How do i persuade my mom to by me a $3,500 camcorder?

Question

Please don't tell me that I need to get a job because I’m fifteen and they won’t hire me anywhere. I am an aspiring filmmaker and I’ve already written the screenplay. I've managed to get all the equipments I need from my friends........except a professional HDV camcorder. Don't say I need to start out with "smaller" projects because I’ve been making short films since I was 10 and now I think I’m ready to take the real challenge. I've started asking my mom to buy me the camera to the point that she's getting annoyed by it. But guess what? When I asked her for the first time (two weeks ago) she said "NO WAY!" (2 days later) "Don't even think about it" (4 days later) "please shut up" (6 days later) "please go away" (9 days later) "Stop asking me!" (13 days later) "I’m busy right now" [my big break] (today) "since when did I promise you that I’ll buy you a camera?" Do you think I should keep asking her? Do you think she’ll finally give-up and order the camera for me?What else should i do?

Answer 1

You're 15 and you cannot get a job? You certainly aren't trying then. I had plenty of work at 11 to 17. So much that I had to hire my little brother to help me out. You need to look harder than just a newspaper or in front of your eyes. Sounds like to me you don't want to work you just want it handed to you. Because even if she bought it, how would you pay her back?

Answer 2

no, she wont give in if you keep asking her over and over again.
instead of asking her to buy you the camera, ask her if you can work something out. see if you can do some extra stuff around the house for a certain period of time, or something like that.

show her how interested you are in this area. has she seen all of you short films? show her them. let her know that you are thinking of going into a career in filmmaking.
but do it maturely, not in a whiney way. show her that you are a mature, responsible young-adult, and that you can handle something like a $3,500 camera.

if she says no, do not complain. respect her authority. she will see this even if she doesnt say anything.

it might take a while for you to earn her over, but dont give up.

and when you do get the camera, show your gratitude.

good luck!
i hope i helped!
♥♥

P.S.

mcdonald's and a lot of other restaurants hire at age 15.
or you could try baby-sitting...just some ideas.

Answer 3

You can get a job at certain places at 15! I'm nut sure if you have a aunties Anne pretzels there but you can get one there at 14 and also Chick-fi-la! You can do other things to earn some money, just help out a little bit towards that money because that's a lot for your mom to pay out for a camcorder <3

Answer 4

Well, I do believe your mom as a resource has run our for this funding. You will have to accept that. Now, it seems also seems that you don't want to get a job or is not capable of getting a job, so your only other option is do what any other indie filmmakers do for funding. Write for grants. have a personal fundriaser. take out a loan. Also, I do believe you wouldn't be stupid enough to go big on your equipment just for the hell of it, so then ask around for whatever film festival you where thinking of submitting your work to, just how the other film makers get thier funding. You are not the only one with funding issues when it comes to indie film making. Get connected to other filmmakers, you can only go so far asking on yahoo.

Answer 5

Tell her I well be famous or I wanna make a documentary about something you like using the cam corder ,

I'll make something useful and I'll pay you later one day not necessarily money

3500 $ is alotta money , is this a camcorder from outta space

Answer 6

stop your sense of entitlement already. Your mom doesn't owe you anything. Get out there and earn the money so the camera actually means something. You can certainly cut grass in the summer and shovel snow in the winter if they have it where you live.

Answer 7

Have you looked into borrowing or renting one? What if she buys one (which would pay rent for me for six months, by the by) and it isn't what you need? Once she gives in on this, there's no telling where it'll stop. And when you win your Oscar someday, you'll get up and thank God and everyone in the crew and forget all about Mom. Just watch.

Answer 8

Your family wealthy? If you're 15 I'd wait to ask for a car. That's a lot of money. Your best bet is to show some maturity.

Answer 9

I was drying beer mugs at 15. Don't tell me you can't get a job.

Answer 10

Just keep on bugging her. She will buy you one. ;)