that it caused an earthquake 😛 It’s helpful to hear all this, especially about always being nervous. I come from being quite socially anxious and it’s better now, but directing people and approaching to work with is still nerve wrecking.
Thanks for this video. This echoed a lot of what I’ve felt or gone through with my freelancing. Always nice to hear it’s “not just me”.
definitely not!
networking and the relationships are the harder part of the social side. looking through a lot of Eastwood's films (frequently use the same collaborators) very informative 11mins,.
Definitely!
Wow I'm glad I saw this video! Thank you so much. I just got my first big client for a commercial on TV. It's crazy how nervous and excited I am at the same time. This video has helped me put myself in a different perspective. Now I feel more calm. Let's keep moving forward! ✊🏽
The happy dread - we all feel it!
Probably one of the best videos on dealing with what comes with a career in filmmaking. I'm shooting a web series with a colleague at the moment. It's a simple project with just the two of us. We're only shooting on the weekends, because I have a full time job and she gets hired as an editor/assistant editor at unpredictable times. Cuz, ya know,,the film industry. I also have my own short film project I've written and try to make time for that. Staying motivated in between the days we're shooting can be a struggle. So, thank you, for reminding us that these experiences come with a filmmaker's life style. Much appreciated. Happy 2023.
Since you made such a great video, you deserve to know how I cured my own nervous anxiety. In 1997 I was a 2LT choking on nerves any time I had to brief even a harmless looking major. The cure: 1) I remembered the major needed the information I had and decided to share it at EVERY opportunity - "Major, your hair's effed up...Major, you've got a booger hanging, there." etc. 2) Preparation. If I have prepared to my SATISFACTION in time before any event, I allow myself to feel satisfied, and stop worrying. 3) I embraced the idea that no one will take away my birthday; no matter how bad a mistake I make, assuming it wasn't an inexcusable failure i.e. lack of preparation or caring etc. on my part, I would always be forgiven. 4) Meditation. Worked my way up to an hour a day, every day. You can't imagine how it improves mental focus, clarity, and resilience. 5) When I realize something I should have done after laying down to sleep, I send myself a message as a reminder to do it in the morning. Poof; mind stops wandering back to it and I sleep like a baby. By 2018, as a Lt Col, I could brief a 4-star general, even a scary one, without any anxiety and eventually earned the nickname, Flinty, meaning a very hard and unyielding person or their expression. Now put me in a racecar at the start of a race? Yes, then I get butterflies... : ) Go watch my reel!
Thanks for sharing George...I especially like your first point - the people who hire you need what you have! And meditation is great s well. Great story!
Awesome points, thanks Luc!
It’s the darkest before dawn 😊
💯 ☀️
Lots of great advice here. I am never comfortable walking onto a shoot in an unfamilliar place/client. Its what I do, and I manage that fear. My favorite time of the day? When the day's data wrangling has finished and I flop into the hotel bed. Second part? When I've gotten home, and really look over the footage and start to put things together. Slowly, as I start to realize everything worked out and I had minimal glitches and things are a success. After I get home and that happens, then I say to myself. "Yep, I do this for a living!". ;)
This video has the full levels of honesty required for the reality of this career
Thanks so much ! (again) Your experience overlaps mine in a few ways, and you have gone much farther on the path I'm beginning to travel, so it's really valuable to hear your take-aways. I have a similar set of bullet points I give people who ask me how I do what I do, and things like dealing with nerves/anxiety, and being prepared for the lucky lightning to strike are SO much more important than fast glass and trick gimbals, and much harder to master. I tell people that being a freelancer is like being a hunter-gatherer. It looks really sexy and adventurous when it works, but you're starving when it doesn't. You live with your head on a swivel, and you learn to be resourceful and fllexible...but you are also subject to changes in your environment that are well beyond your control, and even being good at your craft can't protect you from those. There is also a finite and fickle market that doesn't necessarily play to your strengths, and there is a lot of competition for clients. Again, you being good doesn't mean someone else isn't going to get lucky, or just get there first, or any number of other things that shut you down without regard for your ability or availability. - and that's just in LA. You have to want this to the exclusion of things that make way more sense financially, but there is an irreplacable life experience of being "self-sufficient" and creative.
