sirjeffofshort 2009-02-23 11:28:05

I know right?

sirjeffofshort 2009-02-23 11:42:17

That's true. I'm used to the hassle of production in my day job as a writer/producer for radio, but working with SAG is a whole new bag of suck, however the pilot has already generated some studio interest (hence the reason we are sinking our own money into the production) so I just hope I don't get screwed by another strike. (I actually had a pilot in at Fox in 07' but the writers strike killed its steam... I was pissed.) All in all it is more experience, and experience is always helpful, so thanks for that fresh perspective.

SAG doesn't require catering, that's more something you have to work out with the actor and his/her agents (agents are a whole n'other pain in the ass, but I'm pretty used to dealing with them.) We do always provide 2 meals a day and a snacking spread for our productions, so that will appease most actors (and get a good amount of crew to work for free surprisingly enough). It's always funny that the hardest people on a production to please are the agents and lawyers who don't even work on the damn thing. Haha.

Thanks for the input and more moral support Tom.

sirjeffofshort 2009-02-23 13:45:08

That sounds like a dream come true. Haha.

There are ways around it out here, a few of our actors are SAG but we can fly under the radar because they are friends, but for our new production we are hiring a "name actor" because it's hard to get anyone to look at a new project without one, and that's where the troubles began. As soon as you sign a name actor their representation and union come a knockin looking for their cut.

sirjeffofshort 2009-02-23 14:41:13

Haha, Tom Baker? That's awesome! Best of luck on your project, it's always good to work on everything you can get your hands on.

My first year out here I got tapped on the shoulder by a stranger at staples when I was getting prints made up, she asked if I could do production artwork for her new movie. I had no clue who she was and I was like "Sure." A week later I was meeting on the Warner Brothers lot talking about working on some horror films for an indi subsidiary of theirs.

The grunt work like that sucks, but it's the best way to make connections, so best of luck to you.

sirjeffofshort 2009-02-23 17:08:18

Not that gorilla film making doesn't come without its headaches either, but at least there are no legal ramifications if you do something wrong.

We still do our fair share of gorilla work, but there are just some projects that you have to go legit on if you want to make it right. At least out here.

I kinda noticed that film making was much easier back in Massachusetts. Sure I have a lot more support and contacts out here, but back in Mass I could make a decent film just by grabbing a few cameras, pulling a few favors and making some calls. It's just once it gets done I had nowhere to go with it. At least now if I manage to finish something I can shop it around the studios and producers I know.

Sure the odds of anything happening after that are still pretty low, but it still makes me feel better, haha.

sirjeffofshort 2009-02-23 18:33:53

It's actually an animated pilot, but to hire our 'celebrity guest' SAG still needs to have their hand in the mix. Yuck.

I agree that every style has its pro's and cons. And guerilla (every time I tried to spell it that way it gives me the little red "you fuk't up" line under it, doh') or live action film making is much less strenuous and time consuming, but it really takes its toll when you are trying to hold together a production crew of more than 20 people for multiple days. All things considered I've actually found I can move faster in animation than I can in live action (of course my animation isn't that great, but that's a whole n'other story.)

When all is said and done, you either do it because it's something you love, or you don't, regardless of medium, but I also think it's important to experiment so best of luck in your trials with live action.

sirjeffofshort 2009-02-23 18:50:20

Living as a writer or other creative moneymaker isn't without its problems too, it's just a whole n'other set. I personally don't think I have what it takes to try and strike out as a screenwriter alone so definite props to your dad.

sirjeffofshort 2009-02-23 19:34:27

Haha, we are actually building a new studio in Mass too, so I may just move back there when it's finished in the next year or two, depending on whether or not I can get a good job.

I agree that Cali is still the go to place for creative work, but there is an undulating concern that the industry is slowly spreading out because of California's financial problems and artists ability to telecommute through the internet.