This channel has quickly become one of my favourite filmmaking channels. Great advice, well presented and authentic. I really appreciate that you're not trying to shill for brands or make it about having a cool lifestyle. It's refreshing to see content that is actually about filmmaking. Hope you make it to 100k subs soon, you deserve it
Seriously one of my favorite channels and especially filmmaking channels at the time. Perfect mix of education, industry experience, realism and gear reviews,
I think everything you said here are the fundamentals EVERYONE should hear. Honest, a little rough but true opinions and suggestions. Really encouraging. Thanks.
Good advice ! I didn't want to work in this industry (and I'm not), but I wanted to have fun in it. So I joined a film maker group called Kino in Montréal (But there are all over the worlds), and work on over 30 project along the year, with people who all do it for passion. First I learn a LOT, but I made so much connection at different level, that I got asked to work for money even if I didn't want to, because people got to see me at what I can do and my actual worth, so having put a little bit of interest, my career in they field could have went up on my first year of just playing around ! A lot of young people there as well, and if you make good friends and connection, and make it fun and useful to be around, they will want to work with you again... And some of them MIGHT get an opportunity you don't get, and that person might try to get you in the project ! But think about it, if it you who got the opportunity and try to get a friend on a project, and do you want to bring people on project that will make you look bad ? Also these people who are young and maybe not known, but you see they are better than you, try to help these people, because they are most likely to be picked before you, and they might want to bring you along as well, but at the same time, use them so you can learn yourself, and these people might be useful to find more people to help on your project ! Connection is just the motherload of good idea, BUT you need to be good at the rest, like knowing when to say no if it doesn't feel right.
I would like to add a point: Also spend time during an editing session. Preferably on a project to you were part of. You will learn so much and improve your way of shooting. This will also lead to the ability to think / shoot for the edit.
I have been an audio engineer and only recently started working with video. But one of the rules that I always followed was I never borrowed money to buy gear for the studio. There were two times when I borrowed after getting a contract, but I would never buy stuff just hoping that it would make me more desirable.
Especially in today’s day and age, that seems like a good idea. Me as a hobbyist - I’ve had people mix my music without knowing or caring whether they had any expensive outboard gear or mixed all in the box, or whether they had a fancy looking room or just a decent home studio that worked well enough for creating a professional sounding mix.
Awesome advice, Some of the biggest ones for me is Networking, dont buy new and Own your gear outright. Too many people where im from sign up to every online freelance platorm and just wait for the work to fall in their lap. They dont realise that networking is key and will generate far more work than anything else. Also far too many people go into debt for their gear to "Look Professional", i have found more often its how you act and interact gets you repeat customers then the gear you have. Keep up the great advice Luc, your helping people change and improve their carreers and mindset. Hopefully we can catchup on a set one day. 👍
Great advice. I have my rainy day fund but over the years I've also multi-skilled myself as an editor (using prem pro, da vinci, avid etc) for TV and corporate content. So often I jump between being a shooter who cuts, to a cutter who shoots. Keeps me far too busy sometimes.
Woof. Very timely video. There are several things on this list I know I need to do, but have been procrastinating. Good kick in the pants to get them done!
Thank you for sharing your useful and precious experience. I really like you style, calm, straight to the point without being so over dramatic and loud. Very rare these days.
#7 I learned in the Army as, "There's no such thing as 'no', just 'yes, but'..." "Yes, I can get that done, but the budget will be this to rent additional gear, and pay a second shooter, etc., etc."
Number 3 is super real. I remember buying my camera on credit reeling on my first big gig, long story short. The cliente never finished paying the project and i had to pay for the camera with some money i made later on. But it was stressful
Love your "be open to working for free" comment. It's counter-intuitive, but it is true.. I freelanced for years (in a different field) and my rule was "work for full price or for free, never for cheap" which I think is a variation on what you're saying here but has the same sentiment.. It's all about what you get out of it and/or what you can give back.
The ”working for free” can be combined with “your own project “ as with no pay you will have a lot more to say and the result can more commercially viable / attractive.
Always honest and the truth. I really appreciate it. I love the creative process of making videos, my fear would be if I tried to do it “ full time “ it may kill the “purity” of it.
Hi Luc, after 35 years being freelance documentary filmmaker I was curious to hear what you had to say in terms of advice for starters and other ones in the industry. And I must say: excellent and right to the real world of filmmaking. Especially advice #1 and # 10. I just finished a 90 min documentary which I did, because I had the material and considered it worth putting it all together - for free or better said, on my time. It will run now in local movie theaters... Just one more thought: what worries me as a filmmaker more and more is the constant tsunami of video everywhere. That will have an impact what is considered high quality or trendy, cool, whatever. How can we prevail with solid professional standards of the craft of filmmaking ?
