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What to do....
Posted by mattsilfen
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What to do.... August 04, 2011 03:56PM |
Need some advice and or/ feel free to share similar stories...
So a couple years ago I edited an actor's demo reel and since then, I've done several updates/revisions. Today he sends me this email:
"Hope all is going well with you.
Just wondering: a buddy of mine owed me a favor and is recutting my reel for me right now to put some new material into it. He was wondering what program/font/animation/etc you used to do the 'Excerpt from...' titles that come in on the beginning of scenes. We'd like to replicate that instead of re-uploading all the footage and doing new titles for everything.
Let me know any specifics he'd need to know on how to make one of those.
Thanks so much, and when I do a massive overhaul to the reel, you're still the first on my list to call.
Take care"
Now wait a minute. Not only is he giving someone else my business but he wants me to tell him how I did it? Please. I know he said he'd come back to me for a "massive rehaul" but I'll take that with a grain of salt.
My first reaction is to tell the guy to go &#!* himself but my question to everyone out there is, what would you do in this situation? I know one of you is gonna say, "You should've got a contract" and I agree, I know that now. But these reels are such small jobs and I don't even charge my full rate.
Anyone have any similar situations? Share!
So a couple years ago I edited an actor's demo reel and since then, I've done several updates/revisions. Today he sends me this email:
"Hope all is going well with you.
Just wondering: a buddy of mine owed me a favor and is recutting my reel for me right now to put some new material into it. He was wondering what program/font/animation/etc you used to do the 'Excerpt from...' titles that come in on the beginning of scenes. We'd like to replicate that instead of re-uploading all the footage and doing new titles for everything.
Let me know any specifics he'd need to know on how to make one of those.
Thanks so much, and when I do a massive overhaul to the reel, you're still the first on my list to call.
Take care"
Now wait a minute. Not only is he giving someone else my business but he wants me to tell him how I did it? Please. I know he said he'd come back to me for a "massive rehaul" but I'll take that with a grain of salt.
My first reaction is to tell the guy to go &#!* himself but my question to everyone out there is, what would you do in this situation? I know one of you is gonna say, "You should've got a contract" and I agree, I know that now. But these reels are such small jobs and I don't even charge my full rate.
Anyone have any similar situations? Share!
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Re: What to do.... August 04, 2011 04:13PM |
Did you charge him to cut the initial reel?
When I do a talent reel, it's usually a favour (so that I can get these actors to do my projects for free), so I actually have the reverse situation: I give them the design files at the end so that I won't have to be responsible for them.
If you were editing his reel as a business situation, then I'd say now you should charge him FX-artist rates to create those new titles. And yeah, in that case, I'd decline to tell him what was used. Tell him it's proprietary design information. If his "buddy" is recutting the reel, that's his right to change editors, but then that "buddy" can come up with a design himself. If he can't do something that basic, then why is he cutting that reel in the first place?
www.derekmok.com
When I do a talent reel, it's usually a favour (so that I can get these actors to do my projects for free), so I actually have the reverse situation: I give them the design files at the end so that I won't have to be responsible for them.
If you were editing his reel as a business situation, then I'd say now you should charge him FX-artist rates to create those new titles. And yeah, in that case, I'd decline to tell him what was used. Tell him it's proprietary design information. If his "buddy" is recutting the reel, that's his right to change editors, but then that "buddy" can come up with a design himself. If he can't do something that basic, then why is he cutting that reel in the first place?
www.derekmok.com
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Re: What to do.... August 04, 2011 04:50PM |
> you either don't remember what font you used...
No point in doing that.
> I never save this type of projects. I know I should. But you know what let me see what
> I can find".... And 2 days later you tell him you couldn't find anything....
No no no...that way you're wasting their production time for no reason. That would be you being unprofessional.
If my FX artist told me he doesn't know what he used for something I once paid him to do, I'd lower my opinion of him. Even worse if he actually told me he doesn't know whether it's Photoshop or After Effects.
You don't need to make up an excuse. You don't need to play games or make yourself seem less proficient than you actually are just to put up a smokescreen. Politely let him know the boundaries of your business. If he wants your design eye and expertise, he needs to pay you. If you still have his design template, tell him you can do the new ones but you have to bill him for a minimum of one hour. That kind of title only takes a few minutes to do, anyway.
www.derekmok.com
No point in doing that.
> I never save this type of projects. I know I should. But you know what let me see what
> I can find".... And 2 days later you tell him you couldn't find anything....
No no no...that way you're wasting their production time for no reason. That would be you being unprofessional.
If my FX artist told me he doesn't know what he used for something I once paid him to do, I'd lower my opinion of him. Even worse if he actually told me he doesn't know whether it's Photoshop or After Effects.
