Do Documentary Filmmakers Make Money?

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Can you actually make money as a documentary filmmaker, or does it have to stay just a hobby? The (very) short answer is yes, and in this video I’ll break down exactly how I’ve managed to support myself full time from documentary media for over ten years - and hopefully give you some ideas for your own career.
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CHAPTERS
0:00 - Intro
1:21 - Golden Era of Documentaries
3:43 - Working on other people's shows on a contract
7:02 - Branded Content
9:17 - Passion Projects
11:24 - Conclusion
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Опубликовано:

3 авг 2024

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Комментарии : 118

@the_black_douglas9041 2 года назад

I’ve been a video editor in commercial broadcast tv for 32 years and desperate to follow this path. My kids are grown up and I’m teaching myself to shoot. Thanks for the inspo Luc. I love your humility and common sense. ☺️🙏🏻

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

Thanks for that Doug! Glad you're liking the videos. With an editing background I think you'll be way ahead of the curve in terms of story understanding right out of the gate. Good luck!

@FilmshooterOH 7 месяцев назад

I'm a life long filmmaker, working heavily in narrative for a couple of decades but for the past decade have focused more on documentaries. Also, I teach filmmaking part-time at a local colllege which provides a basic income and health insurance. One thing, I have done to get funded is look at grants. It's not tons of money but it is your foundation. I've also done some crowdfunding but that is hit and miss. I have shared some of your videos in my class so thanks for them.

@tnfilmmaker Год назад

This is fantastic Luc. I've worked in production for 25 years and in that time I've made five feature length docs. I would have to agree that those five docs only account for 5% of my income. Film schools should be requiring their students to watch your RU-vid videos. Great work! Would love to meet up and hear more about your work!

@LucForsyth Год назад

Glad your experience tracks, though also not glad at the same time!

@gabriel-mckee 6 месяцев назад

Great video, Luc, thanks for sharing!

@terangikaiwhiriakemara 2 года назад

Just watched about 10 of your vids, and I have to say, I have learned the most about documentary film making from you in the past few days, than the past 2 years of Youtubing. And the best part is, my B&H cart only has about $50 loaded in it lol

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

Haha, stay strong! And glad you’re finding stuff you like here, lots more to come!

@190Michael190 2 года назад

keep up the good work Luc. It's very useful and inspiring to hear your knowledge.

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

Thanks Michael, very nice to hesr

@dafonz00 Год назад

Thanks for keep it real! Love your channel by the way!

@LucForsyth Год назад

Thanks man!

@Outlawes 2 года назад

Nice, incredibly useful video! Thanks so much! We're really early in our documentary filmmaking career... and a long way off making money this way. But so glad we're growing our portfolio and slowly getting noticed!

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

That's where everyone starts. Keep putting in consistent effort and it can absolutely work for anyone.

@YoshTheGreat 4 месяца назад

Thank you Kindly Luc - Youre awesome. This was honest, and helped me shape how I want to proceed. I'm still choosing the Documentary Route, for sure.

@LucForsyth 4 месяца назад

Glad it was helpful! The documentary route it's the best one for sure.

@Gustaiiv 10 месяцев назад

I really like this video and your eloquence. Thank you. I'm a documentary filmmaker who's also trying to get a steady income doing what I love, and that seems to be a challenge with the trade. I just subscribed to your channel.

@danielcharlesfilms2897 10 месяцев назад

Invaluable content right here bro.

@user-tj4dn5mk6n 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for keeping it the way it is .

@MlodzikovaVideoCreation 8 месяцев назад

Thank you Luc for sharing your experience - I've been trying to follow this path for many years but still having to learn so much especially technical skills with cameras and post production - being a one (wo)man show is sometimes frustrating but I keep looking for a golden mean.

@RavinderSingh-ft5dw 3 месяца назад

Superb analysis dear

@EmileJrManigat Год назад

Thank you, this is third video of yours I am watching today. I would like to thank you. I have shared the second one (Find Freedom to Create) with my cousins. I am an average photographer, has video editing skills but a skilled graphic designer. At 50, I am going to buy the FX30 and start learning by doing and I am really grateful for the message in your video.

@mygconsultingyou Год назад

Thank you for the video and sample pay rates. It’s helpful to understand if my ideal rates are in the right ballpark.

@seth_director Год назад

This was exactly what I was thinking and knowing the difference between docs and branded content helps redirect my path in job proposals. Big fan.

@LucForsyth Год назад

Great to hear, glad it helped!

@popartmediaPL 2 года назад

Fantastic video Luc - so refreshing and full of valueable information :-) Cheers!

