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!! 

RE- Sound Mixer

   So Let me get this straight- If I bring my expensive sound gear to your shoot you'll pay me $50/day, but if you have to rent in gear elsewhere you'll pay me even less? Oh gee where do I sign up of this great opportunity.

Reality check!
Minimum wage for California is $112 for a 12 hour day. That is what McDonald's pays high school dropouts to flip burgers and guess what McD's doesn't ask these kids to supply their own grill flipper and burgers.

A basic sound kit rental from a rental house will cost $450 for that you'll get a mixer, recorder, boom and a couple of lavs- that's it. No comteks, no extra mics no extras of any kind.
A skilled mixer will cost you more than minimum wage- approximate regular rate is around $550/ day, but most will offer good discounts to low budget indies



Post like this are not only illegal under CA wage laws they are disrespectful to our craft. Let me guess you're going to be feeding us unrefrigerated Subway Tuna sandwiches for lunch too. If you want to make your film on the cheap get your friends and family to help out- If you want it done right raise some money to pay professionals properly.

Original Posting:

Need a sound mixer for a shoot April 3-5 and 7&8th. $50 per day. Need to get someone ASAP, we have full production insurance. Can provide you with gear but your day rate will have to be less if we provide the gear. Our films do really well in festivals!

IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2002140/

Contact me ASAP

Ronnie

• Location: wherever you my be

RE: DP/Cinematographer, $1500, 21 day-shoot, price with red scarlet/ep

So let me see if I understand this properly! You are offering a DP (highly skilled position) $71.42 a day for him AND his RED camera (scarlet or EPIC)... and if the HIGHLY SKILLED DP brings lighting you will pay him/her $28.57 for a LIGHTING PACKAGE!!!!

1). California State minimum law is $112.00 a day for a 12 hour day X 21 days = $2,352.00 (I guess you just went over budget).
2). A RED Epic is going to cost you at LEAST $1500 a week... on a 21 day shoot... which will either be 3 and a half week rental (shooting 6 days a week) or a 4 week one day rental if you are shooting 5 days a week... so lets just figure around $5,000.00 for your camera package.
3). Lighting Package? well lets look at just ONE light! Something simple 4Ft 4 Bank System (with globes) $40.00 a DAY for ONE light! x21 days so we got $840.00 for ONE LIGHT..... I get a total of $8,192.00 for a MINIMUM WAGE DP, a nice camera and ONE LIGHT!!!!

WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM????? If you don't have the money to pay for SKILLED LABOR - Do not shoot! Without your DP you are basically shooting Radio! Oh but I guess you are looking for a Sound Guy with gear for $71.42 a day too....

Original Post -

21 day shoot: starting 4/14/13 (Los Angeles primarily, Palmdale)

$1500: for DP services and use of yourcamera (Red Scarlet or Epic only)

$2100 if you also bring your own lights with the camera package

Location: Los Angeles
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Compensation: $1500 (DP services plus camera use); $2100 (DP services + camera use+ lighting p