How I Made My First Million Dollars With Video Production
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- čas přidán 3. 12. 2021
- I graduated from film school in 2007 and I didn’t learn or know anything about making money as a filmmaker. And I struggled for over 5 years, doing random jobs that barely covered my bills.
For some reason, it’s somehow not ok to talk about making money as a filmmaker. No one talks about their rates or what they charge clients. I was a DP on so many shoots for $500 without realizing my friends were getting $1200. Because no one talks about it.
I charged $3000 for a video production service when I should have been charging 10k.
So that’s why I made these videos. I’m hoping to help people that are going through that same struggle I went through and since no one else seems to want to talk about it, I’m happy to.
When I was 29, almost 6 years after film school, still paying my student loan, I have about $1000 in my bank and maybe about 10k worth of video gear. I would take freelance jobs as a videographer, camera op, AC, editor, and once in a while, DP.
But I was seriously thinking about quitting. The only problem was, I didn’t even know what else I could do. I didn’t have a real job ever.
So I had to make something else work.
Even though I had a video production company, I decided to start a new one, with a focus and with a better life plan.
I wrote down my goal. Save a million by 35 and retire by 40.
And make over 100k next year at 30.
Then I started to write a business plan. First, I was going to turn my video production service into a product. I was going to make a very specific type of marketing video for 3k. I created 3 to 4 of them for my friends that had a business for free. And I made one for a law firm. Then I learn SEO and Google ads. It took about 6 months before it worked because I was trying to learn everyone on my own.
Thanks so much for watching. Please give this video a thumbs up and subscribe to this channel for easy-to-follow filmmaking videos.
Learn the exact blueprint I used to go from a struggling videographer, to running a profitable video production business, in this one-hour free training.
www.filmmakingmentor.com/Vide...
Learn the exact blueprint I used to go from a struggling videographer, to running a profitable video production business, in this one-hour free training.
www.filmmakingmentor.com/Video_Production_Accelerator_Opt_In
already on it waiting patiently !
I love your content and has already helped me a lot. I have a question about advertising campaigns, I'm currently showing my showreel in ads. Is that a good idea or do you recommend something else?
I really appreciate this video. You been making great content. I graduated in 2010 in video production an it's been difficult to navigate. I'm restructuring my path.
Your experiences are extremely relatable and encouraging. I'm loving your content. Thanks for sharing!
Just found this channel 5 minutes ago and it already has MAJOR value in my eyes.
Thanks so much for this Saj, I need more define goals for 2022. I'm currently just coasting through my video production career. My company took in around 60k this year but I only worked like 120ish days.
I really value my free time... and spending time with friends and family. but obviously that may change as more responsibilities mount... at which point I probably will offer more services like the ones you are talking about here.
I started a video production company just a few months ago. Your videos are not only value in gold, you encourage us to be brave!
Thank you very much and best from Berlin! :)
Saj I’m so so grateful for this video.. you have no idea how helpful this is too me I’m 29 right now & im struggling with the things you struggled with @ 29… I’m going to put all these things you’ve said into practice… once again thank you.
Awesome! Happy to help
this is my 3rd video in on your channel, GOLD information!! Super helpful since I just started my media business.
Awesome thanks
Great video, really helped a lot. Don't stop posting
I really appreciate the content. It helps give perspective while I'm just starting out.
Really appreciate the knowledge you are dropping on this channel!
Helpful vid!
I need to step up my marketing game. Thanks!
This is great info. I have been doing it the wrong way so long. This is a breath of fresh air.
I love your videos and thank you so much for taking your time to put these together for us.
Thank you
Fantastic content! Thanks for sharing the knowledge.
Great video Saj!
Dude! This is mad exciting!! Wow, this is really possible
I searched ‘how to make millions filmmaking’, you popped up. This is my first time seeing your video. You’re right, it seems like when people make money they learn something that prevents them sharing how they make money.
Love this man. Keep making great content!
Thank you. Will do!
This is gold, I'm breaking that point!!
Very informative... Thank you sir...
I think you have the best advice on youtube thank you!
There is still a lot of the paperwork side of this business that I'm still working on, but the biggest challenge is finding clients in a Covid World. So much of it is in person preproduction stuff, lots of that are better doing in person, and nobody in the last 2 years wants to make new Face to Face friends anymore.
The Director in me needs to see the person off camera in an environment they can relax and be themselves so I know what I'm aiming for if they might be on camera. That, and I find there is so much room for miscommunications in emails and text type messages. A properly structured meeting, or a few of them, is far better and making sure the project has an agreeable plan, and the expectations are somewhat managed. Person to Person Preproduction is worth investing in!
