Fear Mongering....FIGHT BACK!!!!

Finally...summer. A time to relax for a few weeks, then scramble to make show reels, update resumes, make cold calls for jobs/internships, and desperately explain to your parents that you really are trying to get a job. I (Biddle) won't lie to you: it's tough. Lot's of people want to get into movies, TV shows, games, used car commercials, you name it. And, sad to say, many people currently working will discourage you from trying to get into this business. Out of concern for you? No. Out of concern for themselves.

This is a very tough time for graduates and current students: "Am I doing the right thing?" "What if I don't know how to make graphics?" "People keep telling me that if I don't know how to run a camera, I'll never make it in this business!" Folks, that is nothing but fear mongering on the part of people who want to be important. For almost 25 years I've had people tell me, "If you can't (add skill or technique here), you'll get left behind...", or "That's so basic, children can do it and you're going to lose your job", and my current favorite "This is all being done by amateurs now. All of us professionals are going to lose our jobs."

These are not new statements: my father (Advertising Vice President) heard them, my mother (Senior Office Manager) heard them, my grandfather (Head of Vocational Education) heard them, my grandmother (Musician) heard them, and I'm certain my great-grand-whatevers heard them. Everyone in every profession hears this at some point. Yes, more people can do things at home (and that's generally where they stay for the rest of their lives), but these are exciting times...which means uplifting "happies", and crushing "not-happies".

If someone tells you that you've spent your entire college career learning the wrong thing, run-away...just RUN! Well, shake their hand and thank them...then RUN! You have not, you have not, you have NOT wasted you college time learning the wrong thing! If someone tells you that because you DON'T know something you're going to fail at life, RUN! Don't even shake their hand! No matter where you go to school, your education is EVERYWHERE and EVERY DAY! What you learned at Grady is valuable...and soon you'll know how to truly apply that knowledge.

This business is loaded with a myriad of positions that you can learn from, evolve with, and move-on from! I can also tell you that within the last two years, I lost a lot of business to "amateurs"...but within three months of my clients leaving, they came back begging for someone with professional skill, experience, and resources (resources as in the people I work with in LA, NYC, etc.)...and then I upped my price. Everything goes in cycles.

I'm 39-years-old and if I had listened to any of these fear mongers when I started-out, I'd never be as happy as I am now with my life. If college hasn't taught you to take chances, then I personally apologize. Don't listen to any advice laden with fear! Use your solid knowledge of the basics (if ya don't remember these, brush up on 'em...ya know, things like be on time, what's copyright, story structure and how to pitch something, etc.), be professional, and take chances. Although our graduation speaker said to strive to be on of THE CRAZY ONES, I'm certain you're more worried about an apartment, food, a job, and money....well, he's half correct on being a CRAZY ONE.

Living below your standards doesn't mean you're a failure or that you've chosen the wrong profession. It's a glorious time that yields stories you'll tell for years. The Crazy Ones accept this. You might live on a very tight budget for a very long time. The Crazy Ones know this is going to happen. It's almost in a section of Murphy's Laws that when you start out, the very best opportunities don't pay very well (if at all), but yield great rewards. Don't let fear mongers keep you from these!!! Fortune and opportunities happen from hard work, learning, and very often just plain ol' luck. Will you be in the right place for all that? The Crazy Ones don't listen to the fear mongers about taking risks and living where the opportunities and excitement is...ya have to do that for awhile...then you create the place for the oppotunities and excitement. You can't just start off and get all the accolades of the "Crazy Ones"...it takes time. I know, it stinks that you have to put in even MORE time...but the rewards don't stink.

If you still find yourself saying, "It would be so cool, but.....", what is causing that "but"? Fear? Fear of failure? We all fail. Fear mongers perpetuate this...avoid them. AVOID THEM!!! Don't settle for getting placed in a job by someone. FIND A JOB. A job you've researched and you are excited about. Find out where it can lead. Even if Cup O' Noodles is a fine dining experience for a year or more, why would you pass up something great for getting placed in something "safe" to avoid fear? You know all those great stories I have? It took a LOT of failure, screw-ups, and living slightly above poverty to get 'em...and I wouldn't trade 'em for a comfortable, safe life of knowing exactly what I would be doing every...single...day.


Long Live The Rebellion.

WHAT AM I GONNA DO!!??!!

Sorry for the dry-spell on the Rebellion Blog...The Vegas NAB was CRAZY!!! Special thanks to these hard-working rebels: Web, Shark, Paltrow, Chatty-Chatter, Blade, Shooter, C-Los, Big-D, and Cutter. And we love the gang at FMC: Joel, Iva, Chris, and Dan-The-Man.

