People:
Tori- Owner of the Non-Profit
Tammy- Consultant
John- School's Administrator
Bob- In charge of Internships
Meg- President of my college.
It all begin with a conference meeting with Bob, Meg and John telling me about this internship and how this will lead to more jobs in the future. The best part it is local and paid.
A couple of weeks later, I met with the consultant, Tammy, John, and Bob. Tammy agreed I will get paid at least minimum wage. This will be a commercial for their Christmas event. They would like me to write up a script, shoot it and edit it. I was really excited about helping this non-profit organization because it is all about helping caregivers by giving them tips on how to make a person who is suffering have a better day.
A week later, I met with Tammy, Tori, and John at Tori's house. Everything seemed fine until it was time for writing the script and the budget. This organization is saving well over $15,000 because the school is letting them use the equipment and John is writing the script for free. I have four other interns filling the main roles (Director of Photography, Sound, Gaffer, PA/DIT). The total came to $4859. We were planning on shooting it the end of Aug. Tammy kept saying Tori wasn't happy with the price. She wants it to be less than $3000, which isn't going to happen. They decided to shoot it Sept 22. The problem with this date is the interns I had can't do it then. I now have to look outside of the school which is going to cause a problem with cost. Now a Director of Photography went from $100 to $550.
Tammy said Tori doesn't feel I should get paid $1500. I am doing pre-production, production, and post-production. John keeps apologizing for all this headache. He tells me they are getting a really good deal and all the hours I will be putting in they are getting a steal. He telling me he will stand up for me. Well, Thursday, Aug 31 we did a conference call with Tammy. She tells me Tori doesn't want to give me more than $500. I was shocked. $500. 135 hour x $7.00 (which is less than minimum wage) that equals $945. I am really good at what I do. I know damn well I am worth more than that. They are paying a Director of Photography intern $100 and they will only be on set for 5 hours. She told me to think about it and get back to her on Friday, Sept 1, 2016.
I got to thinking about it, all of the interns at my college got paid minimum wage. One of my classmates had an internship at a small church and they paid their interns $10 an hour. These people I am doing an internship for have money. It's not like they are broke. They are just being cheap. I guess you can say that is how the rich just keep getting richer.
I met up with a local film producer and what he said me know what I should do.
Friday around 4:30pm she sent me an email asking me what my decision was.
So I sent her a new budget. I got it under $3500. I am getting paid $500, but I am not editing it. Just doing pre-production, production and overseeing post-production. The way they have acted just with the script and budget I can't even imagine what they will be like with the edit. I also put in the contract that after the first two edits it will cost $50.00 per edit after it because it can get time-consuming when the client keeps changing their minds. This is what John told me to do. So we will see what she says. She hasn't replied back yet.
Here is my experience. Have I learned anything from this? Yes don't take something the school talks up.
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