Another interview with Les Robertson

Response was a little late but he finally responded! 

-What are clients and companies looking for in videographers/ editors? What skills are important?

solid skills displayed in released content, on your own or through clients. typically then compiled and displayed in a reel, updated annually

all skills are important in 2017 - ideation, creation, post production... the adobe suite is key, but being able to use a diverse range of content creation tools and platforms to release is key. we rarely wear one hat or use one tool

having a positive attitude, being reliable, being a good communicator, following through, all as important as anything

 

-Are there paid internship opportunities available? Full/ Part time positions? What does the hiring process look like?

much of media is a mix of self effort, being an entrepreneur and building your own efforts, projects and connections and being willing to work free at first.

A lot of people see volunteering or spec work or free internships as bs and taking advantage of people. I disagree, I've built my life on it and i believe strongly in volunteerism to show what you are actually capable of. it builds trust and good interns / volunteers go a lot further than those that strictly want to be paid. Sure, you might get to a point in your career where you can "demand" pay, but the truth of this industry is the best understand how to collaborate and create a greater good for a better longterm payout for all.

hiring is rarely cut and dry. you can apply a million places but 9 times out of 10 your going to gain your roles through hard work and networking, being good at selling yourself and your skills. word of mouth then takes you a good chunk of the next way because good people are hard to find.

the question of career is a funny one because casey neistat is a legend on youtube and made a career on making media for big companies through self selling and creativity. the market now is way different than the past and it's much more boutique. you have to know what you want to be hired for before the process matters much

-In your opinion, How can someone make a living doing this?

see above, be creative, be a self starter, apply yourself to your trade, know when to work for free and build relationships - collaborate - and when to charge for the relationship value appropriately - do business. the right opportunity mix is personal, what are your skills and how do you best enjoy applying them?

 

-Who do you work with?

the list is too great to start as i a rarely look for credit publicly for my work and prefer that the right people know and hire me to do what i am good at, often very quietly and with their brand facing.

-Who else could I talk to?

thats a question of about what? I am a magazine editor, content creator, videographer, video editor, social media coordinator, blogger.. ha ha 

Interesting Interview with Brock Clement

Dear Brock Clement,

My name is Craig Doby, a freelance photographer/videographer located in Gresham, Or. I specialize in family portraits and catalogs for music artist. I am reaching out to you because I admire your creative eye. In this industry you must stand out and your work is beyond marvelous. If you please, I would love to gather some information from you with a quick interview. If you please only 2-3 sentences responses.

1. Whats your name any nicknames, hometown, and explain a little about your photography and any experience in video production? My family often calls me Brockman or McKenzie (my middle name.)  I have little experience in video production. Minimal small projects done with GoPro.

2. Would you label your creative work a hobby, passion, or business? You have a recollection of when it began? I would say all of the above. It's the thing I'm most passionate about in life and constantly practice. My passion for photography goes way back to messing with a Polaroid camera around the age of 8.

3. Who inspires you, where does all of your determination come from?

A good friend of mine is a very talented photographer and his dad is a professional with an extensive background and portfolio. They are who really got me motivated and passionate about photographer and inspired me to purchase a DSLR and learn to shoot on manual mode only. 

4. Would you say your upbringing had an impact on your creative work?

Absolutely. I have always traveled a lot and felt the urge to document my journeys.

5. Where are you currently in your career? What yours projective?

As with anything, practice makes perfect. I'm always seeking new opportunities to expand my skills and comfort levels with photography. One day soon it will be a means to justify and fund my travels.   

6. When is your next project and where can we see it? 

Hmmm. Who knows at this point. For now, stay in tune with my Instagram @brockclement

Thank you, Mr. Clement. this means a lot to me. This interview will be posted on blooger.com if you would like to see it. 

Sincerely, Craig Doby

The Shooters Photography & Videography

503-489-3182

Interview With Brandon Desjarlais

Brandon is the team manager as well as the social media manager of Moonshine Longboards as well as a team rider/ sponsored pro skater and stunt double for Vin Diesel in the newest XXX movie. Today I was on the phone with him for a solid 40 minutes and we brushed through the following questions...

Interview Questions:

1. What can I do to promote myself making skate videos?

2. What skills do you look for in full time video creators?

3. What's the future in Longboarding movies?

4.  How could I make a living doing this?

5. Who else should I talk to?

in response, to summarize he said...

