Major Stumbling Block, Types of People and Product Placements
I have to be careful how I put this.
We hired a company to make something, that would be used for and appear in the film 'Search Dog's Raven'. There was some initial and unnecessary delays. Then despite a signed mutual OK on the design, they came back saying it would be more expensive and it was our fault. Any ways, they ended up sticking with the original quoted price (very competitive) and produced a good quality product and delivered it on time (with several check up phone calls but that's business these days).
A signed services release form was not with the delivery and we had to pay in full before the goods were received. I wanted to get a signed services release form to make sure everyone in the company knew we would be using the product in the film as a prop and to eliminate any misunderstandings down the road. The second person we dealt with at the company was great, apologized and promised to get the signed form to us. This went on for three weeks. Then we never heard from that person again. Turns out there was an upheaval at the company and that person was fired. The third new person again promised to get the form signed and fax it to us. This also went on for weeks. Every day a promise, but no form. Then our producer Lynn Wood phoned, the president wasn't there - of course - and no one ever returned her call.
A strange way to do business. And this company is not related to Hollywood or the film business - otherwise one may have expected such behavior. Kiss your face, then kick your butt once your back is turned.
There's something about being jerked around that's really infuriating. I have no tears left. Though a big stumbling block, this will certainly not be the last. Needless to say, I lost another couple nights of sleep making a substitute for this prop during filming.
However, this is no surprise. During the film making experience, we seem to meet three kinds of people.
The first are desperate to have any involvement with the film.
The second are attracted to the notion of being involved with a film, but suspicious. Then this group is further divided after hearing the term independent production. Some have visions of a sexed crazed chain saw killers on a road trip, all shot with a VHS camera. Gratuitous sex, drugs, booze, four letter words, limited production values, no legal sets and unnecessary violence. Search Dog's Raven is an eerie action thriller and has none of this. It's still really scary, just no chain saws.
Then the third type of person hears the word film and figures they should be paid thousands and thousands to have their product in the film, appear in the film or be involved with the film. Or they talk about their involvement, only to have their friends say 'Man are you getting ripped off!". This leads to problems, false promises and or they just don't show up. Search Dog's Raven is a multimillion dollar film made for just under two million. In order to do this, many of us - including myself, are not getting paid if and until the film sells. So we really can't deal with the third type of person.
Just another drama in the adventure of filmmaking.
This post almost sounds more like a rant than a blog, but now I suddenly feel better.
We hired a company to make something, that would be used for and appear in the film 'Search Dog's Raven'. There was some initial and unnecessary delays. Then despite a signed mutual OK on the design, they came back saying it would be more expensive and it was our fault. Any ways, they ended up sticking with the original quoted price (very competitive) and produced a good quality product and delivered it on time (with several check up phone calls but that's business these days).
A signed services release form was not with the delivery and we had to pay in full before the goods were received. I wanted to get a signed services release form to make sure everyone in the company knew we would be using the product in the film as a prop and to eliminate any misunderstandings down the road. The second person we dealt with at the company was great, apologized and promised to get the signed form to us. This went on for three weeks. Then we never heard from that person again. Turns out there was an upheaval at the company and that person was fired. The third new person again promised to get the form signed and fax it to us. This also went on for weeks. Every day a promise, but no form. Then our producer Lynn Wood phoned, the president wasn't there - of course - and no one ever returned her call.
A strange way to do business. And this company is not related to Hollywood or the film business - otherwise one may have expected such behavior. Kiss your face, then kick your butt once your back is turned.
There's something about being jerked around that's really infuriating. I have no tears left. Though a big stumbling block, this will certainly not be the last. Needless to say, I lost another couple nights of sleep making a substitute for this prop during filming.
However, this is no surprise. During the film making experience, we seem to meet three kinds of people.
The first are desperate to have any involvement with the film.
The second are attracted to the notion of being involved with a film, but suspicious. Then this group is further divided after hearing the term independent production. Some have visions of a sexed crazed chain saw killers on a road trip, all shot with a VHS camera. Gratuitous sex, drugs, booze, four letter words, limited production values, no legal sets and unnecessary violence. Search Dog's Raven is an eerie action thriller and has none of this. It's still really scary, just no chain saws.
Then the third type of person hears the word film and figures they should be paid thousands and thousands to have their product in the film, appear in the film or be involved with the film. Or they talk about their involvement, only to have their friends say 'Man are you getting ripped off!". This leads to problems, false promises and or they just don't show up. Search Dog's Raven is a multimillion dollar film made for just under two million. In order to do this, many of us - including myself, are not getting paid if and until the film sells. So we really can't deal with the third type of person.
Just another drama in the adventure of filmmaking.
This post almost sounds more like a rant than a blog, but now I suddenly feel better.
posted by Allex Michael at 3:22 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home