Directing for gear instead of cash?

[Richard J. Johnson]

A client wants me to direct a feature but wants to pay me with gear instead of cash. basically I need a follow focus, Monitor, Matte box, and shoulder mount. He said just tell him where to order from and he would buy them for me instead of giving me cash.

I don't know if this is a good idea. I do need all of those things but If I had the cash to buy them I would not buy them now. Times are a little crazy for a lot of us and I can't take a LCD down to BGE to keep the lights on.

What do you guys think?

[Alex H.]

I have worked for gear before. I do commercials and other production work for a local guitar shop, and I do their projects for store credit. It's actually kind of nice, and I get the same value of store credit as would have been my fee.

But I'd look at a couple of things:

What's the value of the gear as opposed to what your director's fee might be? Make sure that you wouldn't be getting shorted on the value by working for gear.

Ask him why he would rather pay you in gear rather than cash.

Examine the other sources of income that you'll have within the spectrum of this project, and whether you will be able to keep the lights on in the midst of this.

While, again, I have done this before, it's really only an agreement I'll make with clients who are also trusted friends and acquaintances. I would not work for gear from just anyone and under every circumstance. While it can be a good way, sometimes, to build your kit, it can also be kind of sketchy depending on the motivation behind the offer.

[Richard J. Johnson]

Very good insight. I believe that he wants to the gear on his credit card instead of forking over the cash. It's not really a bad deal. The gear is valued a little under what I would charge but only by about $400.00. The budget for the entire film is 15k. for about a month of work.

I have not decided yet. But I will by week's end. I really could use the gear for my questfest entries.

[Batutta]

Most credit cards will allow a cash advance...Or he can pay you through paypal or xoom with his credit card.