Getting a crew....

[DVX100Shooter]

So I posted an ad on Craigslist the other day looking for some writers. I have been getting a steady stream of responses to my ad.

This is all new to me. How does this work. Do I pay them a flat rate for writing me a treatment for a Music Video, Commercial, etc. or do I base their pay from the budget of the artist/group?

I was asked by one of the persons that answered the ad how do I do the business end of things with the writer. I am guessing she was referring to the pay.

Being as though I own a lot of equipment and have knowledge of a lot of various editing applications, I never needed anyone to work on a project with me. So this is all new to me going out and hiring temporary folks for a job. This job being some Music Videos.

Any thoughts? Right now, I have 2 videos that we are looking to shoot in April. One of the artists, won't have a definite budget number until the treatment is completed. So in this example, would I be at fault to pay the writer after the treatment is completed and we decide to use that particular treatment?

 

[Dean Bull]

Two thoughts...

If you pay a fee, say 100-1000 dollars for a treatment, you OWN the idea and can tell that writer to take a hike after the job is done. Also, you can set deadlines, and the number of drafts.

Off the top of my head I would at least look at some examples of the writers writing, pick one you like and interview them about the result you want (in this case a music video treatment) If you like what they have to say, have them sign a contract detailing a schedule and deadline, and a description of what the treatment should contain (Music Videos need a concept, some visual ideas, a possibly a scene by scene description, it can be as developed as you want.)

If you don't know these people I would pay them and be done with it.

If you try and work an after the fact deal you are firmly in the shuck and jive producer territory that NOT everyone is most comfortable in and you might not have the authority to enforce deadlines, or BE THE BOSS. You will basically be partners, and those sort of things are best not entered into lightly.

On a final note, I highly suggest you do hire a writer to do your music video treatments. You probably like David Fincher, well guess who came up with all his music video ideas? It was this guy named Charles Schnieder who was paid 1000 dollars a treatment by fincher to write up his music video concepts!

-- Dean