Problems with Producer and Production Co.

[Jay A. Kelley]

I posted this on a different board, but wanted feedback from here as well:

I have only been a "Professional" DP for a few years, but I wanted your advice on this:

I just recently completed a Music Video for a production company and the process was hell. Up to now, on all of my jobs, the camera package lighting package and camera crew was the responsibility of the Gaffer and myself. We would get everything together, as well as crew and submit it to the producer based on the needs of the shoot for budget approval.

In this case however, the producer & director felt that THEY should oversee the equipment as well as our crew. This was an extremely stressful situation. They called the rental houses, and had the equipment picked up with no one from our crew present.. They also handled all communication and hiring of the crew.. This was also stressful because they tried to beat everyone down on rate and I keep my crew at one rate or don't ask them on the set. They are all reasonable and there's no reason to pay them less.

I have always been taught that I oversee the tools and crew I am responsible for on set. They believe that that they do.. Speaking with the exec yesterday I told him I have a different definitaion of my job than he does and he came back with "Well this is how it's done in LA"... I do not agree but I want to make sure I am not off base here. Any feedback from the seasoned pros would be helpful.

To make matters worse, the director is my best friend, and this issue has seriously damaged our working relationship.. I hope I am not off base here.

Jay A. Kelley

 

[serenity737]

Jay,

I'm not in the business, but from similar experience in my own field, nail it down in a contractual agreement right from the start. Provides clarity and makes things easier down the line.

Mike

 

[khmuse]

Production / producer handling the equipment rentals (based upon the DP and Directors input) is fine, but you, as DP do have the responsibility to pick your crew (or at a minimum your department heads). Yes, they do work for the producer (as do you) but you should have been given a budget and as long as you were within that budget, the producer shouldn't have attempted to renegotiate your deals (assuming that you conveyed a pre-approved offer of employment to the crew members and they agreed to work under those terms).

Ultimately, it was the contracts that the producer had with each individual that will determine how it gets handled.

I certainly wouldn't let a producer ruin my relationship with a director, but I do understand you wanting to see that your crew is treated fairly.

 

[GaryinCalifornia]

In this case however, the producer & director felt that THEY should oversee the equipment as well as our crew. This was an extremely stressful situation. They called the rental houses, and had the equipment picked up with no one from our crew present Jay A. Kelley

I'm not a dp or gaffer... but I ask them to give me their list of equipment desired based upon the shoot... that includes lighting, camera, grip, etc...

Then I ask them do they really need that $100,000 lens when the $45,000 lens will work as well...

Its by the third bid from the rental house that we all agree upon the equipment list... at least this is the way its worked on most of the shoots I've produced...

On the last feature the executive producer picked are dp over a dp of are choice... thats why the lens comments... I had only so much to spend on my camera package... when I got his list of preferred equipment a dp friend in upstate New York emailed me his comments on that list... my dp friend told me "gee Gary did you know this guy wants the hottest lens in town... that the big guns are paying top dollar for these... and at that time their where only 10 of these in the states."

So maybe that's why the producer wanted to control things... but again... it does seem strange that this guy is or was your best friend and that he didn't seem to trust or discuss your choices...

 

[donatello]

i usually only give 1st AC , Gaffer, Key Grip names to producer .. then 1st AC ,Gaffer , key grip will give names for their crews to producer...
if producer doesn't want my 3 persons then i have to interview whomever they come up with .. if i don't speak/approve to those 3 key persons i WALK ...
i give list of camera, lighting-grip equipment to producer and some rental house names ... many times producer will go over the equipment list item by item...

IMO it's not the DP's job to negotiate crew salary's, rental rates, hire crew ... but we all know that a DP does have some influence .IE: i can usually ask regualr crew to work on a specific project for less and i can make a call to a rental houses asking for a special deal... BUT do not over use those request to your crew/rental houses as every producer want you to make that call ..
some producer will tell you up front the budget for equipment others just want a list ...
AC preps the camera .. couple persons from light/grip crew prep that equipment ...
most productions company's bid a job .. in that bid is mark up ( profit ) ..
once they get the job most try to do it for less which equals more profit.
i find some LA companies will bid a job at LA rates and then sub contract as much as they can to other company's outside Calif ( they send their director and producer to another state ) .. for SFX type work their director will deal with director at other sfx house over the phone ...
in future make calls to your crew and tell them to stick to their rates ...
i don't do music videos' ( few back in 80's).. i just find the working conditions on most not acceptable .. why 18-24+hr days and on top of that they want a FLAT rate ... too many persons willing to work 18+ hrs for 10hrs pay ...