As many of you might know from my previous posts, I am a new mixer,
having begun last year with an HD feature. Since then, I have done
four additional features, three HD and one Super 16. All of these
features have been one-man-band for me. I just wrapped another HD
feature in Chicago, also one-man-band. I finally worked myself up to
demanding OT, all with the assurances that we would never go beyond 12
a day. Yes, I confess, that at least here in the Midwest, indie
features expect 12 hours per day. I have given them that each and
every time. Something else I've found (and of course knew in advance)
was that what everyone here has been saying is an absolute truth.
Open ended flats are an invitation for total abuse.
Each time I have done an open ended flat, I have consistently worked
14-16 hours a day. I even had a 23 hour day on the Super 16 shoot.
Interestingly enough, on this last shoot which just wrapped, I
hammered out an OT schedule for 12+ (x1.5) and 14+ (x2.0). Of course
the producer, in his attempts during negotiations, said how in his
previous three features, he had never gone over 12. It was then that
i remembered a line from Fred Ginsburg: "Then you won't mind if at 12
hours, I pack up my gear and call it a day then, right? Because
without the OT clause, that's exactly what I'm going to have to do."
I couldn't believe I said it. I got my OT schedule. Well... I'm here
to tell you that in twenty days pf production, I ended up with over 10
hours of x1.5 and a few more at x2.0. In fact, I unintentionally
caused a mutiny of sorts. The DP found out that I had OT in my deal
and after the first week, demanded and got OT for camera, grip and
electric as well!
i am presently waiting to hear back from a producer right now who
offered me a flat rate with promises of a 12 hour day. Of course they
rejected the idea of using MY deal memo. I said sure, but I will
e-mail you some "issues" that will need to be incorporated into YOUR
deal memo. So far, since having sent that e-mail this morning, the
phone has remained silent. No skin. I'm now to the point that I will
start passing on indie features without OT as well as other important
provisions and just make it work until the next project that can do it
right. I've done exceptionally good work for the most part IMHO, and
don't need to be beat up and abused any longer. At least not without
proper compensation.
Anyway, its nice to know by reading these posts, along with John
Coffey's harrowing tome that I'm not the only one out here struggling
to do the best work possible while trying to just survive the shoots.
Thanks to all for your war stories. They really mean a lot to me.
Tom Beach
>> Stay informed about: Flat Rates.... 
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