JORGEYFILMS - Q&A

I've been wanting to do this for awhile, just because from personal experience I would have loved for someone to given me some advice when I started off as a director/cinematographer. I recently reached out to fellow up & comers on twitter & instagram and invited them to ask any questions they had In which they felt I would be able to help them out. Below are the questions as well
as my own answers. Thank you to everyone who participated. Hope this helps.

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What made you want to be a videographer? - Hector M.

My junior year of High school (2008) a friend of mine put me on to Curren$y and the whole Fly Society movement. I followed Curren$y's music heavy even after High school. When he eventually teamed up with Creative Control, and they were releasing "Gorilla Style" music visuals like "King Kong" & "Life Under The Scope". It fascinated me. What they were able to do with Canon 7D's and lots of depth of field shots was amazing. Extremely RAW & natural. No corny fake scenarios or prop money & fog machines. Up until that point I had only spent most of my time creating mixtape covers & amateur photography. I managed to get some money together for beginner DSLR equipment and had a close friend help me purchase my first DSLR, the rest of
course you know. You can see how those videos had influence in my style of shooting as
well as most music videos now. They changed the visual game.

What programs you use to edit?  - Hector M.

Adobe Premiere Pro CS6

What's your camera set up?  - Hector M.

Canon 7D: 2010 - June 2014
Canon 5D MKiii: July 2014 - Current
Lenses: EF 85mm 1.4, 35mm 1.2, 14mm 2.8

White chocolate or milk chocolate?  - Hector M.

Lmao not sure.

Do you have any advice for me when it comes to the business or trying to market myself to get out there more?   - Sydney H.

If you plan to do it for business be prepared to take on projects you won't enjoy.
The income will come eventually from projects you will actually enjoy, but it will be awhile.
Similar to a music artist starting out for the first time.
In the mean time, shoot close friends who are local artists to gain experience, and be prepared to shoot for free, a lot. It's all about experience and "who" you've shot for. Remember that.
Focus on always releasing quality first, not the income.
Your work will eventually speak for itself, no need to market.
Before you know it you will have plenty of artists asking to work with you,
as long as you stick to your craft & prioritize quality before the almighty dollar.

I just wanted to know if you had any tips for up and comers & how to make it to the level where you are?   - Justin t.

Research your heart out. I cannot stress that enough.
From equipment, to editing & shooting techniques. You have to live it every day.
Try to get as much experience as possible shooting as well. Get familiar with your camera.
Learn its limits (this will save you money from constantly upgrading cameras,
a big mistake I went through starting out and having to constantly upgrade.)
There is nothing wrong with "off-brand" or DIY. Don't EVER focus on the income from music videos.
I always tell people this and try to stress it as well. Video production will EMPTY your pockets constantly when you first start. Find a side job to keep money coming in to constantly purchase equipment and to keep shooting as much as possible. Try things like wedding videos,
or even a part time job. Low budget music videos don't pay well. I spent 10k on my first year
on equipment to shoot. Less than $1,000 of that came from actual "music video" income.
The money will come eventually, but if you constantly chase the dollar, you won't be able to focus on the quality of your portfolio. Lastly as stated above try to make the best decisions for your portfolio, not your pocket. People will see your work before they see you, a shitty portfolio
doesn't get you booked, just as a few quick dollars won't last you forever.