Premium Members Ramon Engle Posted February 19, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Its a Saturday in the most populated city in the world and Monday is a National Holiday. It's the first day of shooting and we have the last of 5 locations left and one of the tension rods in the socket block of the arm shears. So we blow off the last location. The next day we shoot all hand held. I managed to call a buddy who has a PRO arm and isn't using it. So production flies him in with the first section of the arm that I need. At this point he's basically my mule. He flies in, hands the PA the part, flies home on Super Bowl Sunday. What a butt saver! The mule's fee and airfare come $1,000. Remeber, Monday is a holiday so we wouldn't have been able to get something shipped and through customs until Thursday. We are only shooting for 7 days. So we only went one day without steadicam. I didn't charge rental for the down day obviously. The producer is now complaining about having to pay for the mule to get a part that I own and maintain. Should I have made any more concessions? I don't think so. What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RonBaldwin Posted February 19, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 sorry to hear about your issues -- those aircraft screws (if that's what blew) can be fragile on any arm. Seems like a total production deal. Especially if you cleared it with them first. You were trying to delay them as little as possible and remedy the situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Ramon Engle Posted February 19, 2009 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 sorry to hear about your issues -- those aircraft screws (if that's what blew) can be fragile on any arm. Seems like a total production deal. Especially if you cleared it with them first. You were trying to delay them as little as possible and remedy the situation. Hi Ron. Everything was cleared with the Mexico producer. She was actually very greatful for the extra effort on my "Mules" part. She realized how quickly the situation was remedied. It's the Exec Prod that has taken issue with the circumstances. I was actually proud of how we were only down one day, in an international city on a national holiday weekend! I'm frustrated! Ramon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted February 19, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Out of curiousity, couldn't the arm have been shipped counter-to-counter from the airport rather than requiring someone to fly with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Ramon Engle Posted February 19, 2009 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Out of curiousity, couldn't the arm have been shipped counter-to-counter from the airport rather than requiring someone to fly with it? We looked into this, but since 911 that's not an option anymore. Unattended items are considered risks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Henry Gelhart Posted February 19, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 We looked into this, but since 911 that's not an option anymore. Unattended items are considered risks. You're right. And try to explain someone at the airport what a "Steadicam arm" is. (...I had that problem in Canada) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Lars Erik Posted February 19, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 We looked into this, but since 911 that's not an option anymore. Unattended items are considered risks. You're right. And try to explain someone at the airport what a "Steadicam arm" is. (...I had that problem in Canada) Nahh...just show those airport safety guys a clip from Aliens, where they use the arm as a support for a powerful weapon...I'm sure there will be no problem whatsoever with them letting it ship unattended Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Ken Nguyen Posted February 21, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 Hi Ramon, Sorry to learn your problem. I may think differently from some of you about this situation. You have to pay for the rental of another unit and the cost of the shipping as well as any personnel expense to delivery the replacement. Sound so rude!! But that is the nature of the business. The ex-producer was right. We charge our client rental fee for our system - not cheap, $500aday min. and also accessory rentals on the side) That means we rent our system to them. If any part is gone bad or broken which is not related to accident on the set or abuse by the operator (whom are us!), then we have to fix or replace it ASAP. The delay of the production dues to our faulty equipment is also our responsibility. These policies are not new. It's part of a basic rental agreement. * If you rent a car and it is broken on the road, what are you going to do with the car rental company? What do you think the rental company should do for you? Back to your problem, I would pay for everything to secure my ticket for future works with them. Beside, it is income tax deductible! I have a second arm as a back up to deal with this situation. When travel outside USA, I always bring along my backup system (modified SK) You are still lucky; Mexico is not too far. It has no tough travel restriction law. Some country likes Vietnam, you need to apply for a Visa. This takes at least 3days to be granted (in case of emergency only) my 2 cents! Fly safe, Ken Nguyen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Robert Starling SOC Posted February 21, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 Out of curiousity, couldn't the arm have been shipped counter-to-counter from the airport rather than requiring someone to fly with it? We had to do a counter to counter with a replacement Gyron part about a month ago for an aerial shoot and they limited the weight to 1 pound max. Hi Ramon, sorry to hear about your problem. As much as I hate to say it, Ken is probably right as to how it would be handled and compared to other rentals. If a part on a camera rental went bad I think we'd all look to the rental house to make it right. We can't expect Production to provide Ins Certs and treat us like a rental house on one hand and then not have the same responsibility for our gear on the other hand unless of course it was an accident that happened on-set. It would be nice if at least the Producer would meet half-way on it. Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RonBaldwin Posted February 21, 2009 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 would this fall under the rental reimbursement of the Walter-Dolle steadicam insurance policy so one (or production) would be reimbursed for any costs? rb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Ramon Engle Posted February 22, 2009 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 Out of curiousity, couldn't the arm have been shipped counter-to-counter from the airport rather than requiring someone to fly with it? We had to do a counter to counter with a replacement Gyron part about a month ago for an aerial shoot and they limited the weight to 1 pound max. Robert, was it an international flight? I understand what Ken is saying. So we have compromised. Between my forgoing rental and the production company contributing a portion all costs were covered. Ken, I'd like to travel with a spare arm. Really I would but a second PRO arm is $22000 and thats really the only arm I'd use with AR. But I don't have that kind of cash sitting around. What I do have is a spare first section of the arm on its way from PRO. The way I looked at I took care of any costs for the replacement part itself and had production help me get it. The cost of the part will be more than twice what the expenses were to get it to us. I feel good about how it worked out and so do the heavy breathers. Ron, I have that insurance. I will inquire but I think natural causes don't apply to the rental replacement program. All is well in Mudville. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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