Now, let's address panic about jobs....

Ok, I (Biddle) am an old guy...and I have a job, so me saying "Don't panic" probably doesn't really hold a lot of water with you, and rightfully so...but believe me, I've been unemployed and changed jobs/careers often...so here are some helpful tips:

- If you wanna work on sets/locations, do you have your own stuff? Yes, a home editing system is cool, but can't help you as a PA on a set/location. Barbizon Lighting in Atlanta, NYC, and online has stuff you can use. Get some gloves, tool kit, belt, flashlight, etc.

- Your going to need a temp job, but what to get? For those going to NYC, try to avoid waiter/waitress. Why? The hours stink (only bartenders make their own hours), and EVERY restaurant in NYC knows why you are working there. Also, if you are working at a good place, and you are a good waiter/waitress, you could easily end up pulling in a LOT of money...I've seen people tipped with Rolex watches. People in NYC go to restaurants to eat and be served, so avoid this. Try for a temp/part-time job either at a place that rents video/film equipment (this is a good way to know what's happening in the area)or for an agency. LA is a different story. In LA, people mostly go to dinner to be seen, so I would still avoid waiter/waitress. The LA market is flooded with agencies, so get on-board as an assistant or assistant's assistant. One of the best part-time/temp/full-time jobs you can get is trainer/yoga instructor. If you can get your certification, this puts you right in the heart of "The Beautiful People"...and (as in the case with NYC as well) you can take one or several non-paying internships while you're working another job. A former student of mine worked as a yoga instructor and held two non-paying internships at major studios. In two years, when a job opened at a studio, they gave it to her for her effort, loyalty, and drive. That's why we call it "work". If you want to work in Atlanta, treat it the same way.

More next week!

Long live The Rebellion!

A message from DV Rebel David Hill

Check this out!



Hey, guys. As some of you may know I'm taking a road trip in May to
benefit Nuci's Space here in Athens. I'll give you the short version
of what's going on. May 12-18 I'm fulfilling a life-long dream of
traveling the country playing music. I'm playing in Nashville, Omaha,
Chicago, NYC, London ON, Philadelphia, along with other cities. The
catch is I'm not a very good guitarist or singer, and I'm playing on
sidewalks, because no one really offered me a gig. Still, I'm playing
in twenty-one cities in seven days. Livin' the dream!

The purpose of this trip is two-fold. First, everyone has dreams they
haven't fulfilled. This is a reminder that a lot of dreams are within
our reach. Two, I'm asking people to consider people who aren't with
us anymore and can't realize their own dreams. With that segue I'm
trying to give information about Nuci's Space and the programs it
offers.

This whole trip is going to be filmed and then edited some time in the
summer or fall to make a documentary. If you want to see more
information about the trip, or if you want to help in any way, visit
the site at http://www.imaginesomethingtour.com . Thanks. - David Hill

Hey, kid....you like Steady Cams?

The Steady Cam is fun item that's being used more often in film and television.  Rigs that are the "real deal" require a certified operator.  Certified operators eventually invest in their own rigs...and then tend to make no small amount of bank.

Peter Abraham, a highly skilled and experienced steady camera operator offers 2-day, intensive certification courses on this magnificent device.  Cost is $375.  Classes can be no smaller than 6 people, not larger than 12 people.  Biddle will organize up to three sessions in the Fall 2008 semester for those interested.

If you are willing commit to this (in terms of time and finances), contact Biddle as soon as possible so he can organize and confirm classes.  Looks like September 2008 is the best time for Mr. Abraham.

WooHoo!  Long Live The Rebellion!

Holtzclaw wins prize at Macon Film Festival.

Nick Holtzclaw's documentary "Racing Home" took 3rd place at the 3rd Annual Macon Film Festival last weekend. Nick produced the work for Professor Jenn Smith's Documentary Design class last Fall 2007.


Photo courtesy of the Macon Film Festival

Check out the Macon Film Festival Website...and think about entering your work next year! 

http://www.maconfilmfestival.com/

Moon Over North Lot

So, what do TeleArts student do during a lunar eclipse? Shoot it, of course. Why let the world pass you by when cameras are available to shoot some great footage with?

Nate "FX" Courtney and Robbie "Hotshot" Fountain

Organized by Robbie "Hotshot" Fountain, DV Rebels Adam "Cutter" Speas, John"Chatter" Chatfield, Eric "Smooth" Kridle, Carlos Perez, Chelsea"Waffles" Galen, Jonathan "Blade" Hunt, Nate "FX" Courtney, the ever-present "Squelch" Connor, Drew "Crash" Horigan and a host of others camped out on North Lot and took time-lapse and standard footage of the lunar eclipse. This is part of a project to increase the amount of "stock footage" Grady Students can use in projects.

