From Amateur to Pro Cinematographer in 6 “Simple” Steps

[@elpinchimaniaco]

"The more I practice the luckier I seem to get" this just changed my mood completely

[@AFilmmakersJourney-vo9is]

I too taught English all over Asia. And now at 37 starting my filmmaking career full-time. I really respect and admire your work, and will continue to get better. Thanks for the lessons bro!

[@LucForsyth]

Sounds like we had similar journeys! Glad you're finding these helpful

[@Noumenon11]

“When you commit, rest is just logistics” very well said.

[@LucForsyth]

now if only I could figure out how to make those logistics easy....

[@kannmann97]

I’m a small farmer in New England and i am on my 4th year and things can be difficult and a struggle sometimes… so nothing to do with videography but all this advice still applies. I’m also trying to make my own videos to add to the business (hence watching your videos) and its inspiring for that too

[@chrisingram5251]

I’ve been watching youtube for inspiration, tips, tricks etc.. for years now and I gotta say, your channel has been one of my favorites. I only recently found your channel but it came at the perfect time. Over the last few years I went through the typical gear and settings phase of going out and trying new things and just filming “nice scenes”. Recently I decided I need to take things to the next level and work on “story telling”. Your channel opened the door for me and my next chapter. I am beyond excited to start uping my game and applying what i’ve been learning from your channel. Thank you sooo much! You rock man!

[@LucForsyth]

Hey Chris, thanks so much for saying that - really appreciated. Looking forward to seeing where this weird journey takes you!

[@Borgedesigns]

By far one of the best media career advice channels on KZbin, I see the start by making film advise everywhere but usually its not followed up with good examples of how it can lead to work which this video does very clearly.

[@LucForsyth]

Thank you so much, very much appreciated!

[@scottflyger432]

Luc, I love the practical advice you give out on this channel. Great information for those coming into the industry.

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks Scott, really appreciate hearing that

[@johnclay7644]

good topic, good sections, invest in the right gear, networking, working on a few spec concepts, informative cine content.

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks John!

[@MaevaBM]

THANK YOU for the part about the gear 🙌🙏 I'm so sick you all the youtube saying "practice even with your phone", not everyone has the last iPhone and before getting a proper camera and a minimum of gear I was getting nowhere. You don't need a RED yes but sorry you need a camera. I used to think "when I have a project I will rent anyway" well, yes sometimes I do rent but to get in you will need to do these smaller budget and get a decent showreel that you will never put together with a phone from 2014.

[@elon-gatedMusk-rat]

Preety good advise I'm just starting and will keep these in mind

[@LucForsyth]

Nice! 👊🏻

[@PizzlesTechTime]

I'm just starting out myself but I had a little bit of a head start shooting KZbin videos for a few years

[@LucForsyth]

It's good training for sure!

[@januarsoepangat]

Big fan--learned a lot from your videos. Can't wait to join the course and learn even more from you!

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks man, really appreciate it!

[@badashmedia2066]

Most excellent video. Really appreciate the honest breakdown on taking advantage of a small opportunity. I’m currently in that situation with someone since this weekend. Well done bro. Cheers

[@LucForsyth]

awesome, glad it was helpful! Happy shooting!

[@fatherhooding]

Documentarian. That’s what they’re called. Love your channel brotha

[@jefferygary6476]

The waitlist signup confirmation takes you to a “Cardio fit” page. Probably part of a template.

[@ashleytoltonart]

Never sick of hearing about it! Great video and I appreciate any and all the tips :)

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks Ashley! Glad it was helpful

[@alloriginaltone]

Hi Luc. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Your practical and measured approach is immensely helpful. What would you say about the value of film festivals in terms of getting your name out there and "seeding the fields" for a lucky break? How useful are they and how should a documentary creative leverage those?

[@LucForsyth]

Film festivals can be great. The reward there usually is that a) someone might buy your film, but sometimes more likely b) you'll draw attention to yourself and people will start asking you to work on their projects for pay. Exposure and networking go hand in hand when it comes to pulling in work, and the passion projects that usually lose money in the end are the best calling cards you have. So in short, go for it - the more you put yourself out there, the better!

