The Single Biggest Mistake Filmmakers and Videographers Make

There is a common mistake that almost every beginner videographer and filmmaker makes that really hurts their chances of getting work and I’ve noticed it more than ever before.

Lately, I’ve been getting a lot on inbound emails from people looking for a job in my production company or trying to get hired as a freelancer.

I usually take a a minute or two and look at them and about 75% of the time, I see this exact same mistake.

When I click to their website or LinkedIn profile that they included in the email, I see their name and title. In most cases, they have several job titles next to their name.

For example, it says director, DP, actor, writer, filmmaker. But they just emailed me trying to get a freelance gig as a PA or a full time job as an editor.

I use to do this all the time in my twenties. I was once hired as a PA driver. I picked up a crew from their airport. When the director asked me about what I did, I told him that I was a director and DP. I had literally never made a single dollar doing either of those jobs and I was clearly a PA that day.

My online profiles use to say director/DP. But with no experience, why would anyone hire me to do those jobs.

So this is what I did and I recommend you do if you are in this position.

Think of your career in stages. Maybe right now, you should be a production assistant and gain experience working on sets. So promote yourself as that. There is no shame in that. You need a place to start. Don’t tell people you’re a director or filmmaker when trying to get hired by other production companies. They wouldn’t know how to use you on their next project.

Once you feel like you have enough experience, find the next thing. I went from PA to assistant camera and media manager. It was an easy transition. I wasn’t trying to go from PA to executive producer. I thought of things as stages.

I also started to put exactly what I did in my profiles.

So if you are looking for work, make it very clear what you do. If you’re trying to get hired as a director for commercials and no one is hiring you, you need to try another path.

Learn the exact blueprint I used to go from a struggling videographer, to running a profitable video production business, in this one-hour free training.

[JVOriginal]

I appreciate this message. I have Cinematographer and photographer after my name. I will now change that to only Cinematographer.

[julienpierb]

I am currently trying to transition from being a one man band (filmmaker?) to getting hired as a Cinematographer so I am using that title

[FeastFilms]

At the moment I have my profiles as: DP - Cam/Drone Op - Grip/Gaff and I do feel like I get more higher end work as a drone op/grip but I'd like to DP primarily. I have barely any 1st AC experience apart from my own personal projects pulling focus from time to time wirelessly

[adamparay]

Thank you for sharing this valuable knowledge. It's a refreshing perspective on growth in the film & video production industries.

[drewduperval]

Thank you for posting this. Very very true. You can tell when someone is just starting in their business when they still think they can wear all of the hats. Very insightful thank you king! #yhu40

[filmowaniezprofitem]

Actually I claim I do video production. It is true, however most of what I do is editing and assisting (as one man to hlep with everything). I will try to change my "title" and we will see

[JackDecker]

Listing myself as "Executive Producer" but as I am launching a game show, that is what I am doing right now. I guess I could also say "Game Show Host" but I am not seeking to be that for anyone else but myself.

[Flamezytheproducer]

I have cinematographer & video editor on my profile but I get more jobs as a video editor but I want to transition into a cinematographer.
I hope you create a telegram group soon.

[ralphvandale]

What if you don’t know all the steps? I’m new to Commerical game and only been filming wedding films looking to switch over. What are the steps I should take? I love operating cameras

[ScottStevenson]

My Profiles say: Cinematographer | Gaffer | Editor I make money doing all of these jobs for various clients. I often think about niching down to only one role but I enjoy each job so much.