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Editorial - Michael Frediani “We have so much time, and so little to do! Strike that; reverse it.” — Willy Wonka Like many of you, I attended CineGear at the Warner Bros. Ranch last month and was blown away at how successful this industry event has become. Moviemaking is alive and well with many of the top vendors in the industry reserving booths in order to showcase their goods and services to those of us who make purchasing or rental decisions. This is a very competitive industry whether you are a vendor or crewmember. Since there is a limited amount of work to go around, putting your best foot forward is one way to shore up your standing in the community. Events such as CineGear also serve to help us, as crewmembers, network with those whom we’ve worked with; currently work with; or hope to work with on future projects. Networking is of vital importance in this industry yet many people disregard it, when in actuality they should embrace it. Living in major markets affords us the opportunity to attend screenings, training sessions, union meetings and other events that keep our presence out there. It’s even better when we have a job so that when we run into someone we’ve lost track of, we are able to consider hiring him or her on a project. I ran into numerous friends that day and it’s a good feeling to know that there are so many of us still loving an industry that we’ve contributed so much to. During a conversation, a friend sort of bemoaned the fact that he has been a camera assistant in the sitcom field for so long that all of his “contacts” in the single camera TV and movie field have probably “forgotten” him. I’ve heard this before and I am somewhat bemused by it. He’s been working steadily for over 5 years now on two sitcoms per week for different studios. This is regarded as one of the best deals in town, given that “ped” shows are currently dominating the landscape—yet he yearns for those single camera shows with hours that are inconsistent at best. I certainly don’t fault him for wanting a change. We thrive on change and never do we experience any two days that are exactly the same. My friend also mentioned that he’s wanted to become an operator for years now but the opportunity has yet to present itself. When I asked if people know that he wants to move up, he said, “Yeah, I think so.” I mentioned that we must let those in a position to move us up know that. “They” may want to keep you where you are because you are so good at your job and they’re comfortable having you there, which make them look good. Some people simply luck into higher positions even before they are ready; others have connived their way into taking the job of someone in a higher classification; and of course there are those who are happily ensconced in a job that they are willing to remain in, even as others around them move up. It can be dicey sometimes because we don’t wish to appear unhappy in our current position, yet we want to contribute more to a production and test ourselves in unfamiliar territory. We need to remember that we are in an industry that is always in a state of flux. So whether we reinvent ourselves, learn new technology and/or reach for the brass ring somewhere else within the industry, that goal can only be accomplished with the help of others who see something in us that results in recognition of a job well done. There is only so much time to accomplish our goals.
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