ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

11 years ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

I guess part of the problem is that even on modest budget films, paying a stills guy is low down the order of priorities. Stills are promotional tools, and most lower-budget films don't have guaranteed distribution, so spending money on stuff you will later want for promotion on the minuscule chance you'll be distributed is less tempting than spending it on a great bit of VFX that will increase the production value (and maybe get that sale).

With bigger productions maybe you're spending £50k/day then a few days of a photographer is cheaper than reconstructing the set/cast, but for productions spending £pizza/day (much more common on SP) then the opposite may be true.

11 years ago - Darren Brade

:-)

11 years ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

I assure you it's not just photographers in that position ;-)

11 years ago - John Lubran

There's also the fact that the line between professional and naturally talented has become increasingly blurred, especially with the availability of relatively low cost but very high quality digital cameras that allow for stupidly high shooting ratios without any real downside.

It's not only in the field of stills photography where this unmitigated march towards effectiveness and economy is heading. Considerably driven by technological evolution, multitasking is becoming increasingly essential. It really is only the big budget projects that remain impervious to where all this is going, at least for now.

There's a constant 'rear guard' action being displayed by many whose whole raison d’être is that they are narrowly specific in their skillsets. It must be overwhelmingly clear that the film making methodologies of the near future will look considerably different to those of the recent past.

It's also clear that Shooting People is not so much a forum for people to find properly paid jobs per se, even though such jobs do get offered here; it's more about a collaborative community, a place to find others with whom one can develop skills and projects. I imagine that much that is really happening just beyond these pages here is not registering on this sites monitors, that are more focused on publically revealed events. Not unlike with our economy, which despite the much vaunted help made available for that misnomered and disproportionately heralded sector, the SME (Small and Medium Sized Enterprise), actually depends for around 70% of its GDP in micro enterprises, who get virtually nothing and almost no proper acknowledgement of its importance.

Just saying ;-))

11 years ago - Dan Selakovich

Darren, it's because young filmmakers with no money have no idea how INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT a stills photographer is. They aren't thinking distribution and promotion, and they really should be. They are just trying to get the damned thing made. Frankly, I'm happy to hear that there are postings for a stills photographer--paid or not. Maybe people are starting the realize your importance.

In the end, every position on shooting people is low/no paid. It's a bunch of indie filmmakers just trying to get shit done. I personally don't do non-paid work unless it's a short, I know the people, and really like the script.

11 years ago - Darren Brade

I get where you're both coming from, I just don't understand why they expect experienced photographers to provide equipment and work for free which is what most of the stills posting have been for so far.