Reflective Blog - Week 2
The concept that you can work extremely long hours because you love the job and it's art but you don't get paid is one that has plagued artists for a very long time. The inequality in the industry for various reasons also plays a part in the process. Thinking about it, when your just starting out this concept can either quash your desire to be in the industry or inspire you to do better.
I've seen people go out and work themselves to the bone on unpaid independent films and realised without a work life balance then your quickly going to be burning out or so broke you can't live. I happily worked on some independent films where I loved the script and it was exciting to me to be involved but I usually limit my unpaid work so that I don't burn out.
One area that I think is important for independent film makers is to give back to the communities that support you. If we all keep working for free then no one is ever going to get paid. The other area is undercutting, I have decided not to undercut others as there will always be someone willing to work cheaper than you. I learned that there are people willing to support each market because there are people from all walks of life and with different incomes. There will always be people chasing the cheapest option and people who think that they need to chase all work and will undervalue their time and skills.
A photographer friend once told me your price is a reflection of your work and why would you discount yourself to get work all the time? Yes you can have specials every now and again, but why would you want to work with people who don't want to pay you what your worth? This has been very important for me to learn, why would anyone pay me what I am worth if I don't think I am worth it? As an upcoming film maker we can get caught up thinking we aren't good enough yet however when you look at the skills of the people wanting to hire you and they don't have the skills you have, then you start to realise the value of your skills.
In saying that you need to be honest with yourself and reflect and evaluate the skills you have and your confidence to provide those skills to a customer. Look at it objectively considering it as someone else's skills instead of your own and the value you would give them and apply it to your own work. One of the biggest stumbling blocks is not valuing your own skills.
The other area I am more focused on in regards to my income is having multiple platforms within the industry to create my income. I have chosen complimentary streams to each other and my own skills set. I evaluated what I was good at and what I enjoyed and then looked at what other roles complemented my skills and didn't conflict with my primary income ideas and wasn't time limited. This is an important part of my plan, making sure the different income streams could be done anywhere in the world at any time of the day and isn't locked into a schedule that isn't flexible. This allows me to work any time I need to or want to and creates flexibility in my work flow which I personally need to maintain my own mental health and not burn out. If I have done a massive shoot then I will take a few days off for myself to recover and I might do some social media around my projects or I will do some networking with other creatives in a relaxed manner before I go back into something more strenuous.
The market place is more and more looking to save a buck and get things for free, to survive and thrive in this world we need to remember that things we value we are happy to pay for. Something that many new film makers and creatives tend to forget. Art is an integral part of the rich tapestry of our lives and without it where will the colour for our souls come from??