THE FILM INDUSTRY IS CHANGING AND HOW YOU CAN ADAPT AS A CREATIVE
The film industry has changed drastically in the last 5 years. even the last year has been different from what we all experienced pre-pandemic. I work primarily as a DP but as you’ll read in this article, I end up having to do much more than the perceived job description to stay ahead of the curve in today’s fast paced environment. This means Producing, Directing, Editing, COloring, and worst of all… Marketing.
In this article I’ll be sharing my perspective as a freelance DP in 2025. Let’s Begin.
On Set Shooting the new Indie documentary Feature “The Art Of Falling”
I was DP on this but served many roles as budget was limited so I often times managed camera, lighting, and helped with producing duties like scheduling and crew hires.
A few things have happened since the Pandemic that have changed the landscape of the U.S. entertainment industry as a whole. Inflation is an obvious one, newly imposed tariffs that increase the cost of gear that is already expensive, union disruptions, and an overall shrinking of production budgets buy and large.
Let’s start there, smaller budgets. we know why this is happening. It started with gear becoming more accessible with technological advancements, which is a good thing admittedly. Things like camera and lighting gear become better each year, and with a phone in everyone’s pocket anyone can create videos at any time. Social media is still the biggest money making machine in 2025, but what happened to big studio shoots? How about the big commercials and tv shows? They still exist, but as less money resides in the pockets of up and coming companies, that only leaves the really big companies to produce new content. And I hate to say it, but a lot of that market is dominated by established professionals who are more willing than ever to gatekeep those shoots as the market for production shrinks.
The Film Industry has historically been hard to break into, largely due to gatekeeping and money. Established professionals will often only work with people they’ve either worked with before, or have been recommended by someone they trust. From 2018-2022, there was a boom in content demand, in part because of the pandemic. Therefore there was much more funding in all spheres to go around. High budget, medium budget, low budget, there was always SOMETHING going on. This also gave the opportunity for people in the “lower tier” of production budget networks to get in with more established professionals as those workers also had more flexibility to work on a larger array of projects at different budgets with such abundance in the industry.
Unfortunately we now live in a time where that abundance has faded, at least in the U.S.
So where does that leave us? Less jobs? Are we cooked?
Not quite.
Now is the time to diversify
Now is the time to Create
Now is the time to show the world
who you are
Recent Photo Shoot where I was the Gaffer
Often times I keep my work life busy by taking jobs that Aren’t necessarily my primary focus. I actually dug into the budget quite a bit for this shoot and made about half my rate in the end while providing a lot of gear at a large discount. However, we got the job done with the gear required for the desired look. And a job well done that leads to client work in the future is sometimes well worth the extra hustle!
Diversify
I mean this in multiple ways. In the most literal way, I think it’s important nowadays to be good at more than just your desired role in the way that it traditionally operates. I do a lot of “One Man Band” shoots where I’m able to offer services I wouldn’t normally do if I had a big crew behind me. But with shrinking budgets, being about to operate camera, sound, lighting, and deliver the footage at the end of the day saves companies a lot of money. The up side is that since you’re doing more work, you can charge for the gear accordingly. offering SERVICES LIKE EDITING, PRODUCING, CREWING UP, ETC. IS ALSO A NICE WAY TO BE A ONE STOP SHOP FOR CLIENTS.
diversity IN THIS CASE ALSO MEANS DIVERSIFICATION OF YOUR GEAR/KIT OR PACKAGE YOU OFFER. unfortunately, HAVING GEAR DOES GET YOU THE JOB A LOT OF THE TIME WHICH CAN BE A BIG MONETARY BARRIER FOR ENTRY INTO THIS INDUSTRY. there ARE ways AROUND THIS THOUGH. I’M LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE, AND SLOWLY UPGRADING MY KIT TO A POINT WHERE i CAN EASILY CHARGE $1000/DAY FOR MY GEAR AND SERVICES. is IT WORTH MORE? absolutely. but AT THE END OF THE DAY $1000 IS $1000, SO PICK AND CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES.
3 Camera Doc Shoot I DP’d in July
We pieced a lot of this gear package together through Sharegrid, Sony Rental, my own gear, and some of my friend’s gear.
while YOU WORK YOUR WAY UP TO BUILDING YOUR KIT, THERE’S 2 WAYS YOU CAN STILL OFFER THESE SERVICES IN THE MEANTIME. rENTING GEAR FROM PLACES LIKE sHAREGRID OR lENS rENTALS AND BUILDING THOSE COSTS INTO YOUR BUDGET IS A GOOD WAY TO STILL BE ABLE TO OFFER THAT GEAR. yOU MIGHT NOT GET AS MUCH AS IF YOU OWNED THE GEAR, AND IT’S A BIT MORE WORK ON THE BACK END TO SECURE AND PREP EVERYTHING BEFORE YOUR SHOOT, BUT DELIVERING A QUALITY PRODUCT AND SECURING THE CLIENT IS KEY HERE.
The other way is to borrow gear from friends, or rent at a discount. I have a small network of friends who work as industry professionals, and we all borrow from each other all the time. Sometimes that comes along with a rental fee if we’re able to get it, but often times it’s worth it just to have the resource of being able to get the gear you need for a shoot. Especially for last minute requests (a commonality in the film industry), being able to save the day with a piece of kit your friend has certainly makes producers happy.