[@onphoto]

Hey Luc, thanks for making all the videos, I've been hoovering up all the knowledge over the last few weeks. Lots of really useful tips and advice. Not a criticism, but I think you have a dead pixel on your main camera, just off to the left side of your face. Thanks again.

[@LucForsyth]

You might be right! I'll have to look into that, thanks for the heads up!

[@larrycoonrod5563]

This video is just basically an add for his course.

[@LucForsyth]

🤷‍♂️

[@juanjgf]

Literally booking this from Santa Fe island in the Galápagos thanks to a Starlink antena, hopefully I'll be able to catch it go live

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks Elon! 👊🏻 Safe travels man, looking forward to getting started

[@arelysthompson2771]

Hi Luc, I’m watching a KZbin video with you in it now. Just wanted to tell you I have a great idea for a documentary project and have accumulated most documents on it. As a matter of fact, im writing a feature film on it. It’s about a woman warrior in the fight for independence from the Spanish. She is a family ancestor. Would love to talk to you more about it. Thanks.

[@WhySteve]

"invest in the right gear" with the deadpixel next to your face 😂 But that's part of the issue I have with Fujifilm. I bought my camera because it's perfect on paper and have a lot to offer for a very affordable price tag (especially because I sometimes do photography as well, so a hybrid was a must at the time) But practically, the camera build had a few issues and I've got a dead pixel stuck in the middle of the screen when I shoot in FHD. Only work around is to be forced to shoot in 4k which isn't always practical. And when I contacted fujifilm, they didn't really care. So on that "gear" note, don't just go for what gear LOOKS good, but also go for trusted manufacturers who have GOOD customer service in your area or country.

[@MJDreams]

Good luck with the course. Thank you for your content on KZbin. ps. What are the few places on earth where you would be not comfortable shooting and why? (question based on newsletter I got :) ).

[@lowjack100]

Can u do a version for people with add. I was lost after commit.

[@createdbykjvideo]

What was the business course you took to improve that side of things?

[@MayurMahapatraFilms]

Great video Luc.. however I would like one more point here. Ever doc film maker should take care of health. That’s first. As a doc film maker we have to run, climb, jump and what not if it’s the need of the hour. So we all have to take care of health and give at least 1 hour to our body. Healthy body = healthy mind..

[@LucForsyth]

That's a great tip man! It's true, I hurt my back a few years ago and didn't work for months...you never appreciate your health until it's gone.

[@MayurMahapatraFilms]

@@LucForsyth very true.. I am 40 now can relate

[@romanliebich8387]

Great video as always! Thanks

[@LucForsyth]

You're very welcome!

[@falkiser2882]

First of all: thank you for this very good video. Just one question: don't you think that using a speed booster with an EF mount makes the MFT cameras at least somewhat future proof? I'm using a GH 4 and have loads of lens options using the adapter (plus it turns an aperture of 4 into a 2.8). So I hope I can continue learning on a GH 4 and something like a GH5S in the future.

[@LucForsyth]

Totally! I definitely don't have anything against that camera at all, they're amazing. I guess I more mean that the Panasonic line doesn't have anywhere to grow if you start to take on higher end professional jobs down the road, so in the long term any brand specific gear you buy for that camera will be hard to transition to. But for sure, the lenses you're adapting are going to be useful forever! I probably shouldn't have mentioned any brand in this video because I totally agree that people should learn on whatever they have, and that's a great camera. But in the long run, if you invest in entry level cameras from brands that have everything from a small mirrorless to a Hollywood cinema camera, it's probably going to be cheaper. Good feedback, thanks!

