Advice!!!!!

JulianBenavidez

JulianBenavidez

Active member
Hey guys, I need some opinions asap! Here's my situation: I applied for an internship on craigslist. It turns out the guy I met with wants to start a video dept for their website. (They help small businesses build websites and want to start offering video production.) http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/tfr/338930759.html

Anyway, i meet with this guy and it turns out he wants me to use my own dvx100b and basically I work with another intern who I've never met and our first shoot is wednesday at this Indian restaurant and I'm supposed to do a video like www.turnhere.com did. I think I am capable of doing it. Although this is the only work I have done (http://stage6.divx.com/user/BeanMachineFilmshttp://www.stage6.divx/user/beanmachinefilms)

The "boss" says that if we do well we eventually become the video dept. and get paid. Which he said starts after the three month internship. But says I still wont be able to quit my dayjob ( waiting tables) for another year and a half.

My problem with the whole thing:
1. I'm not getting paid.
2. Wear and tear on my own equipment.
3. Whats the other intern doing?
4. The "boss" won't be there, we do everything on our own, with my equipment.
5. He won't let me post the finished production on the web to show other people because its going on the clients website and the same video will "mess up google's search engine and his company(www.entertainmentimage.com) and me will get penalized."
6. The guy interviewing me(the boss) is kind of mean.

The good thing about it:
1. I get some experience with industrial type shoots.
2. Added projects to my soon to be reel.
3. Freedom to control and direct the shoot.
4. Might lead to something promising.

What would you guys do? opinions or advice please! Thanks dudes!
 
take the job. Its never going to be glorious for any of us at first, but a start is a start. It's definately not the ideal set up, but its still a set up right?
 
Give it a try, and see how it goes. If things are really starting to get hard for you, head back online and start searching some more.
 
Be realistic about what you want to get out of it. The sentence "if we do well we eventually become the video dept. and get paid" sets off alarm bells immediately. You're basically expected to donate your time for free so that you might get a paid some time in the future. I've seen plenty of setup like this where they'll try to entice you with possible benefits down the line while working you to the bone, for free.

If you accept, know that you're primarily doing it for the experience and not for the money. Chances are you'll never see a cent.

Signs to watch out for:
1) Constant demands from the boss for changes in the video without giving you specific instructions.
2) Rush assignments with unreasonable deadlines. "If we can get this done within a day then someone will be very please and they might give us more work"

Oh, and MAKE them compensate you for tape. If you're going to be donating your time than this is the least they can do.
 
Yeah, you'll never make a cent from this.

That said, I think you should take it and see what you get out of it experience-wise. The good side of this crappy deal is that there's absolutely no power this guy has over you - once you've extracted what you wanted from this, or alternatively, the moment you realize this guy is nuts and you are not really benefitting - you can drop it like a hot potato. Personally, I doubt you'll last more than 3 months, and I doubt there'll be a "video department" once the 3 months is up. I've seen tons of such "deals" - it's just a guy trying to get a business going, and it always takes a heck of a lot longer than he thinks, plus he's a user and he'll squeeze you and use you up and discard... he doesn't give a damn about what's good for you.
 
My opinion, intern means you are studying and mentoring under a paid professional. If not you are simple providing free labor in a position the boss labeled an internship to take advantage of struggling newbies (of which there is an endless supply). More times then not after the person has run their course with your labor and pay starts to get involved they will let you go and move onto the next "intern". If they do start paying then it will almost definately be well below any set standards; they know they can have you for free why pay fair market value.

In this business people are always trying to get a freebie or underpay their labor. We all get those requests no matter how long you are in the business. You quickly learn that theses people do not have a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and you develop the patience to wait for the serious professional gigs. Most freebie producers do not have a solid business plan, do not provide a quality service, and burn out quickly.

OTOH, if you are willing to work for free to build some experience knowing that this will not end in a pay day then go for it. Now a days pretty much everyone has at least one freebie under their belt. Just don't make a habit of hoping for the proverbial pot of gold.

I would, at the least, demand compensation for use of your equipment. Otherwise you are actually paying him to work and that is completely BS.

Good luck
 
Remember, you have the equipment. He needs you. You can take your equipment and do some work on your own. I was in a similar situation several years ago. I was basically slave labor, but I didn't have my own equipment, so I didn't have a lot of options. You have options. You live in NY. There's tons of legit places where you could get experience.
 
It seems to me that by having to use your own equipment, he is not taking the steps to invest in the company, and would rather take advantage of you. It's like the saying "Why buy the cow when you can drink the milk for free." I am sure he is charging clients to have these videos made, so where is that money going? Sure doesn't seem like its going to you or any other investments in this "video department."