Love your content Saj. While filmmaking is great, I love the business aspect of this industry. I just recently hit my milestone of 100k and I'm 22 years old but I'm hoping to be a millionaire by 30
Awesome man. 100k at 22 is amazing and way ahead of where I was at your age. You are well on your way
Hi Saj thanks for your videos they are very inspiring and I'm in the situation you were 10 years ago but I'm 51 I am the one you talk about when you say struggling freelancer trying to make his way in the world that was me, Covid prompted me to start my own production company and at 51 just coming to the end of the first year and I find your videos absolutely fantastic on how to navigate the early stages of starting up a production company , it's priceless to have such insight rather than like you say new gear reviews . Do you do any mentoring schemes? Once again thank you for your time and effort it's made such a big impact on me
Hi Gary. I don’t do any mentoring at the moment but I’m planning on making a complete course and answer related questions in the comment of the course as much as I can
Hey Saj! I’ve been binging your content for about a week now and the amount of value you have been delivering is unmatched. I’ve been dabbling off and on as a freelancer for roughly four years as a side hustle, but this past year I’ve gone full time with running my own (still pretty small) production company. Two questions I wanted to ask because you briefly talked about them in a past video:
1). For financial advice, should I be looking into hiring a CPA to guide me when it comes to taxes, deductibles, etc., or should I be looking for a different type of financial consultant to help me out?
2. I’ve been having lower back issues like most filmmakers deal with on a regular basis. Would you recommend going to a chiropractor before a physical therapist, or going another route?
Thank you in advance man, and please keep on doing what you’re doing, because nobody else in this space on CZcams seems to be doing it 🙌
Hey man. Thanks very much. Happy to help.
So funny I was just writing a script around one of your questions.
I have a CPA. He’s pretty good. If you can find a cpa that deals more with small business and even handle entertainment clients, even better
I had back pain from doing Steadicam for years. I’ve tried all kinds of stuff. Ciro didn’t fix anything for me. Physical therapy was decent though. The thing that really help was just reducing my physical labor on shoots. Loading and unloading is what I avoid now and also I don’t do Steadicam anymore
@@Filmmakingmentor Thank you so much man! I’ll be looking into a CPA next week and look into a physical therapist soon to give it a shot and see what happens. I know I should have somebody doing most of the heavy lifting on set, I just love gimbal work so much so I’d love to be able to still do it as much as I can. Thank you, and keep it up with this kind of content! Looking forward to whenever that script transforms into a finished video in the near future!
Great video, finally somebody on CZcams that doesn’t look like a college frat boy and actually knows what he’s talking about.
Haha tax
Thank you so much!
Wow! I was literally writing out a plan to have two separate websites and didnt know weather that was smart or not. (dividing my attention instead of just honing in on one) And here you are to confirm what Im doing. Thank you, this video and others is really helping me out. I started out by making youtube videos for creators and now Im making my own documentaries while doing Corporate DP/directing work. Is there any way we can see your DP website? Would love to see your work.
NewSlatefilms.com
Great video, thanks for sharing!
Thank you!
“Then I got a project that was 80 grand” why did you skip over this? The entire video should be about this. I want all the details. This is what I came to learn. I already do everything else you said, I started a production company in 2006, earned a bachelors degree in Film production, I been had a website, I’ve been making 3k for videos, I mastered SEO and AdWords, But HOW DID YOU GET BIGGER CLIENTS? Because somehow I’m still broke
This video is a more broad introduction video for my channel. Rest of my channel is all about the process and how to get bigger clients, so a lot more is coming up soon. This wasn’t a how to video. It was a story video
@@Filmmakingmentor ok bet
This is great info, I’m really enjoying your videos. If I may, i’d like to make a recommendation as you continue to develop your course: there are many of us who have a passion for filmmaking but have full-time jobs that are also successful and pay the bills. It be great if (as part of your course) you laid out a path for part-time freelancers to grow in video production while balancing other responsibilities. That is, what should be the types of gigs and passive income opportunities that we should focus-on, and what are the ones to let go? Just a thought… great content!
Yea I’ll see how I can work that in
thanks so much for this vid !
Welcome!
I really appreciate this video man. Running your own business is so scary when you're first starting out.
One thing I would mention in this type of content is the city you work in where this strategy worked for you. If you're in a small rural town and you have no competition and nobody within an 20 mile radius owns a camera, you will for sure grow your business really quickly. If you're in a major metropolitan area like LA, NYC, Toronto, I think the story might be a little different.
Would love to know your thoughts. Already signed up on your waiting list.
