Inspire Design Create with David Lee

EPISODE 65: IS STAFFMEUP WORTH IT?

Have you thought about using www.staffmeup.com to find work as a Cinematographer or DP? Is it worth the $99 a year subscription to bid against others in our highly competitive space? For me, it is and i've been able to find a good amount of work as well as grow my network through Staffmeup. I still receive more jobs through my previous network than I do with Staffmeup but the contacts are still there, I still bid for worthwhile jobs and for $99 I think it's a great platform IF and I really mean IF you already have a strong reel and previous work that can compete for the jobs being offered. Have a listen to this weeks episode and let me know your thoughts on Staffmeup, have you used it before and what experiences have you had?

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Subscribe to the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee 

EPISODE 64: WTF, More LUTs?!!

Oh you know what i'm talking about, the never ending IG Ads for CINEMATIC LUT PACK VOLUME 10! It seems more and more companies/influencers are pushing out their LUT packs to new filmmakers and even seasoned cinematographers because, well why not? The question is, do you really need it and will a LUT take your image from kinda crappy to not so crappy? Most likely not if the essentials aren't already there (location, set design, wardrobe, lenses, lighting). Let's chat about LUTs, what mistakes I made in the beginning when using LUTs and which ones I still use today.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Subscribe to the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee 

EPISODE 63: NETWORKING WILL SAVE YOU

I'm sure you've heard it from many people that networking is what gets you jobs consistently. My first three years being freelance I struggled so much with networking as I am a introverted person by nature, but when I started to see that networking and communication with directors and producers i've worked with over the years has had a direct impact on my work volume I knew that I needed to get out of my comfort zone. If you've found yourself in the same situation and struggling to get consistent work I hope this podcast can inspire you to get on your networking game!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Subscribe to the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee 

EPISODE 62: BREAKDOWN - KOBALT 10

In this week's episode i'm breaking down a recent commercial for Kobalt Tools who client for his was Lowes. We were shooting all day exteriors with a lot of challenges with the schedule, not the biggest lighting instruments in the world and trying to squeeze in extra shots that the agency wanted. Did we succeed? Let's find out!

https://www.atdavidlee.com/breakdowns/

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Subscribe to the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee 

EPISODE 61: FROM VIDEOGRAPHER TO CINEMATOGRAPHER

Are you wondering what it takes to go from Videographer to Cinematographer? What are some of the best ways to stop taking the $500 projects that also require you to edit them and transition into being a working cinematographer/DP? Good news for you is that there is hope! It's a long journey, shorter for others, but today I wanted to give you the tips that helped me out as well as countless other cinematographers. The short of it is:

#1. Spec Work, Spec Work, Spec Work

#2. Update your reel each year with the highlights from your spec work

Eventually when you've built up a good reel and gradually been hired for projects that create that pool of networking resources you need, you'll start to get hired more and more as a cinematographer and that will provide you the financial stability to say "NO" to the one man band, no budget videographer projects you've been dreaming to move away from.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Subscribe to the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee 

EPISODE 60: CINEMATOGRAPHER ROB MACHADO

Today we have a cinematographer Rob Machado on the show! Rob is a Las Vegas based cinematographer who works a broad spectrum from corporate, commercial and documentary. Along with his professional work Rob creates content on his YouTube channel and is one of the very few channels I still follow to this day. We talk about his start in photography in high school to film school at UNLV and breaking into the industry as a working cinematography. At the end of it Rob and I both agree that if you're passionate about what you do, you'll find a way to make it work and I hope this episode brings not only a few laughs but perspective on how to mold your own career path as an owner/op.

Rob's website: https://www.machadovisuals.com/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/RobChado

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robchado/

 

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Subscribe to the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee 

EPISODE 59: DID I BUY THE WRONG CAMERA???

Did I really? Did you really? In all honesty, NO. You're welcome, but let me elaborate on that for a moment. A new camera purchase is like a car, you've done the research and narrowed it down to the final pick. Your old car still works, but it's old and it's just time to upgrade. You go to the dealership, pay the car in cash or finance it and drive it off the lot into that beautiful golden sunset. As time goes by your brand new car starts to look outdated as you see someone on the road drive a newer car than yours and you think to yourself, "damn did I buy the wrong thing"? 

In today's episode I wanted to provide my insight on why you didn't buy the wrong camera, why your camera is just an asset and should be treated as such along with the best time to buy or upgrade your camera for business needs.

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Subscribe to the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee 

EPISODE 58: RED FLAGS FROM CLIENTS

I'm sure you've heard this type of question before, "Hey Joe! Love your work, we have an amazing new product coming out and need some social media content to promote it! How much do you charge? Thanks!" If I had a dollar for every time I was asked that I would be an owner of a brand new Alexa Mini LF, wouldn't you? Today on the podcast i'm sharing with you my Top 3 Red Flags from Clients, the openers and questions that should trigger the alarm inside your thinking process of, "Wait something feels off here". This podcast episode should help alleviate future headaches and hopefully prepare you for the next time you come across this type of client. Again, nothing is personal in our industry it's all just business so just as some clients will low ball you - you also have the opportunity to let them know your worth and that your time is valuable. AKA, thanks but no thanks!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Subscribe to the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee 

EPISODE 57: YOUTUBERS VS WORKING PROFESSIONALS

I feel i'm going to get a lot of heat for this one but sometimes the truth hurts so here we go! What i've noticed over the past 4 years of being a content creator on YouTube is it's gotten to the point where the majority if recommended videos and channels in the filmmaking space on YouTube is full of non working professionals. Why does that matter? Well if you're starting out in maybe looking to get to that next level in business and cinematography how can you trust someone who isn't working in the industry? Why are brands and companies relying on social media influencers and YouTubers to review their products for working professionals when these content creators aren't even working? Now that's not to say everyone on YouTube is just a gear head with no experience to show for it but the vast majority are which is sad. Let's dive into this episode head first and see if we can make any sense of it all!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Subscribe to the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee 

EPISODE 56: COMPARISON IS THE THIEF OF HAPPINESS

Ever find yourself comparing yourself to someone else? Don't you wish you were on that job with the technocrane or the pursuit car on a race track - maybe being able to use the sweet master anamorphics for a hyper stylized fashion commercial? I think we've all been there and sometimes find ourselves still comparing ourselves to others.

The thing with comparison is it robs us of our own happiness, we take away our own self-worth and waste precious time feeling sorry for ourselves. Today I wanted to provide some insight and perspective on how I think we can overcome comparison so that we give ourselves more time to set meaningful goals for our careers as owner/operators and freelancers. I hope this episode supports you friends!

If you enjoyed this episode please rate it and let me know how i'm doing! Subscribe to the podcast if you're loving the content and share it with your friends!

www.atdavidlee.com | www.legendarymediahouse.com | Instagram @atdavidlee | YouTube www.youtube.com/atdavidlee