Far out, man.

Eric "Smooth" Kridle showing proper white-balancing skills

"Blade", "Cutter", "Squelch", "Waffles", "Chatter", 

"Crash" Horigan, and Carlos

The footage looks darn good for SD footage on cameras with no special lenses. Expect the footage to be available for viewing/use after Spring Break.

BIDDLE!!! HELP!!! I NEED A JOB!!!

So, it must be February, yes? Seems as much. Well, if you didn't think about a job or internship until oh, say....NOW, consider yourself part of the 85% of students nationwide who do the same thing. And now think about the 15% that are constantly marketing themselves, updating resumes and cover letters, and taking major initiative. Yes, it's scary, but being afraid and ACTING afraid gets you nothing. So, what should you be doing? The following items are based on several conversations Biddle has had with friends, colleagues, and former students, as well as production companies he's familiar with and did cold calls to over the past few months. Yes, cold calls. If you aren't willing, or you are too scared, to make cold calls...have you thought about a career that you can do without leaving the house or speaking to anyone?



Section #1: "...this stuff we're learning is stupid and we'll never use it."

If you're not paying attention to, or simply dismissing what Bill "The Dude" Lee and Jenn Smith are teaching you about media law, contracts, organization, etc. ...frankly, you should not be in this business at all. Production is cool, creative, and offers much rebellion, but The Dude and Jenn are teaching you about the engine that runs all of what we do. If you go somewhere and think it is actually ok to pull images from the Web without permission, or you can use any music you like without ramifications, or you didn't read the contract before you got your company into something, that truly makes you careless and lazy.

No one wants an employee or intern that doesn't know these things. Those who will learn it and keep learning it will keep you from getting that "dream job".



Section #2: "I am a very hard worker..."

Really? You're kidding? That guy who wrote, "All I do is sleep and eat cheesy poofs at work" got that job instead of you! Before you write a resume or a cover letter, please think about the following...

- It may be your first time looking at a cover letter...but not to the employer (or most likely the fleet of assistants) or the internship coordinator. These people have seen thousands and will have to find yours out of a stack of 'em.

- Keep your language away from the academic, the cliche', and the "I am running for high school student council". All it provides is humor to those reading what you sent...and believe me...if it's bad, more than one person will read it.

- Remove the phrase "I need a job" from your language. Seriously, don't say it. Many Native American tribes believe that once words are spoken the words become real, so they treat language very carefully and intelligently. Don't say it! What you should say is, "Who needs me, and how can I prove it?"...or something close to that phrase. Yes, it's all very Tony Robbins, but you have to take yourself out of your situation and understand the employer/internship situation. What do they need? Does your letter address this?



Section #3: "In production, I learned how to..."

Wow, you mean you actually went to class? Aren't you supposed to learn things there? Is the silliness of this phrase sinking in?

I recently had a former student call me to talk about a resume they received from a student (Yes, a Grady Student) for an internship/possibly a job. According to her, "Well, this cover letter says they learned everything from you...and that's about it. My boss wants to know if you need a job" then we both had a big laugh. If you just write how much production has affected you, what does that say about you? What did YOU do? Did you affect any change? Did people learn from your example? Did "production" gain something for you? Sell yourself, not everything that surrounds you. As an employer, I wouldn't want you, I would want that which affected you.



Section #4: "Oh, I just applied online..."

...and that makes you lazy. 10 out of 10 places I spoke to said this. "But they said to apply online..." Honestly, when people like me hear that phrase, it makes me wonder why when I ask for something in class, or at a job, I get debate and eye-rolling...but if the Internet says to do it, don't ya dare question it. Think about it. Employers and internship coordinators are noticing this. When they don't want to be bothered, they put applications online. Why? Because you'll just do it...then sit there and wait. You get scared to call about it and you just let it die in an effort to not upset the Internet's edict. It weeds out who they truly don't want. Trust me.

Or, trust Jenn Smith. She mentioned this at the DGK meeting as well. Most Internet applications go straight to human resources...and then get filed. Can you see the tumbleweeds?



Section #5: "This is so hard, I just don't know what to do..."

