Hi everyone,
At the beginning of the year I directed two music videos for an indie band who reached out saying they loved my work and referencing a previous music video. They especially loved the lighting and color grade and asked me to keep them the same which I happily obliged. Because the budget was small and the (great) DPs i’ve used previously weren’t within budget, I ended up hiring a longtime acquaintance who has been actively trying to work with me for years.
He honestly is not a good DP, and I knew that going in, but I already had the the shot lists, choreo, etc locked in, and my colorist hooked up an amazing set of lenses so basically I needed a cam op. (He was still credited everywhere as a DP). Lighting wise I worked with the same same tech I used in the video the band referenced and we kept the setup the same.
He (DP) is quite financially privileged and during the call in which he pitched himself as a DP (its not the position I initially called him about) made it clear he’s “not in it for the money” (he still got paid $1500) and “just wanted to make cool art”. He doesn’t usually make anything artistic and I could tell he wanted my composition / creative in his portfolio in a way he could get some credit for which I was fine with, even if he ended up taking credit for some things he had nothing to do with such as lighting or cinematography.
When he asked I was extremely clear that he could not have a “DPs cut” or recolor the footage (he likes high contrast, my aesthetic is soft / washed / high mids) because he kept asking for it after the first video.
Like I said earlier, he’s not very good so I just didn’t hire or collaborate with him further despite his many requests.
Fast forward to yesterday when some other crew members sent me screen shots of his instagram where he has posted re-edited and re-colored footage from the second music video (I had no idea he had even kept the footage).
He’s cut out the title card where I’m credited as the director— which I figured okay; it’s instagram, fine—but while he’s tagged the band, the studio, the rental company and the AC, he did not tag me or mention that I directed, produced, costume designed, set designed etc, or the guy who actually realized the lighting (which he’s taking credit for) when I texted him upset asking why he did all these things he was expressly told not to, and why he hadn’t credited me for my work he said it was because he “knew that I was careful about my art” and might not like the grade. He also went on and on about his many years of experience in the industry and how he’s “never dealt with anything like this” before. I’m pretty sure these are the only music videos he’s ever been a part of and I’ve hired a different DP on everything I’ve directed since.
Is this normal? Can a DP just go against a director’s wishes and create their own edit and grade? I’ve asked for a directors cut before on a big music video I did with EMG (in which I didn’t have control of the edit), the label said no and I just chose not to post it.
I have since said something in the comments and he’s since credited me as “concept”. I’m so mad, but as keep pointing out he has 20 years of industry experience and this is only the 9th music video I’ve directed, so I want to make sure this isn’t some kind of industry standard I’ve been hitherto unaware of. The people I’ve talked to in the industry thus far say it’s not cool but they’re also my friends so looking for unbiased opinions. Please share yours!
Thank you!
At the beginning of the year I directed two music videos for an indie band who reached out saying they loved my work and referencing a previous music video. They especially loved the lighting and color grade and asked me to keep them the same which I happily obliged. Because the budget was small and the (great) DPs i’ve used previously weren’t within budget, I ended up hiring a longtime acquaintance who has been actively trying to work with me for years.
He honestly is not a good DP, and I knew that going in, but I already had the the shot lists, choreo, etc locked in, and my colorist hooked up an amazing set of lenses so basically I needed a cam op. (He was still credited everywhere as a DP). Lighting wise I worked with the same same tech I used in the video the band referenced and we kept the setup the same.
He (DP) is quite financially privileged and during the call in which he pitched himself as a DP (its not the position I initially called him about) made it clear he’s “not in it for the money” (he still got paid $1500) and “just wanted to make cool art”. He doesn’t usually make anything artistic and I could tell he wanted my composition / creative in his portfolio in a way he could get some credit for which I was fine with, even if he ended up taking credit for some things he had nothing to do with such as lighting or cinematography.
When he asked I was extremely clear that he could not have a “DPs cut” or recolor the footage (he likes high contrast, my aesthetic is soft / washed / high mids) because he kept asking for it after the first video.
Like I said earlier, he’s not very good so I just didn’t hire or collaborate with him further despite his many requests.
Fast forward to yesterday when some other crew members sent me screen shots of his instagram where he has posted re-edited and re-colored footage from the second music video (I had no idea he had even kept the footage).
He’s cut out the title card where I’m credited as the director— which I figured okay; it’s instagram, fine—but while he’s tagged the band, the studio, the rental company and the AC, he did not tag me or mention that I directed, produced, costume designed, set designed etc, or the guy who actually realized the lighting (which he’s taking credit for) when I texted him upset asking why he did all these things he was expressly told not to, and why he hadn’t credited me for my work he said it was because he “knew that I was careful about my art” and might not like the grade. He also went on and on about his many years of experience in the industry and how he’s “never dealt with anything like this” before. I’m pretty sure these are the only music videos he’s ever been a part of and I’ve hired a different DP on everything I’ve directed since.
Is this normal? Can a DP just go against a director’s wishes and create their own edit and grade? I’ve asked for a directors cut before on a big music video I did with EMG (in which I didn’t have control of the edit), the label said no and I just chose not to post it.
I have since said something in the comments and he’s since credited me as “concept”. I’m so mad, but as keep pointing out he has 20 years of industry experience and this is only the 9th music video I’ve directed, so I want to make sure this isn’t some kind of industry standard I’ve been hitherto unaware of. The people I’ve talked to in the industry thus far say it’s not cool but they’re also my friends so looking for unbiased opinions. Please share yours!
Thank you!
