Seeking Academy Nominated Director

Date: 2010-12-26, 12:23PM PST

Searching for Academy Nominated Director

Established Producers are seeking an Academy Award Nominated (not winning though) Director to direct our "brilliant" screenplay. We have name talent attached... just so you know that we are serious. Hint: Bobby De Niro's 3rd cousin, someone that claims to be related to the Busey family, and a girl that says she knows Brittany Spears from her dad's old ice cream shop in Venice Beach, from a few years ago, before he closed it down. Just to name a few.

Our producers have made such shows for Lifetime Channel, such as "Coyote Club: Old & Sexy", "Large Depressed Family", and "Diner Boyfriend Drunk". Lifetime didn't air the shows, but they did think about it. All trailers/teasers are available on the prestigious YouTube. One of the producers is from the Big Apple and the other is from some school in Salt Lake City that nobody really cares about- meaning Big Time! So we will only accept SERIOUS INQUIRIES!

This an UNPAID INTERNSHIP POSITION. You will receive IMDB credit, some food and make great contacts! Only Academy Nominated Directors may apply. The film must be shot in 24-hours, our script is as good as "Paranormal In-activity", and we must be able to use your house and maybe your girlfriend's house as locations for shooting.

This will be shot on the Red One, because our so called cinematographer knows absolutely nothing about exposing film. He does assure us that it will look just as good as "Public Enemies". Everybody is doing this project because they really care.




Location: Hollywood!
Compensation: Great Contacts and more IMDB Credits! Future work with A-List Talent and New Yorkers!

Editor, Sound Guy, Steadicam operator etc

Date: 2010-12-12, 12:48AM PST

Hey we are a starting company looking for slave labor... that's right, we DONT pay for work. We try to take advantage of people out there who dont know what they are doing, just because we dont care about our productions...

We need steadicam guys.. ZERO PAY!!! HELL YEAH
We need editors... ZERO PAY, but you get to give us your work for free... HELL YEAH!!
We need other crew.... ZERO PAY!!! BUT, BUT, you get a chance to give us your blood, sweat and tears FOR FREE!!! HELL YEAH!!

That's how we roll... we are like many other idiots, who think they will get good work for free, or next to no money...

YOU CAN CLEAN OUR FEATURE FILM called the Turd, PUN INTENDED... because it is a turd...!!

Location: Nupaie
Compensation: FREE!! HELL YEAH!!

Need someone to do EVERYTHING!!!

Date: 2010-11-29, 11:10PM PST

Hello, i am a god-like filmmaker and i would like to offer you the opportunity to work with me. I will let you write, storyboard, direct, produce, executive produce, lighting, camera, scout, cast, act, vo, fight choreograph, perform the stunts, write the soundtrack, edit, and color. Along with a few other tasks as craft service and some pa work, like running the office, answering the phones, pick ups/drop offs and those simple things. This will not be paid of corse, but you will be working with me, an honor in itself! If interested, please send your resumé (cover letter mandatory) along with all demo reels and headshot (extra consideration if you resemble tommy wiseau in any way.) must be able to work 10-15 hours a day.

I look forward to you looking forward to working with hollywood legend, me.

(Please people.. we come here to gather what little extra cash we can get to make ends meet. No one wants to work for free. Im a student and a pa, and asking students to work for free for "experience" is insane. no one will be honored to work with you because you have 3 imdb credits, sorry.)

GREAT job offer -- Hollywood

Date: 2010-09-01, 5:08PM PDT

Looking for a great person to do my lawn, dishes, laundry, patch my pants, clean my pool, do my shopping, fix my roof, clean my toilet, wipe my ass, do some construction, cut a few trees down and I need all of this for about 6 months...

There is NO PAY!! BUT, BUT here is the catch... you get copy, credit and perhaps a small piece of a pizza.

Its great to get all the experience if you are a student or new to the hard labor industry.... again... GREAT experience..