Really? Everyday I hear epic tales of how someone pulled-off getting backstage somewhere, or met someone famous, or some other amazing feat of smarts and personality. Why is getting a job/interview so different? Why? FEAR!!! Stop thinking that a job is a handout or that it's going to be like school where you are told everywhere you need to be, everything you need to do, and what rules to follow...its doesn't work that way. The social networks you have contain rules, but you know how to work them, break them, and change them. You know how to get what you need, and provide what others need. That's the job market. Once you graduate, school is over. No more regulation. That is up to you. It's your own self-discipline and knowledge that keeps you doing what you want. All you are afraid of is leaving school, yet all you want is to not be in school anymore. Understand the irony?

You know what to do: find resources to help you (UGA offers a great center for this!), get yourself organized (Biddle and Smith never talk about that), and don't be a pest (be proactive).



Section #6: What employers/internship coordinators want you to know.

Of the many people and places I've spoken with over the past few months, here are the responses I received (most 'em still around from when I was interning and such)...

- Be on time and ready to work.

"I am fed up with recent grads or current interns that come in and screw around texting, IMing, or talking about how they need coffee when the rest of us have been there for three hours" claims a former boss of mine. "I've seen your syllabus, and they still come to me doing this. I no longer care who can edit on what. If they can't be here on time and working, we don't need 'em". This is one of the companies I consult for and so far they've fired almost 25 recent grads for simply not taking the job seriously.

Thousands of students will graduate this year knowing Final Cut, Avid, PhotoShop, etc. Most of them won't keep their jobs because they just don't care about anything but themselves. A former student of mine was actually thrown out of a meeting for checking texts during the meeting. I no longer provide references for this person.


- The boss is the boss, right or wrong. If the boss wants something you will get it and get it quickly!

I cannot actually believe I provided a reference for the person in this unfortunately true story. Recently, a friend at a well-known NYC Production Company called to tell me that he asked one of the shooters (my former student) to go get shot of the bridge from the Brooklyn side and they needed it for edit asap. This was at 9AM. The kid comes back at 7PM (not quickly) with an amazing shot of the bridge from above (evidently his brother-in-law is a harbor pilot). Not only was the edit well into overtime, the shooter did not call to say what he was doing, nor did he provide the bridge shot that was asked for by the boss. The helicopter shot was unusable, the edit was into overtime that the editor had to be paid for, and the brother-in-law had to charge for the flight (NOT CHEAP!). Needless to say, the shooter was fired and I feel like a moron for ever recommending a loose cannon with no respect for anyone.

My friend Chris recently told me about one of his former students working on a project. This former student made no effort to find out who the boss actually was at the shoot! When the boss came over and asked for help, the former student replied, "I am the assistant cameraman...I don't do that". Well, if the Executive Producer was willing to pull cable, not sure why this former student would not pull cable. The former student is now a "former" assistant cameraman and I believe will actually dance for dimes if you ask him to do so.



- If you claim you are willing to do anything, you best not screw that up.

My absolute favorite is the person who claims they will work like no one you've ever seen, then the "real person" comes out. If you want the job, truly want it, then do your best at it....no, not do your best "to keep it"...do your best. Your best should've started with treating the classroom like a work situation. Jenn and I (along with The Dude, Kavoori, etc.) set the learning up for what you need out there, not to simply "get an A". If you go to a work situation and don't know things that were clearly addressed in class, that is your own fault. I'll be happy to give your contacts of people I've had call me begging me to go over FCP, AVID, the law, etc. because "class was just too much work". Once you're competing against people who took the time to know these things....money, office space, awards, and dinner with famous people are on the line.



- Email is for gossip and party invitations.

Use the phone. Talk to people directly. That's how things get done and people know who you are.



- Read the call sheets!

People are busy. Every company, production, location shoot, edit team, etc. has a breakdown and schedule. It's your responsibility to learn it, keep track of what is going on, make the necessary calls for information, talk to the right people and pay attention to deadlines. If you can't do that and you just keep asking questions about items addressed in the sheets, or you keep asking the wrong people things, that in the production world (harsh language coming) makes you stupid, lazy, or both. True fact, no way to get around that.



If this all seems mean, remember that this is a business that thousands of people want to go into every day. It is competitive, fun, harsh, and demanding. The person writing all of this has experience firing 14 people in one day and still consults with companies on who to hire and who not to hire...and it all boils down to what is listed above. Hundred of people can work equipment like gods, but can't follow the simple human equation. Hundreds of people can't work equipment as well as those gods, but have great jobs because they made the effort to understand what is truly important to people...and their equipment skills can always improve.


The Rebellion should only fear its own laziness and lack of commitment and caring. What is listed above are tools for understanding, not to create more fear. Money and jobs come and go, but who you are and how you present yourself in this business stays with you. Long live The Rebellion.