Interested to be a crew member to do a travel documentary?
- Thread starter astroboy
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You're right that no crew will want to invest their time & efforts on free jobs.....and me too, I downright HATE exploitation of students, but not because I think they cannot deliver the work. With proper supervision, students can be developed into future potential talents in the creative line.
As for investing time & money into a film/project, I believe you're probably still not familiar with the business of film/TV and owning content.... Crews will not work for free, and neither will I if I see no benefits for me as a DOP or Editor. However, I will definitely not hesitate to take the position of Executive Producer and partly owning the content if I've been asked to invest my time & money on the project in ways of 'funding' or providing for production support & post facilities.
:thumbsup:
astroboy
Senior Member
Thanks for clearing that up DXNMedia. I was a bit too tired to explain. At the mere mention of the word "students"... suddenly words like "disaster" and "free labour" crops up. I sincerely hope future additions to this thread to stay on topic and hope that no further "misinformation" is introduced. Thanks 
Can I clarify if you are implying that I am not familar with the film industry? My statements had nothing to do with investing as an EP or Producer but rather kindly advising TS not to go asking for free crew or students to be crew. I dont deny that with proper supervision students can be developed. However I do know of some companies in Singapore that use a high percentage of students for reasons only they know themselves.
Thanks for clearing that up DXNMedia. I was a bit too tired to explain. At the mere mention of the word "students"... suddenly words like "disaster" and "free labour" crops up. I sincerely hope future additions to this thread to stay on topic and hope that no further "misinformation" is introduced. Thanks
My apologies if I have offended you but just offering some friendly advice on not depending too much on students as your main crew or getting crew to work for free. If you have a good idea, it would be really a waste if you find that end of the day, your visuals and sound is no good cos the person handling it dont know what to do. Anyway as I said good luck with your project and no offence intended if you felt that I was stepping on your toes.
I do agree that not much professional will do for free, that's not becos they have no passion, but simply becos they need to feed themselves and their family...
but i also believe there are people with very strong passion who are brave enough to go all out for their passion (probably finacially not an issue).. Hobbes and jaegersing are 2 good examples.. so do DXNmedia.
Hobbes has produced interesting short films.. I think he is resourcefully, talented and passionate.. he is not producing something to make $, but something for his passion.. i think he manage to get abit of funding and support from various sources from productions to post.
Wat i think here is, it really depends on individual background, financial status and other factors.. honestly for myself, I cant afford to have any income losses or my family will suffer! BUT.. if today i am going to strike toto of $3M, i will definately wanted to join as a team for this interesting project..
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and students?? i beleive many of us here was once a students b4.. :thumbsup:
but i also believe there are people with very strong passion who are brave enough to go all out for their passion (probably finacially not an issue).. Hobbes and jaegersing are 2 good examples.. so do DXNmedia.
Hobbes has produced interesting short films.. I think he is resourcefully, talented and passionate.. he is not producing something to make $, but something for his passion.. i think he manage to get abit of funding and support from various sources from productions to post.
Wat i think here is, it really depends on individual background, financial status and other factors.. honestly for myself, I cant afford to have any income losses or my family will suffer! BUT.. if today i am going to strike toto of $3M, i will definately wanted to join as a team for this interesting project..
! and students?? i beleive many of us here was once a students b4.. :thumbsup:
astroboy
Senior Member
Thanks for the thoughtful response. I agree with most things u said.
There are lots of folks out there who are still grappling with bread and butter issues, feeding the kids etc... and it is only right for them to stay true to their responsibilities. I did not say this project is for everyone.
Besides this project, I have embarked on other projects for little or no money... but eventually became a full fee-paying project.
As for students, I think they will be useful to help me do some groundwork, research etc. And I have every intention of paying them over and above industry rates.
And yes, passion should be the motivating factor, not money.
There are lots of folks out there who are still grappling with bread and butter issues, feeding the kids etc... and it is only right for them to stay true to their responsibilities. I did not say this project is for everyone.
Besides this project, I have embarked on other projects for little or no money... but eventually became a full fee-paying project.
As for students, I think they will be useful to help me do some groundwork, research etc. And I have every intention of paying them over and above industry rates.
And yes, passion should be the motivating factor, not money.
I do agree that not much professional will do for free, that's not becos they have no passion, but simply becos they need to feed themselves and their family...
but i also believe there are people with very strong passion who are brave enough to go all out for their passion (probably finacially not an issue).. Hobbes and jaegersing are 2 good examples.. so do DXNmedia.
Hobbes has produced interesting short films.. I think he is resourcefully, talented and passionate.. he is not producing something to make $, but something for his passion.. i think he manage to get abit of funding and support from various sources from productions to post.
Wat i think here is, it really depends on individual background, financial status and other factors.. honestly for myself, I cant afford to have any income losses or my family will suffer! BUT.. if today i am going to strike toto of $3M, i will definately wanted to join as a team for this interesting project..
and students?? i beleive many of us here was once a students b4.. :thumbsup:
well said.....but unfortunately, I do have bread & butter issues to worry about too.... :cry:
Else I'd be off in a Landrover Defender or Hummer, complete with GPS, satellite uplink facility, travelling for months on the road up as far north as I can go with a trusty brand new Sony HDCAM Cine Alta (+ backup Sony XDCAM EX), with plenty of HDD space on my mobile editing suite, complete with a popular TV host & ....
Now who wants to sponsor? :bsmilie:
Hmm...Sony? General Motors? Nat Geo? Shell?
Or maybe even sponsor me a hybrid vehicle for me to document the whole travel process to show how capable the car is...
