You can live for the day, but you always have to plan for the future.
I met with an old college buddy (not really "old" as I just graduated a month ago) named Toby and we talked about some ideas for the future. We both have similar goals and he has some ideas and contacts that could be really good for him, and maybe me. In fact, Toby started his own small production company and has made a few commercials. Slowly but surely, he is getting on his way.
Well, Toby was contacted by another college friend who apparently knows someone who pitched a show to the Travel Channel. They gave him the go ahead to shoot a pilot episode and he was looking for a production company to work with. When they asked Toby if he wanted in, he said yes, then asked if I wanted to be a part. I, of course, said yes. This could be a fast track to getting a job with the Travel Channel or even the Discovery Channel and if not that I will at least have the experience. The show will have something to do with micro-brewerys and they were talking about shooting the pilot at the Shiner brewery. As of right now, the wheels aren't moving, but hopefully there will be a meeting set up sometime soon to figure out what it will be about.
Toby also told me about a short film that he was working on writing and asked if I would take a part in that too. I agreed and am waiting for a preliminary script.
I have also decided to try a new tact for getting work on a feature film. I researched films that are in preproduction on IMDbPro and are going to start filming in the next month or two. Then I found the production company that is in charge and got a phone number for their office to see if they are putting the crew together. I am going to try calling some of the better prospects tomorrow and see if I can't get a job. We'll see if it works...
Monday, June 29, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Workin' Hard - I guess...
I am glad that I am getting some experience. Even if it's just a little and it doesn't really seem like I am doing much. At least I am meeting people.
So, I did finally get a hold of Mikel. I had to call him, as he never sent the e-mail, and he just told me the cross streets of where to meet in downtown Houston and to be there by 6:30 pm. I left plenty early and after getting lost I made it there and got to meet him. He is a cool guy and was very willing to help me. Sort of.
I helped him move some stuff around and he told me what shots we were getting. It was going to be really cool shoot. They arranged for a steady cam operator to come in and lead Paul Wall around the streets of Houston. It would be a really cool effect and I was excited because I had never seen a steady cam before and I wanted to learn how it worked. Well, the guy was running late with the steady cam, so we decided to get some static shots with Paul Wall in the mean time.
It was all going fine and we were getting some good stuff, but the steady cam still had not arrived. We just made due with what we had. Then, as we were about to go a new location, the steady cam guy arrived. Apparently he got held later than he thought on an earlier shoot. But when he got to where we were, all the stuff was pretty much moved and they didn't want to carry the steady cam all the way to the new location. So they told me to stay with it and pretty much "babysit" it until they could get back. Well, about an hour later, all our sunlight was gone and the shoot was wrapped for the day. I had been sitting on the street of Houston with a boxed up steady cam the whole time and did not get to see majority of the shooting and I did not get to see how the steady cam worked. Pretty much a bust.
But not all was completely lost. It turns out that the next day Mikel was also re-shooting some scenes from a short film that he had been working on and invited me to come out. He said that the film was going to festivals and I would be able to get an IMDb credit, so I hopped on the opportunity. It was also another item to put on my resume. So, the next day, I left my house early in the morning to make it to the other side of Houston by 9:00 am. Half way there Mikel called me and asked if I could stop along the way and pick up his wife at the airport. She is a flight attendant, got the day off, had no other way home, as he was on the shoot, and it was on my way so I agreed to get her. Besides, if I hadn't, how would it be working with him all day?
So, I got his wife and eventually made my way to where the short film was being re-shot. It was fine enough and I got a chance to do some work. They were re-shooting a pretty funny scene where one of the main characters has his shit explode through his pants and splatter all over a garage door. We ended up doing the scene at least five times because they could not get the mixture of beans, cream of mushroom soup and other random stuff together to make a realistic looking shit explosion all over the garage. And in between takes, guess who got to clean up the bean splatter on the garage door. Yep, me. It was so hot that the beans dried and crusted to the garage with in minutes. But it wasn't too bad and they helped me out. And it was cool to see the little cannon they used to shoot out the concoction.
