Production of MTV pilot is looking for 3 free HVX camera man?

V

VideMedia

Well-known member
So this guy puts up an add. Saying he looking for 3 hvx camera man. Im like oh sweet. So email him and hes like ya so we are shooting this pilot for MTV its going to be a big deal. There going to be a police chase and all this crap. Hes like itll be a unforgettable experience but we cant pay you.

All participants will recieve a copy of edited pilot!

lol what are people smoking thinking that by giving us a copy of the pilot we will be happy to do it.
 
fortunate for what???

To work with some dude who thinks he has a great idea for a mtv show? You know how many pilots and shows mtv gets that are never used.

Why should i work 40 hours a week and spend every penny on my equipment to go film something with a guy who is trying to make money but not going to benefit me in anyway
 
I'd still do it like Ki-Ki said, but not make a habit out of working for free.

Why bring it up on a message board if you're not entertaining the thought of doing it?
 
It's probably not an ordered pilot. If it was, they would have money to pay you. Do you know how many pilots are shot a year? How many do you think are ordered pilots? Not many at all.
 
There are many people who don't get the investments or chances.

At the end of the day, at least it's a piece of work for your reel - take a chance.

Like mentioned above, no i wouldn't make a habit of it. However, if this pilot did get picked up. You'd be pretty p*ssed at yourself afterwards.
 
Is the experience worth it to you to do it for free? From the sound of it, probably not... but that's your call. You may really enjoy the experience enough for that to be compensation enough.

There is the potential that if the show is a good concept and the producer/director knows what he's doing, that this could be picked up and could lead to more work for you. However, as Mattykins pointed out... this doesn't even sound like an ordered pilot, so unless this is a *really* good concept and the guy placing the ad *really* knows what he's doing, the odds of it getting picked up are slim and nill. And I'm pretty sure slim just left town.

A friend of mine used to host a show on HGN and is always coming up with and pitching shows... 99% of which never get picked up. If a guy who already has an in has problems with smaller cable networks, I can't imagine what the odds are of some nobody pitching a show to MTV are.
 
Look at the people involved in the production. Look them up on IMDB and google them to see if they have any produced credits and are for real. If they come up zero then they're probably just looking for free labor. However if they've got real credits and it looks they're talented it could be worth the time.
 
I do plenty of pro-bono work but it is for non-profits. Why would you want to give away your time and expertise to someone who is going to turn around and make money off of your hard work ?
 
VideMedia said:
I took Video Production for 4 years through High School which was 3 years ago now
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^^ From the OP's other post......

Sounds like you are still pretty green. I still say do the gig but since you're not getting paid, vibe "the guy" the whole time about being a cheapskate.

Also, let's be realistic here: It's 2009. Who's to say 21 other HVX owners with experience haven't replied to this posting and the position has been filled seven times over?
 
Deepfocus88 said:
^^ From the OP's other post......

Sounds like you are still pretty green. I still say do the gig but since you're not getting paid, vibe "the guy" the whole time about being a cheapskate.

Also, let's be realistic here: It's 2009. Who's to say 21 other HVX owners with experience haven't replied to this posting and the position has been filled seven times over?
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Excellent point... if you're only education is high school and you're still only 21-ish, no matter how much you may know you still have a lot to learn. This may be great learning opportunity. It may also be a PITA being run by a cheapskate. Either way, I wouldn't turn it down outright because it's not paid given your experience.
 
Isaac_Brody said:
Look at the people involved in the production. Look them up on IMDB and google them to see if they have any produced credits and are for real. If they come up zero then they're probably just looking for free labor. However if they've got real credits and it looks they're talented it could be worth the time.
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Id add to that and say, ask to see their work as well. They could come from shooting TVCM, MV, large promo etc. But def. ask to see their show reel at the very least.

Id also not sign up until I at least discussed the concept. Judge it on its merit. Hell, some first timers come to the table with a great concept, and the ability to put it together. Even a poor director with a great script and great people around him can turn out a finished product.

In the end, if you dont want to do it. Just walk away from it and dont worry that you did.
 
