ScriptDC, Making Jobs Count, Clothing Counts, Too!

Anyone in the business will tell you that great freelancers primarily get work from word-of-mouth referrals. It doesn’t just happen. Freelancers who get referred and POSITIVELY noticed share some traits you might want to adopt.

They are reliable and punctual, allowing time for traffic, finding parking, and connecting with the client or supervisor.

They are professional on walkies and text message threads; they silence their phones and are clear communicators (say “copy” in lieu of “I’m on it” or “Got it”). They reply quickly to questions, and ask questions as needed.

They have a positive attitude, and are creative and resourceful when it comes to troubleshooting or problem-solving.

A stand-out PA takes initiative, rather than waiting for something to do. Try to find out what’s needed or helpful before constantly asking your supervisor what you should do next.

One thing you should NEVER do is offer your business card or contact information to the client. If they ask for it, tell them they should book you through the production company that hired you. However, it’s perfectly fine to share your contact info with other crew on the job. If there are other roles you are aspiring to, let the production company know that at the end of the day. They may be willing to allow you to shadow crew- which gives you additional visibility while you are working on your next position!

Believe it or not, that’s an important question for a freelancer, particularly if you’re working in the field, rather than behind an edit system. But “the field” might be an office setting, a corporate event, or an actual field! You might be told by the producer what is appropriate, but if not, they expect that you will know.

The main questions to consider are “What am I physically doing today?” and “What is appropriate for the setting and genre of what we are shooting?”

Here are some guidelines:

Will you be asked to crawl around places or lift equipment, or carry things? Cargo pants have got you. They’re heavy duty, have lots of storage, and are a step up from jeans (which might also be appropriate, but don’t have all the pockets). Having 2-3 pairs of cargo pants is a good thing.

Are you going to be in an office? Again, think about the physicality of what you are going to be doing. T-shirts won’t be appropriate. The least casual might be a polo shirt. Think business, have buttons.

Are you working a corporate event, in more of an a/v capacity? You’ll need to wear “show black”. Never wear logo’d shirts from other companies- it’s disrespectful to the company you’ve been hired by, and confusing to the client. Having some plain black t-shirts, black slacks, black cargo pants, black button downs, and a blazer for the fancier places should get you through a week of work.

And SHOES! Open-toed shoes are pretty much never the right choice for your freelance assignment, unless you are a field producer, and plan to stay clear of the heavy boxes on set. But you also want to be sure you are in shoes that you could stand in for hours on end, because you might be doing just that.

Ladies, don’t show up with a purse on set. It’s one more thing you’ll need to keep track of, and you’ll definitely be looked at like a beginner. Cargo pants are DEFINITELY your friend, or a small backpack. If you’re bringing gear, tuck what you need for the day into the pocket of a backpack, or into a laptop bag.

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask. If you’re not comfortable with what you’re wearing, or look out of place, you’re not going to have a good day, and what you’re wearing shouldn’t be the thing that is an issue for you on set.

Are you trying to develop a script into something that gets MADE? Are you in the DC area?

ScriptDC is the premier conference for Mid-Atlantic filmmakers where writers, directors, producers, editors and talent connect with accomplished industry professionals. Script DC’s in-person master classes are happening Oct 20-22, followed by WIFV-sponsored webinars on writing, formatting, etc.

Here are the sessions and speakers that have been lined up: Sessions and Speakers

Directing Soup to Nuts with Joan Darling (Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday all day)

Documentary Directing and Producing with Nina Gilden Seavey (Saturday and Sunday all day)

Editing in DaVinci Resolve and Premiere Pro with Lily Klein, Grace Novak, and Sara Barger (Saturday and Sunday all day)

Line Producing Narrative Films with Maureen Ryan (Saturday and Sunday all day)

Lighting and Camera Motion with Sheila Smith, Louise Hernon, Danielle Mileykovsky, Dave Aronson (Saturday all day)

Of these five master classes, you need to choose only ONE, and class size is limited. Here are the master class descriptions. WIFV members save $50 on the registration price, and student registration is $200. Discounted pricing ends October 19th. Learn more and register here