Mattykins
Cute Member
Remind me never to work for you. Being a PA is a little bit more intensive than you might think. I wouldn't work on a set for 50 dollars a day. That isn't even a tank of gas. And if they are a runner, you don't pay gas and milage I assume?
150 a day is pretty good for a PA. Especially when we are talking about 8 hour days at the minimum. 10 on average. So basically, you are paying people what? 5 dollars an hour? To run cables, get cast from point A to B, watch traffic, help with general set stuff, running to the car to get something you need for the next shot? Running rain machines and such. PAs make your shoot run.
You can't have a gaffer who is amazing for the same price as a PA. Would you really want someone who is getting paid scraps working on your set? Especially when it is not a major set - and there is nothing in it for them? It's like working on a student film. It doesn't go anywhere, but you have to work on it for the grade. Read: Payment.
But when you are in the real world, you don't feed the crew, you don't give them anything else but scraps, and you expect them to be amazing for you? Good luck with that. I wonder if you realize how much of an ass you sound like.
So, someone who is running a F23 on set, has a full light setup, name actors, great crew so you can wrap on time...they are idiots? Obviously, because they are spending too much money. Hell, why don't you shoot it with a few friends who can't really act, maybe an HV20 (no difference in equipment right? We are saving money), Lets get rid of the moles, and the Lowell kits, we can use regular fixtures from Home Depot. Matte Box? Who needs it? Crew, let me get a few people together and pay them a few dollars. Food, nah - we are saving money. Dual system sound? Slates? Psh...Lets roll camera guys!
Let me tell you, that is the best way to get a crappy product that can't be marketed. Yeah, you spend 10,000 dollars. Only about 2,000 went to equipment, 4,000 for set design, 4,000 for expendables and anything else you might need. Pretty sweet deal right?
While the other production put in money for a crew, equipment, craft services (who needs that), name actors, PAs, casting locations, locations in general, great DoP, script supervisors, Producers, etc etc....their set will move more smoothly, and you are less likely to have issues. THough maybe a PA who gets confused when you ask for a half apple. Everyone is happy, and you have a workable product.
When people don't get paid, or don't get paid enough - they are temperamental, very low patience, and really - don't want to put up with crap. I was on a student shoot running sound and we ran over time. No one was getting paid, there was no food, so guess what? Our actors walked out. They didn't have to be there. They weren't getting paid. I took a nap in between takes since no one was sure what the next shot was or how to pull it off. Am I a terrible person? Nah, I just was sick of the crap and not moving on set - plus, there was nothing in it for me. So, I took a nap. Was I at my full potential, nope.
Maybe you don't like making a living? Maybe you don't like people having lives. Rip people off, it's economic rape, but hey - you saved some money - you're more professional than hollywood!
150 a day is pretty good for a PA. Especially when we are talking about 8 hour days at the minimum. 10 on average. So basically, you are paying people what? 5 dollars an hour? To run cables, get cast from point A to B, watch traffic, help with general set stuff, running to the car to get something you need for the next shot? Running rain machines and such. PAs make your shoot run.
You can't have a gaffer who is amazing for the same price as a PA. Would you really want someone who is getting paid scraps working on your set? Especially when it is not a major set - and there is nothing in it for them? It's like working on a student film. It doesn't go anywhere, but you have to work on it for the grade. Read: Payment.
But when you are in the real world, you don't feed the crew, you don't give them anything else but scraps, and you expect them to be amazing for you? Good luck with that. I wonder if you realize how much of an ass you sound like.
So, someone who is running a F23 on set, has a full light setup, name actors, great crew so you can wrap on time...they are idiots? Obviously, because they are spending too much money. Hell, why don't you shoot it with a few friends who can't really act, maybe an HV20 (no difference in equipment right? We are saving money), Lets get rid of the moles, and the Lowell kits, we can use regular fixtures from Home Depot. Matte Box? Who needs it? Crew, let me get a few people together and pay them a few dollars. Food, nah - we are saving money. Dual system sound? Slates? Psh...Lets roll camera guys!
Let me tell you, that is the best way to get a crappy product that can't be marketed. Yeah, you spend 10,000 dollars. Only about 2,000 went to equipment, 4,000 for set design, 4,000 for expendables and anything else you might need. Pretty sweet deal right?
While the other production put in money for a crew, equipment, craft services (who needs that), name actors, PAs, casting locations, locations in general, great DoP, script supervisors, Producers, etc etc....their set will move more smoothly, and you are less likely to have issues. THough maybe a PA who gets confused when you ask for a half apple. Everyone is happy, and you have a workable product.
When people don't get paid, or don't get paid enough - they are temperamental, very low patience, and really - don't want to put up with crap. I was on a student shoot running sound and we ran over time. No one was getting paid, there was no food, so guess what? Our actors walked out. They didn't have to be there. They weren't getting paid. I took a nap in between takes since no one was sure what the next shot was or how to pull it off. Am I a terrible person? Nah, I just was sick of the crap and not moving on set - plus, there was nothing in it for me. So, I took a nap. Was I at my full potential, nope.
Maybe you don't like making a living? Maybe you don't like people having lives. Rip people off, it's economic rape, but hey - you saved some money - you're more professional than hollywood!