[@falkiser2882]

Thank you for your reply, Luc. I do get your point. I'm still learning to think long term as it is still a distant dream to become a cinematographer. And the high end gear is often so much more expensive than the Panasonic cameras. The S line (S1H) and the L mount might be a good compromise for not breaking the bank and following your advice. 😊

[@ghostlandcreative410]

@@falkiser2882 I think the more literal advice would be look at something from a different brand--all brands are putting out excellent cameras, but only a few have serious upward mobility--Sony in particular which has the very affordable fx30 and goes all the way up to the Venice (and if you're focused on doc, sony is of course widely used in that world). If you ARE focused on the doc world, other than Sony, maybe Canon, MAYBE black magic? I'm not a professional and I don't mean to put words in Luc's mouth, (and as he said, learn with whatever you can get your hands on and can afford) but if the idea is to invest in something you can grow with in the longterm, then currently moving forward with the Panasonic only gets you so far and if you're thinking of spending more money, might be worth considering another brand :)

[@falkiser2882]

Alright, I hear you. For the time being, I'm going to have to stay in the MFT world anyway as I have plenty of lenses already which I don't want to give up and I can adapt to EF lenses too. But if the day comes that I have enough money to invest in a completely new system I'll definitely consider Sony.

[@ghostlandcreative410]

@@falkiser2882 I feel that! I've recently changed systems myself, and I feel lucky to be in a position to do so, but it's still a pain in the ass and losing money to do so! Nothing wrong with the system you're in, I think just a mindset to consider when you're ready to move on.

[@dinbali]

people always say marry your lenses, but i recently saw a video where the guy switched from an fx6 to a c70 and because he only shot with a few vintage lenses he could just switch systems so easily. as someone who bought almost all the sony lenses (not gm) i feel stuck with sony now

[@LucForsyth]

The good news is that it's usually really easy to adapt lenses to Sony, including really old stuff, so it's not the worst system to be stuck with. But I hear ya - investing in stuff that works across systems is always the best idea when possible!

[@DarioBarrosFilmmaker]

Cool one :) had fun watching it

[@LucForsyth]

Nice! Glad to hear it

[@carbon_originals]

Pro Tip, Use your time while you are single and have no obligations to provide for others BEFORE to start your career. If you have a S.O. + Kids, your learning curve is going to be curbed due to time limitations. When you are single you usually have time for friends and more opportunities for help with personal projects. But the biggest factor is that when you commit to doing it as a career, the stakes are much higher and more difficult if you don't have free evenings and weekends, and a family is counting on you. My only regret is I wish I had taken my video career seriously, sooner.

[@LucForsyth]

This is amazing advice - thanks for sharing! It definitely gets harder the older you get and all those buddies willing to work for free seem to get busier and busier...

[@7manproductions]

Did I miss the cost of the course? What is it? Sorry if it posted and I missed it

[@PizzlesTechTime]

I'm having a hard time finding clients that want to pay for high quality videos. Someone offered me $100 to shoot for over 5 hours with my Canon R5C. I did it one time and I'm waiting for a second offer or I'm not going back.

[@LucForsyth]

Yeah, I hear ya. The start is always the hardest part. In my experience producing a few spec projects that show the premium work you're capable of, then going directly to clients and showing them that high quality stuff helps. But there are no easy answers to this problem. We all need to make a living, but generally saying no to exploitative clients is a good idea. I was once asked to show up with an Arri Alexa package for $400 all in....

[@robertjureit2574]

I have a question. I have been waiting for quite awhile for a small quality camera, like the FX3. Can you or have you , put a cine panoramic lens on it. If so what were the results. Thanks for your answer.

[@robertharker]

My approach was to buy inexpensive, older, used gear and get all the basics: camera, lights and audio. No more than $1,500 total max. Use this gear and get the most out of it. Once you know how to get the most out of your gen 1 kit, then think of gen 2. A better used camera and more lenses, more lights, better audio. Yes, you will outgrow this gear but with experience, you can get professional results. Once you are getting regular work that pays decent, then start on truly professional equipment. A professional full frame camera or two. A set of cinema prime and zoom lenses. Better wireless lav mics, etc. The truth is that Luc can get more professional results with Canon T7i and a kit lens than I can get with a complete package of "professional" gear. Experience makes the professional, not the gear. Gen 1 is gear to get started. Get a complete palette of inexpensive camera, lights and audio. Gen 2 is your first professional kit. Not top of the line, but good enough to get paid work and good enough to charge modest rental for. Gen 3 will last you for years of professional work. Gain experience with your gen1 kit by working with other people and using their gear. Transition from gen 1 to gen 2 can be done one piece of gear at time as your budget allows. Rent gear if you have paying work that requires top of the line equipment. Charge the production the rental fees.

