RE: Crew Survival

We were shooting an indie feature, SAG but not DGA and not IA. Everyone was on flat day rates, 1099 no overtime.
Our 12hr days were soon turning into 14, then 16, and once 20 hours. Turnarounds were shortened as well. Someone got wind that camera was getting a "bump" under the table every time we went over 12. So we rallied together, G&E, wardrobe, art, sound, Ad's, all of us. We went to the producers and demanded overtime. And the days got back to 12hrs.
It's important to stand together. Share information. Help keep your rates at an appropriate scale. Help keep your fellow crew members from getting burned. Collective bargaining works, whether you are working under an IATSE contract or not.


Original Story 2:
Much like the story below only working on a current digital film (the usual low/no budget music video crap) as the DIT. I held the footage hostage and didn't release any drives until we got paid..


Original story:
A friend told me a story about shooting a project on 35mm film back in the day....They did not pay the crew at the end of the shoot as agreed...He called the 2nd AC at the lab and had him hold on to the shot film....then he told them he would expose a roll of film to the California sunshine each day until he and the crew were paid...it only took one day...and one roll of film!

Do you have a production survival tip or story to share?

Have you had to go to the extreme to get an honest days pay for an honest days work?

Tell us how you did it.

• Location: Los Angeles

Filmmakers: Stop Asking For Free Shit

   You have a film or short that you need to have done? Lean how to budget. If your car breaks down or something goes wrong in your house or apartment are the repairs done free? Maybe you'll hook them up later with paid work? I don't think so. And you douche bags who are "award winners" and still can't pay your crew, you motherfuckers need to get quadruple pimp slapped. If you've won awards you can afford to pay. Nothing comes free. No one is trying to do this for the "love". Save up your money for your project so you can at least offer to pay SOMETHING. Otherwise it's not even cheap labor, it's slave labor.

If you have no budget do some things on your own. You don't need a storyboard artist. Draw stick figures. Spielberg did it, why can't you? No DP? Shoot it yourself with a camcorder. Lighting? 3 lights, Key, Fill, and Back. Done. Editing? Use freeware like Lightworks (28 Days Later, Hanna, Pulp Fiction and several other movies) or OpenShot Video Editor to edit your project. If you're creative enough to make a movie, you can budget your project. Want your Kickstarter project to look good? Pay for it to look good and I'm sure you'll get ample seed money. Don't expect pro level work if you can't pay for it.

• Location: Los Angeles
• Compensation: Why should I? Y'all don't. 

Need DP with with Alexa

Need DP with Alexa

Looking for a DP with Alexa camera package. Experienced director, great crew, great script, talent attached. Filming starts April 20th. 8 day shoot. ($200/14 Hour Day Alexa rental). Please respond with imdb credits, and Reel. SAG, DGA, WGA spec sitcom pilot. Self-financed.

Glenoaks at Olive Ave

• Location: Burbank
• Compensation: camera rental, credit, deferred salary, profit participation 

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RE: Need DP with with Alexa (Burbank)

opportunity of the life here guys!

$75,000 alexa package (CHECK)
$25k in lenses (CHECK)
years of experience with shooting and lighting (CHECK)

and i only have to work 14 hours? and make 200 bucks per day..

WOW.. this is it guys!

SIGN ME UP  

Attention all DP's & Camera operators!!!

Ok folks are we not all tired of the joke cheap beyond belief rates people think they can offer here.
Here's the plan and let's ALL stick to it.
When you see one of these "Looking for DP with gear for $100 per day or $75 or 50 or nothing. BOOK IT!!! YES BOOK IT.
And then stay home that day. Or call them 2 hours before the "shoot" and tell them a paying client just called last minute and sorry you CHEAP DICK.
So PLEASE let's ALL DO THIS AND MAYBE THEY'LL GET THE MESSAGE!!!

• Compensation: 11 dollars lunch & credit  

RE: Location Sound Needed

Wow, so you're a "full service production company" looking for a sound guy with a boom and a few lavaliere microphones, huh?
Since you're a full service production company, obviously you're doing it for a profit. And what you're offering me is "no/low/deferred pay"?
So is it no pay, low pay, or deferred pay? They are all different in terms. Don't bother! Because we both know that you're not willing to pay a dime no matter what.

And here is your magic word, "We are looking to potentially hire someone full time onto our staff for future shoots."

By adding that one sentence, do you really believe that anyone believes you're gonna pay in future for something you're asking me to do for free this time?? With all my expensive equipment? Come on man, you're gonna just keep looking for more slaves, right sir MOTHERFUCKER!!!!! 

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Original motherfucking post:

We are a full service production company looking for a sound mixer for a shoot this Saturday April 6th from 5pm-2am. Need someone with a boom and a few lavaliere microphones. Shoot will include 3 locations. This is no/low/deferred pay. It is for copy, credit, meal, and gas. We are looking to potentially hire someone full time onto our staff for future shoots.

• Location: Loser Angeles
• Compensation: I'm gonna stick my boom in your ridiculous asshole!!