Career Advice for Filmmakers - 15 Years in 15 Minutes
Summary
TLDRThis inspiring video script addresses filmmakers, both aspiring and established, seeking career fulfillment and motivation. The speaker shares personal career stories and valuable advice, highlighting the importance of curating your online presence to attract your ideal clients. They emphasize avoiding distractions like chasing social media trends, focusing on building authentic relationships through networking, and the power of humility in personal and professional growth. The speaker also stresses the significance of preserving relationships, even when faced with challenges, and concludes with an uplifting quote encouraging viewers to passionately pursue their dreams.
Takeaways
- đ„ **Define Your Desire**: Identify the type of work you are passionate about to attract similar projects.
- đ **Showcase Your Best Work**: Curate your online presence to reflect the work you want to attract.
- đ« **Avoid Distractions**: Focus on your craft rather than chasing virality or social media trends.
- đ **Emphasize Networking**: Build strong relationships within your industry for long-term success.
- đ€ **Value Friendships**: Establish friendships, even with competitors, as they can lead to collaborative opportunities.
- đââïž **Practice Humility**: Recognize that there's always more to learn and treat everyone with respect.
- đ **Acknowledge Growth**: Accept that the more you learn, the more you realize there's room for improvement.
- đ¶ **Choose the Right Music**: Use music to enhance your storytelling and evoke emotions in your audience.
- đ **Don't Burn Bridges**: Maintain positive relationships even when faced with challenges or betrayals.
- đȘ **Pursue Passion**: Chase your dreams with all your heart, as success is often a result of hard work and persistence.
Q & A
What is the main focus of the video script?
-The main focus of the video script is to provide advice and share experiences to help filmmakers, both aspiring and established, to find fulfillment and success in their careers.
How long has the speaker been in the filmmaking industry?
-The speaker has been in the filmmaking industry for 15 years.
What is the first tip the speaker shares for attracting the right clients?
-The first tip is 'What You Put Out There Is What You Will Attract', emphasizing the importance of showcasing the type of work you want to do more of.
How did the speaker transition from shooting weddings to other genres?
-The speaker transitioned by wiping their entire portfolio from the internet and only sharing work that aligned with their new genre focus.
What is the significance of the phrase 'Donât get distracted' in the script?
-The phrase 'Donât get distracted' suggests that filmmakers should not be swayed by trends or the pursuit of social media likes, which can detract from their creative work.
Why is networking considered the #1 reason for the speaker's success?
-Networking is considered the #1 reason for success because it establishes strong relationships that can lead to referrals, collaborations, and a better understanding of the industry.
What does the speaker mean by 'Networking is a winning relationship between friends'?
-The speaker means that networking should be about building genuine friendships within the industry that are mutually beneficial.
What is the importance of humility in the filmmaking industry according to the speaker?
-Humility is important because it allows filmmakers to recognize their limitations, learn from others, and treat everyone with respect, which can lead to stronger networks and personal growth.
How does the speaker describe the Dunning-Kruger Effect in relation to filmmaking?
-The speaker describes the Dunning-Kruger Effect as a realization that many people with low ability overestimate their actual ability, which can lead to overconfidence and a lack of growth.
What is the significance of the quote by Paul J Meyers mentioned in the script?
-The quote by Paul J Meyers is significant because it inspires the speaker and serves as a reminder that with vivid imagination, desire, belief, and action, success is inevitable.
Why does the speaker advise against burning bridges in the industry?
-The speaker advises against burning bridges because maintaining relationships can lead to future opportunities and collaborations, even with those who have disappointed in the past.
Outlines
đ„ Focusing Your Portfolio to Attract the Right Clients
The speaker emphasizes the importance of aligning one's portfolio with the type of work they wish to attract. By sharing only the best examples of the desired work, the speaker was able to transition from shooting weddings to high-end destination weddings and then into travel and tourism. This strategy involved removing all previous work from the internet to avoid attracting the wrong type of clients. The speaker suggests that by curating an online presence that showcases the work one loves, one can attract clients who appreciate and value that work.
đ« Avoiding Distractions to Grow as a Filmmaker
The speaker discusses the pitfalls of getting distracted by social media trends and the pursuit of viral content, which can detract from the craft of filmmaking. They share a personal experience where they focused on creating viral drone clips instead of storytelling, leading to a realization that they needed to prioritize their craft. The speaker advises filmmakers to focus on creating high-quality content that will attract the right clients, rather than chasing social media likes and followers.
đ€ The Power of Networking and Building Relationships
The speaker highlights the significance of networking in the filmmaking industry, defining it as 'a winning relationship between friends.' They stress that strong networks outlast social platforms and can lead to more substantial opportunities. The speaker shares their own experiences of learning from competitors, getting job referrals, and collaborating on projects. They emphasize the importance of giving before receiving and building friendships that can lead to successful professional relationships.
