Even more Craigslist garbage...

mainstreetprod

mainstreetprod

Veteran
Saw this on the local Craigslist today. Not asking for much, are they?




Feature Film Editor Needed












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compensation: see posting



We are looking for an editor. We finished filming an independent drama film outside Chicago and Milwaukee and are looking for someone creative, motivated and quick who can put the 4K movie footage together add the boomed sound, and do corrections and any clean ups. Files can be transferred via Dropbox or something similar, there is over a TB worth and editor can do it from the comforts of their home. We have a pretty good following going and a lot of buzz, so if you are looking for a project to help get your name out into the world or something that will have an impact, this could be a great opportunity. You will get full credit for your work and be promoted along with the film. As pay, we are willing to either pay a percentage of the profits or we can possibly work out a deferred payment plan. Again, this is 4K footage and you need a system that can work this size files. Please send a resume and samples of your work if interested.
 
This is the new normal for indie film; everybody wants everything done for free. And why? Because there are people who will do it for free. And why should you care? You're not going to do it, so why complain? Yes, I know, many of these are scams. So what? No matter how it turns out it will be a lesson learned for some aspiring editor, either positive to negative.
 
we want it free.........and fast.

No telling how much massive post fixing will be needed for the footage and audio.

EDIT: You guys are right. At least they are offering something. It might be worth doing. Might not. I do not know :)
I'm just used to people asking for hundreds of thousands of dollars of work for free or for ~$500.
 
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Yeah, it sucks, but at least they are offering a share of profits/deferred pay.
I know it isn't likely that a person will make much this way, but at least they
are offering just in case, most films don't do even that. I have businesses tell
me they want a promo film but can't afford my rates. I have often offered to
do it for a percentage of sales. They never want to share money if my
videos helps them to sell more.
 
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They're not asking for someone to do it for free. They're offering points or possibly deferred pay. Granted, this often results in the labor being free, but not always.

I have no reason to believe that they wouldn't pay up-front if they had the money to do so. I know there are a lot of folks out there who want to take advantage of people and get them to work for free. But these folks at least offer something.

Bottom line is if someone wants to work for them under the terms they offer, that's fine. If others don't want to, that's fine too.
 
Ask Garrett Brown how much money he left on the table by turning down points on the original Rocky.
 
Yep. This is actually generous. Unless you are a well established pro, it can be very smart to do stuff for free. In fact, sometimes even if you are a well established pro, it can be very smart to do stuff for 100% free. Obviously, you don't have to - it's a free country - but this works for many, many people. As a matter of fact, this is such a persistent theme, I think I'll start a brand new thread about it here, so we can exchange views, opinions and experiences :)
 
I can't imagine shooting a feature in 4K without the funding in place to at least have someone rough edit the film, much less color correction! I've seen so many projects that are shot and then languish for years because no one is willing to edit for free, or because someone started, got partway in and then abandoned it. As far as editing something like this for points, the only scenario where you might see something is a wide theater release or a VERY successful home video release. Which doesn't happen often. Volunteering to do something like this is fine as long as you know what you are getting into. And in this case, to do it properly you are looking at up to 3 months of work.
 
I seem to recall Sir Alec Guinness did Star Wars as Obi Wun Konobi for a percentage of the profits.... and ended up earning (and his estate is still earning) the most out of any of the actors in the film(s). So being paid in profits may not be that bad.

Also these indie films tend to be made on a shoestring by enthusiasts who are amateur or semi-pro. They are probably looking for a similar enthusiastic amateur or semi-pro to edit. It is not as though they were asking on a professionals only forum. That said some times professional sod get involved in some of these projects in all roles. Doesn't stephen King let people have script rights to his books for 1USD? http://stephenking.com/dollarbabies.php

Some times it is about the art, sometimes it's about the enthusiasm, some times its about the money and 2 out of three aint bad.


 
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