EMW

Let's see if this can get the forum alive again!

I'm sure with all of our combined experience and expertise, that we must have done some video or FX work or had other types of jobs over the years for some interesting people and companies! From where did you start, and where did it get you? Let's see how you got to be where you are today!

Personally:

Spring 2007 - After the Virginia Tech incident, I got involved, via the MattHawkins Forum, with the StickToWhatYouKnow Forum and all of their American-based professionals in doing a documentary on how to stop the violence. Worldwide collaboration. Publicity from that in the local paper got me freelance jobs with a local artists group, along with a slew of requests for help on numerous projects in the area.

Summer 2007 - After the VT project, a student at school got me involved with a local youth group, making films for their retreats. That snowballed into a multitude of freelance video projects for that particular parish. From the youth group, one of the members had their own rock band. From working with them over the last year, I have ridden along as they grew from being unknown, to recently going national, performing live for over 20,000 as well as being on national broadcast this Thursday. Happily I am their official videographer - a music video is in the works.

Winter 2008 - A family friend learned of my video work, who happens to be the chairperson of the local Relay for Life events. She hooked me up with the American Cancer Society. I just finished a project for them, and am locked in for future projects.

Summer 2008 - After the success of my most recent video involving area police, a friend's parent gave me a job filming a lecture at their company this October. If the video is good enough, they will hire me out for future projects.

So in a relatively quick amount of time, I have been able to make a decent if not steady income making movies without any advertising on my own.

What's your story?

Anyone? Surely we all aren't unemployed playing video games all day?!

Oh yeah, work experience. Well that's one of the areas I tend to fall down in. I spend a lot of time on my personal projects but I really only do professional jobs when I need money to buy more toys.

Ok here's what I've done.

2005 Started with media presentations for a local VBS, this was my first "Commercial" project as I had just started working with video the previous year.

2006 Did extensive work with Prairie Heights Community Church and Thrive Community Church including shooting skits, promos, vignettes and designing motion graphics. Also graduated to the bread and butter of armature videography, weddings. ICK

2007 Began working on promos for other companies. Did motion graphics work for North Dakota State University. Made promo videos for Trollwood Performing Arts School. Also continued motion graphics and projects for local and not so local churches.

2008 Became a video director for Triumph Lutheran Brethren in Moorhead. Hired by NDSU to shoot video for conferences. Hired to shoot edit and co-direct a full length documentary about TPAS (budget has been speculated in upwards of $100,000 so it should be fun). I've been slated as the cinematographer for the area "Youth for Christ" and will be directing some short films and music videos. Worked on a few local ads. Shooting skits and shorts for Salem evangelical free church.

I also have a few other projects but I haven't signed on to them yet so they might not work.