Date: 2009-04-20, 9:50AM PDT
A recent post seeking a DP with equipment demanded that they submit a flat rate for the two weeks or their submission would be thrown out. This and other similar posts are a bit annoying and are truly difficult to respond to. In the low budget arena that is the Craigslist pool of work, it all comes down to a game of "Show me yours and I'll show you mine." If I knew you had a budget of a million dollars my rate would be X; if I knew you had $100,000 it would obviously be Y. It is virtually impossible to expect someone to submit a flat two week rate for a gig when you give them no baseline from which to base their bid upon. Why not just ask for reels and equipment lists first, then call those that seem the best fit for your gig and start the bidding process at that point?
* Location: Hollywood
Monday, April 20, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
STORY OF A CHEAP PRODUCER WANNABE
Date: 2009-04-11, 10:45AM PDT
A guy walks into an upscale restaurant and sits down at a table. The waiter comes over and takes his order. The customer orders the Lobster, Filet, and their best glass of wine. The customer eats his food quickly, obviously not used to such fine food. He greedily cleans his plate in record time. He calls the waiter over and hands him a five dollar bill and says, “Thanks for the food.” The customer then gets up and gets ready to leave. The waiter is very confused and tells the man that the meal he just consumed cost one hundred dollars.
The customer looks at the waiter and says, “Oh I know, but you see my budget was not big for this meal, and he only planned on spending five dollars.”
“So why did you order the most expensive thing on the menu?” asked the waiter.
“Because that’s what I wanted” the man replied
“I don’t think you understand sir” said the waiter, “The food itself cost more than five dollars, plus there is the matter of paying the wait staff, the chef, and overhead in the restaurant.”
The customer replied, “I don’t understand, you already own the building, so why charge me for that. The wait staff was already heading from the kitchen to the tables, so why should I pay for that. Just bring my food with everyone else’s. And the chef can’t be that expensive. You should just hire some bum off the street. It would be cheaper and just as good.”
Clearly the man has absolutely no concept of what it takes to run a business, so the waiter says, “Sir, if you don’t pay for the meal, I will have to call the police.”
Very confused, the customer says, “But that’s not how it should work. I just shot a pilot for a TV show, and it only cost me fifteen dollars. Isn’t this the same thing?”
Curious the waiter asked, “How is that possible?”
“Oh it’s easy”, the man said, “the videographer I hired owned his own equipment. That means I don’t have to pay for it.”
“Someone has to” said the waiter.
“Not me” said the customer
The waiter then called the cops and the man was arrested.
SOUND FAMILIAR, WHO DO THESE PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE. THEY WANT $50,000 TO $100,000 WORTH OF EQUIPMENT, PLUS YOUR TALENT THAT TOOK YEARS TO DEVELOP, AND WANT TO PAY YOU $100 A DAY.
BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* Location: LA
------------------------------------
RE: Story of a Cheap Producer
Date: 2009-04-11, 11:11AM PDT
Good analogy and well written!
These clowns are ridiculous with their requests.
GET A BUDGET IF YOU WANT A PRO WITH PRO GEAR!!!
* Location: Everywhere
* Compensation: Very little... Cheap bastiges!!!
A guy walks into an upscale restaurant and sits down at a table. The waiter comes over and takes his order. The customer orders the Lobster, Filet, and their best glass of wine. The customer eats his food quickly, obviously not used to such fine food. He greedily cleans his plate in record time. He calls the waiter over and hands him a five dollar bill and says, “Thanks for the food.” The customer then gets up and gets ready to leave. The waiter is very confused and tells the man that the meal he just consumed cost one hundred dollars.
The customer looks at the waiter and says, “Oh I know, but you see my budget was not big for this meal, and he only planned on spending five dollars.”
“So why did you order the most expensive thing on the menu?” asked the waiter.
“Because that’s what I wanted” the man replied
“I don’t think you understand sir” said the waiter, “The food itself cost more than five dollars, plus there is the matter of paying the wait staff, the chef, and overhead in the restaurant.”
The customer replied, “I don’t understand, you already own the building, so why charge me for that. The wait staff was already heading from the kitchen to the tables, so why should I pay for that. Just bring my food with everyone else’s. And the chef can’t be that expensive. You should just hire some bum off the street. It would be cheaper and just as good.”
Clearly the man has absolutely no concept of what it takes to run a business, so the waiter says, “Sir, if you don’t pay for the meal, I will have to call the police.”