Hopefully more work will find its way to me. I am going to make a new resume dedicated to production and update my Texas Production Directory profile. I am also going to make a profile for the Houston and Austin and Louisiana Production Directories. Gotta put yourself out there!
So, I did finally get a hold of Mikel. I had to call him, as he never sent the e-mail, and he just told me the cross streets of where to meet in downtown Houston and to be there by 6:30 pm. I left plenty early and after getting lost I made it there and got to meet him. He is a cool guy and was very willing to help me. Sort of.
I helped him move some stuff around and he told me what shots we were getting. It was going to be really cool shoot. They arranged for a steady cam operator to come in and lead Paul Wall around the streets of Houston. It would be a really cool effect and I was excited because I had never seen a steady cam before and I wanted to learn how it worked. Well, the guy was running late with the steady cam, so we decided to get some static shots with Paul Wall in the mean time.
It was all going fine and we were getting some good stuff, but the steady cam still had not arrived. We just made due with what we had. Then, as we were about to go a new location, the steady cam guy arrived. Apparently he got held later than he thought on an earlier shoot. But when he got to where we were, all the stuff was pretty much moved and they didn't want to carry the steady cam all the way to the new location. So they told me to stay with it and pretty much "babysit" it until they could get back. Well, about an hour later, all our sunlight was gone and the shoot was wrapped for the day. I had been sitting on the street of Houston with a boxed up steady cam the whole time and did not get to see majority of the shooting and I did not get to see how the steady cam worked. Pretty much a bust.
But not all was completely lost. It turns out that the next day Mikel was also re-shooting some scenes from a short film that he had been working on and invited me to come out. He said that the film was going to festivals and I would be able to get an IMDb credit, so I hopped on the opportunity. It was also another item to put on my resume. So, the next day, I left my house early in the morning to make it to the other side of Houston by 9:00 am. Half way there Mikel called me and asked if I could stop along the way and pick up his wife at the airport. She is a flight attendant, got the day off, had no other way home, as he was on the shoot, and it was on my way so I agreed to get her. Besides, if I hadn't, how would it be working with him all day?
So, I got his wife and eventually made my way to where the short film was being re-shot. It was fine enough and I got a chance to do some work. They were re-shooting a pretty funny scene where one of the main characters has his shit explode through his pants and splatter all over a garage door. We ended up doing the scene at least five times because they could not get the mixture of beans, cream of mushroom soup and other random stuff together to make a realistic looking shit explosion all over the garage. And in between takes, guess who got to clean up the bean splatter on the garage door. Yep, me. It was so hot that the beans dried and crusted to the garage with in minutes. But it wasn't too bad and they helped me out. And it was cool to see the little cannon they used to shoot out the concoction.
Hopefully more work will find its way to me. I am going to make a new resume dedicated to production and update my Texas Production Directory profile. I am also going to make a profile for the Houston and Austin and Louisiana Production Directories. Gotta put yourself out there!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Another gig - Back for round two
The old saying is true: It's all about who you know.
I got a text from my Step-dad asking if I had received a phone call from Susan. This was out of the blue and I hadn't gotten the call, but I couldn't help but to be curious. I asked him about it the next day and he said that she might have some work for me. There is a guy that she knows that has a project coming up and he could use a PA. Needless to say I was excited and eager to find out what the work was.
A few days later I got a call from a guy named Mikel. He said he is shooting a music video in Houston next week and was told I am a good candidate for a PA. I hopped on the opportunity to get more experience and told him I was the man for the job. The work would be on an "internship basis" (i.e. I don't get paid), but it will be a good chance to make more contacts. So I am looking forward to it.
The video will be for another Houston rapper, although this one is a little more prominent. His name is Paul Wall and he is with Swisha House. I think that part of the video is filmed already and it will only be a half day. By the time I am done with this I am going to be an expert in making rap music videos.
