Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 (edited) Was watching Cinematographer Style. Everyone being interviewed was old to ancient. (But that was made in 2005.) When at large, all the video crews I see are kids. Don't think I've ever seen any old geezers in the crew. Is age a problem for you when looking for work? Edited January 23, 2019 by Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Field Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Depends on if the production company built up via the internet or real world connections. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member David Mullen ASC Posted January 23, 2019 Premium Member Share Posted January 23, 2019 Geez, thanks... I was in that doc and I was 43 at the time, is 43 old? Was watching Cinematographer Style. Everyone being interviewed was old to ancient. (But that was made in 2005.) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Field Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Geez, thanks... I was in that doc and I was 43 at the time, is 43 old? In the NFL yeah. Not sure about ASC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Posted January 23, 2019 Author Share Posted January 23, 2019 (edited) OK, made a mistake. Most were old or ancient. There were a few younger guys. Edited January 23, 2019 by Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin R Probyn Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 The answer is .. their day rate is alot lower than old ancient guys of over 40 ..who might have a house/car/wife/kids and want to eat out a few times a year..and have a holiday.. I think there will be alot of single, ancient camera crew members, living with their parents in 15 years ... its becoming a trust fund job even more than it always was to some extent .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Phil Rhodes Posted January 23, 2019 Premium Member Share Posted January 23, 2019 I was going to comment, but Robin said everything I was going to say. I have found it slightly easier to be taken seriously as I pass helplessly into middle age. It's dispiriting, really, especially as it's only really happened long after I threw in the towel, camera-wise. P 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon O'Brien Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 As was posted here not long ago, let me repeat it: "It's not the age ... it's the mileage" - Indiana Jones (while painfully and tiredly removing a shirt so he can lie down and go to sleep) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Santucci Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 I'm pretty sure being 50+ has put me at a disadvantage with some out of town producers looking to hire a freelance camera operator or videographer in my area. I think "cinematographer" connotes experience, though, and there's a slightly different mindset when it comes to hiring. That said, many producers don't even know what a gaffer is, so cinematographer is synonymous with videographer to them and as we all are aware, any 23 year old with a film school degree and a Sony a7S is a DP these days. I've gotten a few weird looks when meeting some producers for the first time on location, which I have to attribute to my age and their expectations. I applied for 200 open staff positions in 2017, positions with titles like "digital media specialist," "videographer," "cinematographer," "video producer," which all described skills that I'm expert in with almost 30 years of broad experience. I got zero job offers & any of the few rejection emails I got were boilerplate rejection letters. One very telling thing I noticed with the job posts, HR almost always stressed formal education over work experience, with 1-3 years experience being the prevalent requirement along with a 4 year degree. I honestly don't even know if any HR people screening applicants ever even looked at my reel, but just based on their specs, it seemed they were only looking to interview 20-somethings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Gregory Irwin Posted January 24, 2019 Premium Member Share Posted January 24, 2019 Uh... born in 1961... married... 2 daughters... son-in-law... 2 grandchildren... 39 years as a Focus Puller... OH MY GOD!!! I MUST BE DEAD IN THIS BUSINESS!!!!! g 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Greene Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 For the past decade I've often been the oldest person on the set. With the exception of the film that took place in a retirement home :) The only thing I can say is that I've been working with the same producing/directing team for a while, and they keep getting older too! Funny how that works... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Posted January 24, 2019 Author Share Posted January 24, 2019 (edited) Maybe back in the day, age was a badge of honor. Film and the rest cost lots of $$. They could not take a chance on ruining it. Kids had to prove themselves and work their way up through the pecking order. As far as 40's being old? Does not matter what I think, it is what society / employers thinks. I was talking to a guy in his late 30's that said he was turned down for a job cause they wanted someone in their 20's. (Non film job) Here is how it was in the 60s. Pecking order, lots of white guys and work your way up world. https://archive.org/details/RetirementPartyDavidR.Shackleford Edited January 24, 2019 by Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Dunn Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 (edited) Age discrimination in employment is illegal in the EU, fortunately, but of course it can't be made to apply to freelancers. Edited January 24, 2019 by Mark Dunn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon O'Brien Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 When I go into the city CBD these days, I'm often the oldest person around. Same thing at festivals etc. Occasionally one sees someone of one's own vintage or older (first half of 50s in my case) and perhaps a brief glimmer of recognition/hope/welcome appears in the eyes. Yes the generational gap is a very wide one. There can be benefits to being older. I'm sort of glad I'm not 20 anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Carter Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 (edited) I am 72 and want to find other people to make 16mm black and white films with in Pittsburgh. Bolexs, Zoom H4N, Darkroom, Lomo Pro, Uhler printer. And if you are older than me that is OK. Younger too. Edited January 25, 2019 by Michael Carter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Everyone being interviewed was old to ancient. Don't think I've ever seen any old geezers in the crew. Wow, I see you're a fan of the book, How to Win Friends and Influence People. I sure as hell am not putting a 22 year old DOP onto one of my sets. R, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Field Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 I sure as hell am not putting a 22 year old DOP onto one of my sets. What if they're a genius? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 What if they're a genius? There's no replacement for experience, especially in film. R, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Gregory Irwin Posted January 25, 2019 Premium Member Share Posted January 25, 2019 There's no replacement for experience, especially in film. R, Whew! (wiping sweat away from brow...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Whew! (wiping sweat away from brow...) Yes Gregory, we'll be wheeling you out of the old age home when you're in your 90s. Come on grandpa time to work. But I don't wanna go to set, I want to want to sleep! R, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Simon Wyss Posted January 25, 2019 Premium Member Share Posted January 25, 2019 Is age a problem for you? It is. Those who say it isn’t are liars. OTOH it gives me deep satisfaction to have lived when there was film cinema. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Brereton Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 I sure as hell am not putting a 22 year old DOP onto one of my sets. R, But Richard, how will you ever have the latest, coolest, hippest lighting if you don't? :) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Gregory Irwin Posted January 25, 2019 Premium Member Share Posted January 25, 2019 Yes Gregory, we'll be wheeling you out of the old age home when you're in your 90s. Come on grandpa time to work. But I don't wanna go to set, I want to want to sleep! R, Just as long as I get my jello! ;) G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Field Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 I try to look as young as possible in any production interview. The boy wonder stands out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 But Richard, how will you ever have the latest, coolest, hippest lighting if you don't? :) I don't even like steady cam. Gives you an idea of what I think about "cool hip" lighting. :) R, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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