Very confused, the customer says, “But that’s not how it should work. I just shot a pilot for a TV show, and it only cost me fifteen dollars. Isn’t this the same thing?”
Curious the waiter asked, “How is that possible?”
“Oh it’s easy”, the man said, “the videographer I hired owned his own equipment. That means I don’t have to pay for it.”
“Someone has to” said the waiter.
“Not me” said the customer
The waiter then called the cops and the man was arrested.
SOUND FAMILIAR, WHO DO THESE PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE. THEY WANT $50,000 TO $100,000 WORTH OF EQUIPMENT, PLUS YOUR TALENT THAT TOOK YEARS TO DEVELOP, AND WANT TO PAY YOU $100 A DAY.
BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* Location: LA
------------------------------------
RE: Story of a Cheap Producer
Date: 2009-04-11, 11:11AM PDT
Good analogy and well written!
These clowns are ridiculous with their requests.
GET A BUDGET IF YOU WANT A PRO WITH PRO GEAR!!!
* Location: Everywhere
* Compensation: Very little... Cheap bastiges!!!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
COMMON DECENCY / MANNERS
Date: 2009-03-15, 7:47AM PDT
I am a freelancer with 10 years experience and I look at Craigslist everyday to pick up work if I can.
I always reply to posts that pertain to my services and send resume, reel link, rate, availability and whatever else they ask for.
You would think the least the poster could do is respond to everyone who sent them info and once they have filled the position to delete the ad.
They probably don't teach manners at the expensive film schools, just how to jerk people around!
But I guess I shouldn't expect too much since most the Craigslist ads are crappy gigs with low pay and no respect for your time or you as a human being.
What a shame!
* Location: RUDEVILLE
----------------------------------
RE : Decency / Rudeness (Hollywood)
Date: 2009-03-15, 10:01AM PDT
"You would think the least the poster could do is respond to everyone who sent them info and once they have filled the position to delete the ad. "
And what exactly is that supposed to accomplish ? Seriously ? I'd love to understand what the thinking is here, I'm not getting it.
I see these same "please acknowledge my application" ads every week. What ?
This is not 1959 or even 1989, and people do not send hand typed formal query letters on watermarked linen letterhead by US Postal Service to be acknowledged by a similar letter from a secretary.
There's a massive army of overqualified competition for any film related position in Los Angeles, and if you have been doing this 10 years you surely have seen the whole thing change during that period of time.
* Location: Hollywood
-----------------------------------
RE: DECENCY AND MANNERS... (Rudeville)
Date: 2009-03-15, 11:35AM PDT
As someone who has placed job ads here...I can tell you from experience... you can't respond to everyone, there is usually an overwhelming response to begin with. Not to mention that many responses are so rediculous they don't warrant a response in the first place. SO once you've placed an ad you will understand. It's not about rudeness, it's weeding through, picking the most suitable applicant and that's it!
* Location: Rudeville
-----------------------------------
RE: Decency and Manners (rudeville?)
Date: 2009-03-15, 12:17PM PDT
Everyone is right that posters get hundreds of responses. This is what i don't get. I receive phone calls all the time and someone says, "hey this is brian, you responded to my craigs list posting? Are you still available to work?" I then reply, "on what? where? when? and for how much? what camera are we shooting on? who's the DP? who's directing? are these day or night shoots? who the hell am I talking to?"
Listen up producers/directors/whoever is posting these jobs... If you receive 200 responses. And you're calling ONE person back, then statistically I, as an average freelancer, have to apply to about 200 jobs for every call back I get. Now it's not quite that bad, but if I apply to 4-5 things every day and I assume it takes producers a few days to go through responses, then there's a possibility of you being from any one of about 20 jobs that I applied to. When you call to hire me, have some professionalism. Give me some info that was in the post so I know what job you're talking about. Give me more info that wasn't in your post. Tell me something about your shoot. Remember you're not doing a favor to freelances by offering them work. We're doing a favor to you by giving our excellent services for your (usually) low ball rate.
To the original poster, get over yourself. This is criagslist, not CAA. If you don't get a thanks but no thanks email just keep moving down the list.
* Location: rudeville?
I am a freelancer with 10 years experience and I look at Craigslist everyday to pick up work if I can.
I always reply to posts that pertain to my services and send resume, reel link, rate, availability and whatever else they ask for.
You would think the least the poster could do is respond to everyone who sent them info and once they have filled the position to delete the ad.
They probably don't teach manners at the expensive film schools, just how to jerk people around!
