Esther Robinson, a filmmaker, entrepreneur and former foundation program officer, gave an advising session for the 2010 Reach Film Fellows at Cinereach. She shared some advice related to filmmaking and financial concerns.

This video (shot by Miranda Rhyne and edited by Stephan Greil and Nicole Woo) is the second of three.

Here are some key points from ”Filmmakers and Second Jobs”:

It is common for people working within the film industry, even those who are considered successful filmmakers, to have multiple jobs, within or outside of the film industry. Filmmaking itself, in most cases, does not provide enough income. The expectation that it does is unrealistic.

These alternate jobs can be film-related (like teaching film), but filmmakers may also find they need to do something completely unrelated to the film industry to generate income (e.g. becoming a paralegal) without burning out.

Non-industry jobs may pay better, and are more likely to offer benefits and more flexible schedules.

When you take a job in the industry, Esther advises being very clear with yourself regarding what you are gaining from it in terms of skills or opportunities that will be beneficial for your goals as a filmmaker. For example, working for a film festival might not provide the highest pay or the most flexible hours, but it is a great opportunity for a filmmaker to understanding a key aspect of the filmmaking world and form relationships.

The primary takeaway from the session is that Esther recommends recognizing skills and talents you have that can be sources of income, and finding ways to exploit those without losing your inspiration to continue to do your film work.