Yea I totally agree. I think your location has a lot to do with the type of business you can have. I’m in Chicago and there is ton of corporate work which is a bulk of what I’ve done. In small towns, I’ve seen people successful with doing videos for small business. In larger cities like LA, it’s a bit tougher to crack the code but I’ve been hiring plenty of times by an LA company to do a video. I’m gonna make a more detailed video about location after I gather my thoughts a bit better on it
Where are you located?
I'm in a decent sized city but it's a lot of state/government workers and families...it feels difficult to grow here because everyone is either a small business with a small budget, or a huge established corporation (Wells Fargo, Costco etc). My highest paying client has been a travel gig that took me to LA, but locally it's really difficult to earn anything substantial. I'm not sure that it's a sure-thing to grow fast in one of the smaller cities, it seems the opposite to me.
Im 18 now and i started studying film. In a positive way, this let me realise that the tale in my head may not come true. It feels more like gambling with life, so i'll probably start over and do something else
Good video, thanks.
You're a pure diamond gem on the youtube videomaker's community.
Thanks very much.
Thank you so much and God bless 🙏
Agreed, we need to collaborate. I am working on something I need to present to you.
I’m 20 and those are my goals too.
Very inspiring
Looking forward to the course! I've seen there's this guy from Israel selling a filmmaking business course for 130$, I've also seen the brithish guy Ross Welch selling his for more than 1 thousand pounds (whihc unfortunately I can't afford)..let's see how your goes!
Hey thanks. Mine is going to be priced on the high-end of courses but it’s going to be extremely valuable. I’m even including things like templates and contracts that cost me far more than the course to get. I also spent nearly six figures for filmschool which didn’t teach me a single thing about what I cover in this course
My biggest question to you is, what market are you in? This is really hard for small markets. What’s your suggestion for those with production companies in cities that don’t have big budgets?
I would offer video packages that don’t rely on shoots. We do ton of work using existing images and stock to make marketing videos. I would also try to get clients in other cities and hire local crews to take care of the production side. I do most of my work outside of my city. I’ll travel anywhere for a shoot and it doesn’t add all that much to the budget when working with the right clients
I would offer video packages that don’t rely on shoots. We do ton of work using existing images and stock to make marketing videos. I would also try to get clients in other cities and hire local crews to take care of the production side. I do most of my work outside of my city. I’ll travel anywhere for a shoot and it doesn’t add all that much to the budget when working with the right clients
Big Question. Whats the difference between your video productions business and freelancing. They sound like the same thing
With freelancing, it's all about one person. You do everything and you usually specialize in one thing. With video production company, it's usually a team. You can handle more work and you can make money without exchanging your personal time for dollars.
@@Filmmakingmentor how did you go about building your team? I’ve been freelancing over 4 years now and finding trustworthy dependable people who work in this field is hard
Yea it is. I just started hiring other freelancers I work with to take my place and to help me with production. Once you work with another freelancer but as their boss and like them, you can see about hiring them. You can also run the whole company as a producer and hire all freelancer but I recommend eventually finding at least a full time editor
Hey question , do you consider both the video production and freelance under the same LLC/financing for tax purposes ??
Yea I kept them under the same company.
@@Filmmakingmentor awesome ! Thanks for responding
What was that big project that paid 80k? Was it a commercial? Am I right to think that only commercials pay that well?
No it was a educational video package but it was a lot of work. Yea only commercials pay that kind of money in the shortest amount of time, but you can get bigger projects in any category. They are just usually more work overall.
Question: How does this Chanel with less than 20k followers make as much as your production company….especially without video sponsorship. You selling online courses too?
Not this channel. I have other channel. My main one has 460k subs. This channel barely makes any money
My main channel has over 100 million views. This channel has about 1 million
Hey Saj, have been looking for videos like yours for ages! Ive added myself to the list for the course and would be keen to do a review on it In case if you will need some feedback. Cheers!
Awesome I really appreciate that. I’ll keep you updated on the progress
Bro would you say Film School is worth it though?
It really depends on how you take advantage of it. I have a video called is filmschool worth it and I go deeper into it
Can you comment your production business website link?
Sure. newslatefilms.com/ As I've mentioned in previous video, I usually don't drive traffic to the home page and usually use landing pages with specific offers to specific industries when running ads.
@@Filmmakingmentor thank you!!!
@@Filmmakingmentor are your landing pages with a funnel website or did you make landing pages on your website
I mean what is a dp
Director of photography
How you don’t make rent you paying $600 my California ears PERKED up 😂
Lol long time ago. Can’t get a $600 dollar spot anywhere in the US these days
So..... I watched the video. Everyone else has "?" over theair head now?
Lol I’m gonna cover a lot of the details in upcoming videos. This is more of an overview video
250k profit? oof