I run The Black and Blue because I have a passion for filmmaking that I want to share.
That’s the most important thing I want you to get out of this: I never started this website because I wanted to get rich off of it.
Instead, this blog started as a personal outlet for me. It wasn’t until I realized there was a lack of information on the web about camera assisting that I decided to fill the gap.
Besides, if this site was designed to make me filthy rich, it isn’t doing a very good job. If one day it does make me filthy rich, then I will be pleased. If one day all the money I make from it were to disappear, then I’d still be updating it regardless.
With that said, I do make some money from The Black and Blue that helps me pay for servers, premium plugins, and other associated costs.
How Do I Make Money?
There are two main methods I use to monetize this website: advertising and affiliate programs.
Advertising
This is the most obvious monetization method on the site. Currently I run multiple banner ads through Buy Sell Ads — a direct ad sales platform. To purchase an ad, an advertiser finds my site on Buy Sell Ads and purchases whatever slots I’ve made open. I am then able to approve the ad and it runs for a predetermined period of time at a price I set.
I generally have no relationship with the advertisers on this site beyond Buy Sell Ads. Any type of collaboration with them is purely coincidental unless expressly stated otherwise on the site.
Affiliate Programs
Affiliate and associate programs are opportunities for me to make money when other sites make money. The way this typically works is by linking to a specific product or page; if someone clicks that link and purchases something, I get a small commission (usually somewhere from 4% – 6%).
My biggest source of affiliate income is Amazon Associates.
It all sounds shady, I know, but I promise I will never recommend anything to you that I wouldn’t genuinely recommend to you in real life. This is one part of my site that will never change. Your trust is important to me and the success of the site — I wouldn’t throw that trust away for a tiny commission.
Similarly, I recommend products and services whether or not I stand to make money from doing so. If it’s useful and of interest to you as a reader, I want you to know about it.
Non-Monetary Swag
Occasionally, I am approached by an individual or a company who wants me to review, test, or check out their product. In most of these cases, they will provide their product to me for free. I make sure they understand that I do not accept nor publish sponsored posts on The Black and Blue and — though generous — their free product does not equal free publicity in any form.
When these situations do arise, I make sure to point them out to you in the articles affected by them.
In Exchange, You Receive Tremendous Value
At least, I hope.
What I want to establish with The Black and Blue is an invaluable resource for camera assistants, cinematographers, and film professionals. That is my mission.
Because I spend a lot of time writing content, maintaining the site, and designing all the elements, I like to think whatever money I squeeze out of it is a fair deal for both of us. I don’t make oodles of cash and most of the money gets put back into the site to grow it bigger or expand services that benefit you.
This website is about filmmaking and happens to make some money, not the other way around. I am passionate about filmmaking and I really do want to help others become better at it.
I hope you understand.
I am more than willing to discuss this with anyone who has questions, comments, or is unclear about how this site is monetized. Feel free to contact me.
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