Has this ever happened to anyone while still in film school? ..Feeling of Exclusivity

H

HardWorkinFilmSlave

I'm still in film school right now. Even though I'm in film school, I enjoy making movies for professional clients.

You could say.. my close friends and I are decently successful, well for film students atleast. It's because we know how to be professional and be a productive team.


.... But

At my film school, a someone really ended up working with me for a small class project. He seemed really cool so why not? Anyway somehow it let slip that me and my friends got picked up for a future project. Immediately that picqued his interest.

Once I got to know him however..... I got to see his true side . It wasn't the best working conditions:

- He was just rude and offensive to everyone on set.
- He offended a few actresses we had. They looked me and my other director friend like "Why did you let him on the set?"
- Tries to take over everything.
- He also made some off remarks about one of my director friends to his face, claiming it was a joke. He just doesn't get how to play with others.
- On a technical level, I didn't see anything that was incredibly impressive.


It was a small project for a few students and the class. But every few days now he keeps asking about the future project, wanting to join our crew. Frankly, he doesn't bring good vibes or chemistry to the set. I don't see the incentive to have him join us in our projects.

I always love collaborating- I never thought I'd EVER feel this way.

It feels like that's a huge jump. At the same time, I don't want to seem snobbish or rude and tell him straight out 'hell no.' I honestly wouldn't mind working with him once in a while. I don't hate the guy. But he always asks me to invite my other crew members, toss him a bone, and doesn't bring anything to the table.

The thing about it being film school is that you see this guy often! Even just walking around the city I bump into him. I never know what to tell him. Has anyone dealt with this? Maybe not even in film school, just with pushy people that you see often.
 
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I've dealt with something similar, though not as bad. Just someone who I tried to get for a movie who kept messing around and wouldn't operate the camera properly. Just let him off easy, or give him a job on set that doesn't involve him talking to a lot of the actors. What job does he specialize in?
 
Ewan said:
Just let him off easy, or give him a job on set that doesn't involve him talking to a lot of the actors.
Click to expand...
Hi, Mitch

You have a leadership issue on your hands.
If this was strictly a school project issue then that would be one thing.
But this is an extra-school PAYING project which makes it something different.

The thing about teamwork is that it's a TEAM, and it also sounds like you're it's leader.
Surely you're sensible enough to know those, I just want to affirm them.

You're the boss.
What would you want your boss or supervisor to do if your were fu... messing things up at work, both technical and personal?
Fire you on the spot?
Probably not.
Give you a headzup on the situation?
Likely.

Extend the same courtesy to your rude nube.

You and another "senior" key team member need to invite bozo for a face to face talk.

"Bozo. We need to have a talk.
The school project is one thing.
This outside of school project is another.
The outside team has discussed your possible involvement with outside projects based upon your personal and professional contributions to the school project.
There was not a good match.
The team has reached a consensus that your skill set will not be best utilized within the outside group.
Do you understand?"

He gained you confidence much faster than he lost it.
He has experience moving into and out of groups rapidly.
Don't worry about him.
As the team leader your responsibility is to the team - not - to every wayward lost soul.

DO NOT ATTEMPT to "let him off easy."
He's a guy.
We're used to rejection.
You're a filmmaker and a leader; not a social worker or mental health advocate - in this role.

If you want, throw in there that you're fine with including him into future school projects - but outside of school is a different set of rules.

Be sincere.
Be honest.
Be professional.

GL & GB
 
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It's also school, the thing about film school is that the students need to learn things there... including what they don't know. Just ignoring him is not beneficial to you (he'll keep bugging) or to him (he'll wonder why he's being snubbed. We've had this problem on productions and have asked people not to return, with detailed reasons... apologize, move on.

Students often think they are brilliant beyond their years and experience... and have no motivation to think otherwise as people are afraid to challenge that belief. We only improve if we face reality... even if that reality is uncomfortable.

Polite, honest and blunt, no excuses, just reasons... no; "we'll see if you're a fit on the next one..." just a simple statement, "we won't be considering you for any future work" "bad fit" "Female talent was uncomfortable with you" "lack of respect for the other members of the team"

Make the statements, let them work on it on other projects... if asked for references, say those same things so other groups don't blame you for saying they were valuable on set if they weren't.