Zoo animals usually live longer, but wild animals usually live better (or something like that)
My worst day shooting (so far) is better than my best day at a desk...making someone else rich.
Thanks for sharing Chris, it’s a weird way to make a living but I don’t think I could do anything else. Happy shooting!
Hey Luc, you’re not alone. I’ve been working for myself for this life and not even in filmmaking, but in fitness and I can’t tell you that with or wideout a camera having the courage to believe that things will plays out your way is the name of the game. I’ve been studying, shooting and buying cameras because I want to see what I can make when, or if I finally understand how to make a film or document something that is worth watching. The last paragraph explains what I’m doing here:-).
Doesn’t matter what the tool is the user is the one that grows.
In anything, No effort yields no results. Enjoy every step on that ladder and know there is a top rung. Embrace the learning. "I may not know it today but I'm looking forward learning it tomorrow," is my own personal mantra. The trick is to try to not make the same mistake twice. And if costs money in that mistake more than likely it won't happen again.
Good stuff Luc.
Great tip - mistakes happen, making them twice shouldn't
So good and trustable motivation. I've been asking about :"how can I make money travelling to balcans" I got this answer "I've been doing it for years in cambodia". No shortcuts
I’m glad I found this video today. While you were talking I felt so much identify with a lot of the things you were saying.
Thanks.
Right on Luc great video! Film-making is a very fun business, but not all the time! The playing field is full of pitfalls and most of us on this journey will never realize it until we are at the bottom of one! Growing pains in this industry don't come cheap!
Your'e spot on there Chuck!
love this. thanks for the honesty, you are right on point across the board, though i still want to buy a new camera... (drools thinking about the c300m3)
haha, we all do...and I'm sure the c300 iii would be great!
Hey Luc, I appreciate your info and experience in these videos. One of the better channels in this space.
Thanks Justin, appreciate that
Youre so right about it all. Thanks for the heads up. Love this chnnel. Awesome advice and knowledge
Definitely took me a few years to realize it will take me many more to "succeed"! Good stuff as always Luc.
Tough to swallow, but true!
Luck=opportunity+preparedness. This channel sure helps with the latter! Thank you so much for all your advice!
P.S. I’m going to keep dreaming about ”making it” and stop stressing out before every shoot!
You're very welcome!
been a documentary film maker too for the past 10 years since I quit my last job, love the free time indeed, and sure there are some stresses that come along with it but am surely not going back to working full time, I am based in ZImbabwe in Africa and Film making gear is virtually unaffordable, so we make do with what you can get and stay as creative as you can with the limitations, but I LOVE IT.
I have enjoyed and learned a lot from many of your videos. Technical and non-technical alike. Not in a rigorous way but the further I got the more frequent you appeared in the searches. Long story short; thank you for sharing in the form you do.
Big shoutout from Denmark (Scandinavia/Europe).
/Per
Great insights, Luc! These are all true of almost any professional gig. Sometimes you get what you asked for...
From cold & foggy Ireland! ☘💪🏽👀👍🏽☘
Aweseome insights! Yes, luck needs to be worked on over years. And, never lean back and think "I've done it"
Thanks! 👊🏻
Thanks for sharing. I'm an amateur just learning filming after many years doing stills to quite a good level. IMO nerves and imposter syndrome goes for many walks in life. I have found this when being hired for the occasional pro stills shoot to many time in my business career (unrelated to photography and video). I feel nerves typically in new jobs or just before making a major pitch or presentation where I 'care' about how well it goes and/or there are significant things riding on a successful presentation.
If I ever didn't feel a little nervous then I (retrospectively) concluded I didn't care that much, or it was an easy very simple task well within my capacity. So, IMO, nerves are good - helping make one try harder and stay focused on what's important. Probably also essential for many folk to help drive growth and personal development.
