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Advice Needed
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Can you get into the witness protection program?
Seriously, you have to make a stand for what is right, even if that costs you your current job. But you let yourself be put into an untenable position here, and it is Kobayashi Maru time. You’re young and single, probably have family and friends to lean on thru the hard times, with nobody else like a spouse or kids depending on you, so the decision should be simpler for you than at any time in your later life. If you were going to screw up badly, your youth is the best time for that.
Aaron, I think your career in video, going forward, should revolve around working for yourself for a while, instead of for a boss. Couple it with a move to a nearby market, make a fresh start personally and professionally. Freelance editing and event stuff, maybe weddings and sports. Or go be a freelance news shooter for a local station for a while, though the pay is poor. The experience will be useful to you, personally and professionally, and maybe you will have less chance of getting into trouble if you are your own boss. Your current “relationship” is like a domestic abuse situation, and I think is now beyond any chance of repair. You need to start over with a clean sheet of paper.
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Thanks for all the advice guys. It has helped me to formulate a plan for this situation, and that’s why I asked for your opinions.
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Aaron –
IMO –
Lawyers cost money and so far you have done nothing wrong. In this case I would keep telling the truth and save the legal fees. Since you’re not going to lie, then you have no cause to ask for more money. If they fire you, then that’s a good case for not working for them.
Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions -
[Herb Sevush] “Lawyers cost money and so far you have done nothing wrong. In this case I would keep telling the truth and save the legal fees.”
Absolutely. Screw the lawyers. Like laxatives and dangerous weapons, they should be used sparingly and as a last resort.
If you have deep pockets and loads of money to lose, call a lawyer. Otherwise, just follow the ten commandments and you’ll probably never need one.
[Herb Sevush] “Since you’re not going to lie, then you have no cause to ask for more money.”
Well, that one remains to be seen. If paying Aaron $500 resolves the issue at hand, they should pay him immediately, without passing go.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, Indie Film & Documentary, and Film History & Appreciations forums.
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[Herb Sevush] Lawyers cost money and so far you have done nothing wrong. In this case I would keep telling the truth and save the legal fees. Since you’re not going to lie, then you have no cause to ask for more money. If they fire you, then that’s a good case for not working for them.
If you decide against a lawyer, or even if you do get one, document everything! Conversations, actions, the whole deal. This includes what you’ve also done right or wrong. I can’t tell you how many times, I kept records of the most unimportant conversation that when I needed to refer to it months later, I had more leverage in the “meeting” than the person sitting on the other side of the table did.
If you have quick reference to documented facts regardless if you where the only witness, you will be more prepared should an unknown force try to bite you in the butt.
Jeff Bonano
http://www.bonanoproductions.com“I want to have a cool quote at the bottom of my signature, just like everyone else on the cow forum!” -Jeff Bonano
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Aaron. I cannot believe how you put this stuff out on the internet. You just ratted out everyone involved and could send the hand that feeds you to jail.
And this isn’t the first time you have dragged us into your self generated problems.
If I were your boss, I would fire you and then kick your ass.
Are you completely insane?
Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
2-Sony EX-1 HD .Ask me how to Market Yourself using Send Out Cards
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And…You probably ought to sign up for prepaid legal and go get a consultation.
In my previous post, I was not condoning the actions of your boss, just hinting that you need to not be blasting this stuff on to the web.
Your boss made a mistake, regardless of whether he knew it was illegal or not but that is his problem. He needed to just hand you the overtime pay and act like you had it coming all along. He is probably as dumb as you are.
Several years ago, a local company produced some spots for a political campaign and the editor neglected to include the “Paid for by …..” at the bottom of the screen. The campaign was fined somewhere around $25,000 for that. It was on the work order and the campaign came after the production company to recoup their money.
Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
2-Sony EX-1 HD .Ask me how to Market Yourself using Send Out Cards
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Gentlemen,
I don’t normally do this, but…
…I think we’ve beat the dead horse enough on the matter and the point has been made. Which the solution to the problem is evident for other readers who might do a search for the answers to a similar issue. Before it becomes a battle royal I think we can just move on to the next post and help solve another issue. Yes? Last thing we need is for mad cow disease to start spreading! The head rancher (with his trusted Lassie) might have to start walking around with a .22 and put down a few cows or something!
Shall we, *ehm*, “Moooooooove along now?”
Jeff Bonano
http://www.bonanoproductions.com“I want to have a cool quote at the bottom of my signature, just like everyone else on the cow forum!” -Jeff Bonano
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You can now feel a little better about your situation with the supreme court ruling a week ago that allows for corporate spending on political ads. Good or bad, this should certainly clear your boss of any wrong doing.
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