If there was anything that person was good at, point that out to them so they know what works.
 
rayw said:
Hi, Mitch

You have a leadership issue on your hands.
If this was strictly a school project issue then that would be one thing.
But this is an extra-school PAYING project which makes it something different.

The thing about teamwork is that it's a TEAM, and it also sounds like you're it's leader.
Surely you're sensible enough to know those, I just want to affirm them.

You're the boss.
What would you want your boss or supervisor to do if your were fu... messing things up at work, both technical and personal?
Fire you on the spot?
Probably not.
Give you a headzup on the situation?
Likely.

Extend the same courtesy to your rude nube.

You and another "senior" key team member need to invite bozo for a face to face talk.

"Bozo. We need to have a talk.
The school project is one thing.
This outside of school project is another.
The outside team has discussed your possible involvement with outside projects based upon your personal and professional contributions to the school project.
There was not a good match.
The team has reached a consensus that your skill set will not be best utilized within the outside group.
Do you understand?"

He gained you confidence much faster than he lost it.
He has experience moving into and out of groups rapidly.
Don't worry about him.
As the team leader your responsibility is to the team - not - to every wayward lost soul.

DO NOT ATTEMPT to "let him off easy."
He's a guy.
We're used to rejection.
You're a filmmaker and a leader; not a social worker or mental health advocate - in this role.

If you want, throw in there that you're fine with including him into future school projects - but outside of school is a different set of rules.

Be sincere.
Be honest.
Be professional.

GL & GB
Click to expand...


Oh My Goodness. This is the reply I was asking for.... and more! It's worded in a way that you do understand what I mean and not too much of being unreasonably harsh. This is a young filmmaker that I've gotten to know that also really sees in me a chance to further himself. He's someone I bump into often and I would consider him a friend. It's not always as easy as letting down a client or applicant. I feel that when people give advice online they tend to over simplify and in return, the original poster is less likely to take their advice. We need more replies like this on the site. iFavorited this.




Other people I know said to tell him what he's done wrong then work with him again to see if he changed. That could be true but....... how do I know he isn't just "putting on" good behaviour? Honestly I don't wanna risk it and find out he was just pretending to be nice when it's already too late.

He doesn't think he's all that. But he doesn't really know his boundaries.

I'm not the leader of our group. I am one of the founding members, and I look out for the group. I love that everyone in the group has equal say and no one overtakes the other. Some are very laid back and don't look too far ahead, but I think I should let them know the risks of just inviting anybody to join the team we've worked hard to create.

When you're dealing with a small number of people working on a productive team, adding more people can ruin the balance. When you cut the pie more ways, your piece tends to get a little smaller. I don't feel that we are in a position to help everyone out there when we're still trying to make it ourselves. The way he acts gives me a slight impression that if we continue to work with him, he'll just try to overtake everything.

Sometimes you'd rather work with someone that you personally gel with better, rather than someone who is technically capable but treats you with disrespect.

I'm not going to be completely harsh because and I don't want any -unnecessary- enemies now or in the future. There's no need to cut off all ties or be completely rude, as I know this guy on a personal level and see him all the time. Imagine you have to tell a applicant that it's a bad fit and you have to reject him. Ok no problem. Now imagine you bump into that person 4 days a week.
 
You need to tell him straight and tell him now that he will not be involved with this future project, or any other. Someone like that is detrimental, especially if they are effecting the performance of the actors. We had a guy on our set for our graduation film who tried taking over the director, effected the actors and went off most times to do some weed. We could've had our permit taken away and our actors refuse to come back for shooting additional days. Luckily that didnt happen, but someone like that is not someone you want in a working environment.

He'll say he'll change and that he wont do things bad, but if it came natural to him then that will go out of the window about ten minutes into the shoot. Tell him now, No.
 
Even when he's a friend, you don't have to work with him.
Just like you can work with people who are not your friends.

Sounds like he's a complete a..
Pleasing him will insult the rest of your team, other people will refuse to work with you again.

I've had a somewhat similair situation at filmschool, but in my case the other one wasn't rude; he was just on a 'different intellectual level of communication and understanding of film'.
It didn't work out and we never joined forces with him again.
But he still is a very nice person; that wasn't the problem.
 
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