Credit

[Sanjay Sami]

Just found out that after operating on "Moonrise Kingdom" , I don't get a credit, as part of an arrangement between Local 600 and Production.

Bummer.

[William Demeritt]

Why not?

[Sanjay Sami]

Why not?

 

Well .. I was Key Grip on the movie as well and had IATSE clearance for that, and production had got approval for me to operate Steadicam as well as I had previously for the Director (not in the US). But there was some dispute on that approval and on the last week they brought in an operator from Boston to avoid any further conflict with the Union. He did one shot (and he was a great guy and great operator) and I was not included as Steadicam operator.

I understand ... but it is disappointing.

[Afton Grant]

Did you get the Key Grip credit? Did they credit Dave and/or me for that shot? How much Steadicam was in the rest of the film?

 

Sanjay knows, but for those that don't... I was brought in to do that one shot. We did it the first day, but it was raining and not ideal. They wanted to try again a second day, but the schedule ran long and the shot was pushed. I was unfortunately booked on something else the following day and couldn't come back for it. Dave Chameides came in, and I'm pretty sure they were able to get to it that day. I have to say I was very bummed I wasn't able to stay for the third day, but I'm glad it went to Dave at least.

[Sanjay Sami]

Did you get the Key Grip credit? Did they credit Dave and/or me for that shot? How much Steadicam was in the rest of the film?

 

Sanjay knows, but for those that don't... I was brought in to do that one shot. We did it the first day, but it was raining and not ideal. They wanted to try again a second day, but the schedule ran long and the shot was pushed. I was unfortunately booked on something else the following day and couldn't come back for it. Dave Chameides came in, and I'm pretty sure they were able to get to it that day. I have to say I was very bummed I wasn't able to stay for the third day, but I'm glad it went to Dave at least.

 

Hey Afton,

We got the shot with Dave, since the weather cleared up 2 days later and you were unfortunately unavailable.

I believe both you and Dave got credit. From what I understand I could get credit as Key Grip but not Steadicam Op because of the terms of productions agreement with IATSE. Anyway, I don't really want to create anymore trouble for production. I know it was hard enough for them to get clearance for me to come in as Key Grip, since that was unprecedented on a Union film anyway.

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

Did you get the Key Grip credit? Did they credit Dave and/or me for that shot? How much Steadicam was in the rest of the film?

 

Sanjay knows, but for those that don't... I was brought in to do that one shot. We did it the first day, but it was raining and not ideal. They wanted to try again a second day, but the schedule ran long and the shot was pushed. I was unfortunately booked on something else the following day and couldn't come back for it. Dave Chameides came in, and I'm pretty sure they were able to get to it that day. I have to say I was very bummed I wasn't able to stay for the third day, but I'm glad it went to Dave at least.

 

Hey Afton,

We got the shot with Dave, since the weather cleared up 2 days later and you were unfortunately unavailable.

I believe both you and Dave got credit. From what I understand I could get credit as Key Grip but not Steadicam Op because of the terms of productions agreement with IATSE. Anyway, I don't really want to create anymore trouble for production. I know it was hard enough for them to get clearance for me to come in as Key Grip, since that was unprecedented on a Union film anyway.

Sanjay, it sounds to me like you are not an IA member? Which, depending on where you are shooting, doesn't matter if it is in what we call a "right to work" state. The only issue there should be at that point, is that someone else is bumped up to Key Grip for the day, if you operate the camera (can't do both jobs). In terms of credit, its sad, but the producers have the option to not give you credit, even if you did the work... not because your not an IA member, but because they have the right to do so (check the deal memo).

 

 

[Sanjay Sami]

Did you get the Key Grip credit? Did they credit Dave and/or me for that shot? How much Steadicam was in the rest of the film?

 

Sanjay knows, but for those that don't... I was brought in to do that one shot. We did it the first day, but it was raining and not ideal. They wanted to try again a second day, but the schedule ran long and the shot was pushed. I was unfortunately booked on something else the following day and couldn't come back for it. Dave Chameides came in, and I'm pretty sure they were able to get to it that day. I have to say I was very bummed I wasn't able to stay for the third day, but I'm glad it went to Dave at least.

 

Hey Afton,

We got the shot with Dave, since the weather cleared up 2 days later and you were unfortunately unavailable.

I believe both you and Dave got credit. From what I understand I could get credit as Key Grip but not Steadicam Op because of the terms of productions agreement with IATSE. Anyway, I don't really want to create anymore trouble for production. I know it was hard enough for them to get clearance for me to come in as Key Grip, since that was unprecedented on a Union film anyway.