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

Awesome, thanks!

@aleksanderashbourne4958 2 года назад

I'm happy this fell across my feed! Easy to listen to channel with REALLY meaty content. Imagine Peter mckinnon with less of a 6k foot view. Feels more like direct, hands-on, teaching but with a pace that feels more general or all encompassing. Yas

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

Great to hear, appreciate that.

@stevenyates4770 2 года назад

Very helpful information. Thanks Luc !

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

You’re very welcome, glad it helped

@lexaplu Год назад

Hi! I’m an aspiring DP from Russia seeking my way into a documentary career. Thank you so much for your channel and advice! There’re too little people around me to ask questions, so I’m figuring this out on my own. Your story really inspired me and helped to broadened my perspective!

@LucForsyth Год назад

Hey Alex! Great to hear you're getting some ideas here, I hope I can keep that going so we can all grow together.

@FrederickFNNoronha Год назад

Very helpful, thanks!

@Bo_Hazem 2 года назад

Impressive! I try to be more versatile with my camera gear going forward, tapping in many fields that pay a lot like ads, weddings, etc. Nature documentaries and documentaries in general are my passion, but won't stick to one area and leave money on the table. Next gonna learn how to mix up with 3D and learn how to do that in Blender/Unreal Engine. Great insight you showed there. 👏

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

Love nature docs! More skills will always come in handy, keep learning!

@titopie 2 года назад

Great video with lots of excellent and pragmatic advise.

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

Thanks!

@seanopenshaw 2 года назад

Great video! I've found you can make decent money creating branded content (doc style) for smaller mom/pop businesses and not just big brands. It's not uncommon to make $5K doing a couple interviews and b-roll but you have to bring it together in the edit around a story that compels the audience to do something. This comes down to what you've mentioned before, and that's having a doc script and being able to sell them on the story of their business. I love your channel and I'm so glad you ended up in my feed!

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

Yes! 💯

@DovetailKitchens 9 месяцев назад

I am looking to supplement my pension with documentary film making (a hobby that I am passionate about) this video is a really well put together reality check…. Very helpful. Thank you.

@CreativeTies_ 2 года назад

Thanks for being so open Luc, it's interesting to see the differences/parallels to narrative production. I'd be curious to know if you do anything like licensing stock footage/photos to supplement your income

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

I've never actually done it properly. I think it could be a great option, I just don't have the time!

@lowjack100 8 месяцев назад

Use as a stepping stone

@baderalomar1442 2 года назад

Soo glad I stumbled upon this video😍💯

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

and I'm so glad you're here too!

@point_assist Год назад

Thank you. A very informative video. Cheers.

@LucForsyth Год назад

No worries, glad is was helpful.

@SantishaDeonarinePhotography Месяц назад

Great content.

@LucForsyth Месяц назад

Thank you!

@CptCurk 9 месяцев назад

okay... So I'm French, and I guess I'm lucky to get our system to be able to live from my documentaries. thank you for this transparency, that's a great video, hard to find. Best wishes !

@14.sikaaa 2 месяца назад

16 and trying to start 🙏🏿

@scottievee7467 2 года назад

Hot damn. THIS is useful insight. I've been in the creative field for 35 years as an AD or CD. I only got into video since the Vid19. Just another way of telling stories or selling a product. I'm lucky enough to have a design business to pay the bills and play with cameras on down time (with intent). I love stories. Beginning middle end. Good stuff sir.

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

Having a separate source of income is huge. Plus with your AC background you should be way ahead of the curve. Good luck and glad to have you here!

@scottievee7467 2 года назад

@@LucForsyth AD = Art Director. I was and am in the print digital end making a transition. Best regards. looking forward to more of you work here.

@AnthonyJoh 2 года назад

Can you make a video on how to pitch to companies? Like the telecom company you mentioned. How do you find the right people in the company and what do you pitch to them?

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

great idea. I'll add it to the list, but bear with me I'm pretty backlogged

@muturikanini9176 Год назад

Watching from Nairobi, Kenya. well done...I just noticed some footage done in Kenya.

@enowdanielkeffie 4 дня назад

Wish you emphasize more on how and to whom you sale your documentary to.

@JohnLuna 2 года назад

Thanks again for the transparency. these days I'm really considering working as a DP on salary 😕

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

When it’s good it’s good! The slumps can feel endless, but it always comes back

@jamyhang4644 2 года назад

You've just earned a new Subscriber. Greeting from Cambodia !!

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

Susadei bong! I used to live in Phnom Penh for 4 years if you didn’t know, really great memories of Cambodia!

