Nick Griffin
Forum Replies Created
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If you can shoot (or get something shot) why not just capture some B-roll of a slow pan by or rack focus through a group of Coke bottles? That would be WAY more interesting than just putting up their logo.
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Marie-
I think you need to approach this like a business. What’s their “pro forma” budget? From that, what can they afford and/or how much do they plan to make, and therefore, based on how much you’re doing, what portion of the project’s net return should be yours? Do you want to be paid regardless of how things turn out or do you want to bet on the financial outcome, therefore getting a higher return for taking some measure of risk? Do you want a guaranteed floor up front if you’re taking a risk? And last, but certainly not least, can this project be done without you or, are your skills, style, knowledge a lynchpin to it’s ultimate success or failure?
Lot to think about.
And I’m sorry to be the one to bring this up about your dogs, but taking them to Africa is a bad idea. Getting them into many countries is a walk in the park compared to getting them allowed back into the US or most other first world countries — especially getting them back in from many places in Africa. You may be looking at months and months of quarantine. Then there’s also the matter of them being exposed to diseases not yet known to the vets here, let alone to vets there. IMHO, it’s better for the animals to stay with friends and be happy to see you when you get back. Bummer, but true.
Hope it all works out for you. Sounds wildly exciting.
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I’ve recently had a couple of incidents of “sticker shock” with a European-based company. I believe it came down to using union on-camera talent and licensing real music in addition to the fact that a 2 man crew seems to get paid more here than what they we’re used to. I mention this as a caution because, ESPECIALLY with third world countries where labor is typically MUCH, MUCH less expensive, you might run into serious issues with these folks. “You want HOW much?!?!?” may very well be the response you get.
Certainly GET A DEPOSIT and GET PAID IN FULL by bank wire transfer before releasing final materials. Over the years I’ve been screwed over (or the attempt has been made to screw me over) by people from many parts of the world, so I can say from experience that the legal distances provided by international borders CAN bring out the worst in some people.
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[Jim Harvey] “I NEVER EVER deliver a finished project unless I am paid in full.”
Should we infer from this that you live in a not so nice town, Jim?
Am I in a distinct minority, working for many of the same people over and over again? Of course strangers and first timers put down an initial payment and some are not allowed to walk with finished work until payment has been made, but in my case that’s a tiny fraction of the overall business. It’s also why our work is almost 100% B-2-B and with established, credit-worthy companies.
Look, I feel for DeAnna and her situation. In my case something very similar happened when I was just starting out and a lawyer friend had to actually file papers before “an upright member of the local business community” (Car Dealer) would pay me $350. That’s why I gave the advice I did, because I know this game from personal experience. It’s also how I know that moving on is, in the long run, far more productive than hours and hours and hours of negative energy.
[Paul Lundahl] “In your shoes I would do everything I could to make their business a success… then they will be able to pay you sooner.”
While I admire Paul’s upbeat approach to this and agree with his philosophy of happy clients bringing in more happy clients, DeAnna’s situation seems to have moved well past the point where that’s an option. Good stuff to focus on in the future, but probably not now with this client.
DeAnna, do what you feel you’ve gotta do, be it a cease letter or whatever. Then put it out of your mind and immerse yourself in getting the next project. It beats the hell out of sitting around stewing about the one that’s gone bad.
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[Mike Cohen] “get paid something before you do work”
Not the easiest thing to do when just starting out, but a good idea in principle.
Of course the flip side of this, which I’m sure is true for many of us, is working with reliable long-term clients where the expectation is NOT an advance deposit rather periodic or project billing on a regular basis which is paid within normal prescribed terms, ie- 30 days net. If someone is giving me work month in and month out I’m not about to ask for a deposit on each project. The sticky part is making sure that you have approval at all the steps and that everyone stays happy.
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I agree with Mark (and with earlier me). The remedies you have available, ie. – claiming ownership, letter from a lawyer, etc., are more appropriate if the balance due was $4,600 or $46,000. If you want to send her a letter from you stating that she can’t use your stuff two things are going to happen: 1) She’s going to get defensive and 2) She’s likely to stop the micro-payments.
I truly believe that you should be able to make $500 ($460) from someone else with far less effort and way, way, way less negative energy than pursuing this deadbeat. Let it go and move forward.
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DeAnna-
Sounds like you’ve already learned a few valuable lessons, although one not mentioned was the importance of getting a deposit. So… let’s look at how to move FORWARD.Stop calling her, or for that matter having any contact at all for the next several months. She’s already avoiding you so return the favor. When she realizes that she needs something from you (which realistically may never happen), you’ll be in a stronger position to demand full and immediate payment.
This does not seem like it rises to the level of even small claims court. That kind of activity is almost always more trouble and consumes more of your time than it’s ever worth. Which leads me to:
Get on with it. Dwelling on this just takes time away from the better, and presumably better controlled, projects you have ahead of you. Go out and start looking for new business. Work on your reel. Network. Move on and don’t waste any more time on this one.
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Gee, Zach. I’m using Firefox on a Mac and all I see below
“Here are a few of the things that I have done in the last 5 months.”is blank space. I hope you’ve done more than this in the last 5 months.
Seriously, in your negotiation ask for things which they can expense and you don’t necessarily have to pay taxes on. Things like insurances (health and life) and automobiles. I also agree with asking for the ability to use their gear, but tread lightly so you’re not seen as potentially taking work away. The net cost ends up being less for them yet still beneficial to you.
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Personally I’d rather have it solid than having it right away. (But that’s just me.)
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[Michael Slowe] “you should ‘clear the decks’ before installing a new version”
Absolutely. In fact we have one of our machines frozen in time, running an older version of M100 and older system because it has a complex 1 1/2 hour program which requires periodic changes. Income trumps the desire to update every time.
Our #1 machine is “14 Ready” because it has a separate boot drive where 14 can live while 13 does business on another boot drive. That said, past Media 100 upgrades have been smooth enough that making the jump hasn’t been all that risky. So far. Hopefully.