Sanjay, it sounds to me like you are not an IA member? Which, depending on where you are shooting, doesn't matter if it is in what we call a "right to work" state. The only issue there should be at that point, is that someone else is bumped up to Key Grip for the day, if you operate the camera (can't do both jobs). In terms of credit, its sad, but the producers have the option to not give you credit, even if you did the work... not because your not an IA member, but because they have the right to do so (check the deal memo).

 

Hi Alfeo,

I did get provisional membership to the IA ... It was mandatory for my 'O1 Visa'. Production also had to hire a 'Shadow' Key Grip by Union law. The Operating issue was a bit more complicated as I recall. I know that production was having a headache over it. The Director insisted on me operating, where it would have been simpler to have a local operator.

I have worked with the producer on many movies on other continents - he is a really cool guy , who knows what the real story is. But its happened to me several times where I have had to choose Key Grip or Steadicam Op credit. Key Grip is my bread and butter, so thats what I always choose.

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

I did get provisional membership to the IA ... It was mandatory for my 'O1 Visa'. Production also had to hire a 'Shadow' Key Grip by Union law. The Operating issue was a bit more complicated as I recall. I know that production was having a headache over it. The Director insisted on me operating, where it would have been simpler to have a local operator.

So I take it production took place in a "Collective Bargaining State" and not a "Right-to-Work State" for this to be inforced? Your shadow... did it see itself? JK, was your shadow there everyday you operated? If so, that would be the reason for the shadow Key Grip, because you were staffing the operators position and there had to be a staffed Key Grip also... one man can't staff two positions under an IA contract in a CBS or RTS.

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

"was your shadow there everyday you operated? If so, that would be the reason for the shadow Key Grip, because you were staffing the operators position and there had to be a staffed Key Grip also... one man can't staff two positions under an IA contract in a CBS or RTS. "

 

Not that simple. The Key Grip shadow was there because he was not a Local 481

Key Grip (regardless of an IA member or not; the job was in Boston so you HAD to have an IA 481 Key Grip). Operating was a differencent matter.

[Sanjay Sami]

 

Not that simple. The Key Grip shadow was there because he was not a Local 481

Key Grip (regardless of an IA member or not; the job was in Boston so you HAD to have an IA 481 Key Grip).

 

Thats the reason. The shadow was there everyday. Really nice guy, very young, worked hard, was happy for the experience and very happy for the credit.

 

BTW Alfeo, I am not from the US, in case you had not guessed. My case was complicated further by the fact that there was no precedent for an "Alien" Key Grip on a Union job. So the O1 visa was really hard to come by. The Director got Senator Jack Reid from Rhode Island to intervene and get the visa issued.

If an "Alien" DP, like Roger Deakins, is travelling to the US on an O1 visa, his Gaffer and Key Grip can travel with him as add ons (so to speak) on his visa.

But my DP is from the US, so it got complicated.

I am not sure if my understanding of the whole issue is correct, but thats the gist of it.

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

Not that simple. The Key Grip shadow was there because he was not a Local 481

Key Grip (regardless of an IA member or not; the job was in Boston so you HAD to have an IA 481 Key Grip).

Sanjay, I know you and where your from... just wrapping my head around the rest of it. Besides, I assumed you held an IA card by now

Thanks Alec, I forget that the technicians are under a local Local...

So if the Key Grip came from LA's Local 80, he would still need a 481 shadow or have 481 card?

 

[Sanjay Sami]

Not that simple. The Key Grip shadow was there because he was not a Local 481

Key Grip (regardless of an IA member or not; the job was in Boston so you HAD to have an IA 481 Key Grip).

Sanjay, I know you and where your from... just wrapping my head around the rest of it. Besides, I assumed you held an IA card by now

Thanks Alec, I forget that the technicians are under a local Local...

So if the Key Grip came from LA's Local 80, he would still need a 481 shadow or have 481 card?

 

Hi Alfeo,

I thought maybe you thought I lived in the US :)

 

Yes, a Local 80 Key Grip would still need a shadow in New England.

I don't have IATSE membership because there are very complex issues involved with working in the United States on Union jobs, and I will probably only do it again on a Wes Anderson film, because I dont think anyone else would go through the PIA paperwork.

Dan Bradley and Mitch Amundsen tried to get me there for "Dukes of Hazzard" but gave up in the cascade of paper work.

Outside of the US I dont need IA membership.