2. cREATE.
tHIS IS THE MORE GRASSROOTS VERSION OF SUCCESS THAT WILL ALWAYS BE A VIABLE OPTION, BUT IT TAKES THE MOST TIME AND COMMITMENT. oRIGINAL CONTENT IS DOING AS WELL AS IT EVER HAS IN THIS INDUSTRY. aND ALTHOUGH i KNOW THE IDEA OF POSTING 4000 SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS A DAY SOUNDS LIKE A SLOG, YOU DON’T NECESSARILY NEED TO FOLLOW THAT EXACT PATH. yOU JUST NEED TO STICK TO THE PLAN.
i FIND THE PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THE CREATIVE VENTURES i’VE TRIED TO PURSUE OVER THE YEARS IS THAT i END UP DOING THEM HALF BAKED SO TO SPEAK. You REALLY DO NEED TO GO ALL IN ON SOMETHING FOR IT TO SUCCEED. a BIG PART OF THIS IS PLANNING. i HAVE A FRIEND, Juan, WHO IS CURRENTLY SHOOTING MULTIPLE SHORT VIGNETTES ON FILM TO SHOWCASE HIS CINEMATOGRAPHY ABILITIES, BUT HE’S KEEP THEM LOW KEY AND PLANNING TO RELEASE 10-15 OF THEM IN A SHORT SPAN OF TIME TO MAKE A STRONG IMPRESSION.
Shotgun Menace Arm Rig I built for Juan’s passion project for an overhead shot.
My rails, Menace arm Kit, sandbags, ratchet straps and stand. His camera, another DP’s lenses, Menace arm pieces from a friend’s local rental house, focus pulling and loading by another AC friend.
hE’S BEEN SOURCING GEAR FOR FREE WITH CONNECTIONS HE’S MADE WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY AND LABOR FROM FRIENDS LIKE MYSELF WHO ARE WILLING TO WORK FOR SHORTER BURSTS UNPAID IF IT’S TO CREATE ART WITH A FRIEND. tHE KEY THERE IS THAT HE’S KEPT THE CONTENT MANAGEABLE, IS PLANNING EVERYTHING OUT EXCEPTIONALLY, AND HE’S STICKING TO IT.
I've found that I do one thing really well. Create beautiful imagery, in whatever way the project allows. Being able to adapt to the current needs of modern productions has served me well so far in my career, but I'd like to continue to grow as a cinematographer without being bogged down by doing the job of 100 people. Creating and sharing seem to be the gateway to growing your network to get to that next step.
iT DOES'’T NEED TO BE SOMETHING ON FILM WITH CRAZY GEAR TO STAND OUT EITHER. Pursuing A PODCAST, CONSISTENCY IN SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING, OR EVEN YOUR rEELS TO SHOWCASE WHAT YOU’RE ALL ABOUT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF STANDING OUT IN A CROWDED INDUSTRY. cOLLABORATING WITH PEOPLE IS ALSO A GREAT WAY TO BE EXPAND YOUR NETWORK WHILE PURSUING YOUR CREATIVE VENTURE, wHICH LEADS ME TO MY FINAL POINT.
3. SHOW THE WORLD WHO YOU ARE.
gETTING PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE DOING IS HALF THE BATTLE. bE PROUD OF YOUR WORK, SHOWCASE IT TO THE WORLD.
i CAN’T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES i’VE SEEN PROJECTS HAVE CRAZY ENERGY DURING PRE pRODUCTION AND pRINCIPAL pHOTOGRAPHY, AND THEN IN POST PRODUCTION OR EVEN AFTER THE INITIAL RELEASE THE PROJECT JUST DIES. i’M GUILTY OF THIS TOO. iT CAN BE REALLY HARD TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH SOMETHING ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND AND THERE’S so much KILLER CONTENT OUT THERE. iT’S HARD NOT TO BEAT YOURSELF UP ABOUT THE QUALITY OF WHAT YOU’RE PUTTING OUT.
bUT IF i’VE LEARNED ANYTHING AFTER DOING THIS FOR 15 YEARS, LET ME TELL YOU… fuck that mentality.
Recent Premiere for a Short Film - “Shelle” I shot
I had to miss a day of work for this, but it’s important to attend these sorts of events to get your name out there!
tHERE ARE A TON OF PEOPLE WHO post EVERY SINGLE DAY AND ARE SUCCESSFUL JUST BECAUSE THEY KEEP AT IT. a LOT OF TIMES CREATIVES HOLD THEMSELVES TO A STANDARD THAT JUST ISN’T REALISTIC, AND IT RESULTS IN YOU NEVER BEING HAPPY WITH YOUR WORK. oF COURSE YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF WHAT YOU DO AND ONLY PUT OUT CONTENT THAT YOU LIKE AND HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE PROUD OF. bUT IT’S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT YOU NEED TO BUILD THAT CAPACITY LITTLE BY LITTLE, AND STAND 10 TOES STRONG ON THE CONTENT YOU PUT OUT. bECAUSE IF YOU DON’T LIKE WHAT YOU’RE DOING, WHY SHOULD ANYONE ELSE?
Thank YOU FOR READING! I’d LOVE TO CONNECT WITH ANYONE WHO’S INTERESTED IN TALKING MORE ABOUT THIS TOPIC. If YOU’D LIKE TO CONNECT AND HAVE A CHAT, FEEL FREE TO CLICK THE “connect” BUTTON BELOW, OR AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THIS PAGE AND SHOOT ME AN EMAIL. until NEXT TIME, GOOD LUCK OUT THERE FILMMAKERS.