I figured since some idiots expect others to work for free in the entertainment industry why not have EVERYONE work for copy credit and meal.?? that's the way we can get free labor all year around...

Location: LA
Compensation: credit copy and MAYBE a meal

Re: Jesus

Date: 2010-07-20, 6:22PM PDT

Build My House - Crew Needed (Hollywood Hills)


Aspiring Homeowner needs crew to come build my new home. Must supply all tools, building supplies and if you have your own crew to bring along then that would be great. I'm looking for a post-modern, eclectic design and you must be versed in creating lens flares in the stain glass windows you will be providing. While I know this is a lot to ask just think about how great I will feed you. (IE: Taco Bell and Subway, seven days a week). We have an 18-day building schedule so you must be OK with 20 hour days. This house will be so awesome and beautiful when you complete it and will be seen by many "Hollywood Insiders". Just think how great this house will look on your reel and all the calls for the free construction you'll get from my "Hollywood Friends" that are as versed as me at exploiting other people for personal gain. Please provide demo reel, 48 IMDB credit, 36 references and be fully licensed and proficient in all current construction codes and standards. Looking forward to living in my "Dream Home"!!!! Will also consider bringing you on as my gardner at the end of the project.


This post sounds ridiculous because it is. But just transpose some of the words into "filmmaking" terminology and presto, you have a CL "Crew Gig" ad. Posts like these are put up here on Craigslist a hundred times a day..... think about it....

Big time, award-winning film director seeks minions!

Date: 2010-07-17, 5:49PM PDT

Hey, all.
I am an award-winning, incredibly successful film director with two Oscars and an Emmy to my name. I am looking for a complete crew to work for free on a feature film for the web I am directing.
The shooting schedule is next weekend, which is plenty of time to shoot a 90 minute feature. Right?

I have no budget, since I am full of shit, so I can't pay you; but I will give you a credit (duh) and a copy for whatever the hell you want to do wth it. Plus, I'll feed you a couple of bagels at some point and call it "lunch."
This is great opportunity to get involved with someone in the industry and make hot, big-time industry connections, which I swear I have, even though I am trolling for a crew on Craigslist.

Please send your resume and a brief note about why you want to take it up the ass.
Remember, I used "big time" and "award-winning." This has to mean I am important. Just go with it.

Thanks.

Location: Sherman Oaks
Compensation: no pay

Ever Wonder Why Your Crew Ad Gets Flagged

Date: 2010-07-12, 8:27PM PDT

The reason why most ads are getting flagged is that when you post a no pay gig for a DP, Camera Op, Grip, Sound Mixer, and especially a Boom Op, you are devaluing the work that these people love to do and their perceived worth, especially when you are asking for someone who has their own gear to work for free.

Even a skilled boom op has the right to get paid a decent day rate and if you think it's ok bring someone on with zero experience to hold a boom is ok, well then, you get what you deserve.

Oh yeah, there are plenty of lame-o's who will flag and ad so that when they submit for it they have a better chance of getting call back, hmmm....what's worse?

Not a hater, just a player.

LOL!!

Date: 2010-07-02, 11:57AM PDT

I used to get angry at the "Flaggers" here on Craigslist's crew job board....
I used to think, I'm an adult, I don't need flaggers to protect me, I can make my own decisions on whether or not to reply

Now I TOTALLY see their point.

I have 18 years in the business, and I have yet to see a DIME of the "Deferred Pay" I worked for over 15 years ago...
meanwhile, I have seen some of the Rat Bastard producers that climbed their way up over my body... with promises to hire me for
"Paying" gigs, the "Next time" (yeah, right...)

I even got an e-mail back from some "Producer" calling me a "Stupid Ni**er" (I'm NOT African American)
because in their words "Craigslist was for Free Jobs", and that "Mandy's was for paying jobs"
after I called him out on expecting free Labor (and free rental of my gear, and my Gas to get to the location)

The 3 biggest lies in Hollywood are "Deferred Pay", "The Check's in the mail" and "I won't cum in your mouth"...

