TURN THIS RATE DOWN!!!!

[Rob Vuona SOC]

Demeritt,

You better not have said yes to what I turned down ? Lol

 

FYI: it was $72.72 hr. $800 for 10 hrs

[Daniel Stilling DFF]

I just turned down a feature because of ridiculous low rates... What's going on?

[RonBaldwin]

What's going on is that boneheads are working for these numbers. They don't always just pull these rates out of their butts -- someone does it then it sticks. In addition to the producers talking they have every show on file with how much everyone made, they pick the lowest as the new norm.

 

Fox was the first gnarly one I encountered -- they were among the 1st (if not the 1st) to get rid of the dit's on their shows. Gotta pay Joss Whedon somehow!

[Janice Arthur]

Hi all;

 

What Ron's talking about is leverage, (what an opening line for Baldwin).

 

With every operator that takes the low job, the next guy has less leverage because its the new "norm".

 

Directors etc have leverage because he's a commodity they value.

 

(My new trend thought for the Steadicam is that, on anything less than the big stuff, is that they figure out how many hours they'll need you and want to pay accordingly. I've had a dozen calls lately that say, "We only need the Steadicam for 3, 4, 6, hours, can you do it for $xxx.?" that's why its become a part of every operator's kit rather than the speciality niche it once was, good and bad for both but certainly different.)

 

Just noodling.

 

JA

[William Demeritt]

Demeritt,

You better not have said yes to what I turned down ? Lol

 

FYI: it was $72.72 hr. $800 for 10 hrs

 

Hey, I got a wedding to pay for! :lol: No sir, I may have done some dumb things last weekend, but that wasn't one of them.

[Mark Baluk]

So a bit of a question,

 

Where is the line drawn when you "must" charge a professional rate.

 

I would like to operate a bit... and I have minimal gear myself (Franken rig + pilot arm/vest) and access to other rigs (flyer and zephyr.

 

I've been asked by a friend to help with a music video.

 

1- im no pro

2- im not advertising myself as a pro... yet

3- im still in school (film school)

 

when is it wrong to work for no/low ?even if its more for fun or experiences...

 

And in their budget, if I was not to operate, they wouldn't be hiring anyone out (no money)

 

Just curious

[James Leonzio]

I guess I don't know a ton about how union rates are established, but it sounds like if the union would step in and distinguish that there is a difference between a camera op and steadicam op, that would solve a lot of headaches for everyone. Is there a reason why this hasn't been done already?

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

NOOOOO!!!!! Not the Unions deal! Keep them out of it. If the Union were to establish a Steadicam Scale, we'd never see a cent higher than that ever again. Besides, you're talking about the same Union that made the Operator position non-mandatory.

[James Leonzio]

Ha! Shows you how much I know about how the union works. Consider that idea shelved.

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

I guess I don't know a ton about how union rates are established, but it sounds like if the union would step in and distinguish that there is a difference between a camera op and steadicam op, that would solve a lot of headaches for everyone. Is there a reason why this hasn't been done already?

 

 

KEEP THE DAMN UNION OUT OF IT!

 

Our union opposes runaway production yet our union president is in CANADA on a show that jumped from shooting in the states to going runaway.... You REALLY think it's a good idea to have them define our rate? NO. Leave them out of it, and while we are at it DEMAND that they reimburse the overcharge on your 1% contribution that taken on your check. They are ONLY entitled to 1% of SCALE not your over scale. Make them pay that back

[RonBaldwin]

DEMAND that they reimburse the overcharge on your 1% contribution that taken on your check. They are ONLY entitled to 1% of SCALE not your over scale. Make them pay that back

 

is this in writing somewhere? I called and argued with someone about that last year and they flat out said...in a kind and loving way...to go fcuk myself. Who did you talk to there and I will call tomorrow! If you say Vince I will pay you (in ones) to yell at him for me.

 

rb

[Lawrence Karman]

I guess I don't know a ton about how union rates are established, but it sounds like if the union would step in and distinguish that there is a difference between a camera op and steadicam op, that would solve a lot of headaches for everyone. Is there a reason why this hasn't been done already?

 

 

KEEP THE DAMN UNION OUT OF IT!

 

Our union opposes runaway production yet our union president is in CANADA on a show that jumped from shooting in the states to going runaway.... You REALLY think it's a good idea to have them define our rate? NO. Leave them out of it, and while we are at it DEMAND that they reimburse the overcharge on your 1% contribution that taken on your check. They are ONLY entitled to 1% of SCALE not your over scale. Make them pay that back

 

 

Never thought I would be defending our union President but Eric I really don't think that comment about President Poster is fair. His position as President is mostly an unpaid one and he derives his income, as far as I know, by working as a DP. I don't blame him for doing a job that started in Pennsylvania and moved to Canada, where, I may add, reside many Local 600 members. I'm sure he's not happy about it. Would you turn down a feature that wanted to bring you to Vancouver?

 

I'm very interested to know what you base the 1% dues assessment only being applicable to scale? If that is true we are all owed a few shekels.

[RonBaldwin]

from Uncle Teddy about rates:

 

"More often than not, the operator - after a particularly grueling day - will feel that he or she has not been adequately remunerated for the gross amount of effort spent. Therefore, it behooves the operator to establish a rate schedule which will accurately reflect the work done and with which there can be no disagreement and misunderstanding. For example:

 

$ 100.00 at the time of your appearance on the set

$ 2.00 per yard forward (walking)

$ 5.00 per yard forward (running)

$ 3.50 per yard backward (walking)

$ 7.00 per yard backward (running)

$ 10.00 actor in the shot

$ 15.00 actor not in the shot

$ 20.00 per flight of stairs (up)

$ 15.00 per flight of stairs (down)

$ 10.00 each additional consecutive flight

$ 25.00 to put the camera in the Low-Mode

$ 15.00 to put it back

$ 35.00 to change sides with the Arm

$ 25.00 to put it back

$ 5.00 per rehearsal minute, 16mm & Arri 2C

$ 10.00 per rehearsal minute, Arri 35BL

$ 15.00 per rehearsal minute, Panaflex on Steadicam

$ 35.00 per rehearsal minute, Panaglide

$ 3.50 per focus change

$ 2.50 per iris change

$ 8.50 both focus & iris at the same time

 

Remind the producer that the above costs are on a per take basis and not on a per shot basis. Further more the above costs vary according to the length of the lens used. Additional cost for the16 or 18mm is negligible but repeated takes with the 50 or 85mm can become prohibitively expensive."

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

I'm very interested to know what you base the 1% dues assessment only being applicable to scale? If that is true we are all owed a few shekels.

 

 

The union is only entitled to what they negotiate, any overscale is outside of their claim. The onus is on them to prove otherwise. Considering they are so good at giving away our future earnings with no recourse on our part I have no desire to continue to allow them to steal from me.

 

We ALL need to bill them for the over scale

[Brant S. Fagan SOC]

Show me this in some form of written documentation and I'm in on the billing! We work for that rate and earn that money, not someone at a desk!