I'll Get By With a Little Help from my Friends...

O

oneinfiniteloop

Veteran
OK, here's my scenario, I'm a little pissed right now because of this so excuse me if I sound brash…

A few weeks ago I offered to shoot a video for a local band for free. Me and the manager emailed back and forth, and I aksed her what song they wanted to use. She asked my suggestion, and I told her it's up to them and I wanted to do a song they wanted. She again asked for my suggestion, and this time I suggested a song. She said OK, and we moved forward. I did the treatment, all the planning, etc. and they were happy about everything. I met up with the band a week ago and they said why did I choose that song, and why didn't I choose one of their other songs (which they liked better). I told him that it was up to their manager, and he seemed allright with it.

Well, this morning I get an email asking if they could switch the song a week before the shoot. That means another treatment, more planning, etc….I don't really want to because I have it set up where I can shoot at Location A without spending too much time and money on the whole thing. All the money is coming out of my pocket ($400 for camera and light rental for a day, etc.) and I don't want to have to spend more.

Here is my question, they are OK with the song we have now, but I'm worried they wont be into it and that I won't get the performance/cooperation I need. Considering this is the first major piece for my reel and it's my money, I'm thinking I might cut bait and walk away. What do you guys think?
 
Just ask them straight out if they're commited to the performance for the song. And explain that you've spent the last few weeks planning and it's too late to change. If they're not commited just say thanks and move on.
 
holy crap another user from jacksonville??? Do i know you?

What band is it and whered ya find em?

Do you have a dvx also? (lol sorry bout so many questions)
 
I'd find someone else to work with. You should at least have them pick up the rental fees. Unless it's really hard to find other bands I'd tell em' to call you when they're serious.
 
OK, I've talked to the manger and everything is fine. They all agreed on the song, and they just didn't know how much work was put into it. I was just venting cause I was getting worried about the whole thing. I put a lot of effort into this one.


I don't know if I know you lucidz? Where are you at in Jax? Right now I don't have a DVX (part of my rental costs), but I plan on getting one soon.

The band is Sentenced 2 Live. I know a lot of the local bands around here (I work with Suicide Clutch)

You shoot here locally?
 
Yeah I sure do shoot here locally. I am on southside. I've got a pretty full equipment setup, mics, dvx, 35mm adapter, lights, bogen 503 on bogen sticks, pretty much everything.

Just finished my second short, which turned out... well lets just say lol. But we (myself crew + cast) had a good time so thats what matters.

Ah don't know those bands. Thats pretty cool though, I've been trying to get into making demos/videos for bands for a while. A guy at my work has been trying to set something up for a few months.

Do you just shoot bands or do you do fiction/documentary?
 
It amazes me how often Bands can be so ungrateful, unthankful or unreasonable.

I had a friend who wanted to do a video for a band (that she knew through someone else) and I went through the same ordeal pretty much. I didn't get too heavily involved with it because I had a feeling they were going to be A**holes about it. They acted like they were owed something and that we were privileged to do their video. Give me a break. You grow your hair long and can play guitar but play in a local bar. You have NO contracts, your songs aren't catchy, and you moonlight at Applebees. Show some respect for the hand that is trying to feed you.

At any rate, the song was picked out, a lot of brainstorming, and location scouting ensued...but during the last and final meeting, the band demanded complete creative control over EVERYthing...the video, the tapes, when we shot, where we shot...I asked if they were going to direct it, edit it and use their equipment too?? Dicks.

I happily left them stone cold on that one. I gladly walked away without sinking in too much time or one red cent. I mean, give me a break. I understand that its YOUR face on the video, but c'mon...show a little class and co-operate. It's not like you are Aerosmith.

Odds are 99.9%percent of these wanna-bes are going to be 40-50 someday reminiscing about the good old band days and working a 9-5. Take their sh*t? I don't think so.

Rick
PS Having said all that, not ALL band members are a**holes. It's just your story sparked something in me. Thanks for the vent. I feel good now.
 
rlm, I understand your frustration. These guys I'm working with now aren't like that at all (thank god) otherwise I would have walked away. I think they have a little trepidation about the song not being their best, which I can understand, all bands have that. I originally thought they didn't approve the song, now I know they did.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of other bands out there that are pre-madonnas when they have no right to be. I think that some bands think that since it's their music they have the creativity to pull of the best video. I know of very few bands who have this ability, since they can't see the bigger picture from a diff. perspective. Co-operation and co-creation can yield beautiful results if you allow them too.

Luckily I didn't get a band like that! These guys are fun to be around and I think everything will be good, I'll be sure to post the final product for all to see.

lucidz, right now I'm working on building up a reel of music videos and semi-experimental shorts. I think we met at Bruce's camera shop at the flea market, maybe?
 
Ahhh yeah man I remember you, you were there with your girlfriend/wife/fiance and you told her the dvx was the camera you wanted.

I shot my whole short film with the 55mm lense I got from Bruce. It takes a lot of getting used to I tell you that much. Plus only 40% of my movie was shot on the tripod so I was holding that monster for the rest of the time. Did a 9 hour shoot in one day, and my arms were freakin jello afterwards.

Thats very cool about shooting the band. Have you already rented the equipment and got all set up?
 
Yeah, that was me. I have already scheduled the rental for the 18th. The package includes:

DVX100 (not A model)
Bogen tripod
Shoulder mount w/ zoom controller
Wide angle adapter
Chrosziel 4x4 mattebox with flag & filters
Chrosziel follow focus
8" Sony field monitor
Open face 1000watt w/ chimera softbox
2 Arri 650s
1 Arri 300
1 Arri 150
Stands, scrims, gels, dimmers, batteries, etc..

Pretty decent setup and we will be shooting all of it at Fuel.
 
wow man very cool. And this is all being done for free for them? You're a heckuva guy!

Mind if I ask how much that stuff all cost you to rent?

Also howd you get fuel to let you shoot there?
 
They got the OK through FUEL, and the whole package is around $350-400/day...pretty decent deal. I'll need a dolly too, but I don't anticipate that being much more.

I'm primarily doing this to build my reel. Tired of the piecemeal approach I've been using, so I figured if I'm using my own $$$ at least I'll be more motivated.
 
Well that all sounds awesome man, congrats on getting it all put togethor.

If you need any second unit / second camera stuff or any help in general I can make myself available. I pretty much just love being involved in all of it, plus its nice to try and get any activity in the filmmaking community here in Jax.
 
That would be cool. I would like a second camera floating around to get some B-roll/outtakes/interviews for a little behind the scenes type thing. Send me a PM with your email and we can talk further about it.
 
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