Tom Mott

Nice reel.

If the job will increase your knowledge and skills - take it. At the ripe age of 32 I got into one of the finest art schools in the country but wasn't able to swing it financially. Instead, I left a decent job in IT to first be a producer (commission sales for a local tv show and commercials), then ran and created their websites, then edited, then filmed (Sony DSR 500 and PD150) - basically learning everything I needed to know to start my own media company - although I've yet to shoot in film which I am looking forward to. I now freelance shoot and edit and somehow manage to pay the bills each month. This industry started on the basis of apprenticeship and in my humble opinion you learn much more by getting your hands dirty and doing things. I've been on many gigs with people fresh out of college who couldn't light, shoot or get sound to save their butts. Keep learning and charge as much as the market will bear.

Danny, Bermuda sky is great... I am working on a no budget documentary feature film ( as producer, director, cinematographer, editor) and would like to possibly use this or other songs you have already produced as part of the score. I have over 50hrs of footage - in the editing process now. I don't know how to get a hold of you through the forum (it has you listed as unregistered) but shoot me an email at tom@tommott.com Regards, Tom Mott

300-500 seems like a good range... definitely get a lavalier mic for the talent. You can rent a wired audio technica for about 25 bucks.

WOW... interesting thread... you can always just dub the tape so that new timecode is created - which would be necessary to go back and edit later if the media goes offline.

maybe you are shooting in spotlight mode

Right... beware XL1s on ebay... I just got a bogus second chance offer for $800 I had previously bid on an XL1 - oh yeah... my first XL1 on ebay was purchased for 2200 only to find out it had spatter of dead pixels one of which was pretty conspicuous - and a viewfinder which had been cracked and glued back together -- not complaining though - after many emails and phone calls got a refund of 300 for the viewfinder and 200 for the pixel (he wouldn't take the camera back) for a grand total of 1600 -- the camera has more than paid for itself and at almost two years later is still running :)