đ Embracing Humility and Avoiding Burned Bridges
The speaker talks about the importance of humility in the filmmaking industry, suggesting that it is a superpower that can lead to personal growth and better relationships. They explain the Dunning-Kruger effect to illustrate how overconfidence can hinder progress and how facing new challenges can lead to a more realistic understanding of one's abilities. The speaker also advises against burning bridges, sharing personal stories of how maintaining positive relationships, even with those who have wronged them, can lead to future opportunities.
đȘ Pursuing Passion with Full Commitment
In the final paragraph, the speaker encourages viewers to chase their passion with everything they have, emphasizing that success in the filmmaking industry is likely to follow. They share a quote that has become their life's anthem, which speaks to the power of imagination, desire, belief, and action in achieving success.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄFilmmaking
đĄFulfilment
đĄPortfolio
đĄAuthenticity
đĄNetworking
đĄHumility
đĄDistraction
đĄBranding
đĄDream Clients
đĄPassion Projects
đĄDunning-Kruger Effect
Highlights
The video is aimed at filmmakers seeking fulfillment and motivation in their careers.
The speaker shares personal career stories and advice to help viewers.
The importance of showcasing the type of work you want to attract is emphasized.
The speaker's transition from shooting weddings to travel and tourism, and then to commercial work and YouTube, is detailed.
Mistakes and successes in different genres of filmmaking are discussed.
The principle 'What you put out there is what you will attract' is introduced.
The strategy of curating a portfolio to attract specific clients is explained.
The dangers of chasing followers and applause at the expense of creativity are highlighted.
The speaker shares a pivotal moment that led to a change in focus from social media to filmmaking.
The value of a strong network in the filmmaking industry is discussed.
Networking is defined as 'a winning relationship between friends'.
The importance of humility and treating everyone with respect on set is emphasized.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect is used to illustrate the importance of recognizing one's own limitations.
The speaker discusses the challenges of finding the right music for films and the role of Musicbed.
The impact of preserving relationships even when people disappoint you is shared.
A quote by Paul J Meyers is presented as a guiding principle for success.
The speaker encourages viewers to chase their passion with urgency.
Transcripts
This video is not about me. In fact itâs very much about you. Yes you, Â
the young filmmaker with big dreams of telling epic stories. You, the established filmmaker who Â
feels like youâre stuck in a rut and needs some motivation. If you want to find more fulfilment Â
in your career doing more of the work youâre passionate about, this one is for you. Iâm going Â
to share a few stories from my own career paired with sound advice that could save you a lot of Â
headache but also encourage you on your journey forward. 2024 marks 15 years since I pursued Â
a career in the world of filmmaking. In these 15 years I have transitioned through multiple Â
genres from exclusively shooting weddings to full time venturing into travel and tourism, Â
come covid getting thrown into the commercial world and now also Youtube.
During this time I made a lot of mistakes but I also did a lot of things right.
In all of these genres I attained a fair amount of success that lead to Â
working on dream projects with dream clients and Iâm convinced that what Â
Iâm about to share with you can add significant value to your career.
One of the questions I get asked the most is, how did you land your dream clients? READ How Â
did you end up doing projects you actually want to do and getting paid well for it?
I feel like the answer to this is combined in all Â
of the tips Iâm going to share in this video but it starts with this,
#1 WHAT YOU PUT OUT THEREÂ IS WHAT YOU WILL ATTRACT.
I see so many filmmakers doing this wrong and itâs really not that difficult to get right.
Ask yourself this ONE QUESTION. What is the kind of work that you enjoy the most and that you want Â
to get more of? Back in 2013 my answer was High End Destination weddings. I wanted to shoot the Â
most expensive weddings and see the world while doing it. The only way I accomplished this was by Â
making sure I put a certain type of wedding video out there. I basically wiped my entire portfolio Â
from the internet and only started sharing the best looking and most expensive weddings.
At first I only had 3 weddings but it quickly multiplied to 12 and before I Â
knew it I was only attracting a specific type of client.
Clients who paid well and was willing to fly me all over the world to film Â
their wedding. What you put out there is what you will attract. I used this same Â
principle to transition from weddings into the travel and tourism space.
When I pulled the plug on weddings I wiped my entire portfolio, deleted my website and Â
facebook page, deleted old instagram posts and basically all digital footprints of my Â
wedding career. I did this because I didnât want any of my new clients to think that Iâm Â
just another videographer dabbling in a variety of video projects including weddings. I branded Â
myself as a specialist in travel content. It was my way of saying to the world. This is who I am, Â
this is what I do. If this is what you want, Iâm going to be the person to do it for you.
