In a perfect world, we’re
all getting paid to do this work. The tenets of independent cinema are based
on a system of “lo/no pay work”. It’s a rite of passage for anyone looking to
break into industry, much like an unpaid intern starting at a brokerage firm
down on Wall Street. The world is run on the backs of the unpaid intern. Why
should that be any different for indie film?
Movies like “Clerks” and
“Slacker” aren’t getting finished if Kevin Smith and Richard Linklater are
paying for every single person working on their movies. The world would not
have performances from Bill Murray in “Rushmore” ($9000) or Ryan Gosling in
“Half Nelson” ($1000 a week) if we’re making sure everyone gets paid what they
deserve when it comes to indie film.
Movies cost money and
post-production costs eat up most of the budget. If it’s down to paying all the
grips and electric their regular, industry standard rate versus the finishing
funds needed to have the best color-correction and audio mix available, I’m sorry,
but I’m finding a crew who will work for copy and credit. The final product is
more important than who works on the set. All I really need is one solid
person, who can wear multiple hats during the production to drag along those
less experienced.
And isn’t that what
working on a crew for lo/no pay is all about? The experience.
Understand that I’m not
advocating not paying anything at all. Aside from the food that would be
provided, there could be a small rate offered to those in key positions of the
crew. With the alternative of getting paid nothing, a small rate would go a
long way to helping shape a more interested crew. A cinematographer getting $75
a day is less likely to walk off set over a disagreement about lighting
placement, as would one who is working for no money at all.
Let’s look at the genesis
of most indie films. A few friends, all in the industry in some form or
another, are hanging out one night bemoaning the state of movies. They complain
about how the productions they work for are generating terrible movies.
Why would someone like this?
This isn’t funny!
We could do better than that movie.
Boom. An indie film is
born. Most of these independent productions are filled with friends looking to
create something special. They’re looking to put their stamp on modern cinema
with their story. It’s about the story. It’s about the craft. It’s about the
art. As soon as one starts wondering about getting paid for their work, the
magic dies. It becomes a job and not a calling.
Telling a story with your
friends is special. Looking to get paid to help friends is petty. When people
start getting paid what they think they should be paid, it has now become a job
and the inevitable complaining about the job begins. The work suffers. The
movie suffers. The relationships suffer. What once began as a chance to
experience something unique with friends is now tearing those same friends apart.
It happens all the time. As soon as money enters the picture, it ruins the specialness
of the movie-making experience.
Money ruins everything.