Until Craigslist creates a "FREEBIE JOB POSTING SECTION"...
I will be flagging 99% of Freebie jobs that I run across... (the ones that I believe are just a--holes that are looking for free labor, equipment rentals)

(I believe that there are a few legitimate freebies that are out there... being done by people who legitimately want to trade services)

Oh, and "Internships" that don't offer college credit, and are used to take the place of a paying jobs... illegal, and flagged...



Location: nowhereville
Compensation: What? Just being in my presence isn't more pay than you deserve?

I don't get it...

Date: 2010-06-09, 10:23PM PDT

How is that all these bottom feeders who want people to work for free are able to claim

that the crew is gonna be "fun and exciting" and "laid back and professional"

when they haven't even hired the crew members yet?

Cheap, pathetic, willing to break the law by not paying legal required wages and apparently

they're prescient too...no wonder they're all so successful.

Location: Pasadena
Compensation: invaluable advice

Budgets

Date: 2010-05-30, 7:50AM PDT

My goodness! So many folks here on CL begging for free labor to realize their projects. As depressing as the state of economy is these days, I have to say, I am enamored with the terminology used by our fabulous producers. I've heard of productions that are:
Low Budget
Modest Budget
Modified Low Budget
Ultra Low Budget
Micro Budget

and now Budget-free

as though they'd been released from the cumbersome shackles of financing altogether. But of course, the project will be a fantastic networking opportunity.


Location: Los Angeles

Experience vs Pay

Date: 2010-05-22, 8:33PM PDT

It's funny how these producers, directors need to get on Craigslist to find a PA and they love to SAY you'll get some great experience or knowledge from THEIR project. But guess what, if they can't pay you it means they didn't secure a budget and at the end of the day what can they really offer you???
And how/why is it they even have to get on CL to find you?? More than likely they're friends and other colleagues are sick of helping them out as well and not getting paid for it!!

Don't lower your standards if you are new or a student. Networking is great, but you should ALWAYS be compensated...SOMETHING. Copy/Credit/Meals is not compensation!!!

Stop letting these productions take advantage of others.
Best of luck.

Location: Hollywood
Compensation: Of Course!!!!!!! Don't do productions that don't pay...they'll learn...

Below scale camera operator

Date: 2010-05-17, 1:06PM PDT

I am constantly seeing ads for companies, producers and directors looking to hire camera operators for next to nothing. I might be able to understand hiring a camera operator at a rate of $250.00 per day ($25/hr) if you are providing all of the equipment. However, it seems you want some of these kids with event a limited amount of experience to work for as little as $15/hr including an equipment list that includes at a minimum: a $1,500.00 - $10,000.00 camera system; with support equipment; a full grip truck and in some cases a complete sound package. With all of this equipment, the young would-be DP will be required to have insurance on his equipment & liability, as well as a comprehensive auto policy. This is getting ridiculous.

I am a professional video producer, camera operator, Art Director and DP who has been working steadily for almost a decade without joining a union. I may work in the corporate video industry (seminars, training videos, PSAs and commercials), and not in the mainstream LA market (film & television industry); but I have continued to support myself, my family and my crew without laying people off. My day rate at a minimum (hiring only myself and not my crew) is $500.00 for a half-day or $800.00 for a full day. Most of my clients pay me between $800.00 and $3,000.00 per day (obviously includes my crew at that rate). My crew and I may not work every day, but we work steadily without having to compromise our quality or values.

