Chase the Happiness: Meaningful Freelancing - Filmmaker Zoe East

Zoe East has never had a proper job. A work experience placement at a big TV channel that felt old-fashioned and sexist put her off the traditional route before she'd even graduated, so she went freelance instead and never really looked back. That was over ten years ago.She started with whatever work came along. The niche found her gradually: charities doing meaningful work, heritage and culture projects, things that will matter just as much when someone watches them in ten years' time.This episode of the Being Freelance podcast with Steve Folland covers:Getting started by networking and taking whatever came alongWinning six months of free studio space in a creative co-working community, and why staying there for ten years shaped the career around itBuilding a niche in charity and heritage filmmaking - and why charity budgets are often better than people assumePutting "win an award" on a vision board in January, and winning by AprilThe adventure filmmaking strand: films about running adventures across Iceland, Tajikistan and Patagonia, and getting into Kendal Mountain Festival and the London Mountain Film FestivalWhy cold outreach has never worked for her, but word of mouth has - and how sharing only the work she wants more of has quietly shaped her client listDropping Instagram and going all-in on LinkedIn as the one social platform where her clients actually areMonthly goal-setting sessions with a freelancer friend: yearly goals, monthly focus, and the accountability that comes from having to report backThe rate spreadsheet that makes quoting consistent and takes the stress out of pricing decisionsBuying almost everything secondhand, having all her kit stolen as her biggest low point, and using a post-COVID grant to buy her first ever brand new cameraMoving into the She Who Dares Wins studio with Michelle, and the documentary series and production company they're building together ---EPISODE SPONSORED BY ECAMMFor years people have asked how Being Freelance live shows look so good. Well, this is the secret.Ecamm is a video studio for your Mac. Give anything you do with video, a pro look in real time.Presentations, screen shares, webinars, video calls, demos. Plus livestream/record in landscape & vertical at the same time, perfectly designed for both formats.Try Ecamm for free. Use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on your first payment.JOIN THE COMMUNITYYou're not alone being freelance. Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).beingfreelance.com/community NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!The Being Freelance course is made for you!Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership. FREELANCER MERCHGet Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shopLike VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelanceYouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFollandBeing Freelance is hosted and created by freelance podcast editor Steve Folland.