Camera man Problems

F

filmic101

New member
I am a young college bound filmmaker and have been doing odd camera job from Craigslist posting and Mandy posting for experience. Everything has been fine and have been getting some cash and some for voluntary experience.

I just did a listing asking to record this event that would run for a couple of days and attended their production meetings. At first things seem to be very professional like other listing and then on the second meeting a day before the event, they had not sent out the production schedule and the Director, and 2 camera operators plus the Sound guy bailed. It was just me and this other individual and they want me to use my 2 or so cameras to the shoots and let others shoot it when we have not discuss this before. Also, the transportation provided listed on the listing was very sketchy and because there was not schedule, I was going to be on call even on a day that they told me that they dont need me. There is no compenstation or anything btw.

I dropped the project and they got really mad at me, am I really being unprofessional? Can they purse legal action?
 
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filmic101 said:
There is no compenstation or anything btw.

I dropped the project and they got really mad at me, am I really being unprofessional? Can they purse legal action?
Click to expand...

I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV... but it is my understanding that if there was no written contract, and no compensation for such a contract, all they can do is pass around their bad experience with you.

If the people involved are outside the usual circles you find work/internships/whatever, that should pose no problem. But if they are connected, you may find this may have some future effect on your ability to connect with others.

In terms of future contracts have a 'non-disclosure' clause which prevents someone from discussing details of your work, 'how things went', etc., while still giving you the right to show the results of your efforts on your demo reel. You get your demo reel done, and move on, and should someone pass 'bad press' you have your contract as a remedy. (Even if 'free', you should get 'as compensation, use of material for your own promotional purposes'.)
 
I have done many gigs and this one just twisted the whole experience for me. There no corporation or a videography company they just created an event and want it documented..

I still work professional even if there is no pay but come on a day before the shoot they want me to use all my cameras that I owe, and I will be on Call when they said in the get go that I will get schedule, but then many dropped out even the director and things just got out of control that I didnt want to be apart from it.

There was no pay or written contract; nothing at all, this was an internship btw.
THanks for your input clark.

What would you guys do? Was I a bad person to do this?
 
not a bad person to do this at all. you did the one thing that a lot of us have done at one point or another and that was to listen to our instincts. When a situation (especially free) is spiralling out of control, you may feel the urge to step up and be the good guy, but more often than not you'll just get taken advantage of. Your time and investment in your equipment is valuable, so treat it that way.
 
Sounds like you might have been the *only* professional, actually.
You never want to bail without darned good cause. This is an excellent example
of good cause.

I had a car salesman get angry with me because I left the dealership when he really wanted to rip me off. Some people need to be mad at you. It's how it should be.

Nobody "borrows" cameras, firearms or vehicles. Just asking for grief. Let them buy their own if they're serious.

As far as networking goes, if they are boneheads of this caliber then that's usually what their network will consist of as well. You might have saved yourself many hassles down the road.
 
Good for you...This situation could have gotten much worse. Just think if they had damaged one of your cameras. I am sure they would not have replaced it.

As a freelancer the most powerful thing you can say to a client is no. You showed real maturity in this biz by backing out. Be professional, but you must always protect your gear and your reputation. I say you did the right thing.
 
another word of advise, don't take internships from craigslist. Find companies you like or are interested in, call them and see whats available. I have found from past experience that just about any internship on craigslist is a posting looking for free labor.

I remember looking at one internship position, they wanted an applicant that was fluent in FCP, After Effects, Photoshop, Color and to edit online segments... thats not an interning position, thats free labor.

Not to say I don't work for free time to time, if I can find out more about the project, or if its for someone that really does have more work, I'll take the job when I know they just don't have the budget to pay... you just have to make them aware that in most cases you have a rate, and if they truly find you to be an asset, be it a PA, Cam Op, etc. they will honor your rate as best they can.

(sorry, I know I'm long winded) ...

On a side note, it doesn't hurt to kept track of directors, DP's, Cam Op's that you like, and try to contact them. I really like music videos, and follow different directors ... one day I saw that the director posted a blog about needing some help moving to his new house .... on a whim, I sent him an email saying I'd love to help him, didn't ask for pay or anything.... now a year later, I've worked on 5 of his music videos, and he's passed on work for me numerous times ...he is by far the best contact I have for getting work and also being able to learn from.

hope my 3am ramble helps you in anyway.
-matt
 
filmic101 you agreed to be part of a group that was a volunteer position and then they change every thing about the shoot and didn't have their act together and then they wanted to use your cameras and gear and I'm sure they were not going to supply you with a indemnification contract incase a tripod got knocked over and split someone's head open and then you could be sued because its your equipment. Helping out is one thing but when you supply gear you can be held accountable and can be sued when things go wrong which they already had started to do.

You did the right thing and its lucky that you had enough experience to recignize they were unprofessional and when to bail out.

You made your best professional decision so far as a pro.

Good luck.

PS: pros know when to bail and when and how to save a project and wether it can be saved.
 
I post for help on Craigslist fairly often, and am surprised by how many really talented people read these postings, but my opinion of other posters is very, very low -- I constantly see people looking for slave labor out of talented people and it's just really pathetic to me. Like asking a makeup artist to work for two days "with an award-winning music video director" for free, but $35 to cover their kit fee. Whatever.

At the very least if someone wants you to bring your own equipment, even if they're not paying you, they should have to pay a fair rental price for your equipment in my opinion.
 
Craigslist might be a good starting point but beware:

-If you do something for free, you are putting somebody who does that for a living out of work.
-If you charge very low or nothing, that will be your fee with that client forever.
-"Hey, do this for free or low cost and the next job will be full rate" jobs never come to be the paying next jobs.
-Dont let people or companies take out interest free loans from you by asking you to comp their "projects" or "pilots" with the hope that you will get picked up.
-Do your pro bono jobs but dont get them mixed up with a career.

Just my opinion. We hire people who are starting out in the business but never exploit them. Dont let yourself be taken advantage of, just walk away.
 
I completely agree, especially with your 2nd point! That's absolutely true. I was aware of that from the start and very conscious of it.
 
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