But I guess I shouldn't expect too much since most the Craigslist ads are crappy gigs with low pay and no respect for your time or you as a human being.
What a shame!
* Location: RUDEVILLE
----------------------------------
RE : Decency / Rudeness (Hollywood)
Date: 2009-03-15, 10:01AM PDT
"You would think the least the poster could do is respond to everyone who sent them info and once they have filled the position to delete the ad. "
And what exactly is that supposed to accomplish ? Seriously ? I'd love to understand what the thinking is here, I'm not getting it.
I see these same "please acknowledge my application" ads every week. What ?
This is not 1959 or even 1989, and people do not send hand typed formal query letters on watermarked linen letterhead by US Postal Service to be acknowledged by a similar letter from a secretary.
There's a massive army of overqualified competition for any film related position in Los Angeles, and if you have been doing this 10 years you surely have seen the whole thing change during that period of time.
* Location: Hollywood
-----------------------------------
RE: DECENCY AND MANNERS... (Rudeville)
Date: 2009-03-15, 11:35AM PDT
As someone who has placed job ads here...I can tell you from experience... you can't respond to everyone, there is usually an overwhelming response to begin with. Not to mention that many responses are so rediculous they don't warrant a response in the first place. SO once you've placed an ad you will understand. It's not about rudeness, it's weeding through, picking the most suitable applicant and that's it!
* Location: Rudeville
-----------------------------------
RE: Decency and Manners (rudeville?)
Date: 2009-03-15, 12:17PM PDT
Everyone is right that posters get hundreds of responses. This is what i don't get. I receive phone calls all the time and someone says, "hey this is brian, you responded to my craigs list posting? Are you still available to work?" I then reply, "on what? where? when? and for how much? what camera are we shooting on? who's the DP? who's directing? are these day or night shoots? who the hell am I talking to?"
Listen up producers/directors/whoever is posting these jobs... If you receive 200 responses. And you're calling ONE person back, then statistically I, as an average freelancer, have to apply to about 200 jobs for every call back I get. Now it's not quite that bad, but if I apply to 4-5 things every day and I assume it takes producers a few days to go through responses, then there's a possibility of you being from any one of about 20 jobs that I applied to. When you call to hire me, have some professionalism. Give me some info that was in the post so I know what job you're talking about. Give me more info that wasn't in your post. Tell me something about your shoot. Remember you're not doing a favor to freelances by offering them work. We're doing a favor to you by giving our excellent services for your (usually) low ball rate.
To the original poster, get over yourself. This is criagslist, not CAA. If you don't get a thanks but no thanks email just keep moving down the list.
* Location: rudeville?
Monday, March 9, 2009
Crew hiring
Date: 2009-03-09, 1:14AM PDT
WHY DO PEOPLE ASK FOR EXPERIENCE/ IMDB LINKS/ REFERENCES/ RESUMES/ REELS/ IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PAY US!!!1
FIRST OF ALL A INTERN IS ONLY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO ARE TAKING A CLASS AND WILL GET CLASS CREDIT!!!
A PRODUCTION ASSISTANT IS A PAYED POSITION, PA'S ARE NOT INTERN'S. IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH $$$$$$$ TO GIVE TO YOUR PRODUCER'S AND OTHER CREW MEMBERS
PLEASE PAY YOU PA'S, BOOM OP', ANY POSITION IS APAYED POSITION BESIDES INTERNING!!!!!
SO LOOK IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO A PRODUCTION SHOOT PAY YOUR PEOPLE
NO ONE IN THIS ECONOMY IS GOING TO PAY THEIRE BILLS WITH FOOD AND CREDIT
* Location: Los Angeles
WHY DO PEOPLE ASK FOR EXPERIENCE/ IMDB LINKS/ REFERENCES/ RESUMES/ REELS/ IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PAY US!!!1
FIRST OF ALL A INTERN IS ONLY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO ARE TAKING A CLASS AND WILL GET CLASS CREDIT!!!
A PRODUCTION ASSISTANT IS A PAYED POSITION, PA'S ARE NOT INTERN'S. IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH $$$$$$$ TO GIVE TO YOUR PRODUCER'S AND OTHER CREW MEMBERS
PLEASE PAY YOU PA'S, BOOM OP', ANY POSITION IS APAYED POSITION BESIDES INTERNING!!!!!