Take it for what its worth : Demo reel material
 
wabbit said:
My opinion, intern means you are studying and mentoring under a paid professional. If not you are simple providing free labor in a position the boss labeled an internship to take advantage of struggling newbies (of which there is an endless supply). ......
I would, at the least, demand compensation for use of your equipment. Otherwise you are actually paying him to work and that is completely BS.

Good luck
Click to expand...

EXACTLY! Tell him to take a hike. If you arent working under somebody where you can learn something whats the point? He sounds like he's going to be using you to his gain. You can film all sorts of stuff on your own (even spec commercials) and don't need him to use you and abuse you for that.
 
Yeah, this isn't even close to being an internship. In some states (like Texas), internships either have to be for school credit or paid -- by law.

You might want to do the first one, just to get in a shoot. But if he's charging his clients for this service (and you know he is), he should be paying you for yours. He can mark up your costs if he wants when billing the client, but getting it for free from you and turning around and selling it is poor form, unethical and, as stated above, possibly illegal. Yay!
 
I suggest keep looking. You have a camera. You may be better off shooting projects for free that atleast are honest about it. This is not a legit internship. You should be able to find better. If you're willing to work for free to get the experience, he needs to pay something for the gear.
 
Thanks guys for all the advice!

I should mention that when I agreed to do this that I asked him to pay for the tapes and he said thats fine, but he wants me to go buy three at B&H and give him the receit. I told him I'll need lighting, and he said he'll cover that too and also a lavalier mic for the interviews. But he said for this first shoot that he wants me to just use the camera mic and that he's not charging the business this time around because he wants to see what I can do.

I also asked about compensation for my camera and he said eventually we'll get together and figure out the depreciation value and he'll pay me accordingly eventually buying my camera from me. (who the hell says he's taking my DVX100B!)

Anyway, I'm definitely find this whole thing shady, but I'm just gonna try and do the shoot tomorrow and see how it goes after that. Your input on this matter really reassured me I'm not the only one out there dealing w/ weirdos! In the mean time, the search continues....
 
this guy may pay for a couple of tapes, but that is it. you're being taken advantage of.
 
He's definitely taking advantage of you. He has no equipment, you do. If he wants to hire you that's one thing. But if you walk what's he going to do? Oral promises mean nothing. And from what you said he doesn't sound legit.

Do you really want to give your free time and risk your equipment for someone who treats you poorly?
 
Man, I can't stand job ad's that's titled "Internship" or "Production Assistant"...then when you look at the job description, you find out you are practically Producing/Directing the dang thing.

This looks really exploitive. He doesn't want you to use a lav mic on the First shoot? The "shoot" where he wants to "see what you can do"? Is he paying for your gas/millage?

I would probably turn around and walk away. That guy has no idea what it takes to create videos and you'll find yourself learning bad habits that won't transfer to a "legit" job.
 
Thats lame! Hes basically hiding that hes ripping you off under the cloak of an internship. Internships are for learning under a master of sorts or in an environment thats directly related to what you want to do. I hate that people do this to others. You can go out and do the same thing yourself and possibly sell it on a web magazine for a few hundred bucks and be able to put it anywhere you want and show it to anyone you want. We just recently shot at a trade show and were able to package it for a few places by just changing a few things up and the logos. You mentioned things that your instinct is telling you to not do it expecially if you are posting about it here. Walk away and make your own restaurant videos.
 
Aram Bauman said:
Thats lame! Hes basically hiding that hes ripping you off under the cloak of an internship. Internships are for learning under a master of sorts or in an environment thats directly related to what you want to do. I hate that people do this to others. You can go out and do the same thing yourself and possibly sell it on a web magazine for a few hundred bucks and be able to put it anywhere you want and show it to anyone you want. We just recently shot at a trade show and were able to package it for a few places by just changing a few things up and the logos. You mentioned things that your instinct is telling you to not do it expecially if you are posting about it here. Walk away and make your own restaurant videos.
Click to expand...

I was just telling my girlfriend the same thing! Is it too late for me to send an email saying I'm bailing out for tomorrow?
 
rlm7189 said:
Is never to let to prevent someone from taking advantage of you. Whats he gonna do? Give you a bad reference?
Click to expand...

No doubt. How's this sound for an email to this guy:

I appreciate your interest, but due to certain circumstances I am no longer available for this "internship."

Sincerely,
Julian
 
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