Minimum Wage and the Independent Contractor - Cameramen, Editors

Date: 2008-10-19, 12:39PM PDT


The following piece about the rights of film crew who are being underpaid got flagged and removed -
I wonder by who? The people whose rights need to be protected, or the shmoes who are trying to underpay you? Read about your rights before it gets flagged again:

More and more "producers" are offering less than minimum wage for both Camerman (with their own equipment, no less) and editors (with their own systems). They are getting around the minimum wage law by claiming "since it's a project, we can pay whatever we want". This was told to me by a real creep named [-----] at JIF, who was offering $200 a week, I kid you not, to edit their films, at eight hours a day. Since then it has gotten worse. Now cameramen with their own equipment are being offered $250 a week to film seven straight days, while traveling to dangerous countries.

Well, it turns out you do have rights. The Labor Division won't help you file a claim they say, because independent contractors don't fall under their jurisdiction, but you can take these "producers" to small claims court, and sue them for up to $7,000 lost wages, if they have violated the independent contractors regulation. This is from the government labor division's website:

The Independent Contractor: You cannot be considered an independent contractor if your s
schedule is set by someone else.

They are in violation of regulations governing contracting. See the following url:
http://www.dol.gov/elaws/esa/flsa/scope/ee14.asp


So if you take an editing job or a cameraman job, even if you sign a contract, they are in violation if they set your schedule (i.e., tell you when and where to show up, and how many hours; that's making a schedule). Even if they have not "set your schedule", you can still sue for the difference between what they paid you and minimum wage. The Labor Division said "we make no guarantees" if you will win or not, but you have the right to sue them.

Please remind these turkeys of this the next time they try to do this to you. Or wait until the project is over, and take them to court.

Hope this helps someone.


* Location: Hollywood
* Compensation: Minimum Wage: Take them to court

LA FEATURE FILM

Date: 2008-10-18, 1:29PM PDT


Director, must be award winning or nominated.
DP with 35mm package full prime set and 2 red cameras, must have access to free film stock
1st Ac
2nd Ac
1st Ad
2nd Ad
Prop master must have own warehouse full of stuff, space travel gear, spelunking, WW2 flame throwers.
20 stunt men, must have combat, explosives, and military training. navy seals would be best.
Line producer
Production designer
10 production assistants with on set skills
2 gaffer with own gear, full studio sets
8 grips with own gear
medical person ( must be a MD), snake bite kits, sunburn,etc
Executive Producer with access to funds around 72 million euros.
we are shooting in the desert for three months
Crew must bring own food, personal items to survive
cell phones dont work so must bring Gps and satellite phones
Must sign waivers to work on this film, wilderness survival classes must be completed before shoot.
Studio is not giving credits for this production.
No pay. Crew may have to pitch in, points are available.
This is a chance of a life time.
Working titles ' Honorable Discharge' or Catalistic curcumference:Space Marine 2

* Location: VERY CLOSE

Interns

Date: 2008-10-13, 8:03PM PDT


Anyone interning for free to gain "experience" and "connections" needs to think carefully about how much they can actually learn from people who don't make any money. What good are connections with people who don't work on jobs that can pay? You're much better off working on student productions and shooting your own projects.

If you really want to intern for your first job, then send a resume to all the big production companies. The people that have to go out of their way advertising on craigslist are desperate for an intern for a reason.

* Location: LA

Need Producer, Director, DP, UPM, Gaffer, Editor, and Writer ASAP

Date: 2008-10-08, 12:06PM PDT


Hi,

Have you ever been on craigslist and someone wants to use your services and your 20,000 $ camera equipment for the rate of 100$? Doesn't that just make you mad?

Well check out this new concept I am proposing.

You provide all the equipment, lights, cameras, talent, etc.... then you pay me. Then not only do you not get anything, but I get everything, so it's a win-win situation. You get to use your talents and express your creativity, but then i get everything. So it works out just perfect.

I have a unique vision for a movie and I need a Producer, Director, DP, UPM, Editor, and an incredibly amazing writer. Basically what will happen is I will go on craigslist and organize a bunch of free labor
to create the movie, and you the laborers will not be compensated, in fact you will pay me. In return you will get to be in a movie that is listed on IMDB. Now that does not mean your name will be on IMDB or that you will get a credit or copy or even a meal... it just means that you get to work with an incredibly talented visionary like me.

So if you're interested, give me a call asap. I will try to leave my cell phone on for part of the day but I am kayaking in malibu so leave a voicemail if I do not pickup. And if you really want the gig, send me some gift certificates to spago.

Thank you

Eric Walterstein


serious inquiries only

* Location: Los Angeles
* Compensation: You Pay Me

If you want people to do good work, PAY THEM!

Date: 2008-10-06, 11:30AM PDT


If you expect a Make-up Artist to work for free, at least pay for their kit fee. Do you know that Make-up costs money? Why should we pay you (in supplies) to work for you? It is a REAL profession and we have REAL bills to put a roof over our heads and put food on our tables. A t-shirt is not going to pay a cell phone bill. Make-up school is expensive and so are supplies. Keep in mind that more often than not, you get what you pay for when it comes to rates. If you are a Photographer, I do not need to hear how much you paid for your equipment and how your job is so much more important than my job. That is BS and does not excuse you for being cheap. If you are being paid for the gig, the Make-up person should be getting paid. You also need to remember our rate is our rate, and our kit fee is our product. If you offer $50.00 in pay, that translates into working for free and that might be enough to cover products used.

* Location: anywhere

Camera Ops--DV, Broadcast, HDV, please read!

Date: 2008-10-02, 11:36AM PDT


We say this all the time and will keep saying it. DO NOT TAKE NO/LOW PAYING WORK!! It just drives down the market and the second one producer or filmmaker gets you and pays you absolutely nothing for a profession you've probably invested a lot of money into with schooling and equipment, they will do it ALL THE TIME! There is no such thing as "future paying work", no such thing as "deferred".

This business is expensive. Sorry but it is. Find a budget, then make your project happen!!

I still have no idea why people think they can offer us nothing for our work, but as long as they keep asking we will keep SAYING NO...RIGHT!?!?

* Location: Anywhere
* Compensation: if you do it for free, they will always ask you to do it for free...

RE: TBD, NEGOTIABLE, SEND US YOUR DAY RATE

Date: 2008-10-01, 2:43PM PDT


Guys, dont fall for this Bull$hit.....when somebody says TBD,Negotiable, or send us your day rate, thats just another way for them to lower our wages. flag em....They know what a day rate should be.

* Location: everywhere
* Compensation: yes, please pay us what we're worth!!!!