SO LOOK IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO A PRODUCTION SHOOT PAY YOUR PEOPLE
NO ONE IN THIS ECONOMY IS GOING TO PAY THEIRE BILLS WITH FOOD AND CREDIT
* Location: Los Angeles
Friday, March 6, 2009
Seek Slave labor
Date: 2009-03-06, 10:08AM PST
We are a fun, hypocritical, exciting, dishonest, generous, slave-driving, loving, disrespectful of your talent and time, grateful, lowlife, bunch of wannabes
who don't know jack about the business, want to wing our way into oblivion for the sake of our own miserable little egos.
If you are dumb enough to fall for this crap, you deserve to be taken advantage of.
The satisfaction of working for crew members who are descendants of Mother Teresa does not feed the kiddies, pay the rent or fills your tank.
Quit playing down your real motives.
If you don't have enough money to pay at least minimum wage, don't make a blipping movie.
Take your wonderful crew and charming personalities and get new careers!
It takes people to make films, it takes money to pay these people and these people don't live off the kindness of strangers.
PAY UP YOU CHEAP, LOUSY BASTARDS!!!
* Location: Everywhere
* Compensation: Our wonderful and charming companionship
We are a fun, hypocritical, exciting, dishonest, generous, slave-driving, loving, disrespectful of your talent and time, grateful, lowlife, bunch of wannabes
who don't know jack about the business, want to wing our way into oblivion for the sake of our own miserable little egos.
If you are dumb enough to fall for this crap, you deserve to be taken advantage of.
The satisfaction of working for crew members who are descendants of Mother Teresa does not feed the kiddies, pay the rent or fills your tank.
Quit playing down your real motives.
If you don't have enough money to pay at least minimum wage, don't make a blipping movie.
Take your wonderful crew and charming personalities and get new careers!
It takes people to make films, it takes money to pay these people and these people don't live off the kindness of strangers.
PAY UP YOU CHEAP, LOUSY BASTARDS!!!
* Location: Everywhere
* Compensation: Our wonderful and charming companionship
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Director of Photography/Camera Op
Date: 2009-03-05, 10:12AM PST
Will everyone of you Hack-ass DPs running around with a camera just quit. If you're working for free then you suck and you will never make it. The only thing you accomplish is washing out the job market and driving down wages for the rest of us. And to all of you HACK-ASS Producer want-to-be's, obviously you have no taste or you wouldn't be hiring these no talent, camera having, quasi professionals to shoot your productions. NEWS FLASH, it will look like shit and you will never get into a festival. You get what you pay for. Please, drop off the face of the earth.
* Location: Hollywood
Will everyone of you Hack-ass DPs running around with a camera just quit. If you're working for free then you suck and you will never make it. The only thing you accomplish is washing out the job market and driving down wages for the rest of us. And to all of you HACK-ASS Producer want-to-be's, obviously you have no taste or you wouldn't be hiring these no talent, camera having, quasi professionals to shoot your productions. NEWS FLASH, it will look like shit and you will never get into a festival. You get what you pay for. Please, drop off the face of the earth.
* Location: Hollywood
Saturday, February 21, 2009
To Producers Looking For Crew Members
Date: 2009-02-21, 1:15AM PST
To all you folks looking for people to work for FREE/NO PAY/DEFERRED PAY
Wake the hell up and stop insulting us with these ads! Stop trying to get skilled labor for free. Slavery ended in 1865.
If you want a good, loyal team, PAY YOUR CREW. We don't need meals/copy/credit. We can't pay our rent with that. If you cannot afford to pay us, then you cannot afford to shoot your short/webisode/pilot/feature/music video (you fill in the blank). Gas is much too high to drive and work on these "jobs" for free, at least cover our gas. Raise the money and then hire your crew. Keep your stupid bagels and lunch. We don't want it. Pay us!
Signed,
A skilled crew member who refuses to work for nothing
To all you folks looking for people to work for FREE/NO PAY/DEFERRED PAY
Wake the hell up and stop insulting us with these ads! Stop trying to get skilled labor for free. Slavery ended in 1865.
If you want a good, loyal team, PAY YOUR CREW. We don't need meals/copy/credit. We can't pay our rent with that. If you cannot afford to pay us, then you cannot afford to shoot your short/webisode/pilot/feature/music video (you fill in the blank). Gas is much too high to drive and work on these "jobs" for free, at least cover our gas. Raise the money and then hire your crew. Keep your stupid bagels and lunch. We don't want it. Pay us!
Signed,
A skilled crew member who refuses to work for nothing
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