Premium Members Dan Coplan Posted November 9, 2007 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted November 9, 2007 > as long as someone will say yes to make their payments this will go on That's what scares me. I turned down that gig knowing full well they'd find someone else. So the question becomes, if they're going to get someone anyway, it may as well be me. At the same time, you have to draw the line but that line is blurring more and more and becoming irrelevant. I feel good about my decision. But I also question what I gave up (money, benefits, networking opportunities...) and the benefit to turning that job down. I'll continue to fight the good fight, but it ain't easy when we're battling each other as much as the producers. The strike certainly won't help. I just pray that by ops scrapping for whatever they can get it doesn't set a new lower precedent for what's considered a fair rate when production comes back. Dan "Maybe I Oughta Just Open A Cafe" Coplan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brant S. Fagan SOC Posted November 9, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted November 9, 2007 Gents-- Your rate is a reflection of both your skill set and your personal reputation. If you cut your rate, you end up undermining your reputation in the marketplace as well. I hear all the arguments for taking the job but the overriding reality is you are left with yourself and your reputation at the end of the day. You cut, you lose and in the end we all lose. What would you rather be known for? Cheap? Cheap? Just like the freedoms we all enjoy in this country, someone else fought (worked) to make them. Do your part. And don't forget to thank a Veteran this weekend. They deserve our thanks. No matter what you think about the war on terror or this current administration. Best, Brant S. Fagan, SOC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Matt Petrosky Posted November 10, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted November 10, 2007 Dan "Maybe I Oughta Just Open A Cafe" Coplan I hope your cafe has a vast selection of tea. And hire some hotties! :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Press Posted November 10, 2007 Report Share Posted November 10, 2007 You could convert your rig into a Steaditray (patpending) actually with the kind of peripheral vision we develop in this biz you would never miss a tip ;) btw you would probably hate it and the cafe down the road would start undercutting your cookies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Dan Coplan Posted November 10, 2007 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted November 10, 2007 I hope your cafe has a vast selection of tea. And hire some hotties! My cafe and associated hotties will not be in West Hollywood. Not that there's anything wrong with that. And tea. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Lukas Franz Posted November 10, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted November 10, 2007 I'd like to have job at your café. I'm really good in making fantastic coffee. I just need 50$/hr, ok? Btw, happy birthday, Dan! Cheers, Lukas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Robert Starling SOC Posted November 10, 2007 Premium Members Report Share Posted November 10, 2007 I'd like to have job at your café. I'm really good in making fantastic coffee. I just need 50$/hr, ok? Hey Dan... forget Lukas..... I'll do it for $49.73 an hour PLUS I'll bring my own espresso machine. But, I want a residual payment and bonuses if I up-sell them on a latte, muffin or music CD. ;) However, if I could be your age again I'll run the whole Cafe Dan franchise for free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrey Yazydzhi Posted November 11, 2007 Report Share Posted November 11, 2007 (edited) Gents , the problem of Undercutters is common for us here , in Russia . Our neighbours in Ukraine have top price for steadicam $500 and regular - $350 . And their operators want to work in Russia for the same money . At the same time in Russia top price for steadicam is only $1000-1200 today ( but not $500-700 , as it was 3 year ago !) . - small progress... ------------------------------------------- Andrey Yazydzhi , SOA , russian steadicam operator&instructor , yazydzhifilms.com , yazydzhi@mail.ru , + 7 903 7406481 . Edited November 11, 2007 by Andrey Yazydzhi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Mouraud Posted November 11, 2007 Report Share Posted November 11, 2007 Are there much ops in Russia ? Like, I'm the only op in Morocco... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonycope Posted November 11, 2007 Report Share Posted November 11, 2007 Not sure how people will react to this, but to me, this (people working for sub-par rates) is the sort of thing to get past... quickly. It's always been part of the production market: people with little or no experience undercutting the price of those with experience. I started off there - charging less per day for camera operator than the market average... paying the bills and getting experience. Now I charge more than most in this area, and I'm sure there are people charging less than me to get what work they can. The way I see it - it's good for everyone. Newbies get experience and get the pleasure of working for people who have no respect for this craft or the people who provide expertise. Those who have moved up enough to get market rate or better do not have to deal with these producers. Who really wants to work for someone who only offers sub-par rates? You wish the work could pay your rates, but some work never will. Most of us have prostituted ourselves when the regular work drops off -- just to get by. And it sucks - always! Don't think of it as "a job you might have got if those newbies hadn't undercut you." This type of work will never pay your rate. Take some pride in the fact that you don't have to resort to taking this kind of work, and don't look back. I have a unique situation in that I own my own media company and recently purchased a Steadicam Archer. For the next unknown amount of time, I will only use the Steadicam on my own productions - I can't go public until I can truly operate on a professional level. It's not about money - it's about reputation. I guess I could be seen as one of "those" producers and one of "those" newbies... cause if I have a rig, I won't be hiring out for the work. However, I never plan on being solely a steadicam operator. I want to operate when I can, and for the really complex shoots, I'll always hire the people who can pull the tricky shots off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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