So, anyway, I gave Mikel my e-mail address and I am now waiting for him to send me the details of where everything is going down. I think I learned my lesson about waiting to get info on these shoots because on my first gig I didn't get a call until 9 o'clock the night before, telling me where to go. And that was after I had called and said that I hadn't gotten any info yet. But maybe this one will be different. Regardless, I am still playing the waiting game...
I got a text from my Step-dad asking if I had received a phone call from Susan. This was out of the blue and I hadn't gotten the call, but I couldn't help but to be curious. I asked him about it the next day and he said that she might have some work for me. There is a guy that she knows that has a project coming up and he could use a PA. Needless to say I was excited and eager to find out what the work was.
A few days later I got a call from a guy named Mikel. He said he is shooting a music video in Houston next week and was told I am a good candidate for a PA. I hopped on the opportunity to get more experience and told him I was the man for the job. The work would be on an "internship basis" (i.e. I don't get paid), but it will be a good chance to make more contacts. So I am looking forward to it.
The video will be for another Houston rapper, although this one is a little more prominent. His name is Paul Wall and he is with Swisha House. I think that part of the video is filmed already and it will only be a half day. By the time I am done with this I am going to be an expert in making rap music videos.
So, anyway, I gave Mikel my e-mail address and I am now waiting for him to send me the details of where everything is going down. I think I learned my lesson about waiting to get info on these shoots because on my first gig I didn't get a call until 9 o'clock the night before, telling me where to go. And that was after I had called and said that I hadn't gotten any info yet. But maybe this one will be different. Regardless, I am still playing the waiting game...
Monday, June 15, 2009
First gig - the journey begins
Every great journey begins with one step.
I worked my first job in the industry. It was as a Production Assistant for a music video that was shot in Houston. It was for a small time local rapper named Mayalino. The song was decent enough and the production should be really good, but the experience was the real draw for me.
I think this was a good project for me to start on because it was relatively small but the production value seemed like it will be good. The production company that was working this project is called Full Fledge Entertainment and director/owner who was in charge of the shoot is named Anthony Oyedeji. He is a really cool guy who seemed well prepared and knew what he was doing. I'm excited to see the finished project.
I definitely worked my butt off on this first job. I wanted to leave a good impression. The day started at 8 am and went till 9 pm, and most of the day spent outside in the hot sun. Loading and unloading and setting up equipment for the shoot. Then repeat. This seems like the life of a PA. Setting up and breaking down. Move it around. Set it up and break it down. Pretty hard work. But it was worth it. Anthony said that he would stay in contact with me and will recommend me to other projects. That was my goal for working this project, so I think the day was a success for me. Hopefully this will lead to more work.
I should mention that I had the hook up for this shoot. Anthony is a friend of my step-brother, so through him I got to work on this video.
Speaking of hook up, I think that I am going to have a chance to work on a movie that is filming in Louisiana towards the end of the summer. This hook up is though my step-dad who some how knows the woman, Susan Fowler, who is producing the movie. I have met her a few times and she tells me that I should get work as a PA on the movie. If so, that would be awesome. I think that they have the budget, and are starting to put the cast and key creative crew together now.
Also, another step that I am taking to try and get more work is registering with the Texas Production Directory. This was advised from Susan during one of the times I met her. She said that when out-of-state producers come to Texas, they look for crew in the Texas Production Directory. Maybe this will lead to more work, and thus more experience and that is the goal right now.
Fingers are crossed, the future is starting to look better than bleak....
I worked my first job in the industry. It was as a Production Assistant for a music video that was shot in Houston. It was for a small time local rapper named Mayalino. The song was decent enough and the production should be really good, but the experience was the real draw for me.
I think this was a good project for me to start on because it was relatively small but the production value seemed like it will be good. The production company that was working this project is called Full Fledge Entertainment and director/owner who was in charge of the shoot is named Anthony Oyedeji. He is a really cool guy who seemed well prepared and knew what he was doing. I'm excited to see the finished project.