I don't completely agree with #3, it's good to use the bank's money, is someone has a stable business plan. And usually already in the business, have work and know what he's doing and what worth buying. Not chasing dreams, put mortgage on the house, buy an Alexa, sit with her in the basement and wait for work to magically come. :D However, with #10 i completely agree, for the same reasons. Networking, learning, and helping others, young musicians or filmmakers. Even if it doesn't lead to paid gigs later, it's good to take part. And where i live, well known actors have this mentality too, they help film school students with acting in their films for free. So, networking, again.
Thank you sooo much for your advice. I thought a lot about a few of these and getting reinsurance from someone who’s been around the block is amazing. How do you insure your gear? Is there insurance out there that covers dropping a camera or lens on accident?
Do you have any advice on reels and resumes. I have a resume, but I know that as an actor, your resume looks very different from a regular work resume. Would a resume for a DP/ Cam look like an actors resume or a more traditional one? Any recommendations on reels we can look at to model ours after?
If I could give startups ONE tip.. never buy gear.. just rent it when you need it and what you need. Then you just have gear when you need it, and you wont lose money every day a new camera come out.. :) I own R5c, r3 and two C70´s.. they always drop in price..
There are 2 topics that you should not discuss and set aside if coming from a client "Religion and Politics." Money is money and sometimes it's best to set aside your personal views. Get the shot that the client wants and move on.
Always buy gear on credit. The trick is to have that cash available and set aside to pay your monthly bill or even pay it off early. Blowing 10K in one shot is silly when you can stretch it out and build credit at the same time.
Hey LUC, couple of days ago I'm color grading a srgb non log 8 bit footage from canon 700d... Funny I know...😂When doing CST One video from yt suggests input color space srgb and output arri and than he is suggesting to use the built in arri to 709 LUT.. He is using the halations and other nodes before the cst....Is the whole workflow right for 8 bit non logs.?
This channel has quickly become one of my favourite filmmaking channels. Great advice, well presented and authentic. I really appreciate that you're not trying to shill for brands or make it about having a cool lifestyle. It's refreshing to see content that is actually about filmmaking. Hope you make it to 100k subs soon, you deserve it
6:07 “me, waiting to be called” 😂
😂
Seriously one of my favorite channels and especially filmmaking channels at the time.
Perfect mix of education, industry experience, realism and gear reviews,
great point about always pushing off the reel until you get better content.
I think everything you said here are the fundamentals EVERYONE should hear. Honest, a little rough but true opinions and suggestions. Really encouraging. Thanks.
Good advice ! I didn't want to work in this industry (and I'm not), but I wanted to have fun in it. So I joined a film maker group called Kino in Montréal (But there are all over the worlds), and work on over 30 project along the year, with people who all do it for passion. First I learn a LOT, but I made so much connection at different level, that I got asked to work for money even if I didn't want to, because people got to see me at what I can do and my actual worth, so having put a little bit of interest, my career in they field could have went up on my first year of just playing around ! A lot of young people there as well, and if you make good friends and connection, and make it fun and useful to be around, they will want to work with you again... And some of them MIGHT get an opportunity you don't get, and that person might try to get you in the project ! But think about it, if it you who got the opportunity and try to get a friend on a project, and do you want to bring people on project that will make you look bad ? Also these people who are young and maybe not known, but you see they are better than you, try to help these people, because they are most likely to be picked before you, and they might want to bring you along as well, but at the same time, use them so you can learn yourself, and these people might be useful to find more people to help on your project ! Connection is just the motherload of good idea, BUT you need to be good at the rest, like knowing when to say no if it doesn't feel right.
What a great list! Thanks for this, Luc!
I would like to add a point:
Also spend time during an editing session. Preferably on a project to you were part of. You will learn so much and improve your way of shooting. This will also lead to the ability to think / shoot for the edit.
Good stuff. Thanx. Even though I've been "at it" a long while, the affirmation was useful.
I have been an audio engineer and only recently started working with video. But one of the rules that I always followed was I never borrowed money to buy gear for the studio. There were two times when I borrowed after getting a contract, but I would never buy stuff just hoping that it would make me more desirable.
Especially in today’s day and age, that seems like a good idea. Me as a hobbyist - I’ve had people mix my music without knowing or caring whether they had any expensive outboard gear or mixed all in the box, or whether they had a fancy looking room or just a decent home studio that worked well enough for creating a professional sounding mix.
Thanks Luc,
I'm om the verge of selling all my gear and starting over in some other ways.
This gives hope someway.
Awesome advice, Some of the biggest ones for me is Networking, dont buy new and Own your gear outright. Too many people where im from sign up to every online freelance platorm and just wait for the work to fall in their lap. They dont realise that networking is key and will generate far more work than anything else.
Also far too many people go into debt for their gear to "Look Professional", i have found more often its how you act and interact gets you repeat customers then the gear you have.
Keep up the great advice Luc, your helping people change and improve their carreers and mindset. Hopefully we can catchup on a set one day. 👍
Thank you very much for this video and sharing your very useful experience. 😊🎈👍
Great advice. I have my rainy day fund but over the years I've also multi-skilled myself as an editor (using prem pro, da vinci, avid etc) for TV and corporate content. So often I jump between being a shooter who cuts, to a cutter who shoots. Keeps me far too busy sometimes.
