POSTING GUIDELINES

1. What happens when I post?

• Your posting goes into a regular bulletin, which is emailed to all Shooters who subscribe to the bulletin.
• Every bulletin will also appear on the website the same day it is emailed out to subscribers. The 10 most recent issues of the bulletins are available to read on the website at all times.
• After that, all bulletins go into an online archive, which is searchable on the website by keyword.
• Your post goes in exactly as you write it - we don't edit for spelling and grammar, so make sure you check this yourself.
• Check your post carefully before you submit it - once a bulletin has been compiled, and emailed to members, there is no way to recall the post if there are errors in it.
• Although you can post by contacting the editors directly by email, it's better to post using the website. This ensures they get your posting promptly, and creates an automatic link to your Shooters card, so that people who want to reply to you can see your contact details.

2. When will my post appear?

• Normally, your post will go in the next issue of the bulletin if you send it to us by mid afternoon on the day before the bulletin goes out.
• If your post isn't suitable for the bulletins (see Why was my post rejected?) you may have to rewrite and resubmit it for the next bulletin.

3. Which bulletin should I post to?

• Before you post, check to see if there has been anything in recent bulletins relevant to your posting. Your query may already have been answered. Or someone may have posted a similar ad, which will help you draft yours, and decide which bulletin it should go in. You can search all previous bulletins by entering keywords in the "search archive" box on the website.
• There are seven bulletins to choose from. You can usually only post to one bulletin for each ad. This is because each bulletin is aimed at a specialist readership, and we try to make sure that every posting is relevant to the subscribers.
• One off film events such as screenings, talks and seminars have a separate Calendar. Details of the Calendar follow the sections on the individual bulletins.
• Are you replying to a post from a previous bulletin? Normally, you would reply to that person directly, using the contact details in their post. But if you think your post would be of general interest to Shooters who take that bulletin, then please do post your reply to the bulletin. Examples might be - debates on distribution, general technical discussions.
• The following kinds of posts are not accepted in any of the bulletins.
  • Advertising your availability for work (but you can post looking for Shooters to collaborate with)
  • Commercial organisations offering unpaid work for crew and production/post production staff
• Here are brief details to help you choose which bulletin to post to.

Almost everything related to fiction film, but if you are posting about:

• Screenwriters - use the Screenwriters Network
• Factual film eg corporates - use the Documentary Network
• Storyboard artists - use the Animation Network
• Actors and performers - use the Casting Network
• Composers - use the Music Video and Film Music Network

Also post here for equipment you are selling, or looking for.

And for general technical queries related to filmmaking.

Everything related to factual and documentary filmmaking.

This includes corporate film and video, sports events, weddings.

All aspects of screenwriting, but Screenwriters wanting to pitch their script, post to the Script Pitch Network

Post here if you are looking for a script or a screenwriter.

Post here if you are looking for actors or performers, paid or unpaid.

Actors can also post details of forthcoming screenings/performances which they feature in.

The Casting Network will accept postings seeking cast for theatre as well as for film. All other bulletins will only accept postings which are specifically film related.

Everything related to animation, including digital art.

Post here if you are looking for a storyboard artist.

Everything related to film and music, not just music videos.

Post here if you are looking for a composer.

Screenwriters can pitch their scripts, both feature length and shorts.

If you are looking for a screenwriter and don't see the right script here, post to Screenwriters Network.

This is for one off events such as film screenings, talks, seminars and film festivals.

To add your event, click calendar.

Training is not included here, post to the relevant specialist bulletin.

4. What do I need to include in my posting?

Basically, as much information as possible! Often the editors have to reject a post because there isn't enough information to help Shooters decide whether or not to respond. This means a delay in your post appearing, and you will probably be asked to rewrite and resubmit your post. To avoid this happening, check that you have covered the following points, where relevant:

Subject Line: Use something that sums up your ad, including location for jobs/collaboration and sales/services. For example:
Driver required for short movie (low pay, London)

Location: Have you made it clear where you are located? And where the filming or training course (if relevant) will take place? If the two locations are different, use the filming/training location in the subject line. If your ad applies to the whole UK eg a funding scheme, please put "UK wide",

Payment: State explicitly what payment you are offering, if any. If you are offering deferred pay, be realistic about what that means - do you have any deals lined up which make it genuinely likely people will get money later on?

Expenses: Be clear about exactly is covered by expenses payments eg travel, food. If you are looking for people to work for no pay, you should always cover the cost of the professional equipment they will need eg make up for a make up artist.

Costs and fees: If you are offering to sell something, or provide a service, or you are running a training scheme, make sure all the costs are clearly stated. Does your price include delivery charges for equipment? Are you offering any discounts for Shooters? We require commercial companies offering goods and services to provide at least a 10% discount for Shooters.

Who are you? Are you a producer, director, company or organisation? What will be your role in the project? If you post using the website, your posting will automatically include a link to your online Shooters card, so that people can find out more. So make sure you keep your online card up to date.

