Well, I'm coming from a different perspective I guess. If you are working with all seasoned pros, upfront payment is what they like.
If you are working with people who are interested and passionate about furthering their portfolio or starting in film-making, you can get away with points/percentage.
And that’s just it. Two entirely different worlds.
This is how I make my living. I’m happy to help out a student film once in a while
pro bono, and I’m happy to take on a low-budget film on occasion knowing that I’m getting a much lower day rate, but I have to have enough work paying full rate to make space for that stuff. I have to keep up my gear. I have to cover my overhead.
On the amateur level, you can find plenty of people who want to jump on board and volunteer their time. You’re just not nearly as likely to find a professional, experienced crew, in which case the film doesn’t have much of a chance of going further than local/regional “come one, come all” film fests.
It is interesting that you say “working with people who are interested and passionate about furthering their portfolio or starting in film-making, you can get away with points/percentage.” The telling word choice there is “get away with”. In a sense, that’s taking advantage of folks who are too inexperienced to know better. I know that’s not always the case, but I see it often. Points almost never work out at all. That needs to be made clear, rather than using it to build up expectations that will likely not be fulfilled.
If people understand that and are still excited to be part of it, great. If those folks are just amateurs and hobbyists looking to get into it for the fun of it, then you’re in the right spot. But if they’re trying to build credits in order to build their film careers, teaching them the beg for free work to do that is taking advantage. And that may not be anywhere close to what you were trying to say, but word choice matters.
Personally, knowing that points are usually a guarantee that they get my work and my gear for free, I pass. After 25+ years of honing my skills and building/updating my kit, “exposure” won’t even cover my costs.
My promise is deferred pay, based on crowdfuding. It's a gamble, sure, but the people who jump on board understand that gamble, and also seem to understand I am not trying to swindle anyone.
...
Instead of the risk all being on the Producer or Office, it rides on the entire crew of the film.
The producer (and especially Executive Producer) are the ones who
should take the risk. It’s not the crew’s responsibility to make that gamble. That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.
But again, if they completely understand that points likely won’t come and are still willing to work on the project, that’s fine. I guess I just really don’t like “points” being offered under any circumstances because that’s most often (if not always) a hollow offer, intentional or not.
In the end, it really boils down to valuing your crew. Even if it’s a very low day rate, it’s a day rate.
TL;DR
If it’s for fun and bound only for the local/regional town film festivals, everyone knows what they’re getting into. Offering points on that is ridiculous and won’t net anything for anyone. Just make the project for the love of it and move on.
If it’s intended to try and find some sort of distribution in any way - to make any kind of money - the crew is not responsible for taking the financial risk on that. Period. Pay them something for their time and move on.