Hmmm.. Should I work for an unfair wage? *UPDATE:*

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
S

slackerinabox

Lifer
Mar 15, 2003
12,668
103
106
Originally posted by: pulse8
What's the budget on the video?
Click to expand...

I have no idea - am I allowed to ask? I was very curious but was afraid to ask during the interview.. It's a very simple performance video so I wouldn't imagine that the budget is too high - or the director might be pocketing a handsome amount of money...
 
W

woowoo

Platinum Member
Feb 17, 2003
2,092
1
0
I work in the "Video End" of things myself.

Is this film ov video?
If film 16mm or 35mm?
If video is this DV?, Beta?, Digibeta?
Are you using your camera and Tripod?
What market are you in?

I can hire a beta rig and a shooter for $300 a day all day long.
At that rate, Folks would be begging to work.

DV rig for $200......

Get my drift.........

Unless you own ALOT of (Film)gear people are not going to pay for your creativity.
Usually they just need the gear.

The dollar amounts you quote are very high for this market

Good luck with your project
(Make sure they pay you)
 
M

monk3y

Lifer
Jun 12, 2001
12,699
0
76
If it's your dream job then don't worry about the wage for now... Experience will get you your desired wage.
 
S

slackerinabox

Lifer
Mar 15, 2003
12,668
103
106
Originally posted by: woowoo
I work in the "Video End" of things myself.

Is this film ov video?
If film 16mm or 35mm?
If video is this DV?, Beta?, Digibeta?
Are you using your camera and Tripod?
What market are you in?

I can hire a beta rig and a shooter for $300 a day all day long.
At that rate, Folks would be begging to work.

DV rig for $200......

Get my drift.........

Unless you own ALOT of (Film)gear people are not going to pay for your creativity.
Usually they just need the gear.

The dollar amounts you quote are very high for this market

Good luck with your project
(Make sure they pay you)
Click to expand...

Gotta run but here are some quick answers:

NYC market, miniDv, my equipment and tripod (canon gl2, lowell light kit, etc.). I offered to shoot on 16 but it's not in his budget. I checked rental rates and my cam goes for $200 a day in NYC... I guess it differs by area.
 
D

dxkj

Lifer
Feb 17, 2001
11,772
2
81
Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
Originally posted by: z0mb13
take the money...

experience is worth much more $$$ in the future

are u strapped for cash for the moment?
Click to expand...

I'm not rolling in dough but I'm not begging for quarters yet. You're right about experience though. There's just a belief in the industry that if you agree to work for very little money then you'll get a reputation as a cheap/unprofessional guy... Now, i'm all for learning so I don't really care much about this... And, trust me, $350 will buy me a nice wide angle lens and an extra battery.. I'm just worried about underselling myself and starting a possible long term business relationship with this company as a cheap amateur for hire...In other words, if you work for peanuts then you won't get respected.
Click to expand...

dont look so far ahead bud.... once you deliver results, then haggle. They wont treat you like that if after directing a good whatever, you say ok, ive shown you my A game yo, now send me some props
 
S

slackerinabox

Lifer
Mar 15, 2003
12,668
103
106
Originally posted by: dxkj
Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
Originally posted by: z0mb13
take the money...

experience is worth much more $$$ in the future

are u strapped for cash for the moment?
Click to expand...

I'm not rolling in dough but I'm not begging for quarters yet. You're right about experience though. There's just a belief in the industry that if you agree to work for very little money then you'll get a reputation as a cheap/unprofessional guy... Now, i'm all for learning so I don't really care much about this... And, trust me, $350 will buy me a nice wide angle lens and an extra battery.. I'm just worried about underselling myself and starting a possible long term business relationship with this company as a cheap amateur for hire...In other words, if you work for peanuts then you won't get respected.
Click to expand...

dont look so far ahead bud.... once you deliver results, then haggle. They wont treat you like that if after directing a good whatever, you say ok, ive shown you my A game yo, now send me some props
Click to expand...

Yes, yes... You're right.. I did my little haggling and I'll bite for whatever he offers... I'll worry about delivering the best product that I can deliver and, if that gets me future "props," so be it...
 
P

pulse8

Lifer
May 3, 2000
20,860
1
81
Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
Originally posted by: woowoo
I work in the "Video End" of things myself.

Is this film ov video?
If film 16mm or 35mm?
If video is this DV?, Beta?, Digibeta?
Are you using your camera and Tripod?
What market are you in?

I can hire a beta rig and a shooter for $300 a day all day long.
At that rate, Folks would be begging to work.

DV rig for $200......

Get my drift.........

Unless you own ALOT of (Film)gear people are not going to pay for your creativity.
Usually they just need the gear.

The dollar amounts you quote are very high for this market

Good luck with your project
(Make sure they pay you)
Click to expand...

Gotta run but here are some quick answers:

NYC market, miniDv, my equipment and tripod (canon gl2, lowell light kit, etc.). I offered to shoot on 16 but it's not in his budget. I checked rental rates and my cam goes for $200 a day in NYC... I guess it differs by area.
Click to expand...

