Haven't been around in a while, but I've been offered 1st AD on a feature coming up.
However due to scheduling and a few other things happening over the coming months, the payoff is that I'll have to quit my job, move out of my house, not see friends and family over Christmas and new years.
None of these things would be an issue for me if the job was a better offer. However, it's only expenses covered, and a tiny amount of token remuneration. On top of that, I'm expecting the film to be a trainwreck.
To keep a long story short there are a lot of red flags. Novice, arrogant and naiive director, skeleton crew (hell, skeleton is an overstatement), shooting in the bush 100km from any city centre, half baked script (its a good script, but its not ready), director is self-producing but we're a month away from shooting and no real pre-production has been done (and I've only been contacted now), directors previous work is a bit rubbish.
That said, the actors on board are good. I don't know how he got them, but its a good cast. The other crew I'll be bringing in if I sign up are also good.
So in short all I really have to gain is the value of having a 1st AD credit on a feature. It'll be a surprise if the film comes out as something good.
I've spoken to a few more experienced colleagues, and opinions (including my own) are split between "you don't really have anything to lose, and it's hard to get a feature 1st AD job" and "don't do it for the sake of your sanity."
Any thoughts?
However due to scheduling and a few other things happening over the coming months, the payoff is that I'll have to quit my job, move out of my house, not see friends and family over Christmas and new years.
None of these things would be an issue for me if the job was a better offer. However, it's only expenses covered, and a tiny amount of token remuneration. On top of that, I'm expecting the film to be a trainwreck.
To keep a long story short there are a lot of red flags. Novice, arrogant and naiive director, skeleton crew (hell, skeleton is an overstatement), shooting in the bush 100km from any city centre, half baked script (its a good script, but its not ready), director is self-producing but we're a month away from shooting and no real pre-production has been done (and I've only been contacted now), directors previous work is a bit rubbish.
That said, the actors on board are good. I don't know how he got them, but its a good cast. The other crew I'll be bringing in if I sign up are also good.
So in short all I really have to gain is the value of having a 1st AD credit on a feature. It'll be a surprise if the film comes out as something good.
I've spoken to a few more experienced colleagues, and opinions (including my own) are split between "you don't really have anything to lose, and it's hard to get a feature 1st AD job" and "don't do it for the sake of your sanity."
Any thoughts?