@jamyhang4644 2 года назад

@@LucForsyth I just found your channel today and I was surprised when I saw your footage of bong Tharoth in it. I ended up watching most of your videos, Im really into documentary filmmaking so most of your videos correlate with my interest 😍

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

Glad to hear it…what a small world!

@jamyhang4644 2 года назад

@@LucForsyth I would love to connect with you !!

@Travelleramit 8 месяцев назад

Gr8 content Keep up the good work Namaste from India 🇮🇳

@LucForsyth 8 месяцев назад

Thanks friend! Greetings from 🇨🇦

@caraxcarax 2 года назад

I want a separate video of what those jobs are!

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

Anything the fans want Carlos!

@ahmedsalafap5898 2 года назад

You are very stick to your points. Thank you for your 'no nonsense' policy .

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

You’re welcome!

@donowtube 2 года назад

Very grounded answer man. My wife and I are quitting our jobs at the end of May to travel this summer. I'm thinking I want to document the whole thing but I'm not sure where to start. How do you come up with a compelling or interesting story?

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

Nice...sounds like a great plan. I'd say you'll need to identify who the main "characters" are and what they want. Good stories usually involved people who are searching for something and either do or don't get what they want. Identify that and you'll have a good starting point.

@CoryResilient 8 месяцев назад

Can you make a video about where to submit your first documentary or how to get it out there?

@ibrahimvisuals6745 Год назад

Great Content

@LucForsyth Год назад

thanks!

@abdovantom8173 2 года назад

this guy is a gold mine of information

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

That’s the aim!

@abdovantom8173 2 года назад

@@LucForsyth thank you for sharing this 🙏🏻

@BenEncounters Год назад

I am binge-watching your channel and I have a hard time to find a type of job in the documentary industry that would fit well the skills I developed with my passion, which are basically documentary vlogs about how people live in different countries. Maybe in my case, the documentary industry is not the best fit? Maybe I'd rather make videos for some organizations in need of branded content that is more on the level of RU-vid videos?

@gillian191 2 года назад

Kewl 🤯

@korundum4992 2 года назад

it happens that i am just trying to set up an environment for filming when i randomly found your channel. and i had this question for a long time if it's possible to make documentary films and sell them to NG. i am interested in filming in the wild. (i am the 705th subscriber ...)

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

Anything is possible! Welcome!

@judepago8578 Год назад

The information was good but I was looking for risidual returns from documentary films.

@Salonmedianews Год назад

Yeah I totally agree from my own experiences that documentary filmmakers can make a living do it, but don't kid yourself it not what you may think

@LucForsyth Год назад

I guess it depends what you think it is! It's more or less what I signed up for...

@lynako2546 3 месяца назад

Hi! I am 26 years old and over the past few years I found my interest and passion for watching documentaries (especially youtube channels like VICE), traveling and learning about culture and history. I also solo traveled in Southeast Asia and really loved the experience. Not liking my 9-5 job, I was wondering if I could work in documentary production, as it seems a much more self-enriching experience in line with my personal interests, but I'm not sure if liking to watch documentaries would mean that i'd like to work in it. I was also thinking if it'd be an option to create a youtube channel and post my own videos. Without any experience or connections and not knowing how to break into the field, I am a bit directionless now. Do you have any advice or recommendation to share? thank you!

@johnclay7644 Год назад

informative 12mins.

@timdanyo898 Год назад

What's your day rate? Let's say it's camera, audio, a with mobile lighting set up. Thanks! (I'm looking to see if I may be shooting too low or high)

@snead1 7 месяцев назад

Curious how and why that telecom company bought your personal film. Asking because i think it would be xool for tou to explain what should be done with personal work other than just putting it on Vimeo or RU-vid.

@francoisellis9653 2 года назад

One thing I’m curious about is how you would go about contacting production agencies to hopefully get to work for them.

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

I’m making a video soon about networking, but in general sending a lot of emails, going to events and festivals, and trying to get as many meetings as you can

@lynako2546 3 месяца назад

would it be more profitable if i chose to make my own documentaries and upload them on youtube?

@TopshelfJunior 2 года назад

Of course they do !!! Huge money in docs right now, especially with music artists... Just ask Coodie + Chike who got $30M from Netflix for the Kanye doc.. Right now is a GREAT time to be a documentary film maker or shooter.

@伍六七 25 дней назад

I am a female documentary director for 15 years back in China and recently wanna to find more opportunities overseas. But it seems a little bit difficult to step into the circle at the begining consitdering there is no connection at all. Do you have any advice about the situation like this?