So you complain that $350 isn't enough for you and your equipment, but then say you'll do it for $500 and you'll edit it? Sounds like you're stretching your money even thinner. Also, is there overtime if the video goes over 5 hours? Most tend to.

If it's being shot on video, especially miniDV, don't expect the video to go very far (i.e. airplay) and just take the money and run. All major record labels will want to shoot on film. Some of them will accept HD if the budget is low, but otherwise, the video MUST be shot on film.

It's ok to ask what the budget is because it's a good way to tell that you're being paid fairly. Whenever anyone asks me if I want to do a job one of my first questions is how much is their budget.

I'm not trying to talk bad about your first paying gig, but I'm just saying that I wouldn't expect to be DPing for Hype Williams when you're done with it. People tend to have high hopes for a lot of these projects. I've worked on a lot of seriously low budget videos and have seen how people can talk them up when the video will probably be worth nothing more than experience and a little money for the crew.
 
W

woowoo

Platinum Member
Feb 17, 2003
2,092
1
0
I am sorry but i would not even hire a cannon Gl2
We get "Students" at $100 a day to shoot B-roll with those.
They dont have any glass

Lowell does make some good lights:)

For DV we own a sony DSR-570WS
Cannon 18x9 with a doubler
Now that is a camera.....
We just hire the shooter if our staff guy is busy.

Unless you bring a long lens to the party I would be happy with what you are getting.

P.S. I know your market is different,
NYC has allways been high priced.
You may be able to get a good rate there.

I would get everything in writing and signed.
Lots of shady folks in the Biz.....

Again good luck.
I have been doing TV (Engineering) for 12 years.....
No regrets
 
Y

yobarman

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
11,642
1
0
starting out in the film business is all about getting your foot in the door and getting experience, don't bitch about money. You're going to start low no matter what, and the most important thing to remember is to build a reputation as a honest, trustyworthy, and reliable person. If your first day on the job you're bitching about something then they're not going to hire you again or recommend you somewhere else. the film industry is all about word of mouth, and word does spread fast because people don't have time to argue with grunts.
 
W

woowoo

Platinum Member
Feb 17, 2003
2,092
1
0
Were not talking film here folks.....

It's Mini-DV

(Like high end Circuit City stuff)
 
D

dxkj

Lifer
Feb 17, 2001
11,772
2
81
Originally posted by: pulse8
Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
Originally posted by: woowoo
I work in the "Video End" of things myself.

Is this film ov video?
If film 16mm or 35mm?
If video is this DV?, Beta?, Digibeta?
Are you using your camera and Tripod?
What market are you in?

I can hire a beta rig and a shooter for $300 a day all day long.
At that rate, Folks would be begging to work.

DV rig for $200......

Get my drift.........

Unless you own ALOT of (Film)gear people are not going to pay for your creativity.
Usually they just need the gear.

The dollar amounts you quote are very high for this market

Good luck with your project
(Make sure they pay you)
Click to expand...

Gotta run but here are some quick answers:

NYC market, miniDv, my equipment and tripod (canon gl2, lowell light kit, etc.). I offered to shoot on 16 but it's not in his budget. I checked rental rates and my cam goes for $200 a day in NYC... I guess it differs by area.
Click to expand...

So you complain that $350 isn't enough for you and your equipment, but then say you'll do it for $500 and you'll edit it? Sounds like you're stretching your money even thinner. Also, is there overtime if the video goes over 5 hours? Most tend to.

If it's being shot on video, especially miniDV, don't expect the video to go very far (i.e. airplay) and just take the money and run. All major record labels will want to shoot on film. Some of them will accept HD if the budget is low, but otherwise, the video MUST be shot on film.

It's ok to ask what the budget is because it's a good way to tell that you're being paid fairly. Whenever anyone asks me if I want to do a job one of my first questions is how much is their budget.

I'm not trying to talk bad about your first paying gig, but I'm just saying that I wouldn't expect to be DPing for Hype Williams when you're done with it. People tend to have high hopes for a lot of these projects. I've worked on a lot of seriously low budget videos and have seen how people can talk them up when the video will probably be worth nothing more than experience and a little money for the crew.
Click to expand...


No, I was thinking he was hoping to get two jobs. Shooting AND editing. Shooting he wanted 500 for, but would do it for 350 if he got to do the editing job as well (which would pay an additional amount to the 350)
 
S

slackerinabox

Lifer
Mar 15, 2003
12,668
103
106
OK, so the haggling begins... He just called and I asked for $600 including 4 hours of editing... He seemed to understand and thought the request was fair, let's see what the producer says...
 
W

woowoo

Platinum Member
Feb 17, 2003
2,092
1
0
Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
OK, so the haggling begins... He just called and I asked for $600 including 4 hours of editing... He seemed to understand and thought the request was fair, let's see what the producer says...
Click to expand...



Define editing.....
Final cut pro?
Avid DV?
Premire?
Boris?
After effects?
(RM-422 controler?)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom