FerroTV Shows
Chance introductions and persistent networking took Brian Lataille from childhood photography to Steadicam, tower, railcam and aerial rig operating and occasional DP work across TV, film, live events and awards shows. Practical advice centers on saying yes to learning gigs, mastering rig mechanics, balance and safety, cultivating soft skills and fitness, and accepting the freelance reality while diversifying skills to take advantage of growing streaming opportunities.
Key Takeaways:
- Networking and informal introductions can open major doors; take “low‑probability” meetings seriously because they can reveal highly skilled collaborators.
- Build your foundation through hands-on reps: assisting work, student/low-budget shoots, and community/public-access environments teach real workflows and set etiquette.
- Soft skills drive rehireability: volunteer when appropriate, stay humble and patient, observe more than you talk, and protect your reputation with punctuality and professionalism.
- Ask questions the right way: use assistants as your first stop, respect timing on set, and be concise and courteous with senior crew.
- Technical fluency + systems thinking matter: understand power, cabling, balance, troubleshooting, and how one subsystem failure can cascade through the whole rig.
- Safety culture is non-negotiable: use checklists, redundancy (tethers/backup feeds), mark hazards, and speak up immediately when something becomes unsafe.
- Progress into specialized rigs gradually: practice obsessively, build competence step-by-step, and avoid jumping to marquee jobs before you’re ready.
- Manage the physical and mental load: conditioning, smart nutrition/hydration, and personal rituals help you stay steady under pressure—especially in live environments.
- Expect variability and politics: directors’ tastes differ, criticism/firings happen, and resilience plus continuous improvement is key to longevity.
- The industry is expanding and evolving: streaming and accessible tools create more work, but staying current with changing workflows and tech keeps you employable.