Honestly this is more true than anyone will ever know. This is what it has been like for me in the professional space for years. I'm still learning, still doing my best to keep things going as strong as I can. This is a video everyone needs to see before taking that plunge into the professional world
I've been binging your content the past 2 days, this video hits on so many levels. 💯
Seriously man!!! This is the best advice. It's something many filmmakers don't talk about. Many of us see these influencers making travel videos and think filmmaker means something different. It is always scary dealing with the ups and downs of getting jobs. Time and freedom for me is way more valuable than job security. I could never go back to a 9 to 5. Thanks for all you do Luc!
Thanks Bryce, appreciate that! Long road, but a good one!
Nervousness is a factor in any / every endeavor / not just Photography/vidiography or acting. It's also true in engineering and probably any meaningful career. You make a good point.
very true.
I felt every word of this. Bit of a dry spell atmo, been a year freelancing (3rd year of video production) and sometimes I feel like I should get a normal job/production company job. But when its good, its great!
Yeah, the annual "should I get a job?" dilemma!
found your channel a couple of weeks back and have been watching all of the old content as well as the new posts non stop. I shoot primarily automotive and aviation showcase videos, so this is a great change of pace and great way to learn more about filmmaking through someone elses eyes. Keep it up Luc
Thanks Jacob, glad to have you!
As always, great advice Luc, thank you.
You're very welcome!
Def agree with that "You'll always be nervous" as well. Pushing your skills and talents into new situations and greater challenges are always things that set the nerves on edge. It's kind of a addicting feeling tho.
Yeah, I wonder why that is...overcoming hard things feels good!
Very well presented, all you said about becoming a filmmaker is so true, for me it took about 5 years of research, learning, practicing and dreaming before i could really film for others and today its my full time job..my work before had nothing to do with cameras and filming but i still managed to build that window and hopped out to where ive dreamt of being, journey continues and its interesting to learn from you🙏🙂
Yeah, 5 years seems to be the magic number! Glad it's working for you so far!
I used to get so nervous when I would do a video promo for businesses. One time I was helping out a friend for a welding business and I asked the welder if he ever got nervous for his jobs and he said he had kinda of gotten over it after welding for 10+ years. One piece of advice I used to this day: write a vision and make it plain. Have an end product in mind and shoot to create that final product. It helps me tune out all the opinions and noise around me. God bless and hope this helps. Great video! Thank you for it
PS. I always pray before I shoot for God to give me a vision and she always does and helps position me to get exactly the shots I need 😊 hope this helps
Great advice, thanks Isaac!
All true - I have felt this way (Imposter syndrome) on all jobs, but I try to push myself and learn. The life that I lead is great and I wouldn't change it for anything. Its comforting that you (and others) feel the same, but we are lucky to be in a position to record life and events for others.
Never easy, but (almost) always rewarding!
Well said. I’ve spend a looot of time during the last 12 months to summarize and analyze my first four years as a full time self employed filmmaker. What you are talking about here is so true. I also recommend everyone to take time to seriously evaluate and get to know yourself, and your business/passion on a deeper level. Not as as pure criticism, more like “your best buddy who wants you succeed”. Maybe sounds weird, but it has worked so well for me personally.
I love that, great tip
I literally felt like you were talking directly to ME!! 👍👍
Thank you so much Luc. in 12 hrs I am leaving for 20 days to shoot for a series of small documentaries and from last 4 days feeling something worst in my stomach. thank you I needed it.
That’s awesome man, you got this!
Nerves, I can share information about that since I have worked in a field with some of the best in my career for many years.
this is my favorite video you've made thus far...
After 24 years in the biz working on mega budget features through to my own little iPhone shorts and everything in between you have to learn to get over yourself and how "important" our jobs are. 97% of what we do are ones and zeros that will quickly end up being archived and forgotten! It's a liberating reality that allows you to enjoy the moment on set, don't sweat the small stuff and embrace the freedom this carny life gives you.