Answers:

1. Gotta have a reel. Show Off your Best work and more importantly your Style.
    Be a specialist over a generalist because anyone can make a skate video but put your own unique         style that separates you from everyone else that you do better than anyone.

2. Like any job, they look for a dependable person that has a good work ethic that meets deadlines and does the job well. Having your own gear is also important and not only knowing how to effectively use the tools, but to have some original ideas and being creative.

3. The future is hard to say, but there's potential and growth in documentaries, mainstream media and film. The old buisness model is completely changing and is shifting into social media for advertising and there's good money in facebook videos and should be taken advantage of.

4. Not a lot of money in it. Maybe 2k-3k per month, but you'd be doing something you love, it's great resume building and for moving on into bigger things like the big Nike skateboarding ads. Also diversify yourself and pick up marketing as well as photography and freelance on the side with other things.

5. Talk to Les Robertson. President of Skate Slate even if he's not responding you should get a hold of him or Nate Blackburn of Omen and Motion boardshop.

One Second A Day

1 Second A Day

An Interview With Jack Schommer

This is an interview I had with Jack, our MHCC video advisor who's retiring this year for the advocate along with for this blog. I was originally going to write an article and add sound clips, but after the interview, I didn't want to cut out anything he said.

A Random Instastory

Interview - Sampson

I interviewed my mentor when it comes to video and film production.

I asked 6 questions.

Questions
1. What's your name, where do you work and how long have you been in the video/film production industry?
2. What is your biggest achievement in your career?
3. What route did you take to get into the industry?
4. When looking for new creators what do you look for?
5. What suggestions do you have for any young creator who is trying to build up their portfolio and skill?
6. What is one piece of advice you'd give to the next person to have your job?

Answers:
1 - My name is John Cárdenas. I work at Prosper Portland, the city's economic development agency in charge of job creation, real estate and economic development. I have been in the industry for 19 years.

2 - One of my biggest achievements to date has been to work on the 2015 Latin Grammy Awards. I was a content creator for backstage events, after parties, and red carpet events. The Grammy team uses that content to promote the acts and sponsors. I was able to turn that opportunity into more production work for Monster Audio, Heineken, and Bellagio Hotel. The other big achievement has been to travel all over the U.S. to shoot and produce videos for a large number of national organizations like the NY International Latino Film Festival, The Hispanic National Bar Association, and the Illumination Engineering Society. Locally I have worked on projects for major Fortune 500 companies like Nike, Adidas America, Ford Motor Company, and Daimler Trucks North America.

3 - This is an interesting question. Its unlike other careers because filmmaking is as much a state of mind as it is a job. You're "in the industry" as soon as you say you're in the industry. More concretely, the first time I was paid for my work was a major milestone. From the time I picked up a camera to the time someone asked me to produce something for money was about three years.

4 - I look for new approaches and perspectives on old topics. I look for someone who knows how to get the most out of their gear and how to work with what they have. Most importantly I look for true storytellers. A good story, well told, will always beat visual or graphic esthetics.

5 - Shoot what you know. Get personal. Look into the complexity of your own life and tell that story. Tell the stories of your family members, where you live, your daily activities, what you love, what you want to see change. I think in today's market place the projects that mean the most are those that make people feel something rather than being sold something.

6 - Stay interested. Stay humble. Stay nimble. Don't fall in love with your gear or your editing platform. It will change and you better be ready for that change. Find a mentor who's work you admire, who has time for you, and who can introduce you to other people in the industry. Sharpen your writing skills. You'll write more than you'll shoot or edit video.

John has been a mentor for me for a little over 3 years and since then I've improved my ability tremendously and with a huge thanks to him I haven't given up when things got tough.

Sampson Second A Day

Here is my "Second A Day Video",

My 1 sec a day video

1 Second Everyday - Sierra Freeman

https://vimeo.com/220709693

April 1- June 6, 2016

This is my 1 Second Video all put together to music.

Snapchat Geofilter by Sierra

This is my Geofilter. My idea was to create a Geofilter that i could use during a play that i have been apart of for over 10 years. I would use this as a way to promote the production.

interview with Roman

I interviewed Roman Anderson. He is a videographer in Vancouver WA and has been doing video production commercials for local business and schools for 10 years.

