I have a problem with someone on set.

I have been shooting my short film in almost all one location, and almost done. The location is a big house, and the woman living there, lived alone, and promised me a nice quiet set, when I explained to her that quiet is important when recording dialogue. She said that's fine and she will be quiet, which she has had no problem being.

Halfway through production, a new tenant has suddenly moved in downstairs with her daughter, and have been making a lot of racket, and constantly interrupting shooting, in other ways. Such as turning the appliances back on, after we turned them off for silence, and costing us dialogue time, and more dubbing possibly after it's all over.

Asking her nicely hasn't done much good, and this last scene which was suppose to take only 12 hours, has now been delayed to two more days at least, cause of her delays. My actors are looking at me as director, do something about this problem. It's costing me more food for the actors as one, cause of the delays.

I know it's her home now, but I have to look at this from a filmmakers point of view. I entered into a verbal contract with the house owner, then this new person arrives by surprise, and ambushes the contract. If for example, James Cameron had spent good money and/or effort, on renting a location and promised silence, then while shooting, some stranger and her daughter arrive on set, and start making racket, and said that the location was where they lived, would he take that? No, he would say that he had made a contract, and that they are not part of it. He would then snap his fingers, and his security would physically escort them from the set.

I am going to have a nice talk with her about how important and serious this is (but I don't think it would help since the two previous nice talks have done nothing). If it doesn't help by the next shoot, I am going to have to take drastic action, but if I physically remove her and her daughter from her home, and in the freezing cold winter for half a day, she would very likely call the cops.

I'm not a cold heartless person at all but my actors are looking to me to do something and I don't want to have any quit on me again for this production. So how do I deal with this problem. How can I be a successful director who can get the job done, if I take no control? I feel that the only thing left to do is to make serious verbal abusing threats, next time, but if that doesn't work, then I have to physically remove them. I will talk to the owner I contracted with, but not sure if it would do any good, and I have hopefully the last shoot coming up. Thoughts?
 
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That's a landlord thing. You would need her tO talk to her tennant about it.

In all seriousness though, you may not be able to do much about it. If the lady is renting the house now she has a written contract which gives her right to is the house as she sees fit.

Offer her $100 to leave you guys alone for a day. Compare it to the cost of shooting you mentioned (food and extra time).
 
I agree with Paul. I was going to say to offer to send her to lunch, the movies, bowling, or whatever for the afternoon. It will cost you less in the long run. Or even invite her up to see you film and see the importance of silence on set. Maybe she'll understand better once she sees it first hand...
 
The James Cameron example shows the difference between what most of us are doing and the "Hollywood" way... they have much more control over the environments because they have signed contracts and money exchanging hands for the locations they are using. They are also paying their cast and crew, so they don't mind waiting around for an extra day or 10 as it's then guaranteed income for them.

Shoot through the scene ignoring the noises, then ADR it. This is the cheap and fast solution to your problem. Giving the mother/daughter $40-$50 to go out for a day is also a strong solution (have them talk you up to $100 ;) ). The landlady will never side with you on this one as one party is paying for the use of the space, and the other isn't. The money wins.
 
If for example, James Cameron had spent good money and/or effort, on renting a location and promised silence,
But you didn't spend good money. You made a verbal agreement
that did not include what might happen if she rented to a new tenant.
Your verbal agreement was that she be quiet. This is why most of us
here suggest you get everything in writing. That seem overkill until
something happens. then it is suddenly very important.

I feel that the only thing left to do is to make serious verbal abusing threats, next time, but if that doesn't work, then I have to physically remove them. I will talk to the owner I contracted with, but not sure if it would do any good, and I have hopefully the last shoot coming up. Thoughts?
I think "serious verbal abusing threats" isn't the best method to get
paying tenants to be quite in their own home as you, a non-paying
filmmaker, finishes his movie. I suspect attempting to physically remove
a paying tenant from their home will not be seen as a good thing. Perhaps
you should take this to the local police before you touch this woman and
her daughter.

You have tried being nice and friendly. Since that hasn't worked your only
option is to work about the new tenants. Not the solution YOU want, but
far better than verbally abusing paying tenants or trying to physically
remove them. For next time, get a contract in writing. This time be a
diplomat and not an occupying force.
 
Hit her! Beat her crazy a$$... :grrr:

Wait, that doesn't make misogynistic, does it? :hmm:

Of course I'm kidding. I think even if James Cameron were to try to forcibly remove me from my own home, I'd have the right to physically defend myself. Trying anything by force is not a good idea. Especially for something as relatively trivial as a movie...

Diplomacy is always the best policy.
 
What the what?! No.

Where do you get these ideas?

Your comment made me laugh out loud! Hahahaha thats great.

Harmonica, dude. You re a starting filmmaker, that borrowed somebody s house for a shoot. They went out of their way to GIVE you a location, to come into THEIR personal space so you can shoot a movie. Their house is filled with strangers. And on top of that you DARE to have multiple talks to te owner to be quiet??? If I was the owner I'd thrown you butt out of the house so fast and charge you for electricity and water bill!

Now you re thinking about threatening new tenants as well.. Holy monkey balls! No wonder you can't find the crew! If I was helping you on the set and see how you handle these situations - I would stop what I'm doing, ad bail as well.

Realize that people are going out of their way to HELP you and you turn around and give them some ultimatums! That's not right, man. I understand that you re trying to get te best for your film but understand that these are difficulties of no budget filmmaking. Yes, there will be noise. Yes, somebody will always try to mess with you shot on the background. Nobody owes you anything. Not the owner, tenants, unpaid crew members..
 