Woof. Very timely video. There are several things on this list I know I need to do, but have been procrastinating. Good kick in the pants to get them done!
Thank you for sharing your useful and precious experience. I really like you style, calm, straight to the point without being so over dramatic and loud. Very rare these days.
#7 I learned in the Army as, "There's no such thing as 'no', just 'yes, but'..."
"Yes, I can get that done, but the budget will be this to rent additional gear, and pay a second shooter, etc., etc."
Number 3 is super real.
I remember buying my camera on credit reeling on my first big gig, long story short. The cliente never finished paying the project and i had to pay for the camera with some money i made later on. But it was stressful
Great video as always!
Love your "be open to working for free" comment. It's counter-intuitive, but it is true.. I freelanced for years (in a different field) and my rule was "work for full price or for free, never for cheap" which I think is a variation on what you're saying here but has the same sentiment.. It's all about what you get out of it and/or what you can give back.
The ”working for free” can be combined with “your own project “ as with no pay you will have a lot more to say and the result can more commercially viable / attractive.
Thank you so much Luc. I’ll keep coming back to "10 Rules for Cinematographer Life" in the future. :)
Thanks. Some of these rules work for designers and artists as well
hey luv love your vids as usual
Always honest and the truth. I really appreciate it.
I love the creative process of making videos, my fear would be if I tried to do it “ full time “ it may kill the “purity” of it.
How many people skipped straight to number 4? Another invaluable video based on personal experience. Cheers.
Good comments as usual!
Hi Luc, after 35 years being freelance documentary filmmaker I was curious to hear what you had to say in terms of advice for starters and other ones in the industry. And I must say: excellent and right to the real world of filmmaking. Especially advice #1 and # 10.
I just finished a 90 min documentary which I did, because I had the material and considered it worth putting it all together - for free or better said, on my time. It will run now in local movie theaters...
Just one more thought: what worries me as a filmmaker more and more is the constant tsunami of video everywhere. That will have an impact what is considered high quality or trendy, cool, whatever. How can we prevail with solid professional standards of the craft of filmmaking ?
I don't completely agree with #3, it's good to use the bank's money, is someone has a stable business plan. And usually already in the business, have work and know what he's doing and what worth buying. Not chasing dreams, put mortgage on the house, buy an Alexa, sit with her in the basement and wait for work to magically come. :D
However, with #10 i completely agree, for the same reasons. Networking, learning, and helping others, young musicians or filmmakers. Even if it doesn't lead to paid gigs later, it's good to take part. And where i live, well known actors have this mentality too, they help film school students with acting in their films for free. So, networking, again.
Thank you sooo much for your advice. I thought a lot about a few of these and getting reinsurance from someone who’s been around the block is amazing.
How do you insure your gear? Is there insurance out there that covers dropping a camera or lens on accident?
Great tips 😊🙌🙏🏻
Great video! Question, how come Red is better for commercials as Sony? Thank you!
Sound advice.
Do you have any advice on reels and resumes. I have a resume, but I know that as an actor, your resume looks very different from a regular work resume. Would a resume for a DP/ Cam look like an actors resume or a more traditional one?
Any recommendations on reels we can look at to model ours after?
nice list.
6:27 me rn damn!
If I could give startups ONE tip.. never buy gear.. just rent it when you need it and what you need.
Then you just have gear when you need it, and you wont lose money every day a new camera come out.. :)
I own R5c, r3 and two C70´s.. they always drop in price..
Are you going to get Potatojets new tripod? please make a review:)
😊
How dare you utter the words Dr. JBP 😅😅😅. Great pointers and content.
Luc, i am here in Denmark!
Can we work together? Please. 🤣
Nah!! Thank you for the video. Packed with tons of quality advices!
Rule #1 1000% stay away from jobs that don't feel right or there is something off even when you really need the work.
Man my gut could have saved me a lot of butthurt 😂
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Why put down Peterson when you’re doing the exact same thing.
Because he sounds like Kermit the frog.
There are 2 topics that you should not discuss and set aside if coming from a client "Religion and Politics." Money is money and sometimes it's best to set aside your personal views. Get the shot that the client wants and move on.
Or just don't sell your soul to demons you can't support with your heart?
Always buy gear on credit. The trick is to have that cash available and set aside to pay your monthly bill or even pay it off early. Blowing 10K in one shot is silly when you can stretch it out and build credit at the same time.
Hey LUC, couple of days ago I'm color grading a srgb non log 8 bit footage from canon 700d... Funny I know...😂When doing CST One video from yt suggests input color space srgb and output arri and than he is suggesting to use the built in arri to 709 LUT.. He is using the halations and other nodes before the cst....Is the whole workflow right for 8 bit non logs.?