Question 1~  What made you want to do commercials for a living?
Question 2~  Have you taken any classes to lean new skills?
Question 3~  What is one piece of advice you would give a student wanting to get into commercial work?

Romans Ansers
Anser 1~ When I was a kid my dad was in charge of marketing for one of the companies he worked for and always shared new ideas and techniques with me. As I grew up I started helping him online and decided to try it on my own with video commercials for a friends company.

Anser 2~ I started on my own and after 3 years of creating my own videos i wanted to make my work better so i took a class in California on how to be more efficient with my editing.

Anser 3~ The best advice I could give to a student would be to get into an internship and make sure it is something you really want to do!

1 second a day-Ayres

1 second from my days 

Ben Crichton - One Second a Day

Essien_Instagram

Essien-story

DIRECTOR: ROYAL PRINCEO

DIRECTOR:  ROYAL PRINCEO

HOW DID YOU START:   Started as an Actor?

WHY DID YOU LEAVE ACTING:  I left acting when my director refused to show up for work? I decided to take a chance and I did it successfully.  I love directing and producing movies. You are the beginning and end of everything.

WHAT IS THE PAY IN YOUR FIELD?  The pay depends on who hired you and the type of movie it is.

The base pay is – 200,000,00 to 300,000,00.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEING A PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR: I have been a producer for 10yrs.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER TYPE OF TRAINING APART FROM WATCHING AND LEARNING ON JOB.  I went to New-York film academy for 1yr.

I went to film school in France this is additional training to me.

HOW MANY AWARDS HAVE YOU WON? I have won 25awards since I started being a movie's director.

HOW DO YOU EDIT YOUR MOVIES? I have a permanent Editor and PA. I have some bit and extras that work for me on a permanent base.  My lead and actors come when I need them. I have a permanent site for my movies.

DO YOU ATTEND FILM FESTIVALS? I do that’s where I show case my movies past and present.

WHAT IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE FOR YOUR MOVIES: Hahahahaha 8yrs -                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    100yrs?

Snap Chat Story GROUP CHALLENGE!

GO KART RACING
https://youtu.be/9LKBNN11d_Y

snapstory

Stereograph Matty K

Kickin' ass for the working class!

Snapchat Geofilter

Matty K Cinemagraph - Alice Cooper would be proud!

Cory Wiese - Snapchat

Matty k cinemagraph

ow, ow ,ow ,ow.

Interview with Youtube Star: Karlee Holden

What would you do if you had two kids with your boyfriend by the age of 20? Would you think to start up a Youtube channel? That’s just what Karlee Holden did, a 21-year-old Portland native. Between her two channels, she has gained over 75,000 loyal subscribers. In this interview, I ask Karlee exactly how it’s like to be a young mom in the twenty first century internet age, and all the advantages, as well as setbacks, it has to offer.

How long have you made Youtube videos?

"I posted my first video in October of 2015 and have made over 200 videos! (Between my channel and my family's vlog channel)"

Why did this type of work/hobby interest you and how did you get started?

"Until I realized people can actually make a career out of YouTube, creating my own channel was only something I daydreamed about as a kid. I worked up the nerve to start my own after my boyfriend showed me his favorite channels, their success stories and gave me some words of encouragement! I just loved the fact that people made a job out of having fun and being themselves."

What was your life like before doing Youtube, and how is it now?

"Before YouTube, I didn't do much with my time other than raise my first son. Now, I'm raising two boys and there are all these strangers watching our lives, wanting to know all sorts of things about us (some of them very weird and personal) and interacting with us. It's much busier now than before, YouTube is definitely a full-time job, and that can be hard when you're also a stay at home mom!"

What is/was the biggest obstacle while doing this?

"There are two. The first is staying consistent and posting regularly. I've never been good at schedules, and now it's nearly impossible to schedule anything while I'm caring for small humans who have no bladder control.

The second is coming across hateful comments and trying to forget about them. For a viewer or anyone else, phrases like "don't let them get to you!" "they're not worth your time!" are so easy to throw out there. I'm not necessarily a sensitive person, but as a person who only means well, I get so frustrated when a stranger dislikes me. I spend a lot of time trying to understand where that person is coming from, what would provoke them to say such a hateful thing?, why was I the target of their bad day?, etc. I get uneasy scrolling through the comments because I'm afraid I'll see that ONE comment that will put me in a sour mood for the rest of the day."

How do you come up with ideas, and who/what inspires you?