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It really depends on where you are at in your career. If you bought the HVX200 to be more competitive on work (free is very competitive), and you need stuff shot on an HVX200 for your reel, than go for it. If your reel already has great material, you would probably be wasting your time. Personally, I know that most "free" work will not benefit my reel because the catch-22 is that most shoots looking for free labor are ultra low budget which means huge compromises on lighting and shots in general. When I was first starting out however, it was the only way for me to get some experience under my belt, stuff for my reel, and possibly good future connections with directors. I would never bring on my own equipment (which is why I avoid owning cameras). Bringing on your own equipment will make you wonder whether your being taken advantage of as a free camera rental with operator thrown in.
Sometimes you just have to make a judgement call and meet the person - if you feel like the guy has talent and is considerate/cool/passionate, it might be a good connect for future projects. It's always a gamble, but we all have to take risks at some points in our careers.

EDIT: Just reread the title of this post - he's looking for 3 hvx cameramen, so doesn't look like you're being hired as an artist at all, but as a free camera rental that comes with a monkey. Would give it a thumbs down.
 
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Alot of you guys are really blowing this in the wrong direction. I asked the guy to see previous work to see any type of work at all. He told me He came up with the idea and It was first time shooting anything.

After I told him he wouldnt find a HVX200 camera and operator for free he asked me how much a normal day rate is. I told him just to rent the hvx200 for a day is over 250 bucks. He replyed saying he couldnt believe that.

I also asked about what equipment if any he had. He told me nothing. No audio No lighting.

He is now asking me how much I would charge him to film for 7 hours and provide lighting and audio.....
 
LOL :)

This is not a pilot for MTV. I'll bet all my camera gear it is a pilot for an idea he has and wants to show the pilot to MTV when he is done, doubt they will listen.

Last I heard they had an obscene number of reality shows and concepts sitting on the shelf and all of them have been developed by industry pros.

He's just trying to get people excited about the project so he can obtain free labor and equiptment. If I were a highschool kid with not much experience I'd take the job to learn everything NOT to do. Experience is experience and a lot can be learned from disasters.
 
I did an "MTV" pilot once. Made $75 for the night, and never heard of the event again. The guy's name is on IMDB, but not the pilot, so take that for what it's worth.
 
Even IF this were for MTV, I doubt you'd want the gig. MTV is the bottom of the barrel as far as pay is concerned. I have a feeling you'd earn more money in public television! :)
 
VideMedia said:
Alot of you guys are really blowing this in the wrong direction. I asked the guy to see previous work to see any type of work at all. He told me He came up with the idea and It was first time shooting anything.

After I told him he wouldnt find a HVX200 camera and operator for free he asked me how much a normal day rate is. I told him just to rent the hvx200 for a day is over 250 bucks. He replyed saying he couldnt believe that.

I also asked about what equipment if any he had. He told me nothing. No audio No lighting.

He is now asking me how much I would charge him to film for 7 hours and provide lighting and audio.....
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I've had to deal with people like this before. Folks with "great" ideas who think they know what they're doing, but have no experience with and no clue how video production actually works.

Run. Like. Hell :)
 
I'm with Mike Harvey on this one.

But, to go back to what ki-ki was getting at, I'd take the following line from ChipG:
If I were a highschool kid with not much experience I'd take the job to learn everything NOT to do. Experience is experience and a lot can be learned from disasters.
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Just be aware you're putting $6,000 worth of camera gear at risk here, but if you have no practical experience to speak of, this might be a way to get some experience for good or bad.

Two of my favorite quotes about experience are:
"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

or

"Experience is what you get, when you don't get what you want."
 
Its not that im not looking for the experience.

Ive shot with some really great guys and PA with some professionals. If a great oppurtunity arises that has a great concept great idea or just a freind Im down to help. But when someone is posting an add looking for camera work and not expecting to pay anyone no matter thier experience its just wrong.

Even as PA i got payed with no experience. Time is money. We all have bills to pay. Sure I maybe young but Ive got rent and all the other bills to be payed. I understand making connections and getting experience but I still dont think I should perform any task for free to a total stranger. Friends maybe people ive met and seen thier work Sure Im down to learn some stuff or help.
 
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