I am in the process or ramping up into Pre-Production and I have a couple of questions surround the area of up front payments ?vs? deferred payments. Now naturally most of the people would appreciate getting paid up front, but the budget just doesn?t allow that kind of flexibility and payment deferred or partial deferment is needed.
What I am asking is what have been people?s experiences with payment people deferred payments what have been the general reaction to the cast or crew of it, and also to people who have performed under a deferred payment system. Have you received any money for that film or are still waiting.
I ask because I was talking with a friend of mine, DP, who has worked on a film for about 2 years, he signed a deferred payment agreement, 100% deferred he never knew it would go on this long, but he has committed to the project. This has hampered my ability to hire him since the budget for a 16 day shoot paying him what he asks for minimum $550 a day puts his costs alone at $8,800 well worth the money considering the work he does and what he brings to the set but that is more than a 1/3 of the budget, and considering there are other things that need to come from the budget it doesn?t leave much.
And one last question is the one about the deals with deferred, what kind of deals are offered around, are there incentives to take deferred payments over up front.
I thank you in advance for your time.
Kind Regards
Michael Rogers
Michael Rogers
McRogson
Don't know about Australia but working for free is not uncommon in the US on super-low budget films. The idea is to get experience and a credit for your real, resume, whatever.
If you go that route it is generally a bad thing to pay anybody. If some do not get paid nobody should be paid. And if you do not pay them, feed them and treat them well.
RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA
RJSchwarz
In the UK we generally assume that 'deferred payment' == 'working for free'. I've never got a penny from any 'deferred payment' deal myself.
I agree with Mark - deferred is just another way of asking people to work for free. Why not just use the word "free"?
I have never been paid on a "deferred" job. I know the filmmaker is telling the truth and if the movie made any money I know I would have gotten paid. The harsh reality is very few productions earn enough money to pay back the investors, plus interest and fees and have enough left over to pay off the salaries. Your friend's experience is the same as mine. I can't think of any incentive a filmmaker could offer me to work for 16 days for free.
I have often agreed to defer part - even most - of my salary. How about offering your friend $200/day with $350 deferred?
quote:
well worth the money considering the work he does and what he brings to the set but that is more than a 1/3 of the budget, and considering there are other things that need to come from the budget it doesn?t leave much.
Then you might need to up the budget. You are paying for other things, you just might need to pay for the time, talent and experience of the people, too.
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
