I am being geared towards a cameraman, I want to get some work under my belt, make some connections and then apply for National Geographic and work with them. I would like the opportunity to be on board with making some documentaries during this period because eventually I want to start making my own documentaries.
As far as entry-level pay for camera work from what I have research tends to be around 30 thousand dollars a year. Which I am ok with, I plan on continuing to do photography on the side and make money doing that. Also I will more than likely be involved with more than one show. I cannot see myself sitting around all day and once school is gone there will be more time to be filled. I may have to start by being the guy who careers the equipment around and occasionally gets to shoot or has the worst camera, but I am confident that my eye and my in field work ethic will allow me to advance quickly. I think that most camera operators are lazy and I and very much of a mover, I am a different person when I’m getting paid or trying to prove myself. There have been several incense’s where I was able to get a shot, especially with stills that many people where not able to get simply because I had the ability and drive to climb to some high up platform and get what I needed.
The skills that are needed to be effective in a field like this, include a strong work ethic, willingness to work, self direction, confidence and remaining humble because there is always some senior camera operator or editor waiting to tear you down. If everything goes as planned I will be working with Under the Bridge Productions helping in gathering footage for a variety of programming for the VS. Network. I am scheduled to shoot with this company on the 17th of this month and plan on interning with them next semester and will hopefully work with them after that internship is complete.
I do not know of any particular people that I admire in the industry but I do know of two companies that I do. One being the above mentioned National Geographic I would love to work with them because I think they are the best of the best, I would see and learn a lot, and I would gain a lot of notoriety from working with them. The other being G4 TV, I think that they are young and exciting, they appeal to my casual laid back side and I think I would fit well with them personality wise. One show in particular that I am a fan of is Ninja Warrior, I do not know exactly what it is that I like about this show so much being as I do not watch a lot of TV anyway, but I would love to be apart of that show. The show is basically a huge obstacle course, whoever completes it gets a large cash prize and the title of Ninja Warrior and I want to do it.
What entry level photographer makes 30-thousand a year? Certainly not at any news media company.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to pursue jobs at National Geographic and G4, I'd suggest looking on their Web sites and getting information about how to get "in". My guess is that most of the programming for these networks come from independent producers. I would suggest looking at your favorite shows at these networks and seeing what company produces them.