Tactfully turning down a gig?

T

ThousandWordPicture

Active member
Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering if anyone has an advice for me. I was put in touch with a director who needs a DP for their feature by an actor who I had shot in a short a month or so ago. I had a meeting with the director and felt lukewarm about her since she was formerly an actor, hadn't directed that much and was just generally... well, she's actor, and I'm sure you know what I mean by that. Anyway, I figured I'd read it over and decide then.

Well, I read it and I really don't like it. She, and this other actor who got me in touch with her were so certain it was good on the page and that I would like it. It's so self referential and a borderline vanity project chickflick. I really don't think I want to sink 30 days into something I don't feel 100% about. It seems a little early in my career (I've lit only around a dozen projects, including only 1 feature) to start getting picky, but like in Star Wars, I have a bad feeling about this.

Anyway, I don't want to burn the bridge with the actor, or give the director a bad taste in her mouth, but I really don't want to do it. What do you guys figure is the most tactful way to say that I didn't like the story, much less the script or the director and I don't want to do it? I unfortunately don't know the dates she wants to do it over (I don't think they're close to locking dates), so I can't claim a schedule conflict, which was my first thought.

Maybe I'll tell her I went blind and my camera broke? What do you guys think?
 
Being honest is your best bet. I mean you don't have to be mean about it but you can just say that you don't feel that the project is the type of project that you see your self shooting. And, as a result, in order for them to make the best movie the want to make that they should use another DP that better understands the material. Not in those exact words but something along this lines. I think most people are able to understand that it is better to find someone else when someone does not share their vision.

You can also recommend some other DP that way it makes their search easier.
 
Easiest way to turn down a gig is to cite that you have a schedule conflict during that range of dates or on that day. Oh, but you said that. Well, that'd be my response anyway. Let them know that you're interested, but that you'll have to check it against the rest of your schedule going forward. If they're starting right away, then you'll have to be less obtuse.

;)

e
 
I've been in similar situations before.

First of all, is it a relatively well-paying gig? You may want to do it for the money. And perhaps you could bring new life to the story by filming it?

Remember, you are in no way obligated to shoot this film (unless there are other details you haven't shared with us). People decline projects all the time for a myriad of reasons.

If it is really a project you don't want to get involved with then politely decline. "Thank you very much for thinking of me and for offering me this opportunity, but I'm not the right person for this project. Please keep me in mind in the future and best of luck with this." Honest and to the point.

They may press you for more details but stick to your guns. "Thank you again, but like I said, I'm not the right person for this project. This is not to say it has no merit, it's just not for me."
 
Yeah I'd go with the not the right person for the job bit as well. Or tell them you cant be locked into such a lengthy project at the time and are only interested in smaller jobs.
 
Oh man i had to turn down a feature, but it honestly conflicted with a major project i had just started. it was painful to say no to the one thing i really wanted to do this year.
 
BUT, the director got his hands on a helluva DP in my place. :) so ther film will look good.
 
Be honest with your actor friend but make sure you can line up something else during the time of the shooting. If its a short gig and relatively painless, you never know who might see the film with its all its flaws but come out thinking "this was bad, but the cinematography was really stunning."
 
The best thing to say is that you are booked on another job or jobs. It's a white lie, doesn't hurt anyone's feelings.
 
Why not just shoot it .... that's your job. If I had to "love" everything I shot I'd be a lot poorer. Have I turned down jobs ... yes ... but only when I was worried about being paid.
 
If it doesn't feel right, don't do it. Your right, it is all in how you say it, if your asking the question, you will say it tactfully.
 
J P said:
The best thing to say is that you are booked on another job or jobs. It's a white lie, doesn't hurt anyone's feelings.
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The one problem with that is if they say they can delay the project for him and then he has to back track or agree. Its always easier to just be straigh forward with people. It helps you stay out of trouble.
 
M49CT said:
Why not just shoot it .... that's your job. If I had to "love" everything I shot I'd be a lot poorer.
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That's if you have no other options at the time. It's insane to say that you are obligated to shoot on a first come first serve basis.
 
I'm just looking at it from a business standpoint ... my mortgage holder doesn't care if I'm shooting art or not. Maybe I am insane on second thought hehehe
 
I would tell her straight out. "I don't like the script" and tell her why, What ever you think about it. This is what I am getting at. By you being honest and telling her what you feel about the script. This can only help a director in the future. I think we all in this business can see that this is not something bad, but it didn't appeal to this person so what can I do to make it better.
 
Yeah, just saying you don't like the script should be enough because you have to feel it in order to light it and shoot it the right way. Then again, you can use it as a practice piece to work on a look you may want to use later on a project that you love.
 
M49CT said:
Why not just shoot it .... that's your job. If I had to "love" everything I shot I'd be a lot poorer. Have I turned down jobs ... yes ... but only when I was worried about being paid.
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Because that is the beauty of the industry. We don't have to take a job if we don't want.

I know a couple DPs who have made a very successful career, and one reason was they were very picky about the projects they shot.
 
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