Monica Davidson is in an unusual position – she has never had a ‘proper’ job. Apart from a brief stint
waitressing as a teenager, all her work has been as a creative freelance. Monica has never received a
group certificate, had a paid sick day or been provided with superannuation. Here's some more info
about the woman who invented Freelance Success.
waitressing as a teenager, all her work has been as a creative freelance. Monica has never received a
group certificate, had a paid sick day or been provided with superannuation. Here's some more info
about the woman who invented Freelance Success.
Monica has been a freelance creative since her very first 'job' at the age of sixteen. She was a student writer for the “Classroom”
supplement of the Newcastle Herald, volunteered in a local theatre two nights a week (she was drastically under-aged, but made
a great G&T), and printed t-shirts for her favourite band. She learned early on that the more things a creative freelancer can do,
the better off she'll be financially!
Monica finished high school in 1988 and moved to Sydney to start her degree. She had a succession of film and journalism jobs
(paid and unpaid) while studying, as well as supplementing her income with some dodgy waitressing gigs. Receiving cash in a
envelope every Saturday night was the closest that Monica would ever get to a 'real' job.
supplement of the Newcastle Herald, volunteered in a local theatre two nights a week (she was drastically under-aged, but made
a great G&T), and printed t-shirts for her favourite band. She learned early on that the more things a creative freelancer can do,
the better off she'll be financially!
Monica finished high school in 1988 and moved to Sydney to start her degree. She had a succession of film and journalism jobs
(paid and unpaid) while studying, as well as supplementing her income with some dodgy waitressing gigs. Receiving cash in a
envelope every Saturday night was the closest that Monica would ever get to a 'real' job.
In 1994 Monica started Twoshotmedia, a production company that specialises in creating unique and beautiful productions for a range of clients. Although initially
focused on corporate clients, since 2000 Twoshotmedia has worked almost exclusively in the areas of community, non-profit and government-sponsored film and
video work. For example, in 2007 Monica and the Twoshot team completed a series of ten short films about low-level corruption for the NSW Independent Commission
Against Corruption (ICAC). The team also created a 30 minute documentary entitled Building Foundations, about preschoolers with autism, which was financed by the
NSW Department of Health and will be distributed free through doctor's surgeries and autism centres in 2008.
focused on corporate clients, since 2000 Twoshotmedia has worked almost exclusively in the areas of community, non-profit and government-sponsored film and
video work. For example, in 2007 Monica and the Twoshot team completed a series of ten short films about low-level corruption for the NSW Independent Commission
Against Corruption (ICAC). The team also created a 30 minute documentary entitled Building Foundations, about preschoolers with autism, which was financed by the
NSW Department of Health and will be distributed free through doctor's surgeries and autism centres in 2008.
Alongside her creative work, Monica has also been a trainer for 14 years. In addition to creating and devising Freelance Success she has written and led a number of
different courses, primarily in film and writing. This includes the celebrated film production course Shooting A Short, once the most 'cost-effective' (i.e cheap) practical
film course in Sydney. She has also taught filmmaking and writing to a number of disaffected groups, including people with mental illness, young offenders and the
long-term unemployed. In 2002 Monica was extremely chuffed to receive the Stephen Lardner Award for Excellence in Adult Education by Sydney Community College.
different courses, primarily in film and writing. This includes the celebrated film production course Shooting A Short, once the most 'cost-effective' (i.e cheap) practical
film course in Sydney. She has also taught filmmaking and writing to a number of disaffected groups, including people with mental illness, young offenders and the
long-term unemployed. In 2002 Monica was extremely chuffed to receive the Stephen Lardner Award for Excellence in Adult Education by Sydney Community College.
| Click the logo for more info about Girlhouse Films |
| Click the logo for more info about Twoshotmedia |
Photograph (c) Anthea Williamson 2007
| Read Monica's blog about the life of creative freelancing on ArtsBlogs! |
All text, images and information is © 1994 - 2008
Freelance Success is another business adventure from...
Freelance Success is another business adventure from...
