Premium Members Dan Coplan Posted July 7, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 What steadicam rate was the show done for Michael? Michael's not on this forum so you won't get a direct response from him. I did talk to him about this, though, and he said that he got full rate, more than he was expecting, actually. Had this conversation weeks ago so I don't remember the numbers but he told me and it was fair. Yeah, the show got pushed like Matt said. I think it was an issue with the talent being sick or having personal issues or something like that, but they've been working and Michael is supposed to be back in August. He said it's pretty boring as Tony operates so unless Steadi is happening, not much going on. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted July 7, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 He said it's pretty boring as Tony operates so unless Steadi is happening, not much going on. Hmm, that sounds familiar, I see not much has changed in 10 years..."AMX" had probably the most truck time I've ever seen on a full job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Dan Coplan Posted July 23, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 23, 2007 Cheers for one of our own. Just got off the phone with Mike Johnson who is...rather, who WAS on the show. He quit. Why? He had a written contract specifying, as I mentioned earlier on this topic, a perfectly fair and respectable rate. Apparently, with no forewarning, one of the producers decided to simply readjust the rate and cut Mike's pay. Mike is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and would bend backwards for anyone. In this case, he recognized he was being stabbed in the back and expected to accept the cut rate to stay on and continue working. He started packing his car. The producer - wish I could remember her name - realized her bluff failed and tried to get him to stay. They came to an agreement and then she went psycho, spewing all sorts of BS at Mike trying to get him to feel guilty. At that moment he simply gave up any hope of trying to work out a respectable agreeable deal and he's now halfway back to LA. This happened the day of a huge Steadicam day. The technocrane operator had done some Steadicam in the past and had a rented rig sent out to him, but when it came down to it, couldn't pull off the shot(s). Apparently, the DP (Tony Kaye) was pissed. Mike wanted me to make it clear that this had nothing to do with the DP. It was this fu***ng sh*t can bitch who has totally unethically preyed on people's fears of losing work and readjusted their rates in the middle of shows (Mike ain't the first). Mike is one of those gems who has a spine and sees the bigger picture of sacrificing a paycheck for what's right. I can only pray she gets eaten by an alligator. Which would probably end up spitting her out. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Michael Stumpf Posted July 24, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 Cheers for one of our own. Just got off the phone with Mike Johnson who is...rather, who WAS on the show. He quit. Why? He had a written contract specifying, as I mentioned earlier on this topic, a perfectly fair and respectable rate. Apparently, with no forewarning, one of the producers decided to simply readjust the rate and cut Mike's pay. Mike is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and would bend backwards for anyone. In this case, he recognized he was being stabbed in the back and expected to accept the cut rate to stay on and continue working. He started packing his car. The producer - wish I could remember her name - realized her bluff failed and tried to get him to stay. They came to an agreement and then she went psycho, spewing all sorts of BS at Mike trying to get him to feel guilty. At that moment he simply gave up any hope of trying to work out a respectable agreeable deal and he's now halfway back to LA. This happened the day of a huge Steadicam day. The technocrane operator had done some Steadicam in the past and had a rented rig sent out to him, but when it came down to it, couldn't pull off the shot(s). Apparently, the DP (Tony Kaye) was pissed. Mike wanted me to make it clear that this had nothing to do with the DP. It was this fu***ng sh*t can bitch who has totally unethically preyed on people's fears of losing work and readjusted their rates in the middle of shows (Mike ain't the first). Mike is one of those gems who has a spine and sees the bigger picture of sacrificing a paycheck for what's right. I can only pray she gets eaten by an alligator. Which would probably end up spitting her out. Dan Good for Mike. It just cost production tens of thousands of dollars trying to screw over the Steadicam Operator. Maybe, please Lord, just maybe this is a lesson they and other low ball, cheap skate "screw the crew" type producers will learn!! Be honest, treat the crew and the hard working valuable Steadicam Operator fairly and pay a correct and fair wage, and your production will run A LOT smoother and in the end cost the production less money! btw, as per the imdb credits: Betsy Danbury is the co-producer and UPM Wendy Cox is the production supervisor It would most likely of been one of those two dealing with the money/deals. Either sound familiar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Dan Coplan Posted July 24, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 Wendy sounds familiar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Rivenbark Posted August 20, 2007 Report Share Posted August 20, 2007 Just trying to set the record straight...I was the Techno/Libra op on the job when Mike left over a dispute with his rental rates..Mike is one of the nicest people I have come across with in this business and was shocked when I came in to find out that he had just left. I still have to call him and give him my side of the story as to what happened. The producer found out from the Key Grip which is another good friend of mine that I had done Steadicam in the past and asked if I were interested. As for the pace on the show with Tony Kaye doing all of the oping the work load was still boring at best. Usually a couple of crane shots and a couple of steadicam was the norm for a night. I called George Paddock and he sent me his rental unit which was great. I forgot to mention the dedicated camera was a BL, Tried to get the 1st AC to give us a lens so I could get get the plates in the proper position..No luck, Hince he was the number one problem and was not happy it was me oping. Anyway long story already 1st shot was 85 mil low mode with a BL. Pulled all of the 24 40 mil shots off fine...Next week everything was pretty normal and clicking along crane, once or twice a night and a few steadicam shots. Tried to get production to get a Moviecam and 1AC shut that down also. He just wanted anyone but me oping..All the while he is telling the PM Tony wants a different Steadicam Op..The Night that Jeff Mart showed up on set Tony new nothing of the change and pulled me to the side and told this to me one on one. Jeff finished the show and thats pretty much it. A very bizzare experience from start to finish, Tony was not that difficult to work with, just needs to work on his comunication skills. Sorry for the spelling and grammer just came off of 8 weeks on nights. Kenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Dan Coplan Posted August 20, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 20, 2007 Kenny, Thanks for chiming in and clarifying the story. My apologies for skewing the facts. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Rivenbark Posted August 20, 2007 Report Share Posted August 20, 2007 Kenny, Thanks for chiming in and clarifying the story. My apologies for skewing the facts. Dan No problem...It was a very interesting shoot...Frustrating at times, going to call Mike today and speak with him. Really injoyed his company on set and missed him after he left. Hope to cross paths one day, I spend most of my time with the Technos and heads, they have been good to me and trying to work my way into the shop with some equipment designs I have and spend more time at home with my wife and kids. Pretty good site for staying informed about what is really going on..Stay in touch Kenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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