Start peeling out $20s until they go away, then quickly shoot a WS of the entire scene. Once that's done, go for your closer shots until they bother you again, then call it a wrap.

Whatever you do, don't touch anyone!
 
A lot of people in this thread have been polite and tactful, while offering their honest opinions. I cannot fault them for that. But for me, this is simply too much. Consider this the straw that has broken my camel's back. Except it's a really big straw.

I feel that the only thing left to do is to make serious verbal abusing threats, next time, but if that doesn't work, then I have to physically remove them. I will talk to the owner I contracted with, but not sure if it would do any good, and I have hopefully the last shoot coming up. Thoughts?

The mere thought of violence, or abusive language, does not belong anywhere in filmmaking. These words shouldn't even be part of your lexicon. The mere fact that you have even considered them is proof-positive that you are a veritable lifetime away from ever becoming a leader.

Some people may lose their tempers, on occasion. Such is life. But to premeditate an action that is so clearly unethical, juvenile, and just plain idiotic, is so far outside of bounds of responsible adulthood that I personally see no possibility of redemption for you. With these types of attitudes, you will never be an effective director.
 
Okay you're right verbal abuse or threats is not the way to go. My judgment is just compromised which is why I was thinking drastically. I could give her money to leave, but I feel she is taking advantage of me somehow, even though it's really not the case. I would be more nicer about this whole thing if she didn't act obnoxious towards me, in front of the crew. The obnoxiousness is what's hard to deal with. Even after being like that, she later hit on me, and tried to pick me up. The nerve. You're right, she does live there and all, but she has an attitude, that's hard to reason with. I would be more up for paying her to leave if it wasn't for that. I will have a talk with her and the landlord though soon. Maybe I can pay her to leave, we'll see. Don't get me wrong, I am not a verbally abusive person at all, and very nice. It's just she is acting narcissistic when asked nicely and not making it easy.
 
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The money wins.

This. Buy them off regardless of their "attitude." Then suck it up and get used to it. When dealing with situations like this, the almighty dollar is the only way to get a problematic civilian to cease being problematic.

Try assaulting them in their own home, and you'll get exactly what you deserve - tossed out on your kiester into the hands of the Mounties facing assault, trespassing, and possibly B&E charges. Seriously not the way you want to go.
 
Yeah, you're right. It's just because of her attitude, I have very little faith, that paying her off would work, as I have thought about it before. But it could, I just have very little faith in obnoxious attitudes from past experiences. I'll try it, if she's around next time.
 
Yeah, you're right. It's just because of her attitude, I have very little faith, that paying her off would work, as I have thought about it before. But it could, I just have very little faith in obnoxious attitudes from past experiences. I'll try it, if she's around next time.

It's your only option. I can't even count how many times I have seen ADs buy off troublesome civilians.

Also, dude, you REALLY need to be careful the kind of stuff you post on the internet. It doesn't go away and can be used against you in a variety of ways - not the least of which is a court of law.
 
Okay you're right verbal abuse or threats is not the way to go. My judgment is just compromised which is why I was thinking drastically. I could give her money to leave, but I feel she is taking advantage of me somehow, even though it's really not the case. I would be more nicer about this whole thing if she didn't act obnoxious towards me, in front of the crew. The obnoxiousness is what's hard to deal with. Even after being like that, she later hit on me, and tried to pick me up. The nerve. You're right, she does live there and all, but she has an attitude, that's hard to reason with. I would be more up for paying her to leave if it wasn't for that. I will have a talk with her and the landlord though soon. Maybe I can pay her to leave, we'll see. Don't get me wrong, I am not a verbally abusive person at all, and very nice. It's just she is acting narcissistic when asked nicely and not making it easy.

You're not verbally abusive, but your first thought was to be verbally abusive, and physically violent. She's "obnoxious", and then she hits on you? None of this makes any sense in the real world.

Hmm...could we link any of this to your infatuation with rape?

I'm not playing this game anymore with you. Nobody else should, either. You're not a filmmaker.

I don't want to hear any bullshit from anyone insisting that you've been persistent, or whatever. You've only been a persistent pain in the butt-hole. This isn't funny any more.

As soon as you started talking about actually threatening violence, you lost your filmmaker card. I should not be the only person saying this.
 
Threatening violence was not my first thought. I said that the person is no longer leaving me no other choice. Just because she may be leaving me no other choice doesn't mean I am actually going to use violence, I was just making a point. I was just saying what do I do besides, that since that's all that there may be left to do. No I am not going to be violent, I just want her to leave me alone. Yes she hit on me, and is obnoxious at the same time, crazy woman, go figure. Don't know how to reason with a person like that.

I would have had the short done and be a filmmaker if it wasn't for the sabotage and delays. But I will have a talk with her and see if I can make an arrangement to pay her to leave. Not sure if she would be okay leaving for 8-12 hours though, but we'll see.
 
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Threatening violence was not my first thought. It was only my last when I need to get this film done and nothing else I've thought of before has worked so far.

Ohhh, I see. My mistake. That totally makes it cool.

Oh, wait. No it doesn't. All of my prior comments still apply.

And you don't seem to get it, when I say you're not a filmmaker. I'm not talking about your history. I'm talking about your future.
 
With that attitude there will be no progress. I'll get a film made, one way or another.

In context, that last sentence sounds very much like a threat.

The fact that you have genuinely contemplated (in public, nonetheless) physically and verbally assaulting two women in their own home because they won't do exactly what you tell them to (despite them having no kind of agreement with you), makes me think you have far bigger issues to worry about than finishing your film.

At least we know why you're finding it so hard to get crew and actors to come back now.
 
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