@shiva.chennai Год назад

Documentary filming is my passion. But it requires equipment to film the documentary. Moreover I am not good at English. My mother tongue is Tamil. If I get even $100 a day I can manage in India. Language is the main barrier for me. If I take documentary in mother tongue Tamil, there is no much audience. Moreover our people love music and movies. They don't show interest in documentary. What is your suggestions?

@tarekalkhattab 2 года назад

Hey could you explain how come the client accepted to pay you 4000$ a day ? (or other high salary per day like maybe 1500). I understand that in creative industries the salary isn't tied to time but rather value, but 4000$ a day ? How do you justy that to the client ? Thankssss

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

That job was set by the client, so I just said yes! I started my day rate at $250, then increased it slowly over time. It took 10 years to get it to where it is now!

@phototommyfive 2 года назад

@LucForsyth I am curious. How do you approach a company, like say Instagram or Apple, to sell branded content. It seems that the fire wall and the gatekeepers are pretty stiff.

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

Generally at that level they have to come to you. The best way to get your name in the mix is either to publish work somewhere high profile (I was connected to my biggest client because of some New York Times photo work I did), or to make contacts in high end ad agencies that specialize in branded content

@phototommyfive 2 года назад

@@LucForsyth Thanks for the reply. I've been doing small jobs here and there for modeling agencies. Nothing really awesome to hang my hat on, though. I just finished my first short documentary, so I'm definitely not at the level where major brands would reach out. But, hey, gotta start somewhere, right? Anyway, great content on your RU-vid Channel. I just discovered it a couple of days ago. You've got really solid stuff.

@bash_content Год назад

Why don’t consider making money of RU-vid? Monetisation + commercial integrations + donations I know it doesn’t come easy, but isn’t it an option?

@LucForsyth Год назад

I do!

@bash_content Год назад

@@LucForsyth good❤️

@WhySteve 2 года назад

The most I ever made a day was R2000.00 and that's about $120 a day. South Africa sucks, especially because the gear costs the same if not more than in the US because of our ridiculous tax rates.

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

Yeah, markets are unfair for sure. I’d say trying to position yourself as crew for international shoots would be a good way to tap into higher prices. Lots of emailing and networking, but could be worth it. Canada also has much worse rates than US productions, so I try to work with American crews as much as possible. British also pay pretty well!

@WhySteve 2 года назад

I would love to be able to get to that point. Right now I'm just getting small jobs via word of mouth from little wedding shoots or small business interviews, etc. I have no idea how to tap into an international market and work amongst a crew doing jobs internationally. I WOULD LOVE TO THOUGH!

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

It takes years, I wouldn’t stress if it hasn’t happened soon. I had 6 years of professional photojournalism and 2 years of full time video before I got my first big international video shoot…it’s all in the long game!

@WhySteve 2 года назад

Well I can't wait to get there! Thanks for the advice :)

@shirtshooter Год назад

how do you only have 7k

@LucForsyth Год назад

slowly but surely!

@montyfromto6415 7 месяцев назад

those covid vids are gonna boom in due time...

@somewheredifferent 2 месяца назад

We know it's the best job in the world, and for sure not the best paid! Great to see someone who shoots for real talking to pro's and not just the more click baity amatures who want to know about gear. I was freelance editorial photographer for 20 years in London, billing £10,000 a month paying the bills year in year out. Went off to do something completely different and now getting back into it. Editorial photography is dead in terms of getting paid in my opinion from what I can see. No more mags and the 'anyone' can do it, or is seen to be able to, being the two main reasons. To tell a story in 30 mins through video though still takes real skill and I am assuming, as you are showing, can still get paid real money for shooting it. Setting up a new youtube channel that will be my portafolio. I will perfect my 30 min doc format and then go to Corp Communication Depts and say " You see what I did on the xyz story here, I can shoot the same format for you offering in...." . See personal work as " becoming a pro gym" the pro six pack takes time to develop. Good hard working talent always gets work. It's all completely changed since the 80's and 90's and I am going with it, but so much will still be the same I am sure. People hire people they like and who shoot in a way that fits exactly with what they have in mind. A video on how you 'reach out' as you North Americans say to the companies that hire you would be interesting for people starting out maybe. Great work, keep going :)

@angelovq 2 года назад

nice job. let's get you to 1k subscribers

@LucForsyth 2 года назад

I like this mission!

@angelovq 2 года назад

@@LucForsyth Luc, have you thought of doing subscription based ad-on plans to your RU-vid channel? You seen really good at explaining and breaking things down for us novice. Some consulting and/subscription model to help those of us just getting started you may get some additional reason for folks to subscribe/join and follow you on this RU-vid journey. Just a thought :)))