Determination

Cameras
Posted by Admin on 01, June 2011 with 6 Comments
Twitt

Just a little quick post before I jump on a plane to join my WOC crew buddies for an awesome long weekend of cinema gear geekery. Not to mention of course seeing all the wonderful people that I have been fortunate to meet in the last year. It is going to be a very fun and educating show at CineGear and I can’t wait. Let me look back first.

No one in this business is going to help you be heard or hold your hand along the way. As a fairly fresh guy on the scene I was faced with the daunting task of how I let people know about me. What do you do? Hopefully you have learned some coping skills to get through the hard times because trust me there will be plenty of them.

Conrad Hall working the wheels.

I go back to the title of the article, determination. It’s like looking at a blank Final Cut session on a huge project. Or breaking down a very complex scene with a director for blocking and camera setups. You just have throw yourself into the fire and do it. You have to know that you will fail many times before you get to be where you want to be. I’m definitely not saying that I’m “there” or have any form of established presence in the industry. But isn’t that’s what starting out is all about? Those gritty long days where sometimes the end is shrouded in doubt and frustration, you have to have the determination to get through those moments and still keep your eyes on the prize. Again there is no “easy” way to gain experience or become better at what you do as a filmmaker. You have to live, feel, and do it everyday. Momentum definitely has its merits and when you build up enough of it you can become almost unstoppable. Then what do you think you’d be capable of?

So what does this all have to do with CineGear? I am very happy and proud to be part of such a great filmmaking collective at such an early point in my career. Also not to mention the numerous number of great people I’ve been introduced to since becoming a part of this team. And I know I will meet plenty more this weekend!

Determination will get you opportunities. What you do with them is up to you. Don’t waste them. Please say hi If you see me at CineGear. Cheers!

Admin
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Jared Abrams is a cinematographer based in Hollywood, California. After many years as a professional camera assistant he switched over to still photography. About two years ago a new Canon camera changed the way the world sees both motion and still photography. He just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
  • http://theredowl.com/ TheRedOwl

    This post hit home particularly for me as I graduated last year. I had a better idea than my classmates how hard I’d have to work, given the situation with the economy. Rather than complaining about it I’ve been forced to adapt and work harder than I thought I’d have to. 

    Then again, that’s why I like doing what I do – this business doesn’t tolerate slackers and forces you to change and adapt all the time. I’ve wrestled for some time with “how to get noticed” by the right sort of people and all that. I still wrestle with that question – how to go about “making some noise” and getting people to notice me without being douchey about it. I haven’t been as successful as I’d like but that’s only motivated me to work harder and never waste opportunities that cross my path. 

    Without determination I think I would have given up by now. 

  • http://wideopencamera.com Chris Marino

    Thanks for the time to read and comment TJ. Keep on keeping on man. Cheers.

  • http://www.cmhproperties.com Charles Mackenzie-Hill

     A very nice article, and the theme of advise  can nicely cross many industries.

  • http://twitter.com/ChrisMarino_DP Christopher Marino

    Thanks! 

  • Hightor

    Good website. Just a note to say the cinematographer pictured above is actually another master of the craft, Gordon Willis. I’m sure neither one would get very upset at being mistaken for the other, they admired each other very much.

  • http://wideopencamera.com Chris Marino

    Thanks for the correction.