Fox Maulder, Rorschach, The Question and why you need to be careful!!!

Old as I am, you begin to see things come back around. My college years were filled with characters such Fox Maulder (The X-Files), Rorschach (Watchmen), and The Question (the trench-coated reporter turned hero/conspiracy-theorist for The Justice League): characters that questioned everything and understood their own value in the world. Time for all DV Rebels to do the same.

It is time to question what you are offered: Is this really a good opportunity for me? What does this person (what do these people) want from me? Shouldn't I be getting paid for this? If I am volunteering for this, why are they treating me this way?

Yes, many of you are still students or are recent graduates looking for opportunities in order to build skill sets...and people who want to take advantage of you know this. They know that you are scared about being able to get a job, and they know you have access to equipment they are not willing to pay for. So, what are the steps to keeping yourself (and the school you love) safe?

- You are worth more than you think. If you begin to question what you know and what you're worth, see Jenn Smith or Biddle immediately!

- Internships. When you look into internships, talk with Jenn Smith, Biddle, Miss Shannon, Dr. Hollifield, and/or Mr. Bentley. An internship should provide you with something you cannot get on a daily basis here at Grady College. Ask rebels such as Ashley Kruythoff, Zack Goulet, Chad Mumm, Rachel Kohl, or Megan "Mitch" Mitchell. They will tell you that an internship should provide YOU with something. If any internship asks you to provide equipment from Grady like you're in a class, or for help from other students, you need to avoid this. Why?...

- Free work. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! Your professors and many places that provide internships see you as developing talent/professionals: others see you as free work. This is bad for many reasons. First, this is taking away from local production companies that need the work. Yes, we know many bad production companies that do shoddy production work that you could do much better and with more professional results...but for every bad company, two very good ones exist. Bad or good, these are people who were in your situation many years ago and now want to stay working. When you are approached to do something free with Grady equipment (or your own equipment), you are being taken advantage of in a way that will create an unprofessional relationship with Grady College (which you are the most important part of) and the local production community...which provides jobs for graduates. Second, places (and internships) that ask you to do this "free" work are often not the best judges of quality. Without the guidance of a Smith, Biddle, or qualified internship coordinator, you could develop some very bad habits. No one at Grady College wants that to happen.

- "Oh, they sorta volunteered me...." This has happened to me since 1985...and I learned to volunteer myself out of things by 1986. Yes, it's nice to provide things to organizations and events we're involved in, but if you're asked to do a video or something with your "new awesome Grady skills and equipment", it's time to take a critical look at what you're doing for this organization. Even if you have your own equipment, "volunteering" soon turns into an endless list of changes in quality, deadlines, and "how many DVD copies can you make for us"? If you volunteer to make something, use your own stuff and get all deadlines and such IN WRITING!!!! I have many students who will tell you horror stories about soccer videos, weddings, organization kits, fundraiser videos, etc. NONE of these students had a good experience.

- Commercials. No. Not at school, ever!!! Legal problems and it's how local companies stay in business! The Grady College faculty/staff will not allow these companies to be alienated. If you score a commercial on your own, terrific! But, you'll need to produce it on your own, with your own stuff, and DON'T DO IT FOR FREE, EVER!!!!!

- "I wanna do something outside of class." GOOD! That's what storytellers do! They don't wait for the classroom to dictate what to do and when to do it! But, like anything in any department, don't try and skirt the law! Talk to Biddle, Smith, Keever, or Dr. Hollifield and be completely honest! Have a written proposal, timetable, etc. just like you've been taught in Smith, Biddle, Keever, Kavoori, etc. classes! Students in independent studies have no access to Grady Equipment, so you'll have to make a good, professional case...just like out there in the real world. Get used to inquisition. It's not to stifle your creativity, it's to build your skills.

- Rent stuff. NYU, Columbia, UCLA, etc. students are required to rent equipment for work they do outside of class (or FOR class in some cases...I had to rent my Steenbeck to cut student films way back in '88 - '91...and buy all my own take-up reels and leader.). Learning how to budget for a rental (and schedule for a rental)is a very valuable skill that impresses places that need production supervisors, line producers, etc. Many places around the area (especially in Atlanta) can rent equipment to you for a very reasonable rate. Check the sites, make some fake budgets for projects, keep 'em on file, and then you're ready to give some fairly accurate production budgets off the top of your head. How long will you let others provide for you?

There's nothing wrong with being skeptical about people who want work from you. Maulder, Rorschach, and The Question are considered vital characters in the world of fictional because they question what is offered and seek what is considered "the truth". As a film maker, you need to do this as well. Take chances, question authority, gather your resources, and tell good stories.

Long Live The Rebellion.