Liars and business

[Jason Adams]

Had a recent situation I need some advice on. I recently produced a funny high concept local ad for a spa here in town. They wanted a humor driven spot to target a male demographic for holiday gift cards sale.

Well, we wrote the spot produced it and it is doing really well for the spa. I live in a fairly small town and people are talking about the ads. Mission Accomplished.

One of the coworkers of the actors that was in the spot ran into a young man who works at the mall, but is trying to get his production company going full time.

Through casual conversation this young man mentioned he produced weddings and commercials, to which our friend mentioned that his actor buddy was just in the newest local spa ad. Our friend mentioned how much he liked the ad and the young man immediately spoke up and thanked him and told him that he had produced the ad and even went into detail about all the editing he had to do and how much footage there was to sort through.


How do I respond, or do I even respond. I know this young man who is claiming responsibility for my work. He is an art school grad who works at the mall. Not to speak ill of his talent or situation, but I don't really put him in the category of competition. I don't really see him as a threat to my company, but on the other hand you are only as good as your reputation and I don't want some mall employee with a mac and a home printed business card messing up my reputation.


I thought I could?

1.) email him stating I was a local business owner and heard he produced this commercial, and try to get him to tell the same lie in writing. Then sit down with him in a face to face meeting and confront him about it.

2.) Let it go and take it as a compliment that people are lying to take credit for my work.

I am really not angry about this. Truthfully I feel more sad that this young man has to lie to try and promote his company.

Any advise on how to handle this.

 

[alveraz]

Kudos for handling this with a responsible and level headed manner. I know a lot of cats around here that would find more aggressive means of handling this. Personally I wouldn't do the espionage thing (number 1), it's just more inappropriate behavior adding to what's already unethical on his part.

But, I would call or drop him an email and inform him that you want him to cease and desist these types of claims or you will be forced to seek legal action. Keep it professional and non-threatening. No need to escalate this, in fact, he'll probably be embarrassed and back off. Again, kudos for not going overboard, it shows oodles of professionalism.

Good luck.

 

[ugafan]

pay him a visit and tell him that you're the guy that did the ad and he shouldn't be trying to take credit for your work.

if that doesn't work, put a horse's head in his bed.

 

[MattinSTL]

pay him a visit and tell him that you're the guy that did the ad and he shouldn't be trying to take credit for your work.

if that doesn't work, put a horse's head in his bed.

This is solid advice... I mean the horse head part.

Seriously... just drop in and confront the guy... in a non-confrontational way. Posers always get outed on their own anyway... but if you need something from the mall you may want to pop in and force the conversation in that direction... In this case you could probably go up to the guy and flat out tell him that your friend told you that "he" (this guy) produced that commercial and that you're interested in having him produce something for you... then see what he says... if he reiterates that claim... that's your time to say "hey that's funny... because I produced that spot and if you don't want to get sued you should stop taking credit for my work."

That's what I would do... no really, I mean the horse head part...

 

[alveraz]

I still think confronting him in person is the wrong approach and unnecessary. Simply call or email him but ask for confirmation and a response. Why place yourself in a confrontational position? Go there later if this guy escalates it to that level, right now he's just a putz and unworthy of your personal time. Don't waste the gas.

 

[Jason Adams]

A bit of bump for some more input. I appreciate all those so far. Any other ideas or anyone who has dealt with this.

 

[Richard J. Johnson]

If you heard him say it then you could have jumped in and made him look like a fool. But since you did not I say let it go. He's and art student who works at the mall. The MALL for god's sake. If you are good this type of stuff will happen. That is high school stuff to me and unless you still eat your lunch on a blue tray and drink little milks out of a bendy straw let it go. just my 2.

 

[slimchrisp]

i know a guy tony who can straighten him out.

 

[ryan brown]

Personally I wouldn't do the espionage thing (number 1), it's just more inappropriate behavior adding to what's already unethical on his part.

I would call or drop him an email and inform him that you want him to cease and desist these types of claims or you will be forced to seek legal action. Keep it professional and non-threatening. No need to escalate this, in fact, he'll probably be embarrassed and back off.

Agree with everything here.

 

[Gord.T]

It was a private converstion between him and the other guy. BS for sure as you say but I wouldn't make a huge deal over it. Maybe send him a email and say "a guy you were bragging to works for me, so , nice try." If it were a public statement then that takes a different direction. Just tell him off a little bit. I wouldn't freak out over it too much.

 

[sean90291]

It is all hearsay. You don't really know what the kid from the mall said. Maybe your buddy exagerated or even misunderstood the kid's claims. People always take more credit than what they actually performed on a shoot. It seems to be human nature: we all think we were critical to the making and success of a film, even if all you did was hold a boom pole (because while holding that boom pole you also caught a continuity error or had a suggestion for a line read). You can't stop people from making these claims. In the end, the person in the credits and the person making the next film is the one who will be recognized as the filmmaker. I wouldn't worry about it unless you hear him make such statements yourself, or you see something he writes online or in print.

In this case, it sounds like the kid never even worked on the film though? Am I right? In which case he's just a sociopath. People will quickly see through someone who fabricates stories as large as that.

 

[ddp]

Be flattered and move on. In the big picture it's probably not worth your time to think about it.
The more "high profile/successful" things you do, the more stupidity you'll have to deal with. If he were to steal one job from you with his BS it would be the only job he would steal from you. The work speaks louder then the talk....