Was it easy? Not at all! I had to do a bunch of free projects, low paying ones and also had Â
to invest in a few passion projects READ but it didnât take long until the word got out and once Â
my first big client took the bait, I started getting massive projects with budgets I could Â
only dream of. What you put out there is what you attract. The way you curate your online presence Â
plays a massive role in how people perceive your brand and you have to put out content that you Â
absolutely love and want to do more of because eventually your will attract the right clients. Â
Clients that already appreciate the work you do and doesnât want to limit your creativity.
The wrong clients often stem from a case of catering for Â
whatâs popular and not what makes you happy which leads me to tip #2.
#2 Donât get distracted
There are so many ways to be distracted in this industry but the most common one, Â
the one I fell for the hardest was chasing followers and applause.
I see so many new and old filmmakers desperately trying to go viral with constant posting of Â
tiktoks, shorts and reels. Although I donât have any issues with this medium of content, Â
I do have an issue when the nature of the content is dictated by trends Â
and the desire to please the algorithm. Not only does it kill creativity but it Â
damages the authenticity of your brand and becomes such a distraction taking Â
precious time away from actually making films and growing as a story teller.
There was a period where I did this and I got completely consumed by the chase for applause Â
that I actually fell behind in my ability and during that time saw new younger filmmakers Â
quickly surpass me because they were out there grafting and focusing on the craft. Â
A pivotal moment for me was in 2018. I went on a trip with Sam Kolder and Chelsea Kauai Â
in the South African Drakensberg. While Sam was out there shooting an entire story of the trip, Â
I was only focused on getting the next epic drone clip that will go viral on Instagram. Â
I only realised it after the trip and I felt so stupid for not utilising the opportunity Â
to create cool content with Sam. This was the kick I needed because after that trip Â
I decided to toss everything aside that distracts my filmmaking and Instagram was the first to go. Â
I posted less but when I posted it was the kind of work that I wanted to get hired for. On shoots Â
I stopped thinking about what I could share on social media and only focused on creating Â
the best type of content possible. It wasnât long because soon everything started to pay Â
off. I landed a bunch of dream opportunities and quickly realised this powerful truth:
You donât need a 100 000 people to give you a thumbs up, you just need a 100 people who Â
actually wants to work with you. Likes donât pay the bills, people do and if you attract Â
the right client youâll never have to stress about getting enough likes. I want to make Â
it clear that Iâm not against short form content but if itâs taking you away from Â
working on projects with more substance, you might have to re-asses your content strategy.
Tip #3 is probably the most misunderstood topic in the filmmaking space. #3 Networking.
Even If you ignore everything I said until now, Â
I really hope this one will land and hit you where itâs supposed to.
Having a strong network is the #1 biggest reason for my success in all genres.
Networking is a timeless principle that will outlast any social platform, and applies in every Â
industry. The word itself has a pretty boring connotation to it so I made up my own version.
To me networking is âa winning relationship between friendsâ. Thatâs all there is to it. Â
Itâs about establishing sound relationships with people in your industry and ultimately Â
turning them into friendship. Networking is friendship in the workplace. Itâs Â
called a winning relationships because both parties get something out of it.
A strong network will always trump good work.
The most successful creators arenât always doing the best work and the Â
most talented creators arenât necessarily the most successful.
How does it look on a practical level? People often mistake a network as a relationships Â
with complimenting suppliers but the strongest form of network in Â
the world of filmmaking is actually making friends with people you view as competition.
Throughout the past 15 years Iâve learned more from my competitor friends than I did Â
from watching Youtube. I got some of the best job referrals and also returned the favor many times.
Networking is a case of making friends by being a Â
friend. Your starting point has to be give give give. Yes you heard right, Â
the mindset of networking should never be âwhat can I get from thisâ. Your goal Â
with networking should always be to establish friendship, and ALL the rest will come after it.
It doesnât matter how competitive your industry is, everything changes the moment things become Â
personal. Itâs the principle of LIKE, KNOW and TRUST. Iâm far more likely to recommend Â
a friend over someone who appear to be the best because I have confidence in their work Â
ethic and I know theyâre not going to damage my reputation with bad service.
Itâs not just about a transfer of knowledge and work but also about powerful collaborations Â
working together on the same project. I recently teamed up with my friend Ian Nieuwenhuizen on a Â
short film Liminality. Iâve known Ian for over 13 years and we became friends in the early Â
stages of our wedding careers. The friendship we established back then was strong enough to Â
outlast our various changes in genres. Or what about Andre, also met around the same time and Â
13 years later we still partner on a variety of projects and a lot of my BTS footage is Â
thanks to his amazing skills. The amazing thing about a well established network is that itâs Â
almost self sustaining in a way, constantly growing and organically reaching new people.