My point here today is that you will get what you pay for. My clients hire me because I am one of the best at what I do (if not the best). Some of my clients in the last years and a half have commented on my prices being too high, but they continue to pay because my knowledge of their product/service, experience and the quality of my work speaks for itself. Any of my clients could hire an amateur or "up-and-coming" DP for 1/4 of what they pay me. Then again, I see ads on here regularly that are reposted within 3 weeks of the original ad looking for cheap workers. I know the project was filmed once with an inexperienced DP and they did not get everything they needed. Rather than admit that the producer should have hired someone with experience to do it right the first time, they often shoot the project 2 or 3 times with different crews, creating a lower quality yet completed project.

When I began my career, young "would-be" DPs would intern, assist ad work with professionals to gain experience. I know several DPs who, if they found someone of promise would help them with tuition for film school and offer them their 1st job after school. The training and knowledge gained in the classroom along with practical experience is what made for great DPs. Now, you kids go out and by an $800.00 Canon DSLR with a $200.00 tripod and a $300.00 lens and think you can "fake it 'til you make it". All this has done is produce an extremely large quantity of garbage that make reality TV more desirable. You need to hold your ground, work with real professionals and stop producing trash.

Location: Hollywood & SoCal
Compensation: $50 - $250 per day

Unpaid gigs

Date: 2010-05-04, 9:38AM PDT

Don't ask people to work unpaid features and "tv shows" below the line. It brings down the market value of below the line labor. I'm finding that companies are paying less and less and the cost of living is going up. If you want to produce stuff cheaply- go to a place with amateurs.

Compensation: A living wage.

No free work! Stop giving away your art

Date: 2010-05-02, 10:14AM PDT

No one will work for free or low rate. In the entertainment business everyone is valuable and essential to the project. Without the knowledge and experience of professionals you will have a HOLE in your project and It will not be finished until you find an expert to fill the gap.

Interns have to work for pay as well or apply it for school credit. The employer has to have contact with the college so that the student can apply his or her internship to the college and receive credit.
No free work! Stop giving away your art
All worker (non-student) must be paid starting with industry rate or higher for their time. Flat rates, unless negotiated in the right way and not adding up to be $4 per hour should be fair.

All artist must know their self worth. If you don't know it, then no one else will. You will become white american slaves. It has already happened and it needs to stop. If the project can't pay, the project will sit until the project can raise some funds. No one is working for charity. Most of the projects out there are not even worth putting on reels because of the production value. It's a waste of time. I know that everyone has to make money some how but if we put an end to this abuse, well then clients will have no other option but to pay a respectable and fair rate for his or her project to be executed.

Take a stand now or this industry will forever be compromised and it will become a non respected career. A JOKE

Location: Ca
Compensation: $$$

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I will not work for free: I agree
Date: 2010-05-02, 10:08AM PDT

I agree with the blogger. I will take a stand. We don't have to waste our time flagging non-paying jobs, just don't apply. It's time that we all take a stand and ignore SLAVERY GIGS. We all have reels and If we didn't we would get the job anyway. And if I hear, "it coming out of my own pocket" I am going to slap-a-biatch, Because it's not going to come out of my pocket to fund or to give charity to your project so that you can come up and I could care less if the next job you will keep me in mind if I'm a good slave for you.

I'm taking a stand! Now !!!and so should all of the artist! We are artist and not slaves. They need our services just like we need DWP or Edison and we all pay their rate.

Location: LA
Compensation: $$$$

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Date: 2010-05-02, 10:18AM PDT

No free work: sweet dude I will stop too. I will take a stand.

Location: Orange county
Compensation: $$$

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Date: 2010-05-02, 10:21AM PDT

I'm a 15 year artist and I will not be a slave Pay me for what I am worth

Location: santa monica
Compensation: $$$$$

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Date: 2010-05-02, 10:25AM PDT

No slavery No free work. Pay for services rendered (world wide)

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EVEN PAID GIGS RARELY LEAD TO MORE WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Date: 2010-05-02, 10:28AM PDT

I've been working in camera for 13 years and rarely does a paying gig lead to more work! Why would someone not paying you have work for you later WITH money!

Stop working for free!

