I just responded to a post at Joe McNally's blog and thought I should post it here.As a 40 year old photographer, humourist and filmmaker trying to reinvent myself for a multimedia future and having been a stay-at-home-dad for the last several years, I'm in the midst of an identity adventure as I endeavour to return to professional activities.
It's a tough time right now. Having only recently returned to Europe after years Stateside I cannot seem to land a regular job to pave the way to returning to freelancing so I've decided to just DO IT. With old, decrepit gear and no finance I am utterly determined to figure out a way to get a new system and make exciting new work in stills and hd video. I have a deadline of mid December to have a new website in place in which I will showcase short form documentaries from life in south London. I hope eventually to harness this material into a living, breathing multimedia site where people will spend some time and contribute with new ideas for future projects and collaboration. I hope to gather some sponsorship along the way too and perhaps some commissions.
I want to stay here in south London as there are so many stories waiting to be told. There is no need for me to travel nor do I desire to at this stage. I simply want to make interesting photography and films and come home to my wife and kids every evening. I will find a way to make this happen and I will find a way to again make a living doing so on my terms.
Damn it, with the technology and delivery systems available to us these days, there is no reason why I shouldn't be able to do so.
Photography comes quite easy to me. I expect filmmaking will too but I have always been dreadful at the other aspects of professionalism. Business management is a big scary thing that haunts me and I have never been good at cold calling to try and excite support for ideas and projects or compete for assignments. My agency experiences have been dreadful and I take my share of responsibility for that. But I am trying to change this. I have just ordered
John Harrington's new book in an effort to conquer my demons and learn how to manage and finance my talents properly as I cannot afford to have someone else do this for me. Nor can I afford to fail. Failure is no longer an option. I have two sons who are showing creative potential and I need to show them that a person can support themselves and a family doing what they love to do. This is my motivation now.
The simple fact is that I am not equipped to do anything else and so this must work. It will work.
Mid December begins my filmic future. I hope you'll join me from time to time.
I'll chart my progress right here.
photo@paultreacy.comPortfolio:
paultreacy.com