[@LucForsyth]

Great advice! I've actually only ever bought one new camera in my whole career - and it's the one I use to film KZbin videos. All my "professional" cameras have been second hand and it's never held me back!

[@robertharker]

@@LucForsyth New cameras are a lot like new cars which loose significant value once you drive them off the dealer's lot. In the case of cameras, 6 months later when a new version of the camera comes out. When you buy used gear it keeps most of it's value when you go to sell it again.

[@bangforyourbuck101]

Hello luc, i just bought my first camera and I'm looking to be a good doc and wedding videographer can you give me tips on cinematography and story writing

[@LucForsyth]

Congrats! That's sort of a huge question my friend! Check out older videos first - I've made a bunch on cinematography and script writing already!

[@bangforyourbuck101]

@@LucForsyth thank you. It's just hard to figure out where to start. Anyway you're a huge help specially for a person like me who didn't and can't afford to go to a school and learn. KZbin has been my base for all the things i need to learn. Keep up the good videos. I'm really passionate about photography and film making. Working 12 hours a day as a bartender and saving money to buy a camera and start something that may be my "ikigai" in japanese terms is the direction I'm going for. I hope the basics of the course you're offering is affordable. Thanks a lot

[@jmanchester]

EXCELLENT!

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks man, glad you liked it!

[@cliffsofmoherfilmreviews]

How can I get actors to act in my short film for free?

[@xanderasnot]

Explain your position of not being able to pay them and make it not a job, but a fun experience for them

[@FlatCapProductions160]

Definitely be honest about not being able to pay them and show interest in other projects they’re currently in. Once they’ve agreed you want to be contacting them regularly to keep them interested and informed about where you’re at in pre production

[@jmanchester]

You can definitely make this happen. There are always actors(s) looking to add to their portfolios. Just be upfront about the project and what you are looking for. It also doesn't hurt to pay for gas if needed or feed them. People are looking to gain experience and will help out where possible

[@LucForsyth]

Agree with all these ideas! I work on projects for free all the time because I believe in them, so if you find the right early career actor, or one that really believes in your vision, there are all sorts of people willing to work for free. Then when you have budgets later, share the wealth by hiring them down the road.

[@visufilms8084]

Hey Luc. Really interested in the course. I applied and have no confirmation e mail. I was wondering if that is due to my country of residence (Panama) or something eles.

[@LucForsyth]

Hey, unfortunately the course sold out very quickly and all the spots are full. It sounds like you signed up for the waitlist though. As soon as I open it again I'll let you know there!

[@davidschwan]

Great

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks David!

[@Mhoohing36]

How do I sign up for course

[@LucForsyth]

Hey! The first intake sold out in the first 5 days, so there aren't any spaces left this time. If you sign up for the waitlist through the link the description I'll let you know when I open it back up! Help to see you next time!

[@raajpratapsinghthakur]

why you are not active on instagram

[@LucForsyth]

Good question! I just find it hard to have a healthy relationship with it and I end up doom scrolling late at night. It's been better to just stay away for me. But maybe there is a way to be more active without getting sucked in...I'll think on it!

[@raajpratapsinghthakur]

@@LucForsyth I respect your decision ☺️

[@JohnnyRico777]

Video start at 4:40, this is getting ridiculous.

[@LucForsyth]

🤷‍♂️

[@MakinMovies7]

I admire your attitide. Top notch.

[@LucForsyth]

Appreciate that!