<b>No Work for No Wage. Strong Work for Strong Wage</b>Yea, when i see a post marked RE:* in the Crew section, I'm all over it. I knowthat a mate has reached that point like in Falling Down, you're ready to pull yourbeard hair out and throw it in the gate. I feel ya. I'm in PHX and it gets realslow in the summer, go figure.Lately, I've been doing some show searching on CL for just about anywhere making amovie, you know, do a little film gypsy thing. The general ignorance by Producersis amazing. I started as a Producer/Production Manager and soon realized that it'sa bunch of BS and being dishonest to get what you want. You make more by fuckingothers out of their share. Oddly, I have this thing for honesty and as I saw onalot of shows, it paid better to be on the crew. Not that most CL Producers evenknow the Crew positions or what they actually do. I saw an ad for 3 PAs, the onewith the most experience will get $50 a day. As a PA you must have a DL, avehicle, know basic lighting(only Kino's will be used) and how to set up thecamera, we will do the rest. YEA, I'll bet. Will, I get Lunch? O, I'll be gettingLunch, for the crew. I see.I mean, I do want to make a living out of the thing that makes me happiest in theworld. Not to say that I don't work for free after 12 years playing this game. Ifa DP friend is renting a new cam, to run tests, I'll definitely lend a hand. Hehires me, again and again. That's an investment. Or the first time I Key Grip'd,freebie. It was a great project using the studios at the local tech college, theyhad a green screen studio and more G&E equipment(& a Fisher 11) than most LO/NOshows. Students worked for me for free, putting up with my newbish mistakes andindecision, working their asses off 12 hours a day for mediocre and little food. Ayear later I still hire those guys every show I can, 6 on the last show, 2 are inthe union now.That's what I tell people that want to get into movie's. Pick a Department thatinterests you, do a freebie if you have to and then try to get paid. I believethat if you've done a full show at a position that you probably know it enough toget paid at it. If they say they can't, then ask for rent or for gas money. Whathave you got to lose? Not working for free? Not being shit on by an ignorantProduction Dept? I work for equipment, make it a trade. Producer's have creditcards, make them use it if they want to make their movie so bad. Their dream isour job, PERIOD. Recently, I told a Producer to get me one thing a week off of myAmazon wish list (a token gesture, really)and she laughed at me. Now, I've madequite a few movies and I'm not going to name drop, but, she did say that she wasexcited about my resume. AND: There's books on my list for 7 bux.She said "What??" and laughed.And my reply was "Fuck You Very Much" and hung up. I'm not always a people person,thank god I work my ass off.Just be Firm and confident. Tell them you don't care that they are hand deliveringit to Spielberg's neighbor to throw over the fence. Will they stop by and giveyour landlord some love, too?<b>Low Pay?</b> -Thank you for paying me something, allowing me self respect andto feed the dog.<b>No Pay?</b> -Then I want an Above the Line Producer credit, because whileyou're blowing smoke up asses, I'll be the one actually making the movie, doingthe jobs that you didn't know needed done.<b>Deferred Pay?</b> -Now there's a pipe dream, please don't even mention it. Tellme to buy a Powerball ticket, my odds are better, heck, you get $3 just forgetting a Powerball.<b>Copy for my Reel?</b> - Maybe 2 people on the crew can actually use yourprecious movie on their reel(I have this gnarly PA reel, hear how I locked it up?)and if it's a freebie the quality, Picture AND Sound, will probably bequestionable anyway.<b>Great Talent?</b> -Gee, spend all of your money on a face and then ask me to
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