Indie, this is a suggestion for a new category on IndieTalk.
Two sayings:
"No good deed goes unpunished" and "Bitches are not born, they are created"
Basically, I walked right into this one with my eyes open so there probably is no recourse for this mess I put myself into and boy do I accept responsibility for getting involved in it. I don't know how I could have been so stupid....yes, I do. I became friends with someone I was making a project for without really knowing them very well and obviously that friendship was one sided. In the end, they get a pretty good short doc and I get screwed and receive an unwarranted attack on my professionalism. (don't worry, no sex was involved)
People, no good deed goes unpunished. You can try to help a person out and enter into a good faith project if you want to, but it is risky at EVERY turn. Do not enter into a project with people you don't expressly know and who make no attempt to contact you. YOU must have a contract, release or agreement IN WRITING. I wonder who else might enter into this BS with these people. I wish I could warn people about these guys, I wish I could give some names, but I know that is not a good idea. All I know is when and if the project comes out, I'll have a segment in it that I am not even sure will be credited to me.
Secondly, bitches are not born, they are created. There is so much said about women bosses or women who are in charge. "When women are in charge they have to try and prove they can swim with the sharks," and so some go overboard being boss lady or in trying to be nice to everyone. And since we live in a superficial society, it is often assumed that there are no reasons for people to become the way they are or that the reasons are unwarranted.
Sadly, I have to become one of those cliche's (I hate that) and to a certain extent others will have to pay for this treatment. So, no more projects done in good faith. EVERYONE signs a contract. MY CONTRACT. Period. Strangely enough the contract is what will save me in some ways and do nothing for me in others. I'm sure you may be saying "you've been doing this without your own contracts?! Well, only with people I knew and respected, this was an ill-fated attempt to broaden my horizons.
I'm so mad at myself I could spit bullets, but its my own fault. I guess I am just venting today. The good news is that I do have two new projects to work on now. Both very interesting, but one that I WILL GET SOMETHING IN WRITING FOR. The other is family, but a good idea that I am doing for me. With this last project, I guess I'll cut my losses. I won't let this change who I am, but it will definitely change how I do business. I will have to try not to be too suspicious of new business ventures until I am established. I think I am still a soft touch, but not for people I don't know and sadly, I will have to handle things differently even for people I do know.
So, Indie, we need a new category on LEGALITIES. Hopefully, some good soul could impart some Pro Bono (free) legal advice though it may be unlikely. Geez, with all the independent, low and no budget filmmakers out there, some lawyer could clean up even if he only charges $10 an hour.
Its always sad when you get stabbed in the back by someone you consider a friend. I'm sadder but wiser and this experience will serve to make me a better business person. Often the "art" part will override the "business" part of being creative, but we ALL need to make it our business to learn and know the "business of art" lest we be swallowed by nefarious intent. There's my tale of woe, chilluns. Learn from my minor disaster and make better, smarter choices. I know I will.
-- spinner
Two sayings:
"No good deed goes unpunished" and "Bitches are not born, they are created"
Basically, I walked right into this one with my eyes open so there probably is no recourse for this mess I put myself into and boy do I accept responsibility for getting involved in it. I don't know how I could have been so stupid....yes, I do. I became friends with someone I was making a project for without really knowing them very well and obviously that friendship was one sided. In the end, they get a pretty good short doc and I get screwed and receive an unwarranted attack on my professionalism. (don't worry, no sex was involved)
People, no good deed goes unpunished. You can try to help a person out and enter into a good faith project if you want to, but it is risky at EVERY turn. Do not enter into a project with people you don't expressly know and who make no attempt to contact you. YOU must have a contract, release or agreement IN WRITING. I wonder who else might enter into this BS with these people. I wish I could warn people about these guys, I wish I could give some names, but I know that is not a good idea. All I know is when and if the project comes out, I'll have a segment in it that I am not even sure will be credited to me.
Secondly, bitches are not born, they are created. There is so much said about women bosses or women who are in charge. "When women are in charge they have to try and prove they can swim with the sharks," and so some go overboard being boss lady or in trying to be nice to everyone. And since we live in a superficial society, it is often assumed that there are no reasons for people to become the way they are or that the reasons are unwarranted.
Sadly, I have to become one of those cliche's (I hate that) and to a certain extent others will have to pay for this treatment. So, no more projects done in good faith. EVERYONE signs a contract. MY CONTRACT. Period. Strangely enough the contract is what will save me in some ways and do nothing for me in others. I'm sure you may be saying "you've been doing this without your own contracts?! Well, only with people I knew and respected, this was an ill-fated attempt to broaden my horizons.
I'm so mad at myself I could spit bullets, but its my own fault. I guess I am just venting today. The good news is that I do have two new projects to work on now. Both very interesting, but one that I WILL GET SOMETHING IN WRITING FOR. The other is family, but a good idea that I am doing for me. With this last project, I guess I'll cut my losses. I won't let this change who I am, but it will definitely change how I do business. I will have to try not to be too suspicious of new business ventures until I am established. I think I am still a soft touch, but not for people I don't know and sadly, I will have to handle things differently even for people I do know.
So, Indie, we need a new category on LEGALITIES. Hopefully, some good soul could impart some Pro Bono (free) legal advice though it may be unlikely. Geez, with all the independent, low and no budget filmmakers out there, some lawyer could clean up even if he only charges $10 an hour.
Its always sad when you get stabbed in the back by someone you consider a friend. I'm sadder but wiser and this experience will serve to make me a better business person. Often the "art" part will override the "business" part of being creative, but we ALL need to make it our business to learn and know the "business of art" lest we be swallowed by nefarious intent. There's my tale of woe, chilluns. Learn from my minor disaster and make better, smarter choices. I know I will.
-- spinner