:think:
Else I'd be off in a Landrover Defender or Hummer, complete with GPS, satellite uplink facility, travelling for months on the road up as far north as I can go with a trusty brand new Sony HDCAM Cine Alta (+ backup Sony XDCAM EX), with plenty of HDD space on my mobile editing suite, complete with a popular TV host & ....
Now who wants to sponsor? :bsmilie:
Hmm...Sony? General Motors? Nat Geo? Shell?
Or maybe even sponsor me a hybrid vehicle for me to document the whole travel process to show how capable the car is...
:think:
astroboy
Senior Member
Ideally, this should be the logical sequence of events:
1. Meeting of minds - thrash out ideas. Decide/agree on concept/direction.
2. Sell idea/get funding - meet sponsors etc. I know for eg CCTV9 is desperately in need of new travelogue-style footage on China destinations.
3. With funding approved, gather crew, plan logistics etc
4. Start filming
5. Post-production
6. Final product ready to deliver
Did I miss out any steps?
1. Meeting of minds - thrash out ideas. Decide/agree on concept/direction.
2. Sell idea/get funding - meet sponsors etc. I know for eg CCTV9 is desperately in need of new travelogue-style footage on China destinations.
3. With funding approved, gather crew, plan logistics etc
4. Start filming
5. Post-production
6. Final product ready to deliver
Did I miss out any steps?
I would be lucky if even canon make me their spokesperson lah bro. Bro i tink its better if u have an OB van complete wif EVS and microwave link can make loadsa $$$$$ ! hehehe but seriously travelogue are tiring and it can take quite a heavy toll to crew esp if logistics are not right.
. Bro i tink its better if u have an OB van complete wif EVS and microwave link can make loadsa $$$$$ ! hehehe but seriously travelogue are tiring and it can take quite a heavy toll to crew esp if logistics are not right.well said.....but unfortunately, I do have bread & butter issues to worry about too.... :cry:
Else I'd be off in a Landrover Defender or Hummer, complete with GPS, satellite uplink facility, travelling for months on the road up as far north as I can go with a trusty brand new Sony HDCAM Cine Alta (+ backup Sony XDCAM EX), with plenty of HDD space on my mobile editing suite, complete with a popular TV host & ....
Now who wants to sponsor? :bsmilie:
Hmm...Sony? General Motors? Nat Geo? Shell?
Or maybe even sponsor me a hybrid vehicle for me to document the whole travel process to show how capable the car is...
:think:
Shawn The Farmer
Member
literally sell your documentary before its even shot
tt's teh most ideal
best of luck astroboy :cheergal:
I would be lucky if even canon make me their spokesperson lah bro
Yeah, we'll all dreaming....that's why we're in the creative industry.
I did thought of OB setup, but not viable in Singapore.
No demand lar....u see Mediacorp Digital OB van only used for a few occassion.
SLeague, NDP, National Day speech, etc...
Since I do fly gas powered RC helicopters, I also did attempt for 'flying-cam' setup, complete with platform, simple motorised 1-axis tilt, onboard recorder, 3CCD cam + 2.4ghz downlink for preview, etc...but not viable too....again, falls to lack of demand in an extremely niche market + legal/insurance issues.....sigh.....perhaps I should move out of SG to bigger market.... ;p
astroboy
Senior Member
Yeah, we'll all dreaming....that's why we're in the creative industry.
I did thought of OB setup, but not viable in Singapore.
No demand lar....u see Mediacorp Digital OB van only used for a few occassion.
SLeague, NDP, National Day speech, etc...
Since I do fly gas powered RC helicopters, I also did attempt for 'flying-cam' setup, complete with platform, simple motorised 1-axis tilt, onboard recorder, 3CCD cam + 2.4ghz downlink for preview, etc...but not viable too....again, falls to lack of demand in an extremely niche market + legal/insurance issues.....sigh.....perhaps I should move out of SG to bigger market.... ;p
go ahead bro do sumting sum1 hasn't but make sure ur RC heli is a powerful 1 if nt it will wobble when it goes higher
go ahead bro do sumting sum1 hasn't but make sure ur RC heli is a powerful 1 if nt it will wobble when it goes higher
I oso ever tot of mounting a cam on a RC heli.. but just never carry out such trial..
Infact i was in such unit when in my airf@rce days!
vibrations problems can be resolved, but the stabilising gimble unit & 3-axis tilt,pan & rotate is a pain to setup.
Normally require 1 pilot & 1 cam op, but in my previous setup tests, I did not fully set it up to be a 'serious' machine, results were quite good, but I didn't wanna blow too much money unless it's really a viable biz.
I do not have a RC plane to try lay..
Flying a RC plane is not easy, not to mention RC helicopters.
And these machines are not TOYS like what most people will think.
They're a piece of high-precision machinery, requires some basic flight, aerodynamics, engineering & electronic knowledge in the setting up process, and for the piloting, you need to have good eyesight, orientation, reflexes & motor co-ordination skills.
Not to forget, these machines can kill too.
:nono:
Flying a RC plane is not easy, not to mention RC helicopters.
And these machines are not TOYS like what most people will think.
They're a piece of high-precision machinery, requires some basic flight, aerodynamics, engineering & electronic knowledge in the setting up process, and for the piloting, you need to have good eyesight, orientation, reflexes & motor co-ordination skills.
Not to forget, these machines can kill too.
:nono:
I agree.. when i was a regular in the airforce, my unit was dealing w RM aircraft (surveillance). I am talking abt military type, is abt the size of a saloon car.. not someting handy type.. so i know how it works..
. but the thing is i was involved in the technical aspect rather then piloting lor.i oso hv a fren very into this hobby who actually set up his own club. But it is an expensive hobby and even more expensive to flly with a cam mounted..:dunno:
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