Tell us a little about yourself and your experience.
I'm Adam Huffman. Editor and Director at Clockwork 9 Studios, and I've been a professional film maker for about 5 years now.
What drove you to choose your career path?
I was naturally interesting in film making and videography as a kid growing up. Always watching the greatest movies and wanted to recreate them I guess is where you could say I began my interest. After that it was simply about creating.
How did you go about getting your job? What kind of education and experience did you need?
To get where I am today being my own boss, I pretty much decided out of high school that I'm going to network until I reached my current state of consistent work. Around 2 years ago I quit my job and haven't looked back since. It started in high school when they offered those classes for Juniors and Seniors and there was no doubt that's what I've always wanted to do. So I stuck with it through College and acquired a lot of good connections along the way.
What do you actually spend the majority of your time doing?
Lately I've been mostly working on the Post-Production end of a lot of projects we shot in early 2016. Focusing on promoting a feature length I just finished, as well as maintaining a good relationship with my current clients.
What misconceptions do people often have about your job?
That it's easy to just turn from a hobby to a career.
What are your average work hours?
It honestly varies. We kind of set our own schedule. So one day you could be on a set from 11am-7pm and some days you can be editing from 9pm-5am.
What personal tips and shortcuts have made your job easier?
Like most companies, I would say direct communication is the best shortcut you could take. No detours or miscommunication is crucial.
What do you do differently from your coworkers or peers in the same profession?
I make sure to be extra meticulous. I consider myself a perfectionist and don't stop working until my peers and I are satisfied.
Do you have any advice for people who need to enlist your services?
Start surrounding yourself with people who do it. Go to school and start making connections and learning the basics. Jump on as many sets and gigs you can get on because experience is the best teacher.
What's the worst part of the job and how do you deal with it?
There's really not much I don't like about film production but if I had to choose one thing, it would have to be miscommunication on post production revisions from a client.This usually happens via email and may or may not push your production back a few steps, but it's nothing an in-person meeting can't solve.
What's the most enjoyable part of the job?
Seeing clients/audience reactions to the product. Hand's down the best part.
What kind of money can one expect to make at your job?
That all lies in how you network and market yourself at your craft. Also the more passion and dedication you show through your work to clients slightly reflects your worth. As long as you’re busy, you can maintain a healthy living.
How do you move up in your field?
As many things in this industry, you must network while working. Get on as many sets and positions where you can help a project succeed. A name in the credits goes a long way and if you made a good impact with the crew, it goes even farther. A good attitude and attention can get you where you want.
What advice would you give to those aspiring to join your profession?
Never settle. If you want to be a director, don't think a bunch of PA gigs is going to hurt your rep. Take the natural steps to get to where you want to be. Then push beyond that.