What kind of project is it? If it's a film, let us know what it's about. Where will you aim to show the film? What are you shooting on? If it's a technical query, make sure to include details of the equipment you are using. How long will people be needed for? If it's a course, when will it run, and how long will it last?

What kind of person are you looking for? Write your posting with a view to attracting the right kind of person. Who would get most out of working with you? Or attending your course? What kinds of skills and previous knowledge are needed from anyone applying? Why should they reply to you rather than to another ad - what can you offer them that is unique to your project?

5. Writing your posting - things to watch for in layout

• We can only take your posting in plain text. Don't send us posts in HTML format, or with large amounts of space. Formatting in bold, italic, or in different fonts and sizes, won't be translated into the bulletin text.
• Currency symbols for the pound, euro or dollar don't show up on our software. Use UKP, EURO, or USD.

6. Commercial companies

If you are a commercial company, offering goods, services and equipment, or looking to recruit production staff and crew, we will accept postings from you on the following conditions.

• You should offer Shooters a discount of at least 10%. Please state the usual price and the amount of Shooters discount in the ad.
• We can only feature ads from commercial companies once in any two week period.
• We do not accept ads for unpaid work for crew and production staff from commercial companies. Unpaid work ads are only accepted from individual Shooters looking to collaborate with other Shooters.

7. The Legal bit

As publishers of the bulletins, Shooting People could be liable for any ads which breach UK law.

We are committed to the promotion of equal opportunities, and to the fair and courteous treatment of all Shooting People members.

So we ask you not only to observe the relevant sections of UK laws on discrimination and libel, but also to post with consideration for fellow Shooters.

We ask you to abide by the following conditions when writing your post:

• Don't be discriminatory in your ad.
• We are not allowed by law to accept any ads that specify a particular racial or ethnic group, age or gender, except for:
  • Casting
  • A government approved training scheme or similar work experience opportunity aimed at a particular ethnic group, age or gender
  • A festival, competition or screening event which is celebrating the work of a particular group
• You MAY also be able to advertise for one gender or another in some situations where gender is a sensitive question, especially if it is a cultural issue. If in doubt, email a draft of your post to help@shootingpeople.org
• Try to avoid using terms that suggest you only want to recruit one gender, such as "cameraman". While there may be widespread industry recognition that such terms can be applied to both genders, we'd prefer it if you used something neutral like "camera operator". If you do want to use "cameraman", then we ask you to make sure you state clearly in your post that the job is open to both men and women. Similarly try to avoid using terms that might imply that you would prefer someone of a certain age, such as "young", "mature" or "with ten years experience".

• We don't have the resources to research thoroughly every complaint Shooters might have about a company, an organisation, or an individual, so we can't publish complaints against individuals or organisations
• If you have had a bad experience, we're happy to post a warning in general terms, eg "make sure you get an agreement in writing about expenses".
• Don't make rude or offensive comments about fellow Shooters.

8. Why was my post rejected?

If your post is rejected, the editor will get in touch with you directly by email, to advise you on what you need to do to rewrite and resubmit your ad.

If you follow the notes in these guidelines, your post is much more likely to be accepted immediately.

The most common reasons for rejection are:

• Not enough information provided (see Section 4)
• Commercial companies not offering a Shooters discount, or posting more than once every two weeks (see Section 6)
• Your membership has expired, or you are not a Full member of Shooting People (contact help@shootingpeople.org)
• Your ad is discriminatory, or potentially libellous (see Section 7)
• Your ad should go in a different bulletin (see Section 3)

9. What happens once my post has been published?

• People will respond to your post either directly to you by email, or by posting their own response to the bulletin. Replies will come from other members of Shooting People. The SP staff and bulletin editors don't usually offer specific individual advice, but they may respond to your post in the bulletin itself.
• Although you can post by contacting the editors directly by email, it's better to post using the website. This ensures they get your posting promptly, and creates an automatic link to your Shooters card, so that people who want to reply to you can see your contact details.
• Full members get the bulletin on the day it is produced, part and trial members 3 days later. So you may receive one batch of replies the day the bulletin goes out, and another batch 3 days later.
• If you are expecting a lot of replies, or if you are asking for Cvs and scripts to be emailed to you as attachments, it's likely your Inbox will fill up very quickly. Shooters often write to us complaining that their application can't be delivered because an Inbox is full. You might miss hearing from the ideal person. Either empty your Inbox regularly, or consider getting an email address that allows you to receive a large volume of mail. You can provide a different email address in your posting, just to receive replies to your posting - you don't have to change your usual SP email address.
• Please thank everyone who replied to you. If you have a large number of replies, just cut and paste their email addresses into the BCC field and you can send out a single reply to everyone. Shooting People thrives through the goodwill of the filmmaking community. It helps to promote your professional reputation, and ours, if you take the time to return the courtesy of the people who got in touch.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR POST!