You Don't Need to be Told This...(rant)
- Thread starter Sad Max
- Start date
Nathyn
Low Budget Ninja
I think I've told the story about the DP who borrowed my camera when I was young and dumb in the business. We didn't hound her or anything, since we knew who she was and I had the actually box it came in in case cops had to get involved (not that I thought they would but you guy know how I am). Basically she broke every ground rule we gave her and pretended that she didn't know the ground rules I gave her and if no me I KNOW my producer would've given her because I gave them to him. LOL.
1. Don't loan the camera out or give it to anyone (it's not yours).
2. Don't use the camera as a deck (We had my first DV camera which worked very well as a deck for the DVX100)
3. Be careful.
Three ground rules. Just three. And she was allowed to use it for whatever as long as she followed our ground rules until we needed it back. She had free reign. One day we simply needed the camera and were willing to give it back when we were done.
My producer called her up. She start hemmin' and hawin' about things. After a few lies, we come to find out someone whom she was working with had it and wouldn't you know, they were using it as a deck. My producer was livid. (I was only upset, LOL). He put it to her like this: "I don't care what project you're editing or in the middle of, I'll be sending someone over to get the camera tomorrow morning and it better be there, simple as that."
We got the camera back. When we did the firewire port was shot. Wasn't a big deal as we didn't use the camera to edit but still, if I wanted to be an @$$ I could've sued. Later she threatened to sue me for photos she'd taken for us (which is how she came to use the camera). He friend called me with this threat. I mentioned that I had paperwork (emails) of her agreeing to the exchange, but I still tossed her photos and she lost any photo credit. This is also around the time we developed the phraze, "Now what?" Which was what my producer planned to say to her friend (who claimed to be a former lawyer yet, he couldn't have been more than 25, seriously) if he saw dude on the street. While that all talk and no violence was going to actually occur, you don't know who you're dealing with and some people will hurt you over things just like this. It's not worth it.
Then the day came when I was working with another producer on a pilot she wanted to do. In this pilot the host was interviewing filmmakers. Wouldn't you know it, this person was one of the interviewees. The host who was also the producer, had no problem simply saying "no". In fact I was tempted to say call her and tell her "Nathyn Masters said don't work with her she's shady" but no, I wanted to see her face when she walked on set and saw me working behind the camera. The look was priceless. The instant confusion was worth a chuckle. She was young and I hope she's changed. But the fact is you never know who you'll meet on the way or down. I do find it funny in the interview she was taking about the film she made (with my camera) and all the "things" that got in the way of her finishing the project. (You can add me taking the camera back to that list).
One of the things I tell people in my book is to treat people right. Because you'll find it just works out better in the end. You learn as you go and the Chicago film community is tight, so I bet I'll be running into her again. I'll be nice, I forgive, but she'd have to be on her deathbed to ever get a single piece of equipment from me again or fork over some hard cash. This business attracts shadiness and I'm not even talking about the pro level, I mean we were all indie filmmakers trying to make it happen.
-Nate
1. Don't loan the camera out or give it to anyone (it's not yours).
2. Don't use the camera as a deck (We had my first DV camera which worked very well as a deck for the DVX100)
3. Be careful.
Three ground rules. Just three. And she was allowed to use it for whatever as long as she followed our ground rules until we needed it back. She had free reign. One day we simply needed the camera and were willing to give it back when we were done.
My producer called her up. She start hemmin' and hawin' about things. After a few lies, we come to find out someone whom she was working with had it and wouldn't you know, they were using it as a deck. My producer was livid. (I was only upset, LOL). He put it to her like this: "I don't care what project you're editing or in the middle of, I'll be sending someone over to get the camera tomorrow morning and it better be there, simple as that."
We got the camera back. When we did the firewire port was shot. Wasn't a big deal as we didn't use the camera to edit but still, if I wanted to be an @$$ I could've sued. Later she threatened to sue me for photos she'd taken for us (which is how she came to use the camera). He friend called me with this threat. I mentioned that I had paperwork (emails) of her agreeing to the exchange, but I still tossed her photos and she lost any photo credit. This is also around the time we developed the phraze, "Now what?" Which was what my producer planned to say to her friend (who claimed to be a former lawyer yet, he couldn't have been more than 25, seriously) if he saw dude on the street. While that all talk and no violence was going to actually occur, you don't know who you're dealing with and some people will hurt you over things just like this. It's not worth it.
Then the day came when I was working with another producer on a pilot she wanted to do. In this pilot the host was interviewing filmmakers. Wouldn't you know it, this person was one of the interviewees. The host who was also the producer, had no problem simply saying "no". In fact I was tempted to say call her and tell her "Nathyn Masters said don't work with her she's shady" but no, I wanted to see her face when she walked on set and saw me working behind the camera. The look was priceless. The instant confusion was worth a chuckle. She was young and I hope she's changed. But the fact is you never know who you'll meet on the way or down. I do find it funny in the interview she was taking about the film she made (with my camera) and all the "things" that got in the way of her finishing the project. (You can add me taking the camera back to that list).
One of the things I tell people in my book is to treat people right. Because you'll find it just works out better in the end. You learn as you go and the Chicago film community is tight, so I bet I'll be running into her again. I'll be nice, I forgive, but she'd have to be on her deathbed to ever get a single piece of equipment from me again or fork over some hard cash. This business attracts shadiness and I'm not even talking about the pro level, I mean we were all indie filmmakers trying to make it happen.
-Nate
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groveChuck
U-matic Member
Seems to be evolution vs devolution.
As for the selfish ones, they could end up with their skulls crushed by a club from an angry cooperative member of the group.
This is supposedly what laws and mores accomplish in a so-called civilization- call a lawyer or cop instead of grabbing the club.
Natural disasters show how quickly anarchy can break out as rules go out the door and the selfish rampage... or, how people can pool resources and cooperate.
Jim Brennan
VHS Member Old Skool
Do unto others....
Mike Harvey
Veteran
It's such a simple rule, really...
groveChuck
U-matic Member
..."before they do unto you" is how some would interpret that, unfortunately.
Myself, I like "You reap what you sow..."
Doc Bernard
Indie Arms Member
Rats, I better take President of Lithuania off my resume............
Jim Brennan
VHS Member Old Skool
To quote Sean Connery..."Who would claim to be that, who was not...hmmm?"
I prefer the Silver Rule, which does not compel you to act in positive ways. Not that active consideration is not usually good, but what if others don't like to be treated the way you do?
groveChuck
U-matic Member
...which when practiced by the selfish members of the species following the Golden Shower Rule, takes us back to "P!ss on others before they p!ss on you"?
Stephen Mick
Totally Usable
R. Kelly's a big fan of the "golden rule"…
groveChuck
U-matic Member
...from lying your way in to a job, to evolutionary biology, to pee jokes... what a long strange trip it's been...
Colonel Panic
Well-known member
Snapped this pic at the store. Thought it was kind of funny.
groveChuck
U-matic Member
I'm submitting this thread as chapter one of my dissertation...