I am wondering how much one should pay documentary subjects... I'm shooting people who are enthusiastic and willing to do it for free but since they're opening up their lives to me I do want to pay them something. Since they are mostly going about their lives as normal and just letting it be filmed, it doesn't seem necessary or reasonable to pay them regular wages though. Also, this is a very, very low budget film, but I don't want them to feel like they're being used or have any regrets about appearing in the documentary.
On the other hand, I want to protect myself against anything that could occur (such as documentary subjects demanding that you turn off the camera, or backing out and not letting you shoot anymore - I don't want that to happen then still be stuck paying). Looking at it this way, is the safest bet to just not pay them anything, since they are willing to do it free? At least that way if they back out (which has happened once before with me when the subjects realized it wasn't just going to be a vanity film about how amazing and perfect they are) the only things wasted will be the money spent on crew members and my own time.
Do you really want to keep shooting if the subject decides to tell you to stop? I can imagine that would get uncomfortable pretty quick paid or not.
RJSchwarz
RJSchwarz
Like I said in the original post, no I would not. I doubt that would even be legal. So... any advice?
Well all your examples of bad things that could happen are things that would stop shooting anyway so the pay doesn't protect you at all.
I have zero experience in this so I don't really have an opinion but your downside is a downside for both options, that's all I was saying.
RJSchwarz
RJSchwarz
quote:
Originally posted by rjschwarz
Well all your examples of bad things that could happen are things that would stop shooting anyway so the pay doesn't protect you at all.
No, you have it backwards. I don't want to pay to protect myself. I want to pay because it seems like the ethical thing to do, considering they are opening their lives to me. However I'm worried about paying them because if they did cancel the documentary I don't want to be stuck paying them for nothing.
If I'm paying them and they cancel the documentary, I've just paid them for nothing.
If I'm not paying them and they cancel the documentary, then I haven't wasted much besides my time.
I would like to pay them, but I'm wondering how I can pay them while protecting myself against the possibility that they may cancel the documentary.
quote:
I would like to pay them, but I'm wondering how I can pay them while protecting myself against the possibility that they may cancel the documentary.
Put the money in an attorney's escrow account, with the appropriate instrution. Lawyers who deal in construction projects do this all the time.
Your accountant may have other ideas.
Since they are enthusiastic and willing to do it for free
have you considered paying them after you have all the
footage you need?
That way if they cancel you don't pay anything and if
they don't they get a surprise payment they weren't
expecting.
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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)
I've never heard of or considered paying documentary subjects. Is this at all customary, even on the bigger-budget end of the scale?
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Andrew Gingerich
Exploding Goldfish Films
Check out my blog at http://www.exgfilms.com
and my reel at http://portfolio.exgfilms.com
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Andrew Gingerich
Exploding Goldfish Films
Check out my blog at http://www.exgfilms.com
and my reel at http://portfolio.exgfilms.com
Don't pay them, if they don't ask. It doesn't happen very often (if at all, in my admittedly limited) in the TV doc world, for example, unless it's people like experts who are routinely in shows. What you should do is make sure that they're not out a dime of their own, i.e. cover phone bills, transportation, meals, a per diem if they have to travel to you or somewhere else, etc.
If you have an ethical blockage, agree to donate a small sum to a charity of their choice, but don't outright pay them.