Hollywood is circling the drain.
Don't get shit on!

Location: HOLLYFREE
Compensation: Pay, what is that!

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Date: 2010-05-02, 10:35AM PDT

Yes, Let Negotiate: starting at $60 per/hour This will keep the money people on a time clock and a schedule.

Location: every man take a stand
Compensation: $60 per/hour

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Date: 2010-05-02, 10:58AM PDT

"CHEAP WORK IS NEVER GOOD, AND GOOD WORK IS NEVER CHEAP".

EVERY single posting here is correct!! NEVER NEVER NEVER, (let me repeat that) NEVER take work for free or for a discount. I have done that, as I needed the cash, and they will often work you to death! OH... we're short handed, can you help out with that? OK, so then, they should pay you for that job too!! BUT... they don't!!

Your services and time have value. Don't short change yourself for that. Each job has a price. A rate that should be paid. When you accept no money, or less money, it validates that "work for nothing". It makes it so people won't EVER offer money. If one can get away with it, so will EVERYONE!! Do you really think that someone who won't pay now will pay later? NOPE.. doesn't EVER work that way.

PLEASE.. up and coming artists. We all know we are DESPERATE for work. I haven't worked in nearly a year. BUT, I will NEVER take cheap work, or free work. It devalues my position that I have spent years creating. It devalues you too. IF you want to work for crap.. Go stand in front of Home Depot.

Location: Hollyweird
Compensation: Your sanity & your pocket

---------------------------------
No work for free! Stop wasting your time!
Date: 2010-05-02, 10:59AM PDT

I agree with everybody here. Work has to be paid!

I hate those ads that say something along these lines:

- need someone with (insert expensive equipment of choice) that is qualified to use this expensive equipment,
that has many years of experience for.... differed payment and/or low budget and/or free.

Why would I want to put thousands of dollars of my equipment and my qualified time for nothing or a vague promise of something.

STAND TALL AND DON'T APPLY FOR BS JOBS!

I have seen so many people angry on CL about it I might just make a group !

---------------------------------
I work for Free on occasion
Date: 2010-05-02, 11:03AM PDT

and it frequently leads to paying work. For example, several years ago, I cut a pilot for a kid for free that was working with Russell Simmons. The pilot didn't get picked up (which wasn't a surprise to me) but a few months later, someone asked Simmons for a referral for an editor on a similar project, and he sent them my way. That was a feature film project that was picked up by IFP. The producers then hired me to cut three more projects over the course of the next two years.

This industry is all about making connections. And if you do good work, even non-paid work leads to paying gigs. When my business gets slow, I always look around for a good project that has working people attached - student films don't make the cut and neither do most projects by first time directors. And the right project always leads to more work.

The simple fact of the matter is that never in the history of the world have most artistic ventures had sufficient funding to hire an adequate staff. Work in 99 seat theatre in LA, and you're probably working for free. Indies are the same. No one makes money off of either. If you only want to work in Full Equity production with a union paycheck for everyone, then you'll face a lot more competition even if you're as good as it gets and impeccably professional. Demanding a full paycheck out of most indies will never work. If you can't pitch in, don't do it. That simple.

Location: sfv

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Agreed: no free work and why? I turn jobs at $150 a day - too low (Los Angeles)
Date: 2010-05-02, 11:14AM PDT

I'm a DP and worth a hell of a lot more than free, or even $150. By the time you have 12 hours in a shoot and it runs long you are working for $8-$10 per hour as a professional... no way!
The trick is to not apply or accept those chumpy jobs. You are the reason CL is bombarded with this crap because until now you agree to work for free or next to nothing.

Hold out and get some real money or don't work on these shoots! Find some other type of work until the industry recovers! I had to do this at one point in my career and I am now only working decent or well-paid gigs.

