I just wanted to share this experience, as it bothered me a bit.
I got a call from someone who said they had seem my resume and needed a DP. They didn't tell me anything about the project, but asked what camera I used (it's in my resume). I told them an HVX and a T3i with a lot of accessories. They asked if I had any connections to the RED.
I said I did, but chances are it'd be out of their price range (if they're calling me, I'm generally pretty inexpensive compared to most in the DC area), and I haven't had much experience with it. They asked what out of their price range was, and I said base rate around $1000/day for rental.
He huffed and said fine, asked if I was free in two days, and asked my day rate. Mind you, I'm generally a "videographer," I do mostly commercial stuff and events. I have done films, but they've generally been my own or for my associates. I LOVE doing films, but they just don't pay. So I gave him an offer of $700; seeing as my hourly rate is $150, I figured that was reasonable.
He huffed again. "REALLY?! Jeez that's insane! That's way too high!" I just said alright, and he said thanks and hung up.
It bothered me a good bit, and when I got some free time, I called him back. I wondered what he was expecting; I didn't intend to shoot for him, because I found him rather rude, but I couldn't beat wondering what he had intended to pay, for a RED especially, much less me.
He seemed very angry when he answered, and I calmed him down a bit (dunno why I had to?) and asked what he expected me to respond with as far as a rate. I told him I was flexible, because it's the "off season." He said "well, I just got a RED for $1000 for 17 days, so what do you think?" I told him good luck, and he hung up again.
He JUST called me back... and asked my name. I was genuinely a little cautious; he was so rude and angry before, I wondered why he would possibly want my name. I asked why, and he said "if we want to work with you in the future," which... seemed pretty suspicious, but since all he had to do was do a little bit more digging to find my information again (he clearly got it before), I told him. He apologized for being rude earlier and thanked me.
...What the hell just happened? My original intention was to ask if my rate is really that unreasonable, but then he called back. I'm wonder what the hell I just experienced.
I got a call from someone who said they had seem my resume and needed a DP. They didn't tell me anything about the project, but asked what camera I used (it's in my resume). I told them an HVX and a T3i with a lot of accessories. They asked if I had any connections to the RED.
I said I did, but chances are it'd be out of their price range (if they're calling me, I'm generally pretty inexpensive compared to most in the DC area), and I haven't had much experience with it. They asked what out of their price range was, and I said base rate around $1000/day for rental.
He huffed and said fine, asked if I was free in two days, and asked my day rate. Mind you, I'm generally a "videographer," I do mostly commercial stuff and events. I have done films, but they've generally been my own or for my associates. I LOVE doing films, but they just don't pay. So I gave him an offer of $700; seeing as my hourly rate is $150, I figured that was reasonable.
He huffed again. "REALLY?! Jeez that's insane! That's way too high!" I just said alright, and he said thanks and hung up.
It bothered me a good bit, and when I got some free time, I called him back. I wondered what he was expecting; I didn't intend to shoot for him, because I found him rather rude, but I couldn't beat wondering what he had intended to pay, for a RED especially, much less me.
He seemed very angry when he answered, and I calmed him down a bit (dunno why I had to?) and asked what he expected me to respond with as far as a rate. I told him I was flexible, because it's the "off season." He said "well, I just got a RED for $1000 for 17 days, so what do you think?" I told him good luck, and he hung up again.
He JUST called me back... and asked my name. I was genuinely a little cautious; he was so rude and angry before, I wondered why he would possibly want my name. I asked why, and he said "if we want to work with you in the future," which... seemed pretty suspicious, but since all he had to do was do a little bit more digging to find my information again (he clearly got it before), I told him. He apologized for being rude earlier and thanked me.
...What the hell just happened? My original intention was to ask if my rate is really that unreasonable, but then he called back. I'm wonder what the hell I just experienced.
