Assignment 1: Professional Interview.
State: Oregon
Interviewed: Rocky Garratto: DP, Operator, Editor, Grip, Location Scout, First AC, Still Photographer
By: Bobby Sutton

For my interview I contacted Rocky Garratto, who was kind enough to accept my interview request and gave me more information about the business then I could process. I was constantly trying to write down notes and reminders about what he had to say about working in the industry. Below I will answer the 4 questions we were given to ask, and then follow up with the rest of the great advice and insights I received.

1. Can you briefly describe your job(s) for me?
Depending on which size market you're working in it can be to your benefit to be a jack of all trades or a specialist. According to Rocky, in smaller markets, it is better for you to have multiple skills, be versatile and be able to do many jobs. In larger markets this may be looked down upon as they tend to favor specialist who do one job extremely well over someone who can do many jobs adequately.
Rocky picked up his many job skills as he worked in the industry. Working as a grip or other jobs onset most people work 12+ hour days for a feature film, 10 hour days for commercials.
Jobs behind the scenes are more flexible hour wise but still require dedication and lots of time to complete. Editing is one of such jobs, where you are able to work on your own schedule but you have to do whatever it takes to make deadline.
Rocky explained rates to me as you have your usually day rate, what you are paid for a full days worth of work, then you have your half day rate. Anything under 6 hours usually equals a half day. When you work for a half day, you may be paid your half day rate plus some extra depending on the budget or hours worked. Many times someone will contact you for a job and offer you a rate under your usual rate and it is up to you to accept it or turn away the work.

2.How did you get started in the business?
I was amazed when Rocky told me that he didn't go to school to get into the biz, instead he went to someone who worked in the biz and offered to work for him for free, fixing equipment or doing whatever needed to be done around the shop. Then as time went on Rocky was hired to work on sets or on location, learning new aspects of the job as he went on, even picking up and learning how to edit on his own.
When I asked him how did he find about new jobs to continue his work he informed me that word of mouth is a powerful tool in the industry. If you do a good job, people will remember that and will spread your name. He also stressed that Work makes Work. Meaning that the more work you accept and complete the more work will come your way, because people will see your work, and people you work for will know they can count on you to do a good job so they will be more likely to work with you again.

3.How do you tell someone over you, you can't accomplish your job?
I dreaded asking this question personally because I felt like not finishing a job is never an option. Still I asked it and had my beliefs confirmed by Rocky who said that, he has never missed a deadline, instead he does whatever it takes to get the job done on time, even if that meant he had to work at an editing desk for 24 hours.

4. Do you have any advice for a media student starting out?
Rocky's advice to me was to find someone working in the industry and go to work for them. Work for free if you have to. Watch and learn how professionals do their jobs, and work hard. Find internships, and continue to work with them. Get your name out there, and start working.
It also takes a special kind of person to work in this industry. You have to work bizarre hours, you won't work 9-5, M-F. You don't know when the next pay check will be coming in and you have to be able to work long hours.
You have to know that this what you want to do and you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to make it.
You won't always get your usual asking day rate, so get used to working for less than you want.

Aside from these four question I learned a lot from my interview with Rocky.
One thing I found interesting was the position of still photographer on a film set. A still photographer goes around the set, taking pictures of the cast and crew as they work. These pictures will be used to promote the film in magazines and other publications when the producers want to build a buzz for the film.
You could also be the behind the scenes videographer who documents the behind the scenes action for extras. Working these jobs you are allowed to control every aspect of what you do form , scenes of video, shot composition, scripting and audio. Also you don't have to work all day or everyday the film is being shot, only as long as you need to document the behind the scenes accurately.

I had good time talking with Rocky and was shocked when I saw we had been on the phone for 30 minutes when it felt like we had only been talking for 5. He gave me a lot to think about and gave me a greater understand of the industry I hope to work in once I graduate.