Legal Action Time

Taylor Moore

Taylor Moore

Veteran
Have finally reached the point where I have to go the legal route with a client that owes me over $20K....it really sucks as I am having to live on Kraft Dinner till the lawyer sort it out....
still haven't sold my DVX and Z1 yet. Hopefully won't have to.

The advice I have is make sure you have a contract no matter how small the production. In 20 years of working in the film business, this is a first for me...where a client really screwed with me.

makes you lose faith in Humanity...aside from the DVXuser crowd.
 
I am a pessimist, so I start by having little faith in humanity and then letting them surprise me now and then.

I'm not recommending it for anyone, but it works for me.

Chris
 
That bites!

I feel your pain, brother. In 1992, I shot and edited 7 episodes of a local high school sports show and still have never been paid. It was *only* $1,000 per episode which was actually very, very, very cheap considering the number of hours I put into it.

I haven't seen or been able to contact the producer in the last two years and never received a penny. So, yes, let this be a lesson for anyone doing business to get things in writing and get some money up front - 50% if possible, but at least 25% with the final balance due when you hand them the finished product.
 
Well normally I bill the usual 1/3 up front 1/3 on start of production and 1/3 on delivery of elements. This project was unusual in it's origin, so I took a different billing approach.

The work would have carried me through until Dec...but not any more...

thanx for the support guys.
 
Hopefully the lawyer doesn't screw ya as well, they have a tendency to do that.

But hey, look on the bright side. I'm right there with ya, eating Top Ramen and Mac and Cheese. If ya ever want to swap recipes, I'm here for ya!

(Good luck.)
 
Oh my god! Thank you Taylor!

My roomates always think it's disgusting when I make it!
 
my secret is peanutbutter, bread, and tap water..................over and over..............day after day..............and on the weekends I spice it up with a little jelly too.......it keeps my spending at the perfect equilibrium, and it dosent get as redundant as microwaveable food, or as unhealthy.....

-Matt-
 
Taylor Moore said:
Have finally reached the point where I have to go the legal route with a client that owes me over $20K....it really sucks as I am having to live on Kraft Dinner till the lawyer sort it out....
Click to expand...

sorry to hear that... 20k is definitely worth fighting for, good luck!
t :grin:
 
Well, that sucketh royally. I've been there and most of you will be at some point--if you haven't already. I'll never forget working on a show in Chicago blues clubs with a friend. The producer gave us a choice of points or cash. My friend took the "points". Fool! I thought, but neither of us saw a dime. But yeah, 20K is suing time.
 
Unfortunately, getting the judgement doesn't get you the money. You still are on your own to go down the long and sometimes arduous collections path.

Granted, the law will theoretically be on your side at that point. At this time, you and the defendant are simply having a "disagreement" in the eyes of the law.

e
 
Who are these people that decide "I'm not going to pay..." and they are allowed to keep their legs? I don't get this. You do work and they don't pay.

Bring out the gimp Taylor
 
John_Hudson said:
Who are these people that decide "I'm not going to pay..." and they are allowed to keep their legs? I don't get this. r
Click to expand...

breakin' legs tony soprano style... lol.
t :evil:
 
Well, fortunately they are a very Civic company....and I believe that is to my favour...but once the lawyers get involved...everything slows way down. I don't wish this kind of BS on anyone.

On my way to Baltimore for a visit with the girl, thanx guys for all your support, it really means alot.
T
 
Well back to the drama, sold my DVX today...needed the cash till the lawyers solve this bullshit.

getting screwed sucks.....
 
wow, I can't even imagine how I would feel if I had to sell my DVX, I'd probably be hunched in a corner of a an all padded white room with a strait jacket on, I'm sorry to hear your missfortune, and I'm sorry it just seems to be getting worse.
 
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