One of the very first shoots I ever worked on mainly took place in an old, empty warehouse downtown. The AD was very adamant about kicking everyone off set that didn't have to be there, so the grips and electrics spent a lot of time just hanging out around the truck, smoking cigarettes and swapping stories. I remember one lively discussion topic being about cheap ass producers and skewed budgets. It's not uncommon for a producer to aim for a high production value when they don't have the cash for it, so they'll often splurge on the good stuff like high end dollies, state of the art jibs, and big ass lights. This becomes a problem when they decide to skimp on the crew to save money. Sure, they now have the fancy equipment to make their film look great, but they're not going to have enough crew to use it. Or they may have enough guys, but based on the rate they're getting paid, they're not going to know much. And a PA does not an electrician make.
This kind of story comes back time and time again. I can't tell you how many times I've been on a shoot where the crew size should've been at least double what it actually was. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the world of independent film.
Though I've been out of the game for a little while now (darn you actors and your non-existent contracts!), I was reminded of this silly little practice today when I got an e-mail from a director/producer. Apparently, he wanted to hire me for his project this weekend, but could only afford to pay $25/day.
Yeah, that's right. $25/day. WTF??
Apparently, he sacrificed a huge part of the budget so he could hire a really good DP, and is now left with almost nothing to pay for a crew. In my opinion, that's just ass backwards. You can have a pretty inexperienced DP, but if you hire the rest of the crew well, they can fill in the gaps for him and stuff ends up turning out pretty well. And from what I've seen, people who have had as taste for the good life (ie: productions with money, labor rules, and/or a well-seasoned crew) generally have a hard time going back to a shoot with no budget where they have to do everything themselves.
The sad thing is, I probably would've took the job if they at least offered me minimum wage. But I guess what's even sadder is that they couldn't even afford that. Silly people...
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
WTF??
So I know I may seem a tad "depressed" lately, but other than a few moments here and there, I think I've been in pretty good spirits considering the present situations in the global, local, and personal sense. And I'm trying to focus more on the positive things instead of looking at my dwindling bank figures all day.
And while it's nice to know that there are those out there who support me in my fruitless endeavors, what I don't need is a "helpful friend" who makes me feel like shit on a rare day that I was feeling really good about myself (ie: my birthday.)
It was sweet of him to remember my birthday. It really was. Especially since he's been traveling quite a bit recently and I haven't talked to him in a while. It was even more touching that he took the time to send me an e-mail when I have absolutely no idea when his birthday is, and I'm the type of person who remembers everyone's birthday. But when he includes in said e-mail a a link to a pretty annoying site (I'll leave the third party out of this rant) and says,
"This will make you feel better about yourself. I promise."
that pretty much negates any kind of goodwill he's got going for him.
Like I said earlier, I haven't spoken to this "friend" in a while, and the last time we hung out, I was in a much better place. Which means he's either the totally clueless but "means well" type that needs to shove a foot in his mouth, or he's an asshole who thinks I'm lame. Either way, I now seem him as the kind of guy who'll drag me down, in every sense of the phrase.
Consider yourself toxic.
And while it's nice to know that there are those out there who support me in my fruitless endeavors, what I don't need is a "helpful friend" who makes me feel like shit on a rare day that I was feeling really good about myself (ie: my birthday.)
It was sweet of him to remember my birthday. It really was. Especially since he's been traveling quite a bit recently and I haven't talked to him in a while. It was even more touching that he took the time to send me an e-mail when I have absolutely no idea when his birthday is, and I'm the type of person who remembers everyone's birthday. But when he includes in said e-mail a a link to a pretty annoying site (I'll leave the third party out of this rant) and says,
"This will make you feel better about yourself. I promise."
that pretty much negates any kind of goodwill he's got going for him.
Like I said earlier, I haven't spoken to this "friend" in a while, and the last time we hung out, I was in a much better place. Which means he's either the totally clueless but "means well" type that needs to shove a foot in his mouth, or he's an asshole who thinks I'm lame. Either way, I now seem him as the kind of guy who'll drag me down, in every sense of the phrase.
Consider yourself toxic.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
It's Been A While...
I haven't posted in a while.
I guess maybe because there's not a whole lot to write about. Things have been slow... I haven't had any real work in months, and even then it wasn't enough to pay the bills. The bills, on the other hand, keep increasing. The holidays came and went. The economy got suckier. And now, I'm a whole year older.
And just my luck, as I was browsing through this week's PostSecrets, there was this little gem.
And want to know the funny thing? I saved it. I downloaded the image onto my computer for safe keeping. Not because I particularly agree with it or anything, but because I found the irony of it all to be so great that I actually had a good laugh at it.
Which got me thinking... If I can find the humor (albeit, somewhat dark humor) in this, then maybe things aren't so bleak after all. Maybe instead of stressing on the bad stuff (no work, no money, no one to to the dishes for me) I should seek out the positive (caring friends, good neighbors, more chocolate in my apartment right now than I can eat).
I'll be heading off to bed soon, but when I wake up in the morning, I'll officially be in my mid-twenties, which I guess isn't a too bad of a place to be. Sure, I'm still broke with a never ending pile of laundry to do, but tomorrow's a new day. And who knows what that'll bring?
I guess maybe because there's not a whole lot to write about. Things have been slow... I haven't had any real work in months, and even then it wasn't enough to pay the bills. The bills, on the other hand, keep increasing. The holidays came and went. The economy got suckier. And now, I'm a whole year older.
And just my luck, as I was browsing through this week's PostSecrets, there was this little gem.
And want to know the funny thing? I saved it. I downloaded the image onto my computer for safe keeping. Not because I particularly agree with it or anything, but because I found the irony of it all to be so great that I actually had a good laugh at it.
Which got me thinking... If I can find the humor (albeit, somewhat dark humor) in this, then maybe things aren't so bleak after all. Maybe instead of stressing on the bad stuff (no work, no money, no one to to the dishes for me) I should seek out the positive (caring friends, good neighbors, more chocolate in my apartment right now than I can eat).
I'll be heading off to bed soon, but when I wake up in the morning, I'll officially be in my mid-twenties, which I guess isn't a too bad of a place to be. Sure, I'm still broke with a never ending pile of laundry to do, but tomorrow's a new day. And who knows what that'll bring?
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