Forever Freelancer | Nika Burnett
Film writer, director, editor, actor, commercial producer, and theatre company founder. Los Angeles. Freelance since 19.
There's always a moment, a meeting, a Monday, a very specific email, that made you think "I can't keep doing this." What was yours?
About twice a week minimum. Either the cottage cheese got more expensive at the grocery store, or I see a bad movie funded for the money it would cost me to make ten movies, or I audition for a giant TV show with unreadably bad dialogue, or I have to take a Zoom meeting for one job outside of the room for another, or an incredibly thoughtful rejection — like the one I got last week: "I just don't have a good enough imagination to publish this." It's Sisyphean. But I like a dare.
Going into freelancing, what did you think the hardest part would be, and what's the hardest part actually?
I didn't really think about how hard it would be. I guess I would've thought the hardest part was getting work. For me specifically, the hardest part is being understood and trusted by the market — because I do so many different things, it's hard to convince people to take a risk on my voice.
What's the skill you've had to develop that has absolutely nothing to do with what you actually do, but makes or breaks everything?
Being a freelancer is being the CEO of your own empire. You have to be good at your own admin, networking and promoting, saying no to things that are a misplacement of your time. And the more tech skills you acquire, the more hireable you are. I taught myself InDesign very young and I've been able to make random money during hard times by making decks for other people.
If you had to pick up to three GIFs to describe the energy of a memorable client or project, what are we watching?
This one is more about me (Leo) —
Me listening to agency producers as we prep commercials about how they think days should be scheduled —
Me just like… all the time. (One of the greatest movies ever made. I will fight to defend that.)
What's a phrase that instantly tells you a project is about to become complicated?
"We are still figuring out how many deliverables." (It will be upwards of 60 if they say this.)
What's the most freelancer sentence you've ever typed?
Tell us the lowest rate you ever accepted. The actual figure. No rounding up for dignity.
Zero dollars. So much work for zero dollars. No dignity. I tell myself it's because I like the things I do and I like the people I do them for. And I mostly mean that. I continue this path because I value my freedom more than money or status. There is no dollar amount you could pay me to take away my freedom.
What have you gained that would've been difficult to find anywhere else?
I believe the most important things a freelancer should have are passion and endurance. I know I have those things because the gods have tested me every day and I have passed. I have gained resilience and I am so grateful.
Finish the sentence: "Forever Freelancer means…"
"Forever free, baby."