Another priceless Craigslist post

mainstreetprod

mainstreetprod

Veteran
This post looked really promising until I saw what they were offering in pay...

Looking for Cinematographers (United States)

A high profile media company is looking for Cinematographers to join their growing network of filmmakers to support series of videos.

Here are the requirements...

Filmmaker Qualifications
- Must be a shooter (i.e. must be the one operating the camera).
- Must be able to edit video, preferably using Adobe Premiere CS6.
Final Cut Pro version 7 is also acceptable.
- Must have experience shooting interview footage, EPK packages or documentaries.

Gear Requirements
- Camera:
Large image sensors only, no CCD chip cameras -- DSLR cameras and their equivalent.
Specific models may vary. Some known models: Canon -- 5dMkIII, 5dMkII, 7d, t3i,
1dMkIV, C300. Sony -- NEX-FS700, PMW-F3, NEX-FS100U. Panasonic -- Gh2 (hacked).
Black Magic Design 2k camera, RED cameras.
- Audio:
1. One dedicated audio recording device with manual recording controls .
2. One working wireless lav mic and receiver, on-set headphones for monitoring recording quality.
3. One on-camera boom mic, when working with DSLR tech, is expected.
- Lights:
All Filmmakers are required to have access to a small lighting package. Lighting needs to be capable of a three-point interview setup with mixed indoor/outdoor color temperatures. Shoots will mostly take place indoors in small spaces, so LED or fluorescent lighting is preferred
- Editing:
Filmmakers will need a machine capable of handling NLE editing software such as Adobe
Premiere CS6, Adobe Media Encoder CS6 and Adobe After Effects CS6.

You may reply to this ad with any questions and interested filmmakers should reply with a reel of their work.

Thank you!
  • Location: United States
  • Compensation: $35 per approved 1-3 minute clip
  • Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
  • Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
 
That must be a typo... The $35 is probably what they will charge the lucky shooters for the privilege of working for them.
 
@Darren Levine: Brilliant. Heck I'd do it. But it's gotta be like a bajillion dvx-ers. I doubt they'll go that low ever again.
 
It's funny because the description is very detailed, so you think the poster knows what they're talking about.

And then bam, $35. Wow. That's not enough for lunch for a week. When does the spam raid begin?
 
As soon as someone says join our network of ______ -> tune right out , or get ready to laugh depending on your disposition ( or get angry if you are a dvxuser.com person. Rawr!)
 
This could be reasonable if you could routinely shoot ~20+ 1-3min clips in a short day (same talent, same location/setup) and then simple chop in/out editing.

I suspect, however, that it's not reasonable like that.


Not shocking, though. 4 years ago I could routinely find small ~$500 day-to-half-day gigs through CL. Now the going rate is from ~$200 down to "future work."
 
mcbob said:
This could be reasonable if you could routinely shoot ~20+ 1-3min clips in a short day (same talent, same location/setup) and then simple chop in/out editing.

I suspect, however, that it's not reasonable like that.


Not shocking, though. 4 years ago I could routinely find small ~$500 day-to-half-day gigs through CL. Now the going rate is from ~$200 down to "future work."
Click to expand...

Thus why I quit trying to find a consistent flow of money from video work. Instead, I got a full-time gig as a video specialist at a trial consulting firm. It's not too busy, so I have time to do creative on the side.
 
Movie_Dude_3 said:
It's funny because the description is very detailed, so you think the poster knows what they're talking about.

And then bam, $35. Wow. That's not enough for lunch for a week. When does the spam raid begin?
Click to expand...

To be honest, this caught my attention right off...

"Filmmaker Qualifications
- Must be a shooter (i.e. must be the one operating the camera)."

mmmmm...

//edit: Just caught my funny bone there. I hope it works out okay for him. -Beers.
 
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Gord.T said:
To be honest, this caught my attention right off...

"Filmmaker Qualifications
- Must be a shooter (i.e. must be the one operating the camera)."

mmmmm...

//edit: Just caught my funny bone there. I hope it works out okay for him. -Beers.
Click to expand...

It is an odd choice of words, but what follows is actually pretty detailed:

- Must be able to edit video, preferably using Adobe Premiere CS6.
Final Cut Pro version 7 is also acceptable.
- Must have experience shooting interview footage, EPK packages or documentaries.

Gear Requirements
- Camera:
Large image sensors only, no CCD chip cameras -- DSLR cameras and their equivalent.
Specific models may vary. Some known models: Canon -- 5dMkIII, 5dMkII, 7d, t3i,
1dMkIV, C300. Sony -- NEX-FS700, PMW-F3, NEX-FS100U. Panasonic -- Gh2 (hacked).
Black Magic Design 2k camera, RED cameras.

I gotta give them credit for trying. At least it initially sounds like they know what they're talking about.
 
filmguy123 said:
I don't get what's so funny. You guys are getting more than $35/project?
Click to expand...

Well I get $40/project, anything less is insulting.

But seriously, this is a great example of someone asking for services they don't understand. To them a 1-3 minute clip takes 1-3 minutes to make, maybe one hour at most. So to them paying $35 an hour is a lot... What they don't understand is EVEN IF it's one hour (which it won't be), everyone has a base fee just for labour and equipment alone, that's not including hours (or days), which is fairly high because it's a technical skill.

It's just painful...

To be honest he is very technical, but it sounds too technical and suspicious. It sounds like he just found some posts online and copy pasted. He did some research, but clearly doesn't know much.

I'm honestly annoyed when people tell you what camera to use, rather than ask which one you have and see what you can do with it.

Has anyone sent him an e-mail? Curious to see what he says. I may send him one, sounding a bit obnoxious.
 
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