The real magic happens when you marry good work Â
with a great network! This leads me to my next tip # 4 humility is power.
The secret to a strong network is to take in a position of humility.
Humility is a super power in this industry. It starts with knowing your ability and admitting Â
to yourself that youâre not that special, READ that there are people out there far Â
more skilled and accomplished. When Iâm on set I donât judge a person by how he Â
deals with the Director or DP but by how he speaks to the production assistant, Â
the lighting assistant. The person who hasnât achieved anything noteworthy. If you really Â
want to impress me, treat everyone with the same level of respect and Iâll happily be your friend!
Humility doesnât come by downplaying your own abilities and achievements Â
but about finding out how little you really know.
One of my favourite ways to explain this is with the Dunning Kruger Effect. On the left you have Â
an indication of your perceived ability which relates to confidence and at the bottom you have Â
your actual ability which relates to knowledge and experience. The graph shows that most often Â
people with low ability over estimate their actual ability and are over confident. You donât Â
know what you donât know. Itâs the proverbial âthatâs easy, I can totally do thatâ mentality. Â
You setup camp on the peak of mount stupid and for a while you think pretty highly of yourself.
This ego gets inflated by chasing applause on social media by getting tons of views on Â
content that appeals to the algorithm. Itâs only when you get confronted with new knowledge and Â
experience where you take a plunge and find out how much you donât know. This is where I Â
found myself in 2018 after the trip with Sam and Chelsea. Although we hiked in literally mountains, Â
I came down from the peak of mount stupid into the valley of despair but at least I finally Â
saw the need for growth and the motivation came like tidal wave. I was committed to Â
improve my skills and slowly started getting my confidence back but this time with a new Â
perspective. Now after all these years I find that filmmaking is only getting harder. Yes, Â
you heard right. The more I do this the more I see the need for improvement because my Â
eyes are open to so many new things I didnât know about before. That doesnât mean I donât Â
have any confidence, it simply means I know that thereâs a lot of room for improvement. Â
If filmmaking isnât getting harder the more you do it you seriously need to check your Â
position on this curve because thereâs a world of knowledge out there waiting to be discovered.
"Before I move on to the next tip, letâs talk about music real quick. In the 15 years Iâve Â
been making films, Musicbed has been a part of 11 of them. In the first four years, my biggest Â
struggle was finding relevant music that conveyed the emotions and tone I envisioned for my stories. Â
I would spend hours searching, often settling for something that was just 'good enough.'
Music can truly transform any narrative, which is why having a wide variety of Â
options is so important. It has the ability to resonate emotionally with your viewers, Â
and if you feel anything while watching this video, Musicbed is the reason. With over Â
60,000 songs, Musicbed offers the largest curated collection of authentic music for your projects. Â
Their innovative search tools, including an AI-powered 'Search By Song' feature, Â
simplify the process of finding the perfect song to match your vision.
Iâve said it before, and Iâll say it again:Â Â
Musicbed has completely transformed my storytelling. If youâre a creator looking Â
to connect deeply with your audience, I cannot recommend it enough. Make the Â
switch today and start your 14-day free trial with the link in my description."
And then for my last piece of career advice,
I really really hope you never make this mistake and I can only comment on it because Iâve seen Â
how it applies over a period of 15 years. In this industry people will cross you. Some of Â
your friends in your network will disappoint you. Some will try to take clients from you. Â
Some will pay late and even if you have all the reason to be angry, whatever you do, Â
NEVER ever burn a bridge. I can say this with utmost confidence because Iâve burned Â
a few bridges myself and Iâve seen the damage it can cause in the long term.
As I matured through the years I grasped the principle and there are many cases of people Â
crossing me where I had more than enough reason to write them off but I didnât⊠and guess what.
Many years down the line, those same people came back over the Â
bridge and sent work my way, did my workshops, bought my courses.
Literally years later I benefited greatly because I didnât give into my ego and chose Â
to preserve the peace. Some of them knew what they did was wrong but my Â
response created a sense of security for them to come back and it only paid of in Â
my favor. It makes me wonder what I missed out on when I actually chose the opposite.
Thereâs this quote by Paul J Meyers thatâs become the anthem of my life and I hope it will encourage Â
you going forward. It goes something likes this âWhatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, Â
sincerely believe and enthusiastically act upon must inevitably come to passâ.
I truly believe that if you combine all of these tips and apply it to your own career Â
you will most likely experience great success in the future. Now Â
go chase after your passion like your life depends on it, because it does.
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