Re: Low ball bidders..

On 5 Dec, 05:30, "Charles Tomaras" <toma...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
<davidnews...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

news:be75a51b-2b3a-41bc-bfbd-a8e5242d1021@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



On Dec 4, 5:38 pm, audio...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
On Dec 4, 7:16 pm, Kill Bill <killb...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
[snip]

When a producer calls me to ask me to work on a set for either near
zero
cash or an amount so small it wouldn't even pay for my gas to arrive
there.
[snip]

I used to get that a lot. I have some sympathy for cash strapped, star-
struck producers. Not so much sympathy that I want to finance their
endeavors but enough that I would sometimes offer some assistance.

I would tell whoever called that I would be happy to help out by
contributing a day, maybe even two days if the project seemed
promising, without pay as a favor.

I always liked the idea of the line (which I've never used) that I'd be
happy to trade help for a day if you can come by my house for a day and help
me with some yard work or painting or whatever. I also think that you should
no longer be considered an employee if you choose to work on these projects
but an investor instead on the very slim chance it might return a miraculous
profit.

I love the indie sales pitches when they call and try to sell you on the
importance of the project.... "We're shooting 35mm and we need good sound!"
To which I reply, why not shoot 16mm and pay people?

In all actuality what I usually do is tell them what my day rate and
equipment package go for and then explain that I know they can't afford
that....but when they find a sound mixer who is willing to work for their
rate, that he/she will probably need to fill in their humble gear package
with some missing items. I tell them to call the rental houses and get some
prices and then give me a call and I'll make them a deal on whatever they
need. It happens a couple of times a year and I generally end up making more
in rentals off my spare gear than the poor mixer makes for his labor AND the
indie production thinks I'm helping them out by beating the rental house
prices! It's a win win and the production ends up thinking I'm the guy they
really want if they could pay my price....and sooner or later they just
might do that.

I tend to do one or two freebies each year to what I consider a
worthwhile cause with a reasonable script.
This is my way of putting something back into the industry which after
nearly 45 years in the business has given me a very good living and
lifestyle.
Whilst I am prepared to give my time I am not prepared to let these
people have the use of my equipment for nothing and I tend to be a bit
blunt with them saying that if they can't afford the gear and most
importantly the insurance then they shouldn't be making the film.
Regards,
Malcolm Davies. A.m.p.s. (Production Sound Mixer.)
.

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