Thanks for a really nice, calm bunch of videos. Incredibly helpful and insightful, from someone who clearly knows what they're talking about. I tip my hat to you sir, very much appreciated :)
Thank you for this! 💙 I am still in film school so I am still learning, and at times I feel bad for not being as good as the rest of my classmates. However, I have spent the past semester learning more about the other roles on a set, including 2nd Assistant Camera and Lighting Assistant, because I know those are the first jobs that I will get, so I better practice those already. I can spend years in the industry learning from other cinematographers, and watch how other people work on sets, so there is no rush to be the best DoP before I leave school. My goal right now is to get an assistant job for a production and learn ad much as possible, because the DoP jobs are for the future me with more network and experience
Just gotta add that I love being an effective assistant. Feels good to know that recordings are going smoothly because I have done my part well
Exactly! Settle in for the long road and you'll save yourself so much anxiety. And what you're doing, learning all the roles along the way, is going to pay off big time down the road. Keep it up!
@@helle_larsen Nice! I loved assisting too!
Thank you so much. That really gives me the right direction and makes me comfortable with my way. 😍
Glad to hear it!
All super relatable, the nerves never go away.
Imposter syndrome just means you have made it past the first peak of the Dunning Krueger effect and have the perspective of just how much you don't know yet.
They really don't...
I Get Nervous everyshoot like its still my first shoot ! but everything ends up going great . i think it something most of us do.
Instead of thinking that your nervous, think that you are getting excited!
This perspective shift will greatly benefit you.
And regarding careers,This same goes for VFX and post production careers. There is no clear end point, it’s all about enjoying the process. And if you can’t enjoy the process then film making isn’t for you.
Thank you for giving me some comfort in my current existential crisis lol.
It definitely has me thinking a lot more. Thank you
You're welcome!
Thanks so much for this video, I really needed it. It's reassuring to hear the same things that I've been feeling from someone with more experience.
You're very welcome!
Hey Luc, Thanks for this video and definitely resonate with a lot of the points. Keep the content coming!
I'm feeling like I'm on a roller coaster right now, I left my full-time job a few months ago, and I'm having some ups and down mentally. I do have some projects that will help me breathe a little bit, but i always feel the pressure of security. these facts do not change my decision. I'm accepting it cause I already knew that all these things i feel right now would actually happen.
Yeah, it's always sort of like that. Freedom vs security, there never seems to be the right balance
I think for me, my nerves disappear when I'm working with Directors and Producers who I know trust me and I have more of a relationship with. I will say that's not the case on every project. First time shoots with a new collaborator still make me extremely nervous. Than you for sharing your experiences with these topics Luc, I think it's very helpful for those interested in or are already in the filmmaking world.
Mine go away as soon as the actual shooting starts...it's the lead up that sucks
Thanks for this video Luc, it is reassuring to know that even well experience pros like you have this imposter syndrome and little voice asking “will you be good enough”. Also now that I know it will stay, let’s try to get comfortable with it 😅.
Have a good day and continue these videos it’s great to have insights the career of experienced cinematographers.
Thanks Cedric!
It's funny... one of the goals I had for going back to school at 49 was to stop being self employed. It took only a few weeks (maybe the first semester) to realize that I have zero interest in working for someone else full time. I may do it for a news outlet (short term) for the experience, etc. But the long game is be my own boss.
Yeah, I hear that 💯
ye photography and video , or filmmaking is difficult path with a lot of off time and specialy if you don t have the luck to get part of big project , working this time on small budget movie project as sound guy and since i have good knowledge of camera and lights , am also the camera assistant rig grip guy and i will probably end up editing some part of the movie at the end
I've been a filmmaker for 25 years and what this man says is gospel.
Really glad I found your channel! Thanks so much for the quality content.
You're very welcome Ben!
It really sounds good to hear that lot`s of my own insecurities are not only my own problems. After nearly 5 years i would say ,, This isn't smooth ride but also it's damm fun"
Great video
Thanks
I think that's true for us all!
Brilliant video as always! Such needed content on YT!
Thanks!
More amazing advice, Luc!
Nice, glad it's helpful!
I’m ALWAYS nervous because you will never know whats happening inside your camera. I have a top of the line gear and SD cards but the SD cards failed and screwed my relationship with my client.
Oh man...I've never had a card fail before, that's the nightmare!
@@LucForsyth and it was the A CAM. I was livid and depressed at the same time. I still am
Always look for new projects when you are busy! Don't wait until slow season to start looking for work. Those calls always feel desperate. It's so much easier to check in with past or new clients when you are busy and just let them know you look forward to working with them soon.