I definitely worked my butt off on this first job. I wanted to leave a good impression. The day started at 8 am and went till 9 pm, and most of the day spent outside in the hot sun. Loading and unloading and setting up equipment for the shoot. Then repeat. This seems like the life of a PA. Setting up and breaking down. Move it around. Set it up and break it down. Pretty hard work. But it was worth it. Anthony said that he would stay in contact with me and will recommend me to other projects. That was my goal for working this project, so I think the day was a success for me. Hopefully this will lead to more work.
I should mention that I had the hook up for this shoot. Anthony is a friend of my step-brother, so through him I got to work on this video.
Speaking of hook up, I think that I am going to have a chance to work on a movie that is filming in Louisiana towards the end of the summer. This hook up is though my step-dad who some how knows the woman, Susan Fowler, who is producing the movie. I have met her a few times and she tells me that I should get work as a PA on the movie. If so, that would be awesome. I think that they have the budget, and are starting to put the cast and key creative crew together now.
Also, another step that I am taking to try and get more work is registering with the Texas Production Directory. This was advised from Susan during one of the times I met her. She said that when out-of-state producers come to Texas, they look for crew in the Texas Production Directory. Maybe this will lead to more work, and thus more experience and that is the goal right now.
Fingers are crossed, the future is starting to look better than bleak....
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Introduction - Starting at the bottom
Life ain't easy. No one said it would be. It especially isn't easy when you've got to start at the bottom and work your way up. That's about where I am in life.
Let me introduce myself. My name is John Nemec. I am a 22 year old college graduate who is starting out looking for work after school. I graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos. It only took me 4 years but I now have a degree in Mass Communication. I still have an apartment in San Marcos, but I go back and forth between there and Houston, where I am originally from. My lease on my apartment is up towards the end of the summer, so I pretty much have until then to figure out what I am going to do.
Thus, here I am. In that weird limbo between finishing school and finding a job. But what do I really want to do? That is a good question. And how am I going get to where I want to be? Another good question. Well, I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do. I would love to be a movie director. I am a creative person and I have ideas that I think would be great. If being a director doesn't work out, I would love to work for the Discovery Channel. I think they are the best network out there and I want to make shows for them. Its just the second question that is the hard part. How am I going to get where I want to be? This is my challenge. I cannot just jump into those positions. I have to work my way there, starting at the bottom.
I admit, I don't have the experience needed to be an expert director. And I know that the Discovery Channel doesn't hire any old chump off the street. It takes lots of knowledge to succeed in these positions and I'm not too arrogant or naive to admit that I'm not ready. But I am ready to work toward getting there. I'm not afraid of hard work, and I am determined to get to the top.
So, this blog is dedicated to the journey of my career. Here I am, starting at the beginning. Hopefully this will lead to somewhere, but only time will tell. Untill then, join me on my ride to the top.
Let me introduce myself. My name is John Nemec. I am a 22 year old college graduate who is starting out looking for work after school. I graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos. It only took me 4 years but I now have a degree in Mass Communication. I still have an apartment in San Marcos, but I go back and forth between there and Houston, where I am originally from. My lease on my apartment is up towards the end of the summer, so I pretty much have until then to figure out what I am going to do.
Thus, here I am. In that weird limbo between finishing school and finding a job. But what do I really want to do? That is a good question. And how am I going get to where I want to be? Another good question. Well, I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do. I would love to be a movie director. I am a creative person and I have ideas that I think would be great. If being a director doesn't work out, I would love to work for the Discovery Channel. I think they are the best network out there and I want to make shows for them. Its just the second question that is the hard part. How am I going to get where I want to be? This is my challenge. I cannot just jump into those positions. I have to work my way there, starting at the bottom.
I admit, I don't have the experience needed to be an expert director. And I know that the Discovery Channel doesn't hire any old chump off the street. It takes lots of knowledge to succeed in these positions and I'm not too arrogant or naive to admit that I'm not ready. But I am ready to work toward getting there. I'm not afraid of hard work, and I am determined to get to the top.
So, this blog is dedicated to the journey of my career. Here I am, starting at the beginning. Hopefully this will lead to somewhere, but only time will tell. Untill then, join me on my ride to the top.
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