"I get ideas from random things I come across in my daily life, or most of the time from the things I see on the internet. There are so many creators who inspire me, but I tend to observe the most successful and get inspiration from their videos!"

What skills or personal characteristics do you feel contribute most to success in this industry?

"You have to be passionate about YouTube and just genuinely love what you do. Once you get into your groove and start to feel comfortable with producing content, the rest (income, followers) will come on it's own! People see genuineness and they appreciate it."

Is a college degree for this type of work a necessity? Why or why not?

"It is definitely not necessary to have a degree to be successful on YouTube. I have no degree and have only taken one college course completely unrelated to what I do now. Everything you need to know about starting a YouTube channel and growing your channel is already on YouTube! Most creators love sharing their knowledge and success stories."

What would you tell someone seeking to start a Youtube channel?

"Oh, so many things. But here are a few: Always start out being 100% yourself. Trying to keep up with a persona is exhausting. Unless you start your channel doing skits and acting, that's different. Make videos that make you happy. Stay consistent if you can. Network, like crazy. But don't JUST network, make friends. Keep your personal information private. Clickbait, just a little... (you didn't hear that from me). iPhone cameras are great for just starting out, nobody expects too much from your first videos. Know that your first video will be a flop. Learn from it. Keep learning with each video. Watch other creators and get involved in the community."

Any special words of warning or encouragement as a result of your experience?

"It takes some time to find your groove. Don't get discouraged right away. Anyone that has the desire to make it work can do it!"

Check out Karlee's channel here.

snap chat story

                                                    snap chat story 

That SNAP Story!

& here's my PNG

Snapchat Story- Ayres

Snapchat Geo Filter

40 second video

Logan's Day - Instagram Story

The blogger video uploader is junk....

Geofilter - Jake Enemark

how my Geofilter looks    

how my Geofilter will look

Snapchat Story

art.

Snapchat Story

My story was going through my day on Memorial Day. I went hiking and worked out my shoulders and arms.

Here's the giofilter I made for this story.

Instagram Story

Here's my Instagram story. Roast me.

SnapChat Post from Matty K

Geo Filter and Story

Place Holder for Interview

This post is a placeholder for when I get a response from the people I have emailed.

Interview with Producer Natalie Camou

I was recently able to get a hold of Blue Chalk Media's Natalie Camou about what her experiences have been working in the film industry. Here's what she had to say:

(Q) Is directing your main title? Or do you like to take on other roles like producer or an editor? Is it important to be diverse in skills, or better to stick to one job?

(N) My main title at Blue Chalk Media is "producer." As a producer for documentary projects you often take on many of the responsibilities one would normally associate with the role "director." We often pitch the idea as you'd imagine a journalist pitching an idea for a story. Once our pitch is approved we move onto pre-production which involves several days of phone calls and emails. This correspondence is necessary to confirm your subjects ahead of time for any given story you may be filming. Often times these contacts will determine the timeline for when the piece can be filmed and the length of time it will take to produce. As the producer, we also oversee the edit of the film after the fact and carry it all the way through to completion. Sometimes I work as an editor, but only the projects of others. Blue Chalk is quite fond of the collaborative environment where all can contribute, but once you've been assigned a role for a particular project you tend to carry out the responsibilities of that role to the very end.

(Q) What motivated you to enter the film industry?

(N)The desire to change the sensibilities of others drove me to enter the film industry. I believe there are very few mediums as immersive as film.

 

(Q) How have you found ways to work with new people for new projects?

(N) Every project is an invitation to work with new people. If I think to the past five projects I worked on each had a different director of photography, editor, and was filled with different people as it pertained to different subject matter.

(Q) Where have you been successful in finding funding for your projects?

(N) I work for a production company, so my burden of finding funding is quite light. The company has several people dedicated to the pursuit of new clientele. The quality of our portfolio allows us to get the high paying clientele we need to cover the costs of staff and passion projects.

(Q) What advice would you give to students looking to become a director, or just entering the field in general?

(N) If you are considering becoming a director welcome every opportunity to work in as many different roles as possible on a set, including that of a lead actor. One cannot know how to manage such people until they've experienced what it is to be in those roles. Taking on the role of lead actor can also be most instructive in honing your ability to elicit true, authentic emotions before the camera. My second bit of a advice is take from Aristotle's Poetics, always remember to serve the story not yourself.