You don't need to make up an excuse. You don't need to play games or make yourself seem less proficient than you actually are just to put up a smokescreen. Politely let him know the boundaries of your business. If he wants your design eye and expertise, he needs to pay you. If you still have his design template, tell him you can do the new ones but you have to bill him for a minimum of one hour. That kind of title only takes a few minutes to do, anyway.
www.derekmok.com
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Re: What to do.... August 04, 2011 05:05PM |
Hey Derek we're talking actor's reel here.... not client...
Of course for a real/paying client you would never do that.
But counting on establishing professional relationship with starting actors with the hope that one day they'll use you again.... with pay... is utopia!!
I leave/work in Hollywood. No actor picks his editor... unless this actor shot his own movie and wants to hire you. In this case there will be a nice pay... as soon as the movie is sold!!! Sure... heard that a lot...
But you'll get credits.
Of course for a real/paying client you would never do that.
But counting on establishing professional relationship with starting actors with the hope that one day they'll use you again.... with pay... is utopia!!
I leave/work in Hollywood. No actor picks his editor... unless this actor shot his own movie and wants to hire you. In this case there will be a nice pay... as soon as the movie is sold!!! Sure... heard that a lot...
But you'll get credits.
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Re: What to do.... August 04, 2011 05:27PM |
> we're talking actor's reel here.... not client...
The actor in question paid Matt for the first reel. That makes the actor a client. Client or not, I'm certainly not going to make myself seem less proficient. Just because your clients act unprofessional doesn't mean you should. That's precisely what makes a professional.
> But counting on establishing professional relationship with starting actors with the
> hope that one day they'll use you again....with pay...is utopia!!
You didn't read my post carefully enough. I wrote, "So they'll do my projects for free". As in my directing projects. As an indie director, it's very useful to have a stable of actors, musicians etc. who owe you favours. Whatever these actors can afford to pay me for a reel is peanuts, anyway. So the favour can be worth more by comparison.
Also, those actors know other actors, and you can do one free/discounted reel to spread the word. Charge for the rest.
www.derekmok.com
The actor in question paid Matt for the first reel. That makes the actor a client. Client or not, I'm certainly not going to make myself seem less proficient. Just because your clients act unprofessional doesn't mean you should. That's precisely what makes a professional.
> But counting on establishing professional relationship with starting actors with the
> hope that one day they'll use you again....with pay...is utopia!!
You didn't read my post carefully enough. I wrote, "So they'll do my projects for free". As in my directing projects. As an indie director, it's very useful to have a stable of actors, musicians etc. who owe you favours. Whatever these actors can afford to pay me for a reel is peanuts, anyway. So the favour can be worth more by comparison.
Also, those actors know other actors, and you can do one free/discounted reel to spread the word. Charge for the rest.
www.derekmok.com
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Re: What to do.... August 04, 2011 10:35PM |
If his "buddy" is any good, he'll figure it out. I say screw 'em. You did the work = you should get paid for revisions. Times are tough and your Actor client (yes xavpil, he's a paying client) is being cheap. Actors 
I should know...I was a starving one of those back in the Miami Vice 80's. It's what motivated me to get off my ass and do something productive like Post Production so I could eat.
When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.
I should know...I was a starving one of those back in the Miami Vice 80's. It's what motivated me to get off my ass and do something productive like Post Production so I could eat.When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.
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Re: What to do.... August 05, 2011 10:41AM |
Yep. Here's one episode...I am playing "Miguel" - Chauffeur & Bodyguard for Alexander Dykstra. I get killed at the end:
[www.hulu.com]
When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.
[www.hulu.com]
When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.
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Re: What to do.... August 05, 2011 12:56PM |
grafixjoe Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yep. Here's one episode...I am playing "Miguel" -
> Chauffeur & Bodyguard for Alexander Dykstra. I get
> killed at the end:
AGH - I just saw Miguel get wasted by a 12-guage -
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yep. Here's one episode...I am playing "Miguel" -
> Chauffeur & Bodyguard for Alexander Dykstra. I get
> killed at the end:
AGH - I just saw Miguel get wasted by a 12-guage -
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Re: What to do.... August 05, 2011 08:26PM |
That was a 12-Guage to the face fellas (2 cameras rolling - 1 take 
). Didn't you notice he looked out of the hole where the peep hole was blown away - right where my eyeball was on his monitor? They messed up the continuity a bit...dropped the shotgun a little low in his hands...should have had Duddy pointing the gun a little higher on his medium shot. Oh well.
When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.
). Didn't you notice he looked out of the hole where the peep hole was blown away - right where my eyeball was on his monitor? They messed up the continuity a bit...dropped the shotgun a little low in his hands...should have had Duddy pointing the gun a little higher on his medium shot. Oh well.When life gives you dilemmas...make dilemmanade.
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