Bounce Back Homework
It’s been a tough few months with unusual celebration plans, freezing cold weather, lack of daylight, lockdown 3.0, and work slowing down. It’s bound to create some frustrations, and lack of motivation. It’s hard to sit around wondering why work hasn’t come through for us, while it has for others. It can send us in a downward spiral, but don’t let it chip away at your confidence and undermine the quality of your work. It’s okay to let it overwhelm you for a bit, but then get back to it and persevere. Easier said than done of course. In the meantime, here are a couple of examples of what you could do to fill your days with work related activities :
Apply to Trainee Schemes
Sarah Putt
GBCT
Screenskills
Build up your equipment
Observe and ask around what you’d need to have when starting out.
Check if anyone you know is giving away consumables.
Call
Rental companies to see if you can do a test day at their rental house, try and build a relationship with them.Familiarise yourself with the equipment
Your loader or focus puller,and ask them to teach you how to load, to do camera sheets, take you on a prep day (if allowed by covid rules), check your CV
People you have worked with before and you would like to work with again
Crew members from Crew Directories, and diary services such as ARRAY, SuzCruz, GBCT, Arri Crew, Gravy Crew, CrewAtVision, Wizzo to introduce yourself and ask for advice or a quick chat.
Follow the work of
CUT IT / Website & Instagram
WBTC / Website & Instagram
SOC / Website & Instagram
Free The Work / Website & Instagram
Albert / Website
Film Lighting / Instagram
The Cinematographer Archive / Instagram
The Film & TV Charity/ Website & Instagram
ARRAY/ Instagram
Studiobinder/ Website, Instagram, & Youtube
Listen to
This Is My Cinema / The BIFA Podcast
Teams Deakins / Podcast
The Holistic DP / Podcast
Offset
Your carbon footprint with Ecology
Read (book)
The Camera Assistants Manual by David E. Elkins, SOC
The Camera Assistants Manual by Douglas C. Hart
Digital Cinematography by David Stump, ASC
Film Set Lighting Technician Handbook by Hank C. Box
Read (online)
ARRI : Check the Camera Systems bracket to learn the name of the equipment, cables, and where they connect to.
Old equipment lists, to familiarise yourself with the standard kit list and unusual add ons depending on the type of shoots; and if it is written on there, check the total costs to get to know budgets.
The American Society of Cinematographers
No Film School
Watch
Flick by Felicia Smith/ Youtube
Arri Tech Talk / Youtube
BAFTA GURU / Youtube
Cooke TV/ Youtube
Midwest Film Co. (Sprocket&Claw) / Youtube
The Cine Network/ Youtube
Analog Resurgence / Youtube
Short of The Week/ Website
These are only a couple ways to familiarise yourself with the industry, immerse yourself in its community and be productive during the cold winter days that inevitably cause gloom and worry while waiting for the industry to get back to its normal pace. Remember that this is an extremely competitive job, so try not to compare yourself to others too much and don’t beat yourself up; put in the homework, do your best to make connections, smash it on set and believe that things will fall into place in good time. Have fun on your journey!
Speak soon x
Lea
