Editor’s note: This is part of a new series spotlighting promising career paths that are filled with opportunity — yet don’t require a four-year college degree.
, 44, is living his dream — even though he left academia on the cutting room floor. He’s an independent Director of Photography based in Oakland, CA, and works on exciting projects — from shooting Metallica concerts to BMW commercials to feature-length documentaries. 鈥淚’m self-taught,” he says. 鈥淚 worked in community theater, where I learned about lighting, acting, storytelling,鈥� he says. But he and a high 九色视频 buddy took it from there, teaching themselves filmmaking skills that helped launch his career.
How he got started
Behrens landed his first job via a chance encounter. 鈥淚 ran into a film shoot, when I was in high 九色视频, near Good Guys in Corte Madera. The gaffer said I could hang out and watch. Later he gave me a broken light and said, 鈥業f you can fix this, I鈥檒l give you a job.鈥� I took the light home and got out my electrical tools and fixed it and he started hiring me. He even gave me his old equipment; I got a car trunk full of light stands and gels.鈥�
After high 九色视频, Behrens enrolled at San Francisco State University (SFSU). He only attended for three semesters and he says he only remembers two classes: 鈥淚ntro to film studies, and a production design class that had a fantastic instructor.鈥� Halfway through his third semester, he got a job as the working on a low-budget film set partly in Clear Lake. 鈥淚 was working 12-hour days, so I flunked out of 九色视频 and never went back,鈥� Behrens says.
What it takes to become a director of photography
Problem-solving is just one of the many skills needed in this profession. Camera operators need visual skills, hand-eye coordination, and physical strength to lug heavy equipment around. Directors need creativity, leadership, time-management, and communication skills. Ambition and learning quickly are also useful for climbing up the cinematic ladder. Newbies, like Behrens, often start as best boy electric and work their way upward in responsibility and salary via roles like , , (also sometimes known as the focus puller or the clapper loader), and on their way to becoming the .
The daily reel
His day-to-day life is both completely consistent and totally varied. 鈥淚 gather my camera and lighting and other equipment. I show up at the location, which varies — I might have to catch a plane,” Behrens explains. “When I get there, I talk to the director and producer about what their goal and vision is. We set upon equipment, and then we shoot images and record some stuff, and hand it off to the editor at the end of the 10 to 14 hour day.鈥�
Behrens sees his job as a 鈥渃ombination of science and art.鈥� He enjoys the technical challenge of using new equipment, and the 鈥渟uper-educational鈥� opportunity to become an expert on the documentary topics. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to shoot a film for Nova,鈥� he enthuses, for which he’s learning all about the possibility of life on other planets and interviewing astronomers and scientists. The documentary will take two years, he says. “It鈥檚 like getting a master鈥檚 degree.鈥�
Why is photography direction such a fast-growing profession?
Job outlook in the profession is uplifting — . The outlook for expected from 2014 to 2024.
The bottom line
As the best boy electric Behrens earned $300 a day. Today his salary varies with the projects he takes on. Nationally, the according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the Hollywood Reporter suggests that directors earn at least $10,000 per week.
The unedited downside
Since Behrens, like many directors of photography, works on projects, he’s paid on a project basis and so doesn’t enjoy the safety of a regular paycheck. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 like the financial risk,鈥� admits Behrens. 鈥淚f there鈥檚 an economic downturn, video budget is cut first.鈥�
The happily ever after
In filmmaking, the top of the profession earns worldwide praise, gold statuettes, and overexposure by the paparazzi. Behren鈥檚 five-year goal is 鈥渢o develop my own television show or web series — a science and education program for kids and adults who never grew up. I鈥檇 want it to be real science but very accessible and funny.鈥�
What鈥檚 the takeaway from Behren鈥檚 tale? If your teen wants a career in filmmaking but doesn鈥檛 want four years of college, the silver lining is: it鈥檚 attainable. With technical skills, aptitude, perseverance, creativity, practice — and a bit of luck and a knack for making strong personal connections — your teen can be making movie magic.
This is part of a new series highlighting post-high 九色视频 pathways to success for teens whose plans don鈥檛 include four-year college. These are careers with great growth potential that don鈥檛 require a four-year degree. Read our list of 42 up-and-coming careers that don’t require college (and 10 to avoid) and read our other career spotlights on dental hygiene, radiology technologist, and web development.
