I got a very nice letter recently from a Vegas Forum gal, who was shy about her problem. When I got done replying, I thought it might be of use to a lot of folks out there who are trying to "get going".
So, with your permission, I'm presenting her plight, and my answer.
I hope it will help some of you, as well.
======================================
Mr. Milt....thank you for writing what you did today. I really needed to read it. I have my first documentary coming up. My initial meeting is Thursday. I spoke with the local film commissioner regarding a couple of issues. After speaking with him, I was ready to quit and go back to a life of cooking and cleaning for my family. My confindence level was squashed. This guy told me I was too enthusiastic....no one would take me seriously. When I told him I was doing the documentary for a volunteer project because I needed the experience and I really wanted to do it....he said that no one was going to take me seriously. He said that no one would want to work with me because I was undermining them. He said he was happy to see I wasn't a blond, and when I told him I had been a stay at home mom and hadn't really worked outiside of the home for a while....he referred to me as being "kept." I can't complain because I have already had to request one permit from him, and I may need more. I believe in myself, and I feel that I will be able to make an income from my passion. Anyway, thank you for your uplifting and encouraging posts....even though they weren't for me.....it helped me to get online and read them. Sorry to rant. Best regards
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Here's my reply to anyone with this sort of situation -
Dear Fellow Vegas Forum reader,
"It's hard to soar with the eagles... when you've got to work with the turkeys". (but that's life, sister)
OK - so what have you LEARNED from the brow-beating you took, from an idiot, who sneers at someone ready to help the community out??
(I have been accused of "overenthusiam" many times)
First (and I'm STILL learning this lesson) - keep your mouth shut.
No one will ever know what you don't know - UNTIL YOU TELL THEM.
So just try to "shut up" - surely one of your teen-aged daughters has tried to impress you with that knowledge... :>)
Now, the film commissioner really is not in a postition to NOT issue a film permit. Certainly not without good reason. So definitely YES, be polite and smile a lot, but forget about fear from that jerk.
Don't tell anybody (again) that you are working for the experience - no one wants to work with an amateur - and no one will know until you tell them that.
Rather - say you are highly interested in their message - that you want to help to get it out -
tell them that your video will be useful at fund raisers, as a give-away DVD (not for free) and in local TV advertising, as well as placement on local news.
You will meet resistance - so what? Keep calling with new ideas:
"Hey I see that your annual get together is next week - how about I come out and shoot something?"
"I've got a great idea for your organization... (fill in a simple, concrete idea) "Let's take the boys out to old Mt. Baldy", "Let's shoot that new firetruck and have the chief tell about it" "Let me shoot some of your rehearsals, before the big show"- when can we get together to plan a schedule?"
If you're up against a totally resistant person - fuggetaboutit - take your experience and your LESSONS, (thank-you very much idiot, I'll never do THAT again) and go somewhere else.
Learning how to deal with clients is as important part of the business as dealing with the crew, the talent and the rest of the world.
There is no failure... just things learned (I'll never do THAT again).
If you think this gets any easier after 40 years - whoops - you are wrong.
I still get rejection.
I still get resistance.
And I still make mistakes - technical, emotional and others. (Shut Up Victor!!!)
So start fresh, today, with a whole new direction.
Find another group that doesn't know who you are, and tell them you're interested in what they are doing, and that you'd like to document it. Pick something you're interested in. Then go for it.
Keep me in touch with your progress - I want to help you.
best,
v
So, with your permission, I'm presenting her plight, and my answer.
I hope it will help some of you, as well.
======================================
Mr. Milt....thank you for writing what you did today. I really needed to read it. I have my first documentary coming up. My initial meeting is Thursday. I spoke with the local film commissioner regarding a couple of issues. After speaking with him, I was ready to quit and go back to a life of cooking and cleaning for my family. My confindence level was squashed. This guy told me I was too enthusiastic....no one would take me seriously. When I told him I was doing the documentary for a volunteer project because I needed the experience and I really wanted to do it....he said that no one was going to take me seriously. He said that no one would want to work with me because I was undermining them. He said he was happy to see I wasn't a blond, and when I told him I had been a stay at home mom and hadn't really worked outiside of the home for a while....he referred to me as being "kept." I can't complain because I have already had to request one permit from him, and I may need more. I believe in myself, and I feel that I will be able to make an income from my passion. Anyway, thank you for your uplifting and encouraging posts....even though they weren't for me.....it helped me to get online and read them. Sorry to rant. Best regards
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Here's my reply to anyone with this sort of situation -
Dear Fellow Vegas Forum reader,
"It's hard to soar with the eagles... when you've got to work with the turkeys". (but that's life, sister)
OK - so what have you LEARNED from the brow-beating you took, from an idiot, who sneers at someone ready to help the community out??
(I have been accused of "overenthusiam" many times)
First (and I'm STILL learning this lesson) - keep your mouth shut.
No one will ever know what you don't know - UNTIL YOU TELL THEM.
So just try to "shut up" - surely one of your teen-aged daughters has tried to impress you with that knowledge... :>)
Now, the film commissioner really is not in a postition to NOT issue a film permit. Certainly not without good reason. So definitely YES, be polite and smile a lot, but forget about fear from that jerk.
Don't tell anybody (again) that you are working for the experience - no one wants to work with an amateur - and no one will know until you tell them that.
Rather - say you are highly interested in their message - that you want to help to get it out -
tell them that your video will be useful at fund raisers, as a give-away DVD (not for free) and in local TV advertising, as well as placement on local news.
You will meet resistance - so what? Keep calling with new ideas:
"Hey I see that your annual get together is next week - how about I come out and shoot something?"
"I've got a great idea for your organization... (fill in a simple, concrete idea) "Let's take the boys out to old Mt. Baldy", "Let's shoot that new firetruck and have the chief tell about it" "Let me shoot some of your rehearsals, before the big show"- when can we get together to plan a schedule?"
If you're up against a totally resistant person - fuggetaboutit - take your experience and your LESSONS, (thank-you very much idiot, I'll never do THAT again) and go somewhere else.
Learning how to deal with clients is as important part of the business as dealing with the crew, the talent and the rest of the world.
There is no failure... just things learned (I'll never do THAT again).
If you think this gets any easier after 40 years - whoops - you are wrong.
I still get rejection.
I still get resistance.
And I still make mistakes - technical, emotional and others. (Shut Up Victor!!!)
So start fresh, today, with a whole new direction.
Find another group that doesn't know who you are, and tell them you're interested in what they are doing, and that you'd like to document it. Pick something you're interested in. Then go for it.
Keep me in touch with your progress - I want to help you.
best,
v