ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

12 years, 2 months ago - SP User

This is basically the LETS system applied to a specific sector. As Paddy says the devil is in the detail and the only way I could see it working would be to even out all the rates within a production, to not have a pay scale hierarchy.

It would need to operate within a set of rules, a structure, and with a lot of good will. It would work best on projects with no set budget similar to many that are posted here on shooting people. It could work on a marbles currency system, when you join you are given lets say 20 marbles which you then exchange for units of production time from the other members of the co-operative setup.

It could get very complicated as soon as any real money is involved. I myself either work for full payment or amongst friends
for nothing, and expect nothing in return. I do a lot of freebies and really appreciate it when others do the same.

12 years, 2 months ago - John Baker

Technically, this is not barter. Contrary to popular belief, Barter is actually very rare as it is inconvenient because everything needs to happen in same time and place. It is more like a contract between two parties. It is not really LETS either, as you could redeem LETS from a different person within the LETS system.

Money is basically deferred barter, trading future debts and where the debt promises themselves can be swapped. That is why money usually has "Promise" written on it.

If you want a fascinating read on history of monetary systems from an anthropological perspective, read "Debt: The first 5,000 years".

If you want a good read on the modern monetary system from an economics/banking perspective read "Where does money come from?".

That will also give you plenty of clues as to how we got into such a global economic mess when we granted private organisations the privilege to create and certify what are basically just our promises to each other.

Yes, I do swaps, but these days only when I am convinced the other would do the same for me and would actually turn up when I need help.

12 years, 2 months ago - Owen A Smith

Excuses the typos I'm on an iPad lol

12 years, 2 months ago - Vasco de Sousa

I think it's a great idea. I tried starting a filmmakers barter network one time, but I guess my system was a bit too complicated.

I wanted to try it for my current project, but perhaps with travel expenses and so it, it'd be hard to work here on SP considering I'm so far out of the way. I still may barter a day for a day if I need something in particular.

Anyway, I love the idea of bartering.

12 years, 2 months ago - SP User

I know it wouldn't really work. It was just a fun thing to think about. :)

12 years, 2 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

No problem with it as a concept, I suspect the devil will be in the detail.

Let's say a gaffer gets union rates, there is no equivalent producer rates, so do you just do a straight time-swap? Is 1hr of Gaffer worth the same as 1hr of spark worth the same as 1hr of runner etc?

Also, how many hours does a gig involve? Trades tend not to do much preproduction, whereas a producer will be on a job for weeks+ beforehand and afterwards. If a gaffer does a 2 day shoot for free, would they get a couple of days from a producer? Is a couple of days from a producer actually much use, seeing how long filmmaking takes...

In principle though great, and yes I do freebies/trade/barters

12 years, 2 months ago - Owen A Smith

I think it's amounts to the following producers, directors often ask me to shoot a film normally a short film but want me to supply the camera kit lighting and lenses for free as well as my time and my experience as a lighting camera operator. They tell me that the will cover my travel expencess but what they really mean is that they will pay for a travel card for the day. So I'd I drive to set or the base unit for breakfast in my Mercesdes Benz sports car from my home in the country I'm expected to cover that cost myself. Last month I dropped in to my building society and asked if they would mind if paid my four figure a month Mortgage payment by using IMDb credits in stead of money as this was how people wanted to pay everyone these days. Strangely enough the building society refused to accept my IMDb credits to mt my monthly payments for my home as did telcos when I got to the checkout.

When are film producers going to start making films with a budget and stop expecting professional crew to support their film providing costly kit and expect the crew to wrk for IMDb credits and a ravel card. B.P. telcos and Santander do not accept IMDb credits and a hot coffee as payment for a hard days work and nor do I.

Producers, Pleas start putting film budgets together that allow people to be paid for their work and skill set and not expect crew to be paying to go to wrork. How many of you weekend film makers would expect to go to work in your office day jobs and get paid by being given an IMDb credit?