More fun with Mandy
Mandy is not a woman so get your minds out of the gutter. Mandy is an online service where I can go to post notices whenever I am in need of cast or crew. A single posting to Mandy typically nets me at least 40 resumes. Sometimes more. Now because we at Red Scream Films LLC believe in total transparency and setting expectations, and because we do toil in the trenches of indie filmmaking, we posted the below notice in our current search for a DP.
Red Scream Films LLC is seeking a kick-ass DP use to working in the trenches of indie filmmaking - real indie filmaking with a budget in the mid to high five figures. You must be creative, you must be fast. You must be willing to work till you drop then get up and work some more.
You must have a good reel, you must have a JVC HD-100 or better camera or you have used one and will take a lower day rate if we need to rent one. You must have a steadicam rig or have used one and will take a lower day rate if we need to rent one. A lighting package is good.
We are a fiercely independent film company that has come to kick ass ‘cause we don’t chew gum. Pay is $100-200/day. We provide transportation, meals, and accommondations. We provide a real feature film making experience. We have open doors at a number of distributors including After Dark and Sony. This film will get wide distribution on dvd and via other home entertainment channels in North America, Europe and Asia.
I posted the ad on Saturday. This morning there were 47 resumes in my inbox. They ranged from people just out of film school to people with decades of experience.
And then we got this one (which gave me a good laugh and I just had to share)
Dear David R Williams,
Are you kidding me? Work till I drop, then get up and do it again? Take a lower rate if I don’t own an $80,000 Steadi-cam? What does that have to do with “real feature film-making experience”? I’d say go make films in China, except some asshole will actually take you up on your offer here in America. See you at Sundance.
Wow, so 46 “assholes” read the notice and thought, yeah, that sounds like a good gig. Let’s dissect.
Are you kidding me?
No.
Work till I drop, then get up and do it again?
You’ve never worked on a real low budget indie film project have you?
Take a lower rate if I don’t own an $80,000 Steadi-cam?
Huh? Who said anything about that? You can pick up a decent stedi-cam rig for a few hundred. You went to an expensive film school and “learned” how to make hollywood movies didn’t you? You can tell me. I won’t judge…much.
What does that have to do with “real feature film-making experience”?
Ah, you don’t have a ton of money to spend to fix your mistakes. You have x amount of money and y amount of time to make your film and that’s what you have to do. You don’t have the luxury of somebody hired to be on set just to kiss your ass and stroke your obviously over-inflated ego.
I’d say go make films in China, except some asshole will actually take you up on your offer here in America.
And a racist to boot. Actually I have been talking to someone about shooting something in China.
See you at Sundance.
Why the fuck would I go to Sundance you dicklick wannabe?
Nos Feratu
2 Comments
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (2)
There are always people that are going to email stuff like that but blasting them on you blog where you claim to be professional is lame. I checked out your clips on youtube and decided not to apply because your production value just isn't there. It looks like student film making at it worst and you probably have students or craigslist PAs working on your films. Thats cool but don't act like you can demand things from DPs as you did. Real feature film making experience doesn't mean just because you made a feature you are pro. If the only links you have are tests that suck then the experience you offer sucks too. If you were "pro" you would have a few DPs in the wings already. I know this comment won't make it past the first person that reads this but thats cool, cause that person is the one this is directed to. Lamer.
Your turn...
There are always people that are going to email stuff like that but blasting them on you blog where you claim to be professional is lame.
So I should allow people like you to talk at me but not be allowed to respond? That's typical.
I checked out your clips on youtube and decided not to apply because your production value just isn't there.
That's your opinion and valid as such. But its only your opinion.
It looks like student film making at it worst and you probably have students or craigslist PAs working on your films.
I've seen student film making at its worst and those test clips are not even close. And what is wrong with having students work on your film (for school credit I might add) or Craigslist PAs? You sound pretty elitist. And if you really knew anything about filmmaking you would understand that test clips are exactly that, tests. Without sound work or color correction or any of the many post-production processes that every film goes through.
Thats cool but don't act like you can demand things from DPs as you did.
I'm the guy cutting the checks. I can demand any damn thing I want. You can say no.
Real feature film making experience doesn't mean just because you made a feature you are pro.
How about 7 features?
If the only links you have are tests that suck then the experience you offer sucks too.
See above..."opinion", "test shots", etc.
If you were "pro" you would have a few DPs in the wings already.
I have three. The one I have worked with on three previous projects is unavailable in August when we intend to shoot First Dark, the second will be in China, the third will be on his Honeymoon. I also have three editors in the wings, two production managers, four fx teams, two designers....the list goes on. All people I have worked with time and time again over a course of ten years. I guess we all suck.
I know this comment won't make it past the first person that reads this but thats cool, cause that person is the one this is directed to.
Guess again sweetie.
Lamer.
Nanny Nanny Boo Boo.