DP Negotiating with Indie Producer video clip

carlweston

carlweston

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I AGREE
 
Jimmy Moss said:
....and the movie will look like it was a home movie.....
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not really...

The guy that takes that job is trying to make a name for himslef, and will wind up killing himself to make it looks amazing for 0 dollars. The filmmaker then thinks that next time he will be paid properly. But he will not because that producer now things its ok to pay someone 14$ for 7 days of work, and will never pay anyone more again. Maybe the origional DP wont shoot it, but the next kid that bought a 7D will. cycle continues.


seen it happen 100 times with my own eyes.
 
TimurCivan said:
not really...

The guy that takes that job is trying to make a name for himslef, and will wind up killing himself to make it looks amazing for 0 dollars. The filmmaker then thinks that next time he will be paid properly. But he will not because that producer now things its ok to pay someone 14$ for 7 days of work, and will never pay anyone more again. Maybe the origional DP wont shoot it, but the next kid that bought a 7D will. cycle continues.


seen it happen 100 times with my own eyes.
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True, so true....think small, be small.
 
Well the smart producer should know better, but we all know they are hard to come by. Also, most producers that offer that money are really arm chair producers.

However, I have done some small budget short films really more for fun, but not a lot of money that have led to better paying gigs before. So you just gotta vet those gigs before you agree.
 
Jimmy Moss said:
However, I have done some small budget short films really more for fun, but not a lot of money that have led to better paying gigs before. So you just gotta vet those gigs before you agree.
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Very true Jimmy. I do the occasional fun job but everyone's eyes are open about it going in.
 
Jimmy Moss said:
Well the smart producer should know better, but we all know they are hard to come by. Also, most producers that offer that money are really arm chair producers.

However, I have done some small budget short films really more for fun, but not a lot of money that have led to better paying gigs before. So you just gotta vet those gigs before you agree.
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Most of my clients/producers/companies are very good people and the ones that turn out to be flaky.....well we dont work with them.

However the only times I have gotten screwed was working for free to support the "indie" filmmakers. They have absolutely wasted my time and efforts so I swore never to assist "struggling artists" ever again.

Now before you say "but wait, most of the indie filmmakers are really nice guys. Dont write everybody off for a few bad apples" consider this;

When I got really mad for people wasting my time last year, I posted here to vent and people were very sympathetic and admired my dedication to provide hundreds and thousands of dollars of equipment+crew for free. They encouraged me to keep doing the right thing, even one of them said they needed help in the area with their production.

So after a few short PM's I left multiple voicemails on his phone and he couldn't even bother responding to my calls.

Camel+straw= I am done.
 
Ya, hundreds of thousands worth of equipment, no one is getting that from me for free unless they holding the next Chinatown or Last Tango in Paris script in their hand. 20k maybe..... =)

Here is one about sound mixers!

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6807847/

"Vinny is a great kid...... now that he's off crack, you will like him." Ha!
 
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Charity work is for well...charities. And giving to charity is a good thing.

For everyone else, My mantra is I want to eat and live indoors, and that takes money.

If someone can't or won't pay me enough to make a living, they are not my customer.

Now if someone wants to give me a percentage of a risk venture, that might be ok, but I will have a say in things for my investment.

Grant
 
The thing that really pisses me off about real pros working for free... is us crappy know-nothings are locked out of the 'leg-up' market...

Why get a talentless nobody, who will **** up the film guaranteed, when you can get a real, at least according to their demo reel, pro, for free...
 
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