Oh, and pay those credit cards down so you can still eat and function in those times when business does cool off a bit.
Great advice...and 💯 about the credit card debt, that stuff will kill you!
The last one's a biggie. Speaking as someone who's on the other side of that. (stopped freelancing and went full time at a TV station) There are definite pros and cons. I'd say the main pro is that I don't have to always be hunting for work, but the big con is that I'm always up to my eyeballs in work and none of them are my personal passion projects. I get paid a lot less per hour when I'm working for a stable gig than I ever made working for myself. The positive about working for another company is that it can provide direction, opportunity to work with a lot of high end gear/software, and an opportunity to learn long term from some really skilled industry peers. I don't see myself working in TV forever but as someone who was never great at networking it's been a great way to get a lot of years and projects under my belt. When I was on the freelance side there was always the allure of a regular pay check and the dream of stability, now I've got the siren song of the open road, adventure, and dream projects. It's a grass is always greener scenario and I think everyone should spend some time on both sides of the fence to find what fits for them.
any plans to go back to the dark side?
As a writer director, I can say, fear might still exist, but one thing to mostly overcome fear would be a greater feeling. And that is something that you can't imagine not making. If you only make stories like that then you will be so busy with excitation that you won't remember to feel fear.
Thank you for the poignant insights, Luc!
My pleasure John!
Hi Luc... change the title to 6 Uncomfortable Truths You Need to Hear -- all of this is true about just about everything. Great advice no matter what you are trying to achieve.
Thanks Brian, appreciate that!
Thank you Luc helpful info
👊🏻
03:34 A world champion in my favorite sport once said: „Our sport is highly dependent on luck. What I found out: the harder I train, the luckier I get.“
💯
How long after the Vancouver storm were you shooting? We must have overlapped while I was filming a BBC travel show. Our crew watched that barge get washed up on shore the day it happened. Water level was so high they had parks staff stopping people from getting too close haha.
Back in high school I was voted “most likely to succeed.” Fifteen years and three career changes later I found myself as an event photographer for a large corporation. It was those times where I realized, I am here, at this point, and I am actually getting paid to do this. That is what I use to mark my successes. I have since left that role, but the skills and experience are now so valuable for my volunteer work, that when those feelings pop up, “I can’t believe I am actually able to do this shoot,” I know I have made it. I may not be paid, or even known by anyone, but when I get to experience that passion, all the hours in airports, being away from home, and freaking out ‘cause I can’t speak the language, all were worth it. And yes, right before every shoot, I still want to throw up.
haha, I think we all want to throw up just a little before every shoot. Thanks for sharing!
you are inspiration, love videos like these
thanks!
Tnk u so much sir 🙏🏻
I've been practicing out here in the jungle for years and I'm afraid my worst fears are true.
I'm just noise in the forest.
These sound like you understand your career well. videography is my second career after being very successful as an electronics engineer in the corporate world, and it sounds a lot like you described your career, except for the pay. By the way. In the corporate world you NEVER get paid what you're worth. You're always screwed over by lesser men. It is also true in videography ?
learning a little more every day...and thankfully no, I think you can definitely get paid what you're worth in this business if you put in the time and have the right relationships
Thanks!
Another good one bud. Here’s some scratch 👍
Very kind of you Jonathan, thank you!
Super true and relatable
thanks!
What exactly are you nervous about? I honestly don't get nervous before a shoot. Do you think you'll mess the footage up? or that another department is going to let you down on set?
Lucky you! Just fear of the unknown and the uncontrollable. As soon as the camera rolls it goes away and I just work. It's the lead up that makes me nervous
I'm so glad I'm not the only one to feel nervous or imposter syndrome.
Definitely not!
it : be in the middle alike, viewing cause processing to result in some matter of way. is my view total in a story way ?
I like your motivation 😊😊
We make our own luck. Aye, that be true !
🏴☠️
The more I practise, the luckier I get - Gary Player
LOVE IT GOOD VIDEO!!!!
Thanks!
Cheers !
This video is on point.
👊🏻