The following is the story of how I got my first video camera. I expect some of you to be upset, filled with thinly veiled contempt and envy, you’ll decry that I did nothing to earn it and am therefore not worthy. Or maybe you’ll just slap your knee and say “Man that’s cool.” Either way…
It all began with a note slipped under my door.
The letter explained that apartments in my building were being considered for use in a TV movie and was asking whether I’d be interested in loaning out my apartment should it be deemed suitable for the film. Of course I immediately called the LM (locations manager) and told him that I’d be all too happy to have him look at the place.
When he came over I told him about my efforts at becoming a filmmaker as he wandered the apartment snapping reference photos with his digital camera. We talked about the logistics of film locations as well as the Director’s Guild of Canada. I told him I’d just completed my certification to work on union sets. He asked me if I’d be willing to let them use the apartment. I said yes.
A short while later he came again with the director, art director and DOP in tow to look at the place. It was kind of weird. The film industry was here in my living room. What was going on? A few days later the LM came again with the papers and went over the details. Movers would take all of my things out of the apartment, they would repaint it, build a false wall, then after filming it would all be put back and repainted to my specifications. I would be put up in a hotel for the duration, paid a per diem to cover my daily expenses and given a generous rental fee for my space. On top of it all the LM asked me about my availability to work during the shooting of the film.
Everything went smoothly and at the end of it all I had a hefty cheque and a new contact in the industry. I used the money to buy a used Sony DSR-PD150 and a G5 PowerMac which I shortly traded in for a PC. Of course a month afterwards a friend of a friend had a PD170 for sale for less than I got the PD150 for.
So yes, I was just handed a stack of money for letting my space become a part of television history and used it to buy my way into videography. I’ve probably made back what I spent on the camera through various jobs and projects and nothing quite compares with the freedom of owning your own personal gear. Its always accessible, you know it intimately and you get the chance to experiment and play with more freedom. Not to mention a camera is a money making machine. Keep your antennas open and you’ll find plenty of work. Unfortunately a lot of it won’t be what you expect as future entries will demonstrate…
