OK so tell me if I'm crazy...

W

weltonfilment

Active member
I'm doing a documentary for a production company in LA to document the Behind the Scenes for their feature film. They just sent me the contract, which states they will pay me X dollars when the doc is in principal photography, and then I will get X more dollars when it goes into post.

I am thinking that there should be a claus that states how long the feature film (that I'm documenting) will take from principal photography all the way through post. Let's say that number is 15 weeks (conservative, I know). After that period of time has passed, if they are still not done with post and I am still filming for the doc, they should pay me X amount per week until their post work is done.

The amount they are paying me up front for principal photography is decent money, but only if stretched over a period of about 12 weeks. After that, things will start to get tight on the money end. The money in post is the same, but I won't see it until all my filming is done and the doc is pretty much finished.

Do you think I'm fair about asking for a weekly sum if their film takes longer than expected to complete? I only say this because I know how films go, and since this is an indie production (albeit a multi-million dollar indie), things could get delayed, investors could drop out, money could run out, etc. There are no guarantees in the film business. Also, since my doc hinges on their film, I have no control whatsoever over the pace they move to get their film done.

Please let me know what you think. Thanks.
 
I'd definitely add a rider to that contract stating that. Otherwise they could string you along with the proverbial carrot for a long time (all the while holding you hostage to your agreement with the current contract).
 
What's the industry standard for this sort of work?
I've never done behind the scenes shooting.


By the way Kai, you've got a typo in your sig.
(visit The How It Its?)
:)
 
Standard procedures?

Standard procedures?

I have no idea what standard procedures are for this sort of thing. I would imagine the BTS crew is employed by the production company, receiving a weekly fee just like everybody else.

I would imagine that in any contract for a film, there would be an amount paid for any time the production schedule exceeds its planned number of days. For instance, if a 1st AD has a gig on Film B booked that's due to start 1 week after Film A wraps, but Film A takes an additional 2 weeks to film, there should be a claus where they still get paid their weekly rate plus an additional amount for any work lost due to Film A's schedule. Since in this case I am employed as a part of the feature film production just like any other crew member, I would expect that since I am remaining exclusive to the company as long as my doc is filming, I would receive compensation for that, since I cannot acquire any other work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top