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Monica is still the head honcho of Twoshotmedia, but after a decade focusing on other people's ideas she decided to go back to making occasional films of her own
devising. Monica started Girlhouse Films, the creative division of Twoshotmedia, in 2005. The first production of Girlhouse Films was a documentary entitled Lesbians
on the Loose, a history of LOTL magazine. It made its premiere screening at the Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in March 2007 and has since been invited to
screen at both Madrid and Torino Gay and Lesbian Film Festivals. Girlhouse is currently in development of a feature-length documentary in production called Handbag.
devising. Monica started Girlhouse Films, the creative division of Twoshotmedia, in 2005. The first production of Girlhouse Films was a documentary entitled Lesbians
on the Loose, a history of LOTL magazine. It made its premiere screening at the Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in March 2007 and has since been invited to
screen at both Madrid and Torino Gay and Lesbian Film Festivals. Girlhouse is currently in development of a feature-length documentary in production called Handbag.
| Read about Monica's business on the NineMSN Small Business website |
| Read an interview with Monica in the Sydney morning Herald's Radar section |
| Hear Monica on FBi Radio's Out of the Box program. |
| Hear Monica's two-cents worth about Work Choices on Radio National's Perspectives |
| Read an article with Monica in the Wentworth Courier, Sydney. |
Monica graduated with a Bachelor of Arts/Communications (majoring in Film Production) in 1991. Despite making a few well-received short films as a student, she was
naively surprised to find that she was effectively unemployable in the 'normal' 9 to 5 world. She moped for a while, then started working any film and tv jobs she could
find, often as a volunteer, in practically every role available - except catering, which is probably for the best.
naively surprised to find that she was effectively unemployable in the 'normal' 9 to 5 world. She moped for a while, then started working any film and tv jobs she could
find, often as a volunteer, in practically every role available - except catering, which is probably for the best.
Monica's big break came after a drunken conversation at a dinner party in 1992. After spouting forth on the state of the Australian film industry, Monica caught the
attention of a producer who was looking for someone young and plucky to work on a TV movie. After a few weeks as 1st AD on the film, Monica was promoted to the role
of director. The production was successful, but Monica's learning curve was just about to begin. Shortly after post-production was complete, Monica entered a
complicated legal situation with the producer, who had not paid her what she was promised. This unexpected situation made Monica realise that directors didn't hold
as much power as she'd thought - that producers owned the purse strings. She then decided to become a producer herself.
attention of a producer who was looking for someone young and plucky to work on a TV movie. After a few weeks as 1st AD on the film, Monica was promoted to the role
of director. The production was successful, but Monica's learning curve was just about to begin. Shortly after post-production was complete, Monica entered a
complicated legal situation with the producer, who had not paid her what she was promised. This unexpected situation made Monica realise that directors didn't hold
as much power as she'd thought - that producers owned the purse strings. She then decided to become a producer herself.
In the twenty years since her first freelance job, Monica has over 100 credits to her name as a producer, director and cinematographer, and has had her writing
published in over a dozen magazines and websites both here and overseas. In 2007 she consolidated her various business adventures into the corporation M.A.D
Endeavours Pty Ltd. Monica has also remembered to have a life, and is mother to three growing daughters, the girls for whom Girlhouse Films was named. Her
hobbies include loud karaoke, champagne, dancing coquettishly with her Irish partner, travelling the world and cooking yummy food (and then going to the gym).
published in over a dozen magazines and websites both here and overseas. In 2007 she consolidated her various business adventures into the corporation M.A.D
Endeavours Pty Ltd. Monica has also remembered to have a life, and is mother to three growing daughters, the girls for whom Girlhouse Films was named. Her
hobbies include loud karaoke, champagne, dancing coquettishly with her Irish partner, travelling the world and cooking yummy food (and then going to the gym).
Monica has aways continued her writing, on subjects as diverse as the arts and creative freelancing to parenting issues and profiles. She has also edited and
co-written a booklet about the experience of migrants coming to Sydney entitled Welcome Zone. Monica's latest foray into the printed word includes three books, all of
which are being released in 2008. The first is Freelance Success - Be Creative, Make Money, Love Your Work, to be released in Australia in late 2008. The UK version
of the same book is being release in Britain in October 2008. Finally, Monica's Australian update of Freelancing for Dummies will be released Australia-wide in August
2008.
co-written a booklet about the experience of migrants coming to Sydney entitled Welcome Zone. Monica's latest foray into the printed word includes three books, all of
which are being released in 2008. The first is Freelance Success - Be Creative, Make Money, Love Your Work, to be released in Australia in late 2008. The UK version
of the same book is being release in Britain in October 2008. Finally, Monica's Australian update of Freelancing for Dummies will be released Australia-wide in August
2008.
Monica is living proof that it is possible to make a successful living by working for yourself in the arts.
Thanks to Kit for the mp3!
| Click the logo for a brief history of Freelance Success |