Full time jobs shooting docs?

[tarzan]

Getting to one of those phases in my TV news career where I'm sick and tired of TV news -the live shots, the multiple daily slot deadlines, etc.
-So I just thought I'd ask around about this for the umpteenth time: I'd like to find a FULL-TIME videographer or video editor job WITH BENEFITS that's not in commercial TV news where I would shoot documentary footage, like Frontline or Nova, or some of the stuff they shoot on the Discovery Channel or Animal Planet, or maybe even Jack Hanna's "Into the Wild". I've been told before that the vast majority of those guys are freelancers who either own their own equipment, or rent it on a per-gig basis. I don't want to do that, I've been working full time jobs all my adult life. I don't want to work for a local PBS affiliate, either, since those places usually don't have any money.

But every time I go to the employment section of pbs.org, or discovery.com, the only job openings they seem to have are things I'm not qualified for and wouldn't be interested in even if I were qualified, like:
Assistant Director of Content PBS KIDS Interactive
Associate Director Brand Strategy

Director - Digital Product Development
Director Digital Curriculum
Director Interconnection Communications
Director Project Management
Frontend Developer
General Counsel Intern (2) - Summer
Interactive Product Development Intern - 2 (Summer)
Marketing Intern - Education (Summer)
Media Coordinator -2 (Summer Intern)
Senior Manager Online Fundraising
Senior Research Associate
Senior Systems Administrator
Senior Systems Analyst/Developer
Senior Web Designer - PBS KIDS Interactive
Senior Web Production Manager
Vacation Relief Tech- NOC

[Lensmith]

Check places like your big local power company, hospitals, even some city governments and big fire departments have positions. Many shoot short documentaries or training films. However, you generally have more people sticking their fingers into the process so the end product is even less under your control compared to local news

But they are jobs which usually come with benefits.

[AKinDC]

I think you've answered your own question...it's close to impossible to find a job like you're looking for because they pretty much don't exist. The networks you're talking about tend to rely on production companies to produce their shows...there's very little in house.

[zac love]

and to follow up on what AKinDC said...

Most of those production companies probably hire freelancers than have full time staff. Though if you can get good freelance work, you'll be making more than enough to pay for your own benefits.

[MaskedRider83]

Not to distract from the topic...But, it does remind me of this one shooter we used to have at our shop.

Whenever he'd shoot documents, he'd accidentally show trophies and VHS tapes ( used to prop them up) while shooting. We just said.. "Hey.. He can be our full-time document photog!," meaning he wouldn't even have to go out in the field!

[svp]

Tarzan, the jobs you're talking about that DO exist do not get posted when they are open. Getting one of those jobs is like getting the Golden Ticket to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. You basically need to be very talented AND just know the person hiring for that job OR have such a good reputation that they call you wanting you to fill that job. I say that because the jobs you are seeking are almost non-existent.

[MaskedRider83]

Sorry.. I thought you meant full-time shooting documents.. Not documentaries.

Please forgive!

[Robin]

Originally Posted by svp

Tarzan, the jobs you're talking about that DO exist do not get posted when they are open. Getting one of those jobs is like getting the Golden Ticket to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. You basically need to be very talented AND just know the person hiring for that job OR have such a good reputation that they call you wanting you to fill that job. I say that because the jobs you are seeking are almost non-existent.

TBH I don't think they exist.. I work on doc,s and corp .. a lot of the doc,s are Natgeo and discovery.. they are all made by production companies that will shoot a lot of stuff that gets farmed out from Natgeo and Discovery.. and have a history for shooting for those networks.. ALL the crew are freelancers.. even the directors.. only desk jobs are full time.. its cheaper that way for the prod co.. doc makers don't get benefits .. sorry but unless you start your own company the job you want I think doesn't exist..

[tarzan]

Yeah, these were the replies I was afraid I'd get. I've heard this all before, and a few years back, when I was unemployed, I tried to put my name out there as a freelance shooter, knocking on doors of every production company in town, and had ZERO luck getting any kind of gig as a freelance videographer, even though I'd been shooting for 15 yrs. That was several years back. Now I've been shooting news for over two decades and won several Emmys and other awards. The only freelance stuff I've done was for the local cable company on my days off from my TV news job. Now with the recession, even the cable company has been tightening up on their budget and hasn't hired freelancers for two years. I certainly don't want to just quit my full-time job and put myself out as a freelancer -too risky.

Also, a few years back I applied for a video production job with the local power company, and then they told me they had a hiring freeze (the recession, bla bla bla...) A couple years later the same guy contacted me about another opening, but said it didn't include benefits. Uuuggghh!!!!

[Kaiser]

PBS in Fargo has a documentary videographer opening, so I guess these opportunities exist

[Shootblue]

If your tripod bubble broke, you could just use the horizon there.

[newsshooter]

You are in the same boat I am. I've been in news for 16 years but started shooting in high school in and out of the local TV station through college 20 years ago. A dozen Emmy's later I started to hate news 2 years ago and it's been a growing hatred! I'm sick of the live shots for nothing. Our station doesn't tell stories about people. We do the "nuts and bolts" story on events and press conferences. We edit two stories a night. One for 5 and another for 6. There's no emotion in any story. No time to put something nice together so I know how you feel. I bought my own camera and other gear and I've slowly been building a side business. I paid everything off in a year and have a solid savings account. I've also freelanced for Discovery channel and other cable outlets. I have friends who shoot for PBS and it's all freelance production companies. You have to know one of the producers with a desk job or someone that's hooked up. One of my other friends did get a gig at a PBS station as a staff photog. They do documentary shooting style stories every day. He had a hook up though and knew someone on the inside. Some TV stations around the country have Investigative and special projects units. They aren't news but they can get boring too. I was in one for a little over 2 years. It was fun when we shot stories but sat around after sweeps for 2 months. I feel like I need to freelance. My ideas for video are working and I'm getting the jobs. I'm on the edge of the cliff about ready to jump. I'm looking at a new camera (The Sony FS 700) and I going to throw caution to the wind. You can do it too. It is possible. There's lots of freelancers that pull it off. I have a family and two kids. I also need insurance but again it's all possible to do. Good luck!!