And a stipened or deferred pay...what a joke. Have you ever known anyone to get paid on a deferred basis - no because a free crew can't give the film good enough production value to be bought. Never think you will be paid because some new filmmaker is blinded and thinks they will get distribution. Most of the time you can tell half way through the day that the project isn't going anywhere.

Best of luck crew guys and stay strong - let's weed out the bullshiters who aren't paying people what they are worth. Can I get an AMEN!

Location: Los Angeles

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agreed: no more free work for flagging producers
Date: 2010-05-02, 12:19PM PDT

I'm a DP and worth a hell of a lot more than free, or even $150. By the time you have 12 hours in a shoot and it runs long you are working for $8-$10 per hour as a professional... no way!
The trick is to not apply or accept those chumpy jobs. You are the reason CL is bombarded with this crap because until now you agree to work for free or next to nothing.

Hold out and get some real money or don't work on these shoots! Find some other type of work until the industry recovers! I had to do this at one point in my career and I am now only working decent or well-paid gigs.

And a stipened or deferred pay...what a joke. Have you ever known anyone to get paid on a deferred basis - no because a free crew can't give the film good enough production value to be bought. Never think you will be paid because some new filmmaker is blinded and thinks they will get distribution. Most of the time you can tell half way through the day that the project isn't going anywhere.

Best of luck crew guys and stay strong - let's weed out the bullshiters who aren't paying people what they are worth. Can I get an AMEN!

Flaggers - keep hating and I will repost until your broke!

See some comments from others who agree:

Im a sound mixer and absolutely agree. Producers will continue to rob people blind if we keep taking these dead end jobs...
Best,

Justin

I used to get good gigs on CL. Now everyone has run out and bought a 3 chip HD camera and has saturated the market with cheap work making it difficult for real DPs to get good rates. In a sense the invention of the HD camera is to blame for this but what can we do? I actually sold my 16mm system because hardly anyone shoots 16mm anymore.

-Danny

It's a jobs board...

Date: 2010-02-12, 10:16AM PST

Thanks to all the folks who continue to flag the abusive bottom feeders who keep trying to break state labor laws here on Craigs List.

Remember, there will never be any "deferred pay", the crew won't be "fun", the film hasn't been accepted at any festivals, how could it be, you haven't made it yet!

It is illegal to call a part-time temporary job an "internship" just because the person posting is too cheap to pay for labor.

You can't pay your bills with "copy, credit, and meals..."


I particularly like the folks who post with such urgency that they desperately need someone to come bail them out and they still try to offer nothing for your labor.

It's insulting, immoral, demeaning, and illegal and the only way to stop it here is to immediately flag every listing that attempts to get others to work for free.

Keep up the great work.

Location: Pasadena
Compensation: invaluable advice

At least understand the job description

Date: 2010-01-10, 1:05PM PST

I understand there a lot of people who need some professionals on their productions but can only pay low rates ($100-$150/day, no OT, MPs, etc...) However, to the people who do hire us professionals; please do your research as to the job description of the position for which you are hiring. I am getting really tired of jobs positings that read:

"Looking for a couple of Gaffers for a short film". There is only 1 Gaffer. The people working under him/her are electricians.

"Looking for Grip... Will be helping Gaffer setting lights, running power, etc..". A Grip on a professional set will never touch a cable. Now if you need someone to come on board and do both grip and electric, then please state that you are looking for a swing: Grip/Electric.

It sucks when us professionals need to come to craigslist for jobs because work is so slow and we have bills to pay. But I'm getting really tired of the times someone will post an ad looking for a Key Grip. I'll respond, get called for the job and then when I get to set and ask to speak to the Gaffer; they look at me weird and think that a Key Grip is the Gaffer. It's all fun in games to them until I start popping breakers and blowing fuses in their million dollar homes.

Please understand why a professional is coming to work on your little production for a much lower rate. We're having a tough time as it is; at least give us the courtesy and respect our profession deserves by doing your research the next time you want